"Carbon footprint"

Nick Kew wrote on 06/11/2006 23:14 +0100:

Quoted message said:

The Beeb has designated someone to try and reduce his carbon footprint,
and is reporting on progress (R4, the world tonight).

Their guinea pig is going to give up using his car, a little-used
Nissan Micra. But since he's single and lives in London, that
won't impress the audience all that much.

I wonder if we in URC can find a more inspirational sample of people
who reject the car culture, and propose a program to the Beeb?
I'm happy to volunteer myself as someone who is carless (by choice)
in one of our most rural areas (West Devon - also one of our most
hilly areas). But I'm single and work from home, which makes me
easy to dismiss. We need commuters and families participating
to make a really impressive proposal.

ISTR that Dan Joyce of CTC mag editor fame is a carless family cyclist.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Nick Kew said:

The Beeb has designated someone to try and reduce his carbon footprint,
and is reporting on progress (R4, the world tonight).

Their guinea pig is going to give up using his car, a little-used
Nissan Micra. But since he's single and lives in London, that
won't impress the audience all that much.

I wonder if we in URC can find a more inspirational sample of people
who reject the car culture, and propose a program to the Beeb?
I'm happy to volunteer myself as someone who is carless (by choice)
in one of our most rural areas (West Devon - also one of our most
hilly areas). But I'm single and work from home, which makes me
easy to dismiss. We need commuters and families participating
to make a really impressive proposal.

Maybe it'd inspire people more if it was a person not *too* into their
bikes. Make utility cycling look like an everyday thing rather than a
lifestyle choice for enthusiasts.

--
Jim

Nick Kew said:

I wonder if we in URC can find a more inspirational sample of people
who reject the car culture, and propose a program to the Beeb?
I'm happy to volunteer myself as someone who is carless (by choice)
in one of our most rural areas (West Devon - also one of our most
hilly areas). But I'm single and work from home, which makes me
easy to dismiss. We need commuters and families participating
to make a really impressive proposal.

Anyone?

We became a car-free family 16/17 years ago by choice. When the local
radio station heard about it they were banging on our front door. The
presenter found it incredible that *anyone* could survive without the need
for a car. Mind you , by the end of the interview I had him whizzing up
and down the road on the trice :-)

We live in a semi-rural area and are a family of six, although the eldest
has now just started Uni - and of course still cycles everwhere. Earlier
this year time our children were travelling by bikes, buses and trains to
separate schools 8 miles west, 12 miles east, 14 miles south and 300 yards
away.
Most days I too am out, anywhere in the County, but I use a combination of
trains, buses, cycling, walking and taxis. It is enjoyable, often fun, and
virtually stress-free.

It is *not* difficult, and although a few changes needed to be made it
makes for an amazing improvement in lifestyle. Perhaps the most satisfying
aspect is the independence that it has given our children, and that they
have no wish at all to be drawn into the car-culture that pervades the UK
today.

John B

Nick Kew said:

The Beeb has designated someone to try and reduce his carbon footprint,
and is reporting on progress (R4, the world tonight).

Their guinea pig is going to give up using his car, a little-used
Nissan Micra. But since he's single and lives in London, that
won't impress the audience all that much.

I wonder if we in URC can find a more inspirational sample of people
who reject the car culture, and propose a program to the Beeb?
I'm happy to volunteer myself as someone who is carless (by choice)
in one of our most rural areas (West Devon - also one of our most
hilly areas). But I'm single and work from home, which makes me
easy to dismiss. We need commuters and families participating
to make a really impressive proposal.

Anyone?

--
Nick Kew

Application Development with Apache - the Apache Modules Book
http://www.apachetutor.org/

I have been thinking on how I'd reduce my impact on the environment.
There are small things that can be done easily and other things that
would take a big step, involving some financial juggling. Things I have
already done include insulating (some more can be done) and swapping to
low energy lights.

Right now, I live 25 miles away from work and cycle the full distance
twice a week. I have a lift one day and I would usually give a lift on
another, but the car is in the garage with cylinder head problems, so
my car sharing friend has to drive in, although he has cycled a few
times. I will have to see if I'm up to cycling for the third time, or
catch the train in. I'm currently taking one day a week as holiday, to
make it easier to cope with not having the car.

