I honestly see no problem with spending a measly 1 million dollars a year (we spend a couple billion a month in Iraq) on promoting Bicycle Riding. This Jerk Idiot Republican representative from North Carolina would rather we burn more coal.
Here they are again bashing the bicycle…this time in print.
As Democrats yesterday encouraged people to ride their bicycles to work today as a solution to rising gas prices, Republicans had this to say: “You’ve got to be kidding.â€
While more than 20,000 commuters throughout Denver metro today plan to ditch the car and participate in Bike to Work Day, some Republicans said cycling falls short of any real energy solutions.
“Colorado families are struggling at the pump and the answer we are getting from Colorado Democrats is shut down oil and gas production in Colorado and ride your bike — unbelievable,†said Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch. “I’d like to see how they expect a mother of three in my district to get her kids to school and to buy groceries for her family using a bicycle.â€(via)
I mean why do these people hate the two wheeled wonder that is the bicycle so much? I just don’t get it?
Good question… I think he needs to take a trip to the Netherlands to see that biking with three kids (or more) is possible:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/01/the_moederfiets.php
http://daddytypes.com/2006/01/31/bakfiets_dutch_family_bike_for_the_fellas.php
Get a grip. I agree with what they are saying…what you left out!
That was the reaction today from Colorado State Senator Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, and State Representative Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, when they heard that Democrats are proposing “long bike ride(s)†as a solution to rising gas prices.
McNulty and Penry said they are supportive of celebrating “Bike to Work Day†today, but said that it’s not realistic for Democrats to hold bicycling up as a way to address skyrocketing gas prices.
“Bill Ritter’s “New Energy Economy” now has a mascot: it is the bicycling politician who thinks we can peddle our way to energy independence,†Penry said. “This is the most absurd, ridiculous and totally convincing explanation of why Colorado Democrats are clueless when it comes to addressing our energy crisis.â€
Penry and McNulty have supported many of the governor’s renewable energy initiatives, but say that it is only part of the solution. They have both been critical of Gov. Ritter’s approach to stunting energy development in Colorado, an approach they say will lead to even higher energy prices for Colorado consumers.
a million dollars is all they are asking? why was he going on about a 1 million dollars? even aside from oil, think of the BILLIONS saved in health care from people riding or walking, not to mention less sprawl, the roads would last longer with less cars on it. they should have asked for billions to rebuild bike factories.
A little quotation you may have come across before:
“The cyclist creates everything from almost nothing, becoming the most energy-efficient of all moving animals and machines and, as such, has a disingenuous ability to challenge the entire value system of a society. Cyclists don’t consume enough. The bicycle may be too cheap, too available, too healthy, too independent and too equitable for its own good. In an age of excess it is minimal and has the subversive potential to make people happy in an economy fuelled by consumer discontent.”
(Jim McGurn, 1994)
Bicycles are a genuine threat to Industrial Civilization: they point to an age when oil is the stuff you dropper onto a chain rather than hose into a tank.
Well, it must be because all of Osama’s followers *millions of them* are bike riders. It’s always better not to resemble them in ANY way.
The same could be said for anyone who believes in the political process ;-)
Most republicans, given their propensity to be older probably are just mad that those damn kids are on their lawn with their damn bikes :).
“Bicycles? We’re not Europeans. We’re Americans. We drive SUVs. We burn coal and drink beer. That’s our God-given right.”
How I-G-N-O-R-A-N-T. Ugh. After a certain number of stupid comments, a representative should be automatically removed from office. (Can we start with Bush? ;)
obviously this individual hasn’t seen the impact simple solutions can make.
the most obvious answer is the usually the right one
Einstein said, to paraphrase, that when he saw people driving bikes he had hope for the future, if one of the world’s most renowned scientists can see this as a part to solving our problem, I think we might have something to go on.
it shocks me how uniformed and dogmatic this politicians are.
he can waffle on sarcastically, but in the end he might find himself driving a bike- because there simply isn’t enough fuel to go around, let alone the food we are burning to supply a ‘new energy future’
It wasn’t Einstein, Einstein.
“Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.†H.G. Wells.
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving†– Albert Einstein