How Green is Your Bike?
"When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race," wrote H.G. Wells. The perfection of the humble bicycle may, in fact, turn out to be the 19th century's greatest gift to the modern era. Anytime you ride a bicycle, you're building up some serious green karma, and we salute you. But there's green and then there's really green.
Take our "How Green Is My Bike" quiz to find out just how green your bicycle riding really is.
Just a comment about the question about flat tires. I never use a CO2 cartridge but do replace inner tubes as I've found most of the time when one goes for me they really aren't patchable. Maybe other folks experience is different but that's been mine.
Posted by: Craig | March 05, 2008 at 07:41 AM
I have never been able to ride a bicycle due to balance problems -- diagnosed as multiple sclerosis some years later; nor can I roller skate or ice skate -- haven't tried inline skating (joke). I was able to "ski" with help from people who knew how to help me.
I can walk (almost a mile) and am working to increase my distance. BUT I live in NJ - public transportation hasn't been introduced here yet.
Posted by: Susan | March 05, 2008 at 08:19 AM
While the bike quiz is quite humorous, it is not really very helpful !
How about more salient and meaningful questions, like:
I purchased my made in China Bike from Walmart.
I substitute my bike for my car / bus commute once a week.
I encourage my kids, significant other, etc. to go on daily rides when the weather permits.
When I got a new bike, I gave my old one to an organization that rebuilds them and gives them to people in a third world country.
I wear my helmet and obey traffic rules.
Co2 canister to fill the tire? Give me a break !
Get REAL !!
Posted by: steve limbach | March 05, 2008 at 08:24 AM
The bicycle when invented really reduced pollution from horses.
Posted by: Georgia Weatherhead | March 05, 2008 at 08:30 AM
Favorite type of bike ride is not the same as most frequent type - in-town errands and riding to work are endured and frequent - a ride on any road that has no or little trafficc is my favorite, but is extremely rare.
Posted by: Charlotte Groves | March 05, 2008 at 08:44 AM
On the "what do you do with a flat tire" question, I would have entered "replaced tube, filled with a pump and recycled", but you did not offer that as an answer.
Posted by: Linda | March 05, 2008 at 09:19 AM
this quiz completely misses the point. any bike ride that replaces a car trip is green, regardless of what one fills their water bottle with or what type of batteries power their lights. no wonder people with real bicycle cultures laugh at americans, we just don't get it.
Posted by: Anne (http://sustainableflatbush.org) | March 05, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Recycling the tube (if it's the correct size) is very important! Encourange your local shops to recycle bicycle tubes. www.alchemygoods.com recycles most tube sizes, and do it at no cost to shops (as they can send the tubes in bulk).
Posted by: Kermit | March 05, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Today it was twenty below, the roads are ice covered and biking takes your very life in your hands. Figs by the road? Please, just a little more realistic- Much of the upper mid west is still worrying about heating our homes.
Posted by: pgimbel | March 06, 2008 at 08:15 AM
When my bike needs to go to the shop, I don't throw it in the back of my car (I don't have one). I ride to the shop or use public transit.
Posted by: Nick | March 19, 2008 at 05:17 PM