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I'll take your word for it that biking in California is glorious. However, biking in the rainy, cold, northern Europe is anything but glorious. Yes, it's very

I'll take your word for it that biking in California is glorious. However, biking in the rainy, cold, northern Europe is anything but glorious. Yes, it's very nice in the summer, it's the remaining 9 months that are bad. Let's just say that the overwhelming majority of the people I see biking in Copenhagen don't seem to enjoy it very much. I bet the majority of them would really want a car instead, but chose not to get one because of the very high price due to the extra tax.

houseabsolute 17y ago
Even biking in California can be tough. I gave it up because drivers are so unfriendly and I don't like feeling sweaty when I get to work.
berntb 17y ago
>>biking in the rainy, cold, northern Europe is anything but glorious. Let us not exaggerate. Biking in northern Europe is OK -- if the roads are ploughed, you have the right clothes and winter tyres (2 * 60 Euro for my bike, shudder. Damn thieves.) The "right clothes" is admittedly a bit much this week, when it is below minus 10 Celsius. Sigh, maybe I should look for a job down south, in warm and sunny Copenhagen. >>I bet the majority of them would really want a car instead I bike because I need the exercise. I won't get a car until I live so I get enough exercise anyway.
- derefr 17y ago
  I think you have the right idea: if you need an environmental bubble (a car) to get between your larger environmental bubbles (home, work), the problem may not be you, but rather your environment. Live somewhere you could [theoretically] get by without clothing, insulation, or electric heat/AC, and I guarantee you a better life.
- henriklied 17y ago
  I wouldn't call this exaggerated. Biking to work in anything below 0°C isn't what I'd call safe or comfortable. The winter tires available for bikes are ok, but cycling outside in a huge winter suit is everything but. This wouldn't work in Norway. Only 35% of the population live in the larger cities, I know lots of people who have a 60km (~35 miles) commute. Hell, I even know people who get on a plane daily to go to work. Denmark is also damn flat, at least compared to Norway, which is more "mountainy", like Switzerland.
  - vidarh 17y ago
    It does work in Norway for a lot of people. I used to bike to and from school through most of winter, and most of my friends did the same. If you need a "huge winter suit" you're not dressing properly. Maybe it won't work for as many people as in Copenhagen, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work and wouldn't work for a lot more people than presently.
    - jrockway 17y ago
      Exactly. The second you start moving, a "huge winter suit" will cause you to overheat very quickly.

houseabsolute 17y ago

Even biking in California can be tough. I gave it up because drivers are so unfriendly and I don't like feeling sweaty when I get to work.

berntb 17y ago

>>biking in the rainy, cold, northern Europe is anything but glorious. Let us not exaggerate. Biking in northern Europe is OK -- if the roads are ploughed, you have the right clothes and winter tyres (2 * 60 Euro for my bike, shudder. Damn thieves.) The "right clothes" is admittedly a bit much this week, when it is below minus 10 Celsius. Sigh, maybe I should look for a job down south, in warm and sunny Copenhagen. >>I bet the majority of them would really want a car instead I bike because I need the exercise. I won't get a car until I live so I get enough exercise anyway.

derefr 17y ago
I think you have the right idea: if you need an environmental bubble (a car) to get between your larger environmental bubbles (home, work), the problem may not be you, but rather your environment. Live somewhere you could [theoretically] get by without clothing, insulation, or electric heat/AC, and I guarantee you a better life.
henriklied 17y ago
I wouldn't call this exaggerated. Biking to work in anything below 0°C isn't what I'd call safe or comfortable. The winter tires available for bikes are ok, but cycling outside in a huge winter suit is everything but. This wouldn't work in Norway. Only 35% of the population live in the larger cities, I know lots of people who have a 60km (~35 miles) commute. Hell, I even know people who get on a plane daily to go to work. Denmark is also damn flat, at least compared to Norway, which is more "mountainy", like Switzerland.
- vidarh 17y ago
  It does work in Norway for a lot of people. I used to bike to and from school through most of winter, and most of my friends did the same. If you need a "huge winter suit" you're not dressing properly. Maybe it won't work for as many people as in Copenhagen, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work and wouldn't work for a lot more people than presently.
  - jrockway 17y ago
    Exactly. The second you start moving, a "huge winter suit" will cause you to overheat very quickly.