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But the Segway will revolutionize human transport! Because everyone lives where the weather is always nice! But cars are evil, because we should ride our bikes

But the Segway will revolutionize human transport! Because everyone lives where the weather is always nice! But cars are evil, because we should ride our bikes more! Because everyone lives where it's always nice! How dare you inhabit a piece of the planet other than southern California? The audacity! The hubris! The reality intruding on my bullshit platitudes!

sandworm101 6y ago
If you look outside my office you will see 200+ cars in the parking lots. Each one of them has a cord plugging them into a dedicated outlet. But not one of them is charging. There is probably more electricity going into our parking lot outlets than to all of our computers and lights inside.
tnorthcutt 6y ago
Sure, you can always find exceptions. But 1000 of 1200 kids ride their bikes to this school in Finland, in -17C weather: https://unofficialnetworks.com/2019/11/20/kids-in-finland-ride-their-bicycles-to-school-in-17c-weather https://unofficialnetworks.com/2019/11/20/kids-in-finland-ri... The people advocating for more biking aren't saying everyone everywhere at every time should ride bikes. They're saying more people, in more places, at more times, should.
- coyotespike 6y ago
  Agree. And at the higher end of the temperature spectrum, I've commuted on my bike all through the summer in Austin, Texas, when the temps are routinely 40-43C. Not for everyone, as I had a place to shower and change when I got sweaty, but more <6 mile trips could be made by bike.
kehrin 6y ago
>But cars are evil, because we should ride our bikes more! Because everyone lives where it's always nice! I thought so as well until I saw this video about cycling in Finland. Looks super doable. Rain on the other hand ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU
mikestew 6y ago
Yes, g-d forbid the rest of us ride scooters to work because a few people live in Whitehorse. One need not live in SoCal to avoid the use of a car in winter. I lived in Indiana and managed it. Hell, people in Whitehorse manage it, for that matter. (EDIT: well, there ya go: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26067682 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26067682)
cambalache 6y ago
Yeah, Southern California, the only place in the world with nice weather. Aren't you forgetting tropical Netherlands and Denmark? That's why they bike so much.
d33lio 6y ago
During my time in SV people seemed to always apologize when the weather wasn't perfect. They apologized when it was too "hot" barely breaking 80F and too cold when it got below 50F. Personally, "perfect" weather was depressing as all hell because seasons are actually awesome and help you keep track of time passing by. I'll never forget how much people on the east coast (especially boston) treasure the few summer months where you can be outside.
kristiandupont 6y ago
I ride my bike here in Copenhagen like so many others and it's pretty far from SoCal temperatures.
ZeroGravitas 6y ago
Weather isn't the biggest determinant of cycling usage (and that probably applies to walking too): "Why Canadians can't bike in the winter but Finnish people can" https://youtu.be/Uhx-26GfCBU https://youtu.be/Uhx-26GfCBU The scene with the line of tiny bikes parked outside the school in the middle of winter is particularly striking. I've biked through all weathers but even for me that seems like something that wouldn't be possible, but apparently is with a bit of organisation.
- Ottolay 6y ago
  I grew up biking to elementary school in Sweden year around and it did not seem like a big deal. Just make sure to dress for the weather. I remember wearing overalls or ski pants when it got real cold. Snow days were also not a thing. I don't remember a single weather cancellation. The funny thing is I live further south now and when I go back to visit in the winter, it feels ridiculously cold.
burkaman 6y ago
This reads as if you yourself have never been outside SoCal, and don't realize that people bike everywhere in the world.
unethical_ban 6y ago
This kind of bitter, sarcastic tone is annoying enough on HN, and you aren't even challenging the parent, but agreeing with him by setting up strawmen of the opposing side.

sandworm101 6y ago

If you look outside my office you will see 200+ cars in the parking lots. Each one of them has a cord plugging them into a dedicated outlet. But not one of them is charging. There is probably more electricity going into our parking lot outlets than to all of our computers and lights inside.

tnorthcutt 6y ago

Sure, you can always find exceptions. But 1000 of 1200 kids ride their bikes to this school in Finland, in -17C weather: https://unofficialnetworks.com/2019/11/20/kids-in-finland-ride-their-bicycles-to-school-in-17c-weather https://unofficialnetworks.com/2019/11/20/kids-in-finland-ri... The people advocating for more biking aren't saying everyone everywhere at every time should ride bikes. They're saying more people, in more places, at more times, should.

coyotespike 6y ago
Agree. And at the higher end of the temperature spectrum, I've commuted on my bike all through the summer in Austin, Texas, when the temps are routinely 40-43C. Not for everyone, as I had a place to shower and change when I got sweaty, but more <6 mile trips could be made by bike.

kehrin 6y ago

>But cars are evil, because we should ride our bikes more! Because everyone lives where it's always nice! I thought so as well until I saw this video about cycling in Finland. Looks super doable. Rain on the other hand ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU

mikestew 6y ago

Yes, g-d forbid the rest of us ride scooters to work because a few people live in Whitehorse. One need not live in SoCal to avoid the use of a car in winter. I lived in Indiana and managed it. Hell, people in Whitehorse manage it, for that matter. (EDIT: well, there ya go: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26067682 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26067682)

cambalache 6y ago

Yeah, Southern California, the only place in the world with nice weather. Aren't you forgetting tropical Netherlands and Denmark? That's why they bike so much.

d33lio 6y ago

During my time in SV people seemed to always apologize when the weather wasn't perfect. They apologized when it was too "hot" barely breaking 80F and too cold when it got below 50F. Personally, "perfect" weather was depressing as all hell because seasons are actually awesome and help you keep track of time passing by. I'll never forget how much people on the east coast (especially boston) treasure the few summer months where you can be outside.

kristiandupont 6y ago

I ride my bike here in Copenhagen like so many others and it's pretty far from SoCal temperatures.

ZeroGravitas 6y ago

Weather isn't the biggest determinant of cycling usage (and that probably applies to walking too): "Why Canadians can't bike in the winter but Finnish people can" https://youtu.be/Uhx-26GfCBU https://youtu.be/Uhx-26GfCBU The scene with the line of tiny bikes parked outside the school in the middle of winter is particularly striking. I've biked through all weathers but even for me that seems like something that wouldn't be possible, but apparently is with a bit of organisation.

Ottolay 6y ago
I grew up biking to elementary school in Sweden year around and it did not seem like a big deal. Just make sure to dress for the weather. I remember wearing overalls or ski pants when it got real cold. Snow days were also not a thing. I don't remember a single weather cancellation. The funny thing is I live further south now and when I go back to visit in the winter, it feels ridiculously cold.

burkaman 6y ago

This reads as if you yourself have never been outside SoCal, and don't realize that people bike everywhere in the world.

unethical_ban 6y ago

This kind of bitter, sarcastic tone is annoying enough on HN, and you aren't even challenging the parent, but agreeing with him by setting up strawmen of the opposing side.