Where's Gilbert biking? Across America to save us money on gas
Gilbert Tang is worried. In just over two months, he plans on flying to New York from Los Angeles just in order to get on a bike and make the return journey. The idea is to draw attention to the fact that "our bodies provide everything we need to go wherever we please." This might be true, but Tang admits that he's not exactly in tip-top shape and this attempt to ride 3,000+ miles across America could very well end in failure. As he wrote in an email to AutoblogGreen:The purpose of the trip is to raise awareness for reduced fuel and energy consumption. I'm trying to prove that people of average means and physical (and mental, I guess) health can utilize alternative methods of transportation in their daily lives without significant compromise.
On his blog, Gilbert writes:
I want people to know it's possible, regardless of age, fitness level, or income to contribute to our collective need for inexpensive, but feasible alternative forms of transportation no matter where we live or work. This journey is how I will do it.
Sure, cross-country trips can attract attention, but there's nothing wrong with just using alternative methods of transportation in his daily life to prove the same point. In any case, we look forward to checking in on Gilbert's journey and we'll see how far his legs will take him.
[Source: Gilbert Rides Across America]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sebastian 10:33AM (5/19/2008)
Good luck man. I was thinking to do the same thing here in Canada. I'm sure I could do it, but I only have 3 weeks of vacations and could not complete the 5,000KM from the East to the West in time.
Reply
rgseidl 11:09AM (5/19/2008)
If CO2 emissions were really the issue for Gilbert, he'd take Amtrak out to LA instead of hopping on a plane. Given how long the bike ride back is, a couple of extra days before it starts won't make a big difference.
Reply
BlackbirdHighway 11:29AM (5/19/2008)
This past weekend there was also a lot of media coverage of a man in Wisconsin who is giving up driving for a month to protest high gas prices.
I say only one lousy month, big deal, Sherry Boschert of California hasn't bought gas in 6 years, and didn't even give up driving. She's put 63,000 miles on her RAV-4EV. Where's the media coverage of that?
Reply
rj 12:01PM (5/19/2008)
riding a bicycle along side Highway traffic is ridiculously stupid. Riding perhaps 5 feet from cars that are going 70mph driven by people who are often road weary and inattentive.
I would love to ride long distance but taking the associated risks is stupid.
Besides the possibility of getting hit, he is assured of sucking in the toxic emissions of an endless stream of cars as they climb long hills and the noise....oh yeah - and how about the joy of getting hit by a rock from a truck tire.
Cars and Bikes do not mix well on the highway.
Reply
Dad 4:21PM (5/19/2008)
"he plans on flying to New York from Los Angeles just in order to get on a bike and make the return journey"
Sounds silly and hypocritical.
Reply
Kevin Nugent 10:21PM (5/19/2008)
Yeah he can have fun with that .................. loser
Reply
ooglek 12:52PM (5/20/2008)
Electricity: 2c/mile
Gasoline: 18-22c/mile (22-18mpg @ $4/gal)
Bicycle: 26c/mile (1000cph @ 15mph @ $4/1k cal)
Geez, wouldn't it be more green to friggin' drive an electric vehicle powered from clean sources? Food takes delivery, probably from diesel, which isn't that clean. And possibly was shipped across the ocean in a diesel powered ship. Even if you can eat 1000 non-empty good-for-your-body calories for $2, you're still looking at 13c/mile, more than 6 times more costly than an EV. Plus all the CO2 emissions from making and moving the food!
Save the world -- stop biking and start driving EVs!
Reply
Yvon 10:22PM (6/18/2008)
Hey,if we want to curve the polution trend and many healt problems that affect our world , I think this expérience of crossing USA with a bike is an excellent symbol that can encourage people to change unconcious habits like poluting this world. I think Gilbert is trying to make that point to. I think we need to give him credit for his message.Let's go more slow in life for a while;It cant hurt.But easy to say and hard to do in our stress out world is'n it?.
Reply