I wont be riding a bike because I bought a Genuine Buddy 150 Italia.
It's pretty sweeeeet and it gets like 80 mpg's. I'm a scooter nerd.
I ride for exercise, and recreation.
If you live close to work and the weather is nice, more power to ya.
Save a couple bucks and get some exercise, good idea.
Commuting on a bike is not feasible for me or most people though.
Strib story huh.
Just curious, up 50%? From 0.1% to o.15%?
I wont be riding a bike because I bought a Genuine Buddy 150 Italia.
Hey you never laid that thing down at Keegans didja?
Practical and cheap? It depends. I have always had a bicycle. But I live in south Minneapolis. I occasionally ride my bike to local destinations, but when I need to haul things that weigh something or go a distance in excess of a couple of miles, tasking the bike is stupid.
The real question is: If you had to commute from your home in Chanhassen to your workplace in Woodbury, how many of the bicycle activists out there, could even accomplish it even once, never mind doing it every day to and from.
It will be a cold day in Hell when I bike to work.
The reality is that I'll work from home before I hop on a bike and haul my sweaty ass into an office.
What an F'in Joke. My current client is in a Northern burb so it would take me at least 2 hours to bike there, unless they have a new bike lane in the middle on 35W.
It just isn't practical for 95% of the working public 95% of the time.
Jeff, I'm curious as to exactly what difference it makes in your life whether or not people here at Anti Strib choose to commute by bike or not?
But to answer your question, yes, I do bike to work on occasion. I live within 4 miles of my job, and can stay on residential roads.
But let me be clear: As a libertarian, I bike because I choose to, not because I have any interest whatsoever in helping usher in this coercive utopia that the leftists want imposed on the world.
People can bike, walk, drive large SUV's, ride mopeds, crawl, whatever. It makes not one iota of difference to me.
Biking didn't fit my work schedule well. I live less than a half mile from the light rail station so when I go downtown I tend to take a bike. It's 3.5 miles to downtown Minneapolis and I can do it low traffic on a bike until the Metrodome. I tend to use the a bike for short trips like to the video stroe or the neighborhood Riverview Theater. Mostly exercise and parking, the distances are short so I don't save a lot of gas. Trip consolidation actually saves more gas than bicycling. Bicycling is mostly for exercise but with the time it takes I don't drive as much and that saves gas.
Off subject but here is an interesting display on natural gas used for generating electricity by state. In the US this has doubled in the last decade so now more natural gas is used for electricity than for residential and smaller business use. Natural gas is expected to increase by more than half this winter so expect heating gas heating costs to increase by at least half. Fortunately Minnesota doesn't yet use much natural gas for electricity. Here is the link. http://www.americaspower.org/The-Facts
Me? Bike? No, I do however, motorcycle whenever I can. A co-worker one cubicle over from me bikes to work. I wish the Strib reporter would visit me and the others who have to sit by the bicyclist in our midst. Nothing increases productivity and team spirit like sitting next to a sweaty, smelly bicyclist for 8 hours a day.
It's 33 miles for me to get to work so it's a bike with a motor for me. I ride because it's fun and it saves me money.
However, I drove my Jeep today because of the threat of rain, I have an appointment to donate blood products at the Red Cross which means I will not get home until 7:00 PM, and I want to stop at Menard's for some items that my motorcycle cannot haul.
The motorcycle is great for many days, but doesn't replace a Jeep.
I have a 55 mile round trip commute right now. Next month God alone knows where I'll be going.
Bike to work? Not f'ing likely.
I bike to work, to the station on Saturdays, and recreationally. And I'd do it even if gas dropped to $.50 a gallon - although it's sure nice saving the money. It's fun, it's good exercise (I do about 100 miles a week these days, sometimes more), and it's good "me" time. I don't get much of that.
For years, I was a consultant, and biking and/or transit were pretty much impossible. That's one of the attractions of my current job; it's like seven miles to work, and when it gets too cold the bus is door-to-door from my house to my office (and my company pays half of my all-you-can-ride card).
In other words, I do it out of enlightened self-interest, which is as conservative as you get.
On the other hand...:
Nothing increases productivity and team spirit like sitting next to a sweaty, smelly bicyclist for 8 hours a day.
I see that every day; all these guys in their dockers and work shirts and dress shoes biking down the road. I wondered "how the HELL does that work?"
My office has a locker room with shower; screw my co-workers, I doubt *I* could do it without that.
