This is the sort of ridiculous hyperbole that undermines the environmental movement. It is great if somebody is able to walk to the places they need to go, but that isn't always possible. Cars are a fact of life, and even in their oh so precious Europe, people drive, especially rural people. Trying to create a bus route through every rural are in the US would create far more pollution than simply having those people drive, in my estimation.
I'm a huge fan of protecting the environment, I love animals and I adore hiking, camping, gardening, and all sorts of outdoorsy stuff, but I'm practical. I support improving technology to increase MPG's, I support walking places where it is feasible, but human life needs to be protected in the here and now, not just in the future.
I was just discussing pollution with another California transplant here in Nebraska, and we both agreed that here in Nebraska (a pretty conservative state) the pollution is vastly better than in California (a very blue state). Amazing how being a liberal doesn't apparently actually cut down on pollution. I suspect that it is the result of the fact they they tend to do a lot of "feel good" solutions about pollution.
AH aah but the worse of the problems are with the bicycle riders. Adults and Children alike.
All these folks that are not allowed to drive a car, cannot afford one, or ride for enjoyment, are the problem.
All these folks that have naturally no insurance on their bikes or the kids bikes are the problem. So some uninsured driver hits one on a bike Adult or Child, who pays the hospital bill ??? Who pays for repair of a bike or a brain injury to a child or adult by being hit by a hit and run or stolen car ??
We see the street people riding about on bikes with their belongs on the back, some driver of an auto or truck hits them . Destroys their only means of transportation to get their food stamps and live in a homeless shelter and hit the State Liqueur Store, 3 weeks in the hospital, who pays the bills???
Then we have folks laid off from work, no medical insurance and their 8 year old is hit by a drunk with insurance.
Take them to court and the insurance company says it is your fault for not making sure the child was wearing a helmet.
Lots of sides to this problem of transportation issue, most comes back on society that excuses those that harms these Adults and Children.
So should we as people create more and more laws to PROTECT us or are we to be allowed to take the risks in life that may not end well for us and our children ????
BS, I take a risk just getting out of bed each day, most accidents happen in the home. My choice in foot wear can cause me to slip down stairs improperly installed, Kitchen ware can burst into flames if untended, fire places can cause a chimney fire, not my fault the manufacture did not instruct me to have the flu cleaned every year.
Glass in baby food, good reason to yell, poison in baby formula good reason to yell, however if I break a tooth on an unpitted olive in a Greek salad, this is my problem as I should have expected to find a pit.
