<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">>>>In a message dated 9/30/07 6:46:12 PM Pacific Daylight Time, JimBaross@cox.net writes:<BR>
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<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Let's remember, or maybe you hadn't heard, that a HUGE percentage of <BR>
car trips in the US are less than five miles! Although most of us <BR>
would agree that a fixie may not be the appropriate bike for most <BR>
people (until more motivated and skilled), the one-speed or few-speed <BR>
city-bikes are likely to be pretty useful for lots of people to use <BR>
for replacing some car trips... and for getting some exercise and fun.<BR>
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I agree... I think it is important to distinguish between what we ourselves as individuals choose and what can/might work for someone else in a different situation.<BR>
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I happen to like riding the classic road bike, it fits my riding style and needs. But I recognize there are plenty out there whose needs are better suited by a variety of other choices.<BR>
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In my vision of the future, with San Diego's particular blend of good weather but mesa and canyon geography, electric bicycles in some form or another will be used by most people for those short trips. A combination of an electric bicycle and public transportation will replace the car and the transportation solution. <BR>
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As an enthusiast, an electric bicycle is not attractive but in the big picture, it well maybe the way of the future. We die-hard pedal pushers will no longer be concerned about hoard of motorists in their bloated cars but we will be learning how to ride alongside the myrid of folks just getting around on some form of simple, relatively slow motorized vehicle...<BR>
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jon<BR>
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