In other words, I do it out of enlightened self-interest
In other words, it's not a political statement.
…how many of the bicycle activists out there, could even accomplish it even once, never mind doing it every day to and from.
I’m not a bicycle activist, but I could accomplish it once, and then some. Could I do it every day? Sure, in summer, if I didn’t have kids to get to and from daycare and so long as there was a shower at my destination.
I live 13 miles from work (I recently changed jobs and shortened my commute from 34 miles one way to 13…and the new job is why I have not been blogging much…but I hope to change that real soon)…down a rather busy county road but with a good shoulder. I would bike to work most days if the office had a shower…which is being built but won’t be done until this winter. (Massive addition to my company building is not yet complete, and the shower that we DID have hasn’t been updated, or cleaned, since the original building was put up in 1972.)
I have a motorcycle that I tend to ride a lot in the summer time, and I have been riding it to work when I can, but again, I have a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old that need to get to daycare and it isn’t right to have my wife drop and pick up all the time.
I live 2.5 miles from both a Cub and a Target…a few times this summer I have hooked up the Burley to the bike and rode it to and from shopping…but I am ALWAYS uneasy leaving my expensive bike ($2700 replacement cost) outside an store…even with a good lock on it.
2700 for a bike? Whew! Does it perform some sort of sexual service as you ride? 
WTH?
Alright, the truck and camper are packed, the bikes are on top and I'm heading north/northeast to spend some time in the woods. The smoked ribs are marinating in sauce to be slowly heated for dinner, the coolers are full of other goodies and the super soakers are primed for action. Have a good weekend everyone.
Have fun pig/dog.
You too, Maxx. By the way, $2700 for a bicycle is easy when you go titanium or carbon fiber. I dream of such a bike, though I'd also hesitate to ride it to work.
And Jeff, yes, the name "Bike Bubba" does have something to do with commuting on two wheels sans motor. I've been doing it for nearly 30 years now. I was doing it when gas was 50 cents a gallon, and it's wonderful. Keeps me off the blood pressure meds.
So I get shit for a $4,000 watch and Brent is Cool for having a $2,700 bike?
Hypocrites!
they piss the hell out of me, I saw this one guy nearly get flattened by a car (I kinda secretly wished he had) because he blew through a stop sign and then had the nerve to give the driver a dirty look. Maybe 2 broken legs would teach him that stop signs aren't just for cars and peds, they are for bikers too you fucking moron!
Jeff, I'm curious as to exactly what difference it makes in your life whether or not people here at Anti Strib choose to commute by bike or not?
Partially because I'm curious, partially because it's a way to reduce oil dependence. If you don't feel like answering, don't. I thought it would make for good conversation - and I've been surprised at what I've found already.
Jeff,
Again you show your youth and ignorance. Do you expect my 80 year old grandmother to bike to the store? How about my mom who can barely walk?
Your incredibly narrow view of the world has biking as a viable option as you are young, healthy, childless, single,live close to work and don't have a job that requires travel.
So do you pick up dates on your bike? I have never seen a Bike valeted at M&S Grill nor at La Belle Vie. Adults use a car to take their wife to dinner.
jeff It is freedom that you haven't been taught and don't get. Stand on your own, fend for yourself, leave me the F alone. You ride your bike, I'll drive my fossil-fuel sucking SUV.
By the way, $2700 for a bicycle is easy when you go titanium or carbon fiber. I dream of such a bike, though I'd also hesitate to ride it to work.
It was a year old model when I bought it and was marked down $700...and then I wheeled and dealed to get another $200 off. I then had to add peddles, a different seat and computer/HRM. So...$2700 is probably a little on the low side...
It is mostly carbon fiber with platinum/steel down tube and chain-stays...the rest is all carbon fiber.
Here's a pic...for those who care...
http://www.lemondbikes.com/viewL...aires&
year=2004
Do you expect my 80 year old grandmother to bike to the store? How about my mom who can barely walk?
Come on. You know that while we don't agree on much, I'm a reasonable person. That's an unncessary and hysterical straw man and you know it.
I simply want to encourage riding by people for whom it's reasonable. If a person has clients spread across the cities, then I understand it's not an option for them. If they're not appropriately young/healthy, then I understand that too. If they live too far away, I get it (although it may be smart to reconsider where they live and work if that's an option). I'm simply excited about a rise in popularity - clearly there were people who could have been riding but were not.
So do you pick up dates on your bike?
Ha, actually I have definitely biked places as dates.
