The upside to higher gas prices

[sundial]

I was thinking about our state of health and how people are beginning to embrace cycling as not only as a means for fitness, but transportation as well. What if this helps ease the obesity epidemic? Perhaps there is a silver lining after all.

[Grog]

Heard on the radio (don't know what station) while in California, a testimony from some guy on the street:

"Gas is so expensive now, I've lost 5 pounds from all the walking!!"

I thought that was wonderful to hear.

[beccaB]

I just really hope people in cars will start to be more careful. Especially at intersections. People are not taking the time to look and focus on what they're seeing. I drive a school bus which has large mirrors everywhere(bilnd spots). You really have to stop and look for a few seconds before proceeding. I wish everyone would do that. My worst near misses with almost getting hit on my bike were from drivers not taking the time to really look. And I was dong all the right stuff with traffic rules and visibility.

[sundial]

True, cyclists need to ride defensively.

You know, many people are developing preventable, chronic diseases that can be avoided by exercising more and eating less. What if people come to realize that cycling can lower the number of trips to the ER for chest pain? High insulin levels? What if people will come to realize that they have in their possession a means to a better quality of life? And what if it reduces their health insurance claims? Do you see how this could impact the health care industry?

[mimitabby]

well, on my way to work today; there was a 3rd cyclist, (I chicked him )
but i also observed irritable cars passing each other and being in way too much of a hurry (I was not in their way, so it had nothing to do with bikes in the road)
Old habits die hard.

[Melalvai]

I know a guy who often says he hopes gas goes up to $8 or $10 per gallon so that people will walk and bike more and get more fit. When the parking lot here was shut down to be replaced with a new building, employees were griping nonstop about the new parking assignments being so far away, but after a couple months I started hearing people say they'd lost weight from walking so far. In addition to walking to & from their car, they choose to walk across campus to whatever building they have to go to instead of drive, because it's nearly as far to their car as it is to that building.

I don't care too much about the rest of the world. If $10/gal gas would induce my husband to get fit, I'm all for it. If an expensive gym membership would do the trick, I'm all for that too!

[Zen]

And what if it reduces their health insurance claims? Do you see how this could impact the health care industry?

We do but the general populace unfortunately doesn't think that way.

[GLC1968]

The downside is that all these new cyclists (or many of them, anyway) don't know the rules of the road. Twice, I almost got hit by a car while on my bike commute last week as a result of other cyclists doing the WRONG thing. If I hadn't been anticipating that those cyclists were going to make those stupid moves (and what the resulting things the cars would do), I'd be out of commission right now.

I'm afraid a potential increase in bicycle related accidents/deaths is going to hurt our cause if new riders don't take the time to educate themselves.