5 ms·
I know double-commenting is frowned upon, but this quote also stood out to me as a bike nerd: The least important, perhaps, and yet to some of us the sadde
by dont__panic 4y ago
I know double-commenting is frowned upon, but this quote also stood out to me as a bike nerd:
The least important, perhaps, and yet to some of
us the saddest thing about the decay of New England
country life has been the disappearance of the
hospitable wayside tavern. Something similar, it is
hoped, may be brought in by the bicycle. It is much
to be feared, however, that the new bicycle road-house
will be nothing more hospitable than a mammoth stand-up
lunch-counter.
I wonder what these wayside taverns were like. Nowadays, I find myself happy enough with "stand-up lunch-counters" when I bicycle tour (ride self-supported long distances by bicycle). I also find myself greatly appreciating the dirt roads present in Vermont and much of New England, since they slow down car traffic and are honestly much more pleasant to bike on than poorly maintained pavement roads. Meanwhile, this author laments the poor state of (presumably dirt) carriage roads across rural New England. It's interesting how I seem to agree with the base thoughts and preferences of the author, but we have inverted preferences on these things (for similar reasons).
I wonder what this author thought about the automobile.
- baxtr 4y agoWhat is double-commenting?
- jollyllama 4y agoIt's relatively easier to have a pint or two and ride a horse or drive a wagon than it is to do the same and ride an old bicycle. I would assume you could also water, feed, and rest your horse at the tavern, which a bicycle did not require.
- chrsig 4y agoIt's much easier to appreciate the dirt roads when you're a tourist. Having grown up on a dirt road in New England, I can say that I'd much rather it were paved.
- dasil003 4y agoFor driving or biking?
- chrsig 4y agoboth. and walking, rollerblading, skateboarding…
- the_third_wave 4y agoHm, I live one a farm in the Swedish countryside where part the road was paved a number of years ago and I can't say I appreciate the "improvement". Cars speed by faster, it is harder on horses' hooves, frost damage is harder to repair. Since it is too hilly here to skate and the pavement type - oil-drenched gravel - is too coarse for it anyway that argument doesn't hold either. I can bike, ride my motorbike and tractor just as well on the gravel so... where's the upside?
- vanilla_nut 4y agoAs a New England resident, I agree. The dirt roads are nice because it's really hard for cars to exceed 35MPH or so. I find bicycling on dirt roads is actually better than pavement (smoother, better grip) when the roads are well constructed and well taken care of. Except for our annual 2-3 weeks of "peanut butter season."
- dugmartin 4y agoEspecially during mud season.
- i2amsam 4y agoYour comment reminded me of a restaurant we frequented growing up https://www.waysiderestaurant.com/history/ https://www.waysiderestaurant.com/history/. Founded in 1918 and still operating today!