To enable me to cycle in every day, I have thought about moving closer
to work. This would not have the impact on CO2 that you'd think, as my
car sharing friend would probably still drive. Also, I have to get the
house in order before selling/renting it. I don't think the shorter
ride would be as pleasing as the current longer but less frequent ride.

I grow some of my own food in the back garden and will try to increase
the amount next year with the installation of a greenhouse. This
decreases the distance that food has to be transported before I get it.
I also have a big water tank to catch rainwater for use on the garden.

My carbon footprint would be significantly reduced if I didn't live on
my own.

David

I live in London with my partner. We are car-free but I am disabled.

There is always Lynn Sloman...

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden]
Edgware.

It would be most disappointing for small children if carbon footprints
were reduces. How do you know if Santa has really been if there aren't
tracks of soot across the floor?

...d

David Martin wrote on 07/11/2006 11:34 +0100:

Quoted message said:

It would be most disappointing for small children if carbon footprints
were reduces. How do you know if Santa has really been if there aren't
tracks of soot across the floor?

The glass of sherry has been drunk. You really haven't understood how
to reduce the carbon footprints have you ;-)

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 08:56:41 +0000

Jim Higson said:

Maybe it'd inspire people more if it was a person not *too* into their
bikes. Make utility cycling look like an everyday thing rather than a
lifestyle choice for enthusiasts.

That's me. Middle-age geezer with an ample paunch and £250 bike
complete with all the basic practicalities (rack, mudguards)
but no trace of lycra. OK the folding bike cost more, but that's
for business use.

And I can argue convincingly it's not an income-thing: last year
I had the misfortune to pay higher-rate tax; three years ago
I'd have been *much* better off on the dole. But the bike
remains a constant over these variable fortunes. And the general
low resource usage goes back to my schooldays in the 1970s,
when I cultivated tiny handwriting so as not to waste paper,
and persists to the low-power-consumption computer on my desk:-)

OTOH, John B looks like a more convincing subject,
with his cycling family.

--
Nick Kew

Application Development with Apache - the Apache Modules Book
http://www.apachetutor.org/

Tony Raven said:

David Martin wrote on 07/11/2006 11:34 +0100:

Quoted message said:

It would be most disappointing for small children if carbon footprints
were reduces. How do you know if Santa has really been if there aren't
tracks of soot across the floor?

The glass of sherry has been drunk. You really haven't understood how
to reduce the carbon footprints have you ;-)

We should ban Christmas if all it means is massive container ships
carrying presents from China. :P

David

Sirius631 wrote on 07/11/2006 13:31 +0100:

Quoted message said:

We should ban Christmas if all it means is massive container ships
carrying presents from China. :P

But what about the poor little Chinese children with no Christmas
presents because Mummy and Daddy don't have a job making Christmas
presents any more?

PS You didn't really think they all fitted in a sack on Santa's sleigh
did you? ;-)

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Tony Raven said:

Sirius631 wrote on 07/11/2006 13:31 +0100:

Quoted message said:

We should ban Christmas if all it means is massive container ships
carrying presents from China. :P

But what about the poor little Chinese children with no Christmas
presents because Mummy and Daddy don't have a job making Christmas
presents any more?

PS You didn't really think they all fitted in a sack on Santa's sleigh
did you? ;-)

I'm sure someone's bought Santa a 4 x 4 by now.

I'm certain I saw Santa driving one the other day.

John B

John B said:

I'm sure someone's bought Santa a 4 x 4 by now.

I'm certain I saw Santa driving one the other day.

He does like to slay...

Tony Raven said:

David Martin wrote on 07/11/2006 11:34 +0100:

Quoted message said:

It would be most disappointing for small children if carbon footprints
were reduces. How do you know if Santa has really been if there aren't
tracks of soot across the floor?

The glass of sherry has been drunk. You really haven't understood how
to reduce the carbon footprints have you ;-)

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Sherry?? but that has to be brought from Spain! Emissions! English
wine, please.

Quoted message said:

Tony Raven said:

David Martin wrote on 07/11/2006 11:34 +0100:

Quoted message said:

It would be most disappointing for small children if carbon footprints
were reduces. How do you know if Santa has really been if there aren't
tracks of soot across the floor?

The glass of sherry has been drunk. You really haven't understood how
to reduce the carbon footprints have you ;-)

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Sherry?? but that has to be brought from Spain! Emissions! English
wine, please.

