Friday, April 25, 2008

ATTENTION: EASY BLOG RESPONSE! Bicycle Survey

I thought I would take this chance to get a class opinion on my individual project topic: CAN BIKES SAVE THE PLANET? I have been interviewing bikers around campus, bike shop owners, and various biking program volunteers all week. Editing that footage today made me think about a valuable group of people I should have asked as well: YOU! So take a minute to answer some of these questions... you'll have an easy blog post this week and you'll be famous in my podcast!

Here are some of the questions I have been asking bike enthusiasts:

How long have you been riding? How many bikes do you own? Do you ride for pleasure or transportation? What are the pros and cons of biking?

How do you think most American's view biking? How about that of most people in the World? Why are these opinions different? How could we change these views?

What would you say to people that claim biking is poor man's transportation? A toy for kids? Impractical and unsafe? If you ever thought these things, what changed your mind?

What do you think of gas prices today? How about climate change? What makes you decide to drive your car over riding your bike?

What do you think of America's obesity problem? Why have kids stopped riding their bikes to school? How safe is your bike when you lock it up in public areas?

What is your view on urban sprawl? Do you think we are entering a natural reversal? Would you be happier living closer to where you work and shop?

Do you think increasing bike use could help answer any of these issues? How do we implement this increase - incentives? fines? programs? education? specific policy? other ideas?

Thank you for your time and consideration :)

2 comments:

Cassandra said...

Try using Monkey Survey and e-mailing people.

Cassandra said...

Sorry, it's survey monkey. My bad.


How long have you been riding?
Since I was a kid.

How many bikes do you own?
1


Do you ride for pleasure or transportation?
Both back in PA. Need an Austin bike.

What are the pros and cons of biking?
Can't bring passengers. Much more fun. Can go places cars can't and can be faster than driving or the bus. Depending on where you are going.

How do you think most American's view biking?
They think it's work.

How about that of most people in the World?
Same. But most people enjoy it.


Why are these opinions different? They're not.

How could we change these views?
Make more people bike? Tell them they're fat.

What would you say to people that claim biking is poor man's transportation?
I would think they're bigots. And I would ignore them.

A toy for kids? Impractical and unsafe? If you ever thought these things, what changed your mind?
Never.


What do you think of gas prices today?
Glad I don't drive.

How about climate change?
I think it should be responded to by everyone.

What makes you decide to drive your car over riding your bike?
I don't. But if I had a car - it would be to buy something large, transport my dog/friends without bikes, or to travel very long distances.

What do you think of America's obesity problem?
Some people can't help it. I think some people are just healthy and marked as overweight. I think some people are gluttons.

Why have kids stopped riding their bikes to school?
You mean pre-college? Because they can take the bus and hang out with other kids or show off their new car. If there was a biking age or something special about biking they would bike.

How safe is your bike when you lock it up in public areas?
As safe as the integrity of the people in that area.


What is your view on urban sprawl?
Build up. That way we can trap our gross emissions in between our tall buildings and feel some effects of our lives. - Just kidding. But really.. build up and build green space.

Do you think we are entering a natural reversal?
A what?

Would you be happier living closer to where you work and shop?
I am perfectly centered and it's fantastic.

Do you think increasing bike use could help answer any of these issues?
Yes. Bikes for everyone.

How do we implement this increase - incentives? fines? programs? education? specific policy? other ideas?
Programs, maybe incentives and discounts, public announcements, show that more celebs ride bikes and buy really nice ones that are fancy. Put riding bikes in movies more. Create more bike routes and racks. Maybe some indoor bike racks and storage. A lot of people biked to our school in NYC because we had huge bike racks in the basement. They were full and safe.