Brent: hot.
It is freedom that you haven't been taught and don't get. Stand on your own, fend for yourself, leave me the F alone.
No, it is freedom that YOU don't get. When your freedom fucks with my freedom, it's not freedom any more. When your SUV fucks up my climate, it's not freedom anymore. I stand rigidly by freedom until we bump into each other. Then it's time to admit it's a crowded world and work together to make things function.
Your incredibly narrow view of the world has biking as a viable option as you are young, healthy, childless, single,live close to work and don't have a job that requires travel.
Yabbut, I'm 45 and a single father of two. Is my worldview narrow?
Look, save the strawmen about grandma (although there are people in their 80's and 90's who DO bike daily and have been for fifty years; it's a great way to stay in shape); it's NOT for everyone. When I had a 25 mile commute to the western subs, and when my kids were little, it was untenable. No argument.
It's one of the reasons I sought out my current job (among, let's be clear, many other things).
So do you pick up dates on your bike? I have never seen a Bike valeted at M&S Grill nor at La Belle Vie. Adults use a car to take their wife to dinner.
SFW?
Seriously - of course I drive on dates. But that's not the kind of occasions we're talking about, now, is it?
Wow...I agree with Jeff...
Your freedom stops right where mine begins.
Where I disagree with you, however, is on the climate issue...but that is not the point of this post...so we don't need to go there.
Jeff...I'm curious...what sort of bike do you ride?
although there are people in their 80's and 90's who DO bike daily and have been for fifty years; it's a great way to stay in shape
It's true. There are several emeritus professors here who ride in every day who must be in their eighties.
Jeff...I'm curious...what sort of bike do you ride?
Surly Long-Haul Trucker.
It's a touring-style bike, which basically means it's a heavy-duty steel-framed road bike meant more for long-distance comfort and panier-carrying ability than speed. It's fun for long tours and is solid and sturdy for commuting around town.
That said, I wouldn't mind having a real fast road bike. And I secretly kinda enjoyed borrowing a friend's fixie.
I haven't seen anyone bring up the big common sense issue yet, insurance. Do auto-insurance companies cover you on a bicycle? If this trend of more bikes on the roads continues will Minnesota do the right thing & require all bikers to have insurance same as autos. If you tag me on your bike & crunch my fender in, you better be fucking insured, or it will come out of your dingleberry ass!
"Your freedom stops right where mine begins." I most certianly agree. But you wish to ban SUV's, suburbs, Smoking, all sorts of things. I like bikes, and the coal fired smelters that make the steel for them in China. I'm glad that they have jobs.
Goldie, if a bicyclist smashes into your car hard enough to do serious damage, he's got far bigger problems (a huge medical bill for starters) than the few hundred bucks he's going to have to pay you. I don't know that liability insurance is going to be a huge issue if large numbers of cyclists take to the roads for this basic reason.
Yeah, it is time for the pro-governmen crowd to step up and get licences, insurance and start paying some taxes for the maintenance of those bike paths.
They are all happy to pay for a better MN right? Well it's time to put up or shut up.
$2700? Sounds expensive.
My bike costs four times that at retail.
If course, I did not pay retail for it. I actually did not pay anything for it.
If you tag me on your bike & crunch my fender in, you better be fucking insured, or it will come out of your dingleberry ass!
Goldie, if I make contact with your vehicle it won't be because I broke the traffic laws. You better kill me because otherwise the restitution will bankrupt you.
Do auto-insurance companies cover you on a bicycle?
No. But that's a valid point.
I like bikes, and the coal fired smelters that make the steel for them in China.
It's not clever to point out that everything we do requires some amount of resources. I obviously understand that. It's WHAT that amount is that matters.
I gotta say that Jeffs treatment of this issue is far better than the Strib. I used to ride 30+ miles a day (up untill not all that long ago) and well, I wish I were still doing it because it was a great warm-up on the workday (physical dirty dusty job, appearance a non-issue) and a great means of blowing some steam after the workday. [yep, one of those jokers you see in traffic peddling along and choking down a heater at the same time-and no it was not DUI inspired] I think we have a bit too much of a tendency to associate every and all bicycle riders with those Critical Mass shitsticks that ... I'm not gonna start...wow do I hate those peddle-tards...
Jeff does say some asnine crap at times, but he seems pretty neutral and a little less agenda driven in his query...just sayin'...