Best single malt please. None of your foreign muck here..

...d

Response to David Martin:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Sherry?? but that has to be brought from Spain! Emissions! English
wine, please.

Best single malt please. None of your foreign muck here..

As far as I'm concerned, I'm planning to tell Customs and Excise that
the mountain dew they found in the shed is just an attempt to reduce my
carbon footprint. %*)

--
Mark, UK
"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary
to avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes
beyond this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is
likely to interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."

"Nick Kew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The Beeb has designated someone to try and reduce his carbon footprint,
and is reporting on progress (R4, the world tonight).

Their guinea pig is going to give up using his car, a little-used
Nissan Micra. But since he's single and lives in London, that
won't impress the audience all that much.

I wonder if we in URC can find a more inspirational sample of people
who reject the car culture, and propose a program to the Beeb?
I'm happy to volunteer myself as someone who is carless (by choice)
in one of our most rural areas (West Devon - also one of our most
hilly areas). But I'm single and work from home, which makes me
easy to dismiss. We need commuters and families participating
to make a really impressive proposal.

Anyone?

We are currently going car less, just got to find someone to buy the
wretched thing :-/!

Myself & my girlfriend both cycle to work (nothing long distance, just 2/3
mls). We also do all shopping trips on the bike (we have a carry freedom, Y
frame). Basically, in preparation for being carless, we have stopped using
the car for essential trips, we only use it now to keep it in working order
before we sell.

We live just outside Derby, have no children, but we have a cat.

Colin
(whether we are beeb worthy or not I do not know!)

Hake said:

We also do all shopping trips on the bike

What is the best way to do a full weeks tesco shop by bike (say half a
dozen full bags)? Are there any decent load carrying bikes / trikes
available or is a trailer best? What about big things from B&Q? What if
the nearest supermarkets are 20 miles away?

I'm planning to go carless soon but am getting a bit nervous.

"Nick Kew" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 08:56:41 +0000

Jim Higson said:

Maybe it'd inspire people more if it was a person not *too* into their
bikes. Make utility cycling look like an everyday thing rather than a
lifestyle choice for enthusiasts.

That's me. Middle-age geezer with an ample paunch and £250 bike
complete with all the basic practicalities (rack, mudguards)
but no trace of lycra. OK the folding bike cost more, but that's
for business use.

And I can argue convincingly it's not an income-thing: last year
I had the misfortune to pay higher-rate tax; three years ago
I'd have been *much* better off on the dole. But the bike
remains a constant over these variable fortunes. And the general
low resource usage goes back to my schooldays in the 1970s,
when I cultivated tiny handwriting so as not to waste paper,
and persists to the low-power-consumption computer on my desk:-)

OTOH, John B looks like a more convincing subject,
with his cycling family.

--
Nick Kew

Application Development with Apache - the Apache Modules Book
http://www.apachetutor.org/

If Prince Charles can have an entire village built, I think we could do with
planning more towns with low impact in mind. There are developers that have
made it a condition of occupation that nobody owns a car, providing a pool
car for rent. The cycle ways can be given the space they really need. Public
transport will be allowed to work as it should, no excess of buses, and be
integrated with cycling facilities.

--
David Lloyd,
The pub is responsible for my opinions.

On 7 Nov 2006 12:10:39 -0800

raisethe said:

Hake said:

We also do all shopping trips on the bike

What is the best way to do a full weeks tesco shop by bike (say half a
dozen full bags)? Are there any decent load carrying bikes / trikes
available or is a trailer best? What about big things from B&Q? What
if the nearest supermarkets are 20 miles away?

I'm planning to go carless soon but am getting a bit nervous.

First, you need a practical bike. A tourer will carry loads well.
Get a pair of big panniers, and £60 of Tescos stuff is no problem.
Add a front rack and it'll take more ...
Or get a trailer.

But bear in mind that most shops will be happy to deliver,
so there's no point busting a gut to do *everything* you'd do
with a car. Think of getting your shopping delivered the same
way you think of getting on a train to make a longer journey.
Or a bus or taxi locally if you want to wimp out of bad weather,
or if you're just knackered on the day.

--
Nick Kew

Application Development with Apache - the Apache Modules Book
http://www.apachetutor.org/