Allow me to introduce you to Portland's Emily Finch. http://bikeportland.org/2012/06/28/with-six-kids-and-no-car-this-mom-does-it-all-by-bike-73731 http://bike

Allow me to introduce you to Portland's Emily Finch. http://bikeportland.org/2012/06/28/with-six-kids-and-no-car-this-mom-does-it-all-by-bike-73731 http://bikeportland.org/2012/06/28/with-six-kids-and-no-car-... Also of possible interest is the lead story in this month's issue of Portland Afoot, which is about making a $200 grocery store trip by bike. http://portlandafoot.org/2012/12/mood-to-move-how-to-make-an-impression-at-the-grocery-store/ http://portlandafoot.org/2012/12/mood-to-move-how-to-make-an... These are extreme examples, perhaps, but the point is that there are plenty of bikes out there with hauling capacity for both people and stuff (Extracycles, bakfiets, etc), there's also plenty of equipment that can be added to a regular bike to increase hauling capacity (racks, baskets, oyster bucket panniers, trailers, etc), and a little creativity can go a long way, as my second link shows. Also, in this day and age of bike racks on public transportation and multiple carsharing providers in many major US cities, there is little excuse for mooching rides off of car-owning friends, and I question the validity of your claim that the carfree are ride moochers. I lived car-free in Oakland/Emeryville for almost a year after my car was stolen twice and then totaled for mold, and I was a happy user of both. It never occured to me to mooch rides off of friends, because it wasn't necessary.