A long time ago I was riding a bike on 15th Ave near Dinkytown, going maybe 20 mph, when a guy opened his door right in front of me (didn't look in his mirror). I hit the door, flew over it and got a bad road rash. The bike wheel was back by the pedals, and the asshole's driver side door was bent so much he couldn't close it. And I had to walk to gas station to call the cops because the f'n stooge didn't want to. (Probably a Liberal) If I hadn't been in such pain and shock I would have decked him on the spot. His insurance company paid for a doctor visit and repairs of my bike. Wonder how often that kind of accident happens?
Smithers just sounded rather hostile.
Lighten up Francis!
Ah ha ha ha!
Yeah, it is time for the pro-governmen crowd to step up and get licences, insurance and start paying some taxes for the maintenance of those bike paths.
Where do you keep getting "pro-government", Tracy?
And we DO pay for the maintenance of those bike paths. It's not from gas taxes, since - duh - we don't use it. But we most assuredly do pay. The money comes from somewhere. I'd personally have no problem paying a user fee for separated paths.
What'd be the point of insurance and licenses? Injuries are covered by medical; I'm sure you can get collision for a bike, if it's expensive enough (sometimes homeowners will cover it). If you're talking liability - cars (their drivers) cause most of the accidents through their own negligence, and sustain almost no damage in the bargain.
As to licenses? Sounds like you're the pro-government guy, Chachi.
Jeff...I don't think I've ever seen a Surly like that...looks like a nice riding bike for commuting.
I will admit that I sometimes wished that my LeMond had a place for a rack (I feel that seat post mounted racks get in my way when I ride) which is why I got a 1980 Panasonic DX-1000 that I use if I want to tour...but I truely enjoy the feel of my LeMond better...and I've done about 7 century ride on her and have had no problems with the geometry bothering me at all.
Smithers...if I had your job I'd probably have a more expensive ride too...but I'll be honest with you, I REALLY like what I have...and there isn't a whole lot I would want to change on her.
Face it Berg, most of your biking buddies lean more towards Lenin more than Adam Smith.
We all pay for everything, but anytime a road discussion comes up some yahoo says that car drivers don't cover the cost of roads. Well then bike riders don't cover the cost of bike paths.
The left is split on general taxes, they love them when we're talking welfare and homeless shelters, but try talking roads and suddenly everything is dedicated funding.
But have a nice ride Comrade Berg.
Yeah, what makes a bike a good solid load carrier and what makes a bike speedy tend to be different things. The Surly is a real mule. With the rear panniers only, it can carry (hilariously) 32 Surly beers.
Actually, Tracy, most of the guys I know who really put the miles on two wheels tend to be a little more libertarian in outlook. Jeff and Smithers are exceptions.
I tend to view local roads and sidewalks/bike paths as "should be funded by property taxes." You live in a house, you've got the right to use the roads. They should be built to accomodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and cars alike.
Like they always have been.
Face it Berg, most of your biking buddies lean more towards Lenin more than Adam Smith.
So are most people in South Minneapolis, Trotsky Eberly.
What? Ascribing political beliefs to the individual based on a stereotype is illogical? The hell you say!
We all pay for everything, but anytime a road discussion comes up some yahoo says that car drivers don't cover the cost of roads. Well then bike riders don't cover the cost of bike paths.
Perhaps, but it's an illogical comparison. Roads were tied, long ago, to gas taxes (because cars and trucks are not only most of the traffic, but aside from weather they provide ALL the wear and tear!). There's no real analogous idea for bikes - so they get paid (usually) out of Park/Rec and Public Works discretionary funding.
So how SHOULD it be done?
Tax the shit out of the spandex wearing weenies!
I have no problem with biking as a hobby, just like hiking and canoeing. But, people don't talk about backpacking to work or canoeing to work so PLEASE leave biking out of any transportation discussion. Its not a realistic option for 99% of Minnesotans 365 days a year. You admit that you still drive, almost all bikers do.
So when we talk about funding for bike paths, lets just be honest and admit that we are just funding someone hobby or workout. No one is talking about subsidizing my membership to the Marsh!
Now, don't get me started on liberal neighbors. Your neighbors may own more guns than mine, but they need them!
I guess I'll have to revise my view of scooters as they at least burn gas.
Tax the shit out of the spandex wearing weenies!
Tracy...do you have any clue how much bike jerseys and gel padded shorts cost?
Shit, we pay for the bike trails, and them some, with the amount of sales tax we pay...so we pay for our own trails already...
