18 Jul 2008, 1:24 pm
So for the last several months, my sole means of transportation has been:
)
i've been thinking about the same idea. get a cruiser bicycle and attach a motor to the back and i won't have pedal as much. i owned an electric scooter for a few years and had some fun with it, but the batteries cost $100 to replace. i've been happy bumming rides off my parents, but now, with gas prices so rediculously high, i'm considering buying a cruiser bike to save time and money on gas.
Now THIS sounds like a project. I might try to attempt this. Hope it turns out better than my Stirling engine.
remember, if you're going to buy a battery-driven scooter, they take only three hours or overnight to charge and you might have to replace the battery every one to two years. you get only a 30-minute ride and you're going 17 m.p.h., then it starts to slow down. that's a lot of stuff you need to think about.
LostInEmulation
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18 Jul 2008, 1:28 pm
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Bradleigh
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18 Jul 2008, 1:37 pm
Strapples
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18 Jul 2008, 1:55 pm
I am in my wheelchair whenever i need to move anywhere outside of my bed because of my disease. I use a big van that mom drives for me.
my wheelchair
"my" van
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Bradleigh
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18 Jul 2008, 2:04 pm
Strapples
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18 Jul 2008, 2:08 pm
Yes it is!
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tomboy4good
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18 Jul 2008, 3:51 pm
18 Jul 2008, 7:22 pm
18 Jul 2008, 8:56 pm
It is the lesser of two evils.
A) deal with public transport and also the public you will have to deal with.
B) drive yourself, have route planned to make it quick and painless, go back home to safety!
You forgot to add in a third option; some of us live in small towns where there is no public transportation.
I own and drive my own car. In rural areas a car is a necessary if you don’t want to have to rely on family or friends. I sure as heck don't want to have to walk if the weather isn't pleasant.
19 Jul 2008, 1:17 am
tomboy4good
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19 Jul 2008, 9:51 am
The other issue with public transportation besides crowding is unwanted smells that used to get to me. I lived in an area that had a retirement community, & the old folks (men as well as women) would use too much perfume/cologne, & it made me sick to my stomach. Then there are the noise & crowding issues too. By the time I'd get to my destination, I'd be practically leaaping off the bus! But I may try it again with my bike so I can go places without spending a ton of money on gas.
Driving is also becoming more stressful because a lot of people don't follow basic rules for driving where I live. I know to wait my turn at 4 way stop intersections, but I am seeing more & more people who feel that all they need to do is tap their brakes (their idea of a full stop?), & go right through it. Yesterday a little old lady with white hair did this! 
Also, I have another issue with people who feel that they are in the right of way when they make left turns. It took me a long time to get over the fear of driving. Now my fear is how other people drive & there are too many variables. It's much easier for me to relax while driving on uncrowded roads...driving in/around town/surface streets/highway is becoming too crazy. I have had panic attacks before while driving, & it's not fun! There are more & more close calls, & I don't like it!
When I'm on my bike, I don't have to worry about cars as much.
