[Vision2020] Environmental Paradox of Bicycling

[Mark Solomon]

Reminds me of the bumpersticker (only seen on old VW buses that 
couldn't have accelerated if they'd tried):

Raise the Speed Limit, It's Evolution at Work!

m.

At 12:42 PM -0400 10/21/06, Philip Cook wrote:
>A couple of months ago on this list we discussed the environmental 
>benefits of bicycling and the relationship to being a vegetarian. 
>(http://bicycleuniverse.info/transpo/beef.html)
>
>Last night while reading the December issue of Bicycling magazine, I 
>ran across reference to this article:
>
>http://opim.wharton.upenn.edu/~ulrich/documents/ulrich-cycling-enviro-jul06.pdf
>
>The basic argument is that cycling leads to individuals living 
>longer and therefore increases an individual's total environmental 
>impact on the world.
>
>My favorite line in the article is: "As a society, we value 
>longevity more than long-term environmental impact. If we did not, 
>we might  provide incentives for risky behaviors such as smoking, 
>drug abuse, and driving without seat belts."
>
>O.K. I'll take up smoking cigarettes and crack, but please don't 
>take my bike ;-)
>
>A little smile for a Saturday morning,
>
>Philip