...unless your a tax cheating a-hole like me who buys his gear from a company online that doesn't have a store in the state, so I don't pay any sales tax...
In all seriousness, I find a minor flaw in your tax the bike idea to fund trails...
What about people like me who don't ride trails?
Yes, on an occasion I am on a trail, but a good 90% of my biking is on wide ass shoulders out in the sticks. I already fund mass transit projects that I don't use, I don't want to start more funding going to things I don't use.
gel padded shorts
Do you know how I can tell you're gay?
"When your freedom fucks with my freedom, it's not freedom any more. When your SUV fucks up my climate, it's not freedom anymore." - jeff
No SUV, or other gas-fueled vehicle out there, is fucking up your climate Jeffy. That is unless you are afflicted with "climate change delusion", a new clinically recognized psychological disorder that is afflicting a rapidly expanding number of citizens. This is very similar to other delusions like the "Jew delusion" among Muslims. Muslims are typically obsessed with their purported victimization by Jews, as taught to them by the hateful Koran, to the point that they are nearly helpless to explain in objective rational terms why they feel this way. If they had to do so to believe it, the belief would have evaporated long ago.
Similarly, climate change delusion irrationally faults the lifestyle of Americans, for a measured global warming phenomenon, that ended several years ago, thwarting all the climate doomsayers. Yet belief in it persists, despite these facts, through what can only be described as religious fervor. In the end, nature itself, is the principal object of denial by the climate change alarmist. The alarmist seeks to justify his delusion of imminent catastrophe, by attributing every naturally occurring destructive phenomenon to the influence of mankind. The SUV, just like the Jew, is blamed and targeted as an evil influence. Just as Nazis and Islamists have murdered innocent Jews, eco-terrorists have attacked and destroyed the objects of their hatred.
And lets not forget the 1.8 million being spent on making some metro streets bike corridors. Excellent.
Thank you taxpayers! Its about time bike commuting was recognized as a viable alternative to the car.
Tax the shit out of the spandex wearing weenies!
Don't own any spandex, and in case you have no clue about life in a DFL city (technically you should...), my shit is already taxed out.
I have no problem with biking as a hobby, just like hiking and canoeing.
Tracy, have you been learning rhetoric from Flash? Just repeating an absurdity over and over and over again doesn't make it true.
But, people don't talk about backpacking to work or canoeing to work
Right - because they're absurd irrelevant tangents, unless you live by a river. But bikes ARE a way to get from point A to point B.
so PLEASE leave biking out of any transportation discussion.
You're mixing discussions, here. The subject isn't whether bikes are a "transit option" (although for five or six months a year it is, for me, which is all that matters in the end). The subject Jeff gave us was "do conservatives bike" (yes).
So when we talk about funding for bike paths, lets just be honest and admit that we are just funding someone hobby or workout.
Again with the arguing like Flash. Yes, it's a workout; it also gets me, and more and more of us, to work in the morning and home at night a good chunk of the year. It's not perfect for everyone all the time; either are buses or trains or, for that matter, cars.
"When your SUV fucks up my climate, it's not freedom anymore." - jeff
That will earn you an F, schoolboy. The worshipping of a computer model does not make science.
Back on topic...
I know a guy that bikes to work from Forest Lake to Arden Hills.
Time = Money
Gas would have to be A LOT more expensive for me to bike to work to save money.
MBerg see this quote from Al:
Its about time bike commuting was recognized as a viable alternative to the car.
You are assisting bats hit liberals who want to take even more money from roads and piss it away on bike paths.
We live in MN and you admit that you use a car 1/2 the year. So please stop helping the numbnuts who think that biking more would solve congestion. It won't in the winter, which seems to last 9 months these days (Global warmign my ass!)
I completely understand taxes in the City, I'm pretty sure mine are highe than yours. So you have 2 choices:
A. Admit that biking is a hobby
B. Start funding your transit choice.
I'd reccomend A.
Discussions like this are why Republicans are losing. We need to make sure people understand the difference between a real trasnit option that deserves funding like roads and recreational things like parks and bike trails. If we short change parks our quality of life might suffer (We should just privitize them and let corporations maintain them).
If we shortchange roads our economy WILL suffer and so will our quality of life.
The choices should be pretty easy.
Ya know, except for places where limited access roads prevent their use by non-motorized vehicles, I could pretty much do without bike paths, actually. It's far better when roads are simply built with an adequate shoulder--which benefits car traffic, as anyone who's ever had to get around a Yugo parked on the side of the roads knows.
