This guy has a short post about whether or not motorcycles are "green." I'm not an expert, but I really think we have to take more into consideration than just emissions when we're trying to judge the environmental friendliness of a given vehicle.
For example, how many resources does a given vehicle consume when being produced? How many resources does it consume to keep it mobile? What happens when the vehicle is scrapped? How long will it last until it needs to be scrapped?
Another thing to consider is the impact of motorcycles on how friendly your environment can be. I don't see too many cagers with huge grins on their faces when they're sitting, alone in their cars and trucks, in commuter traffic. I don't know if it's measurable or not, but that mess has got to be bad for our national psyche. On the other hand, I haven't met too many grouchy bikers on my ride to work (though there are always a couple oddballs).
3 comments:
Great points, It would be really interesting to see some stats. on these points you bring up.
On the balance I would have to say motorcycles and scooters are better for the environment. Another thing to consider is we bikers don't run air conditioners, sit idling at the drive-up window at the bank or McDonald's or generally burn as much fuel. I have heard that one gallon of gas puts 5lbs. of carbon into the atmosphere.
Rather than get into the anthropogenic global warming debate, which would necessitate providing a litany of links as to why it's *cough* bogus *cough*, Lucky has the better take on the discussion. Being new to the riding thing myself, kicking around the twin cities on an inexpensive chinese scooter, I've found that there actually isn't a race to get home at the end of the day. And even though I look like a serious dork, I think I'm coming to understand why people ride.
As for the environmental thing, I have to admit, that once I got home, I changed out of my work duds and went right back out again.
"But Noam," you might say. "That's just a pleasure ride. That's perfectly okay."
Well, I needed to water my tomatoes and my bonsai trees. But that would have cut into valuable riding time, so I hooked up the sprinkler and watered the whole back yard for about an hour and a half.
How many carbon credits do I win back for all the fat, juicy nightcrawlers the robins scarfed in that time?
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