And before we endorse high taxes on bicycle commuters, perhaps we ought to evaluate how much cyclists are actually costing the public. Wear and tear on roads is negligible compared to bigger vehicles, as road wear goes as the square of weight or so. That's actually a pretty significant savings in local road maintenance costs.
All in all, I'd have to bet that cyclists more than pay their way, even when the costs of bike paths to nowhere (and yes, that's where a lot of 'em go) are accounted for.
"Admit that biking is a hobby" It hasnt been a hobby for years. I regularly ride 5000+ miles a year all year and it is my primary transportation source.
Douche -- you complain about your weight and health regularly. Talk is cheap -- do something about it. Instead of driving around town, bike. When the distance is longer, drive. It really doesnt take that much longer and you will lose weight and feel better.
Maybe cutting back on the scotch and cigars would do you some good. Your lifestyle is costing us all money -- unless of course, you dont have health insurance and pay the full cost out of pocket. Otherwise, your health is being subsidized.
"I'd have to bet that cyclists more than pay their way"
Bullshit. How much might you want to wager on that bet, Bubba?
Al,
Some criminal stole my bike last year and another criminal broke into my garage looking for one this year.
If Rybak got serious about crime, I'd buy another one, but currenly it costs me $250 a year to repair the damage done by criminals looking for bikes, why add another $500 by giving them something to steal?
My lifestyle doesn't cost you jack shit! I have a high deductible policy so I pay out of pocket for everything under $10K.
Typical liberal, happy to tell everyone else how to live (Ethnocenttic assholes think everyone lives like they do) and then tries to tie my choices to some societal lose. As if we all owe everything to the government and only live to serve the government and the liberals that run it.
You are a completely self-centered communist Al.
K-rod, the roads portion of my property tax is a couple grand each year. If I reduce my driving on local roads by just 10% by cycling, that's a few hundred bucks available for bike paths right there. Multiply that by, say 2% of the population doing the same thing I am, and you get to a few million bucks for bike paths rather quickly.
Now add in the sales tax on the grand or so that avid cyclists pay on their rides each year, and you're getting to some serious revenue that does indeed pay for a lot of bike paths.
Mind you; I don't like bike paths, either. They are generally made wrong and don't go anywhere. However, there is a fiscal argument for 'em.
Douche -- you should move to a better neighborhood or get better locks.
I personally could give a shit if you end up like Russert. Between overweight slobs and gun owners responsible for over half the suicides in this country, the gene pool is improved every time one of you have the big one. Just dont linger -- that costs us all money.
And your high deductible plan is still subsidized -- you've just elected to pay more up front. If you were to linger awhile in the hospital, your 10k and premiums would be gone in a matter of weeks. The rest of us paying premiums subsidize the pool.
Drop that coverage and assume all the risk of your health costs from your fabulous fortune and then you can bad mouth subsidizing healthcare. Until then, you're still just a hypocrite.
Screw you too Al,
Since we're being honest, I hope you get hit by LRT and die while you're riding your bike. Poetic justice and all that.
As for subsidized, that's pooled risk to a PRIVATE insurance company socialist. If I present too large of a risk, they can raise my premiums or drop me. You commies can't seem to separate your facist fantasies from the reality of private business and freedom.
As for suicides, liberal whiners like you are far more likely to kill themselves than fat, happy, rich conservatives like myself. My life is working, more than I can say for you and your ilk.
So go sniff some bike seats spandex boy.
I'll get to Tracy. But first, "Al":
Between overweight slobs and gun owners responsible for over half the suicides in this country
Bzzzt. You got it backwards. Guns are NOT half the suicides; suicides are half of all gun deaths.
Gun owners in general are mentally healthier than lesser people.
Now, to Tracy, who should really know better. (And, by the way, every Double-Income-No-Kids couple with a yappy mop dog I've ever met voted for Wellstone...)
You are assisting bats hit liberals who want to take even more money from roads and piss it away on bike paths.
I'm doing no such thing; I had nothing to do with setting up the system by which roads (and lanes) are paid for. Back when gas was cheap and everyone drove, and bikes were negligible as transportation, "we" committed to gas tax as a *user fee*. There IS no other mechanism, at the moment, to tax bikers.
We live in MN and you admit that you use a car 1/2 the year.
Incorrect. I use the car when I need to - which means almost never for getting to work.
So please stop helping the numbnuts who think that biking more would solve congestion.
For like the third time - I don't give a rat's ass about congestion. I don't drive through it.
Furthermore, as I've written on my blog many times, I think there can be a market reason to look into transit, even rail. Not to "enable" numbnutses, but because it makes *market* sense.
It won't in the winter, which seems to last 9 months these days (Global warmign my ass!)
Dunno, Duce. I'll be biking from April into October this year.
I completely understand taxes in the City, I'm pretty sure mine are highe than yours. So you have 2 choices:
A. Admit that biking is a hobby
B. Start funding your transit choice.
No, Tracy, I have many more than two choices.
a. is both true and bullshit.
Nobody's come up with any ideas about how "b" should be done, preferring instead to hector me about what biking is (but still isn't).
Discussions like this are why Republicans are losing. We need to make sure people understand the difference between a real trasnit option that deserves funding like roads and recreational things like parks and bike trails. If we short change parks our quality of life might suffer (We should just privitize them and let corporations maintain them).
Right...
If we shortchange roads our economy WILL suffer and so will our quality of life.
The choices should be pretty easy.
Right. But that wasn't the subject of Jeff's post, now, was it?
"As for subsidized, that's pooled risk to a PRIVATE insurance company socialist. " And all of the policy holders of that company subsidize everyone else. Thats why its called a pool.
"liberal whiners" you should have added -- who are willing to make some sacrifices and pay taxes for the better good.
Your legacy will undoubtedly be some money in the bank, a few real estate investments, some purchases at charity auctions and people will wonder -- what did he really contribute?
Sacrifice for the common good eh comrade?
You crack me up.
You forget the jobs I provide and the homes people live in. Nor should you forget that there are lots of medical devices that I have gotten approved. You will very likely need something I worked on one day. What have you created that I will ever need?
And what will your legacy be bike boy?
"Now add in the sales tax on the grand or so that avid cyclists pay on their rides each year, and you're getting to some serious revenue that does indeed pay for a lot of bike paths."
Bullshit. Sales tax from autos is mostly dedicated to transit. The sales tax on the bike tire you bought is not dedicated toward bike paths.
I am not against bike paths. I support reasonable public financing of parks and other recreational activities.
The cycling fanatics should thank smowmobilers for a lot of those paths. 
Well Berg, if you want to hang with the LRT crowd, that's your choice. I hope I never hear you whine about taxes every again because they is your peeps now.
Double-Income-No-Kids couple with a yappy mop dog I've
I guess Eva is right about you, you skin is tomato thin. You jumped in defending the Bikes as Transit crowd yet have repeatedly personally ripped me and my lifestyle.
I could really get down in the gutter and cut a paste some really "smart" decisions you have made according to your "20 years later" biography, but I'll skip that and just say that I have never had to ask the Salvation Army for assistance. (As a conservative, why don't you tell us how you were personally respnsible for getting into a situation like that?)
To Close:
I had never met anyone that wears stain Tee-shirts to Christmas parties until I became involved with the MOB. You just know these are the guys that wear a torn Who T-shirt, dirty shorts and flip-flops to their grandma's funeral.
Tracy,
Lighten up. It was all in good fun, or so I thought. As with Eva, nothing "thin-skinned" about it. I thought you were just tossing out the smack for the fun of it.
I mean, since I was the one who leaped to you and your blog's defense when everyone else tossed you under the bus, I thought you'd figure that one out.
Sorry I misread you.
Perhaps you should let me know the point where people should start taking offense, so there's no more confusion. From what I've seen here, it comes somewhere "above" dishing on someone's transportation, but below their dogs.
Am I warm?
You jumped in defending the Bikes as Transit crowd yet have repeatedly personally ripped me and my lifestyle.
Untrue on both counts.
I wasn't defending any "crowd" - merely pointing out what I do, in answering Jeff's question. Y'know. The guy who writes on your blog.
And I didn't "rip" anyone, at least not intentionally. You're welcome to your lifestyle. It's different than mine, but no judgement was intended.
Smack-talk among people who should agree on most things, yes. Rip? Get real. I don't as a rule rip on lifestyles.
Sorry if it came across otherwise.
Boys, I want you to give each other a big hug and make up.
Sing with me now:
We are the World
We are the Children....
Oh, what the heck:
I could really get down in the gutter and cut a paste some really "smart" decisions you have made according to your "20 years later" biography, but I'll skip that
Well, yeah. Since I already wrote them and they're on my blog for public consumption, it might not be so much "in the gutter" as "redundant".
and just say that I have never had to ask the Salvation Army for assistance.
Well, good for you!
I did, once. Not the hardest thing I've done in my life, but pretty close.
(As a conservative, why don't you tell us how you were personally respnsible for getting into a situation like that?
Nah. Not really for public consumption. But glad to see you find the (transient) misfortunes of others such funny material.
Me? I just learned from it.
K-rod, while certainly that sales tax revenue and county road savings is not "budgeted" for the purpose of bike paths, just as certainly that revenue and that savings exists, no?
And sure, snowmobilers are responsible for some of those, and prior to them, the deer, right? And some of 'em are abandoned RR right of ways that I hope never revert to LRT. Reality is, though, that if you want to tax bicyclists for the impact they cause, it's already being done.
So let's stop advocating oppressive taxation, registration, and whatever other things liberals generally do with any good thing to stop it. Let it be.
(transient) misfortunes?
Yeah, you're running on all 8 now right? Got your eye on that house on Summit Ave. and ready to add yet another CJ-7 to the Berg fleet?
I'm glad begging wasn't the hardest thing you every had to do. It comes much easier to some than others. you must have the gift.
Some of us buck up and get a second or third job or work like hell not to fuck up and get in a bad spot in the first place.
I'm glad you find the details of my life fit for public consumption but yours, not so much.
I'm glad you find the details of my life fit for public consumption but yours, not so much.
I wasn't aware that I'd divulged anything that wasn't public knowledge. I mean, you and the Mrs. do seem happy enough, right? It didn't seem like a bit dig at you. I'm sincererly sorry if I was mistaken.
Yeah, you're running on all 8 now right?
Life has its ups and downs. Mostly ups. Thanks for your concern!
Some of us buck up and get a second or third job or work like hell not to fuck up and get in a bad spot in the first place.
I've done that, many, many times.
I'm glad begging wasn't the hardest thing you every had to do. It comes much easier to some than others.
When you have kids to take care of, you do a lot of things to keep things working that you might never have expected to have had to do.
It was paid back - to the private charity, btw - with interest.
you must have the gift.
Look, Tracy. For about the third time, I'm sorry if what I thought was jocular smack-talk came across wrong, in the writing or the receiving.
I didn't intend for anything to get personal, and no insult was intended. Honestly.
Which, honestly, is more than you can say with your last couple of posts. I mean, criminy, take a breath.
Seriously, dude. After "Dirt Worshipping Heathens", I took a lot of shit to defend you. If after all that you think I'd just casually insult you for the fun of it, again, sorry - but I didn't.
Anyway, for the bazillionth and last time, I'm sorry, and no insult was intended.
Douche
Stop being a dick.
Oh, yeah:
Got your eye on that house on Summit Ave. and ready to add yet another CJ-7 to the Berg fleet?
While material possessions don't mean all that much to me, there's definitely a CJ7 in my future, one of these next tax refunds.
Sometime after I re-learn how to restore stuff.
Why stop? Berg started it!
Why stop? Berg started it!
Without knowing "berg" was crossing any imaginary lines.
So - why stop? Because...
a) After I've made it very clear, over and over again, that it was a mistake, it'd just plain be the right thing to do.
b) You have nothing to gain from it.
How's that for starters?
And, to rewind a bit further, I was just answering Jeff's question; "Are there any self-described conservatives who simply find it practical and cheap?"
It's highly practical, very cheap, and after four months on the road I have thighs of steel.
Gotta love that.
Gotta love that.
Truth be told, we don't really want to know about your thighs, Mitch. Well, Jim W. might...
Fine. Appology accepted and reciprocated.
Blame the diet.
I will have some Bunnahaven for you this evening, Duce'
Cutting back on fine single malt scotch seems like an unreasonable diet.
Bunnahaven,
MMMMM!
I think I get one drink a day. I didn't have any all week, so that means I get 5 tonight!
oops, I meant Bunnahabhain
K-Rod,
Apart from being hungry, grouchy and having nothing to look forward to this weekend, the worst part is with no carbs or calories in my body, I couldn't drink even if I wanted to. Booze goes right to your head and the hangovers are legendary.
I'm going to Vegas soon and I'm going to have to start eating massive amounts of carbs a dat or 2 ahead of time. Otherwise, even wine with dinner will make me sick. (My friends drink a lot of wine with dinner)
I thought you spelled that wrong.
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