AZ Daily Star: Bicycles, buses the key to socialist, impoverished world run by elitist liberals

Uncategorized September 1st, 2008

Actually, they didn’t say that, but you would sure think they had if all you read were the completely insane comments. It all began with this one:

The Star advocates a greener America by imitating third world nations that have no choice but to be that way. Chinese by the millions are abandoning their bicycles for individual powered transportation that expands their world and their freedom of movement. The success of America is cause for the Star to rebuke our lifestyle as its editors wallow in guilt. Next we’ll learn of the joys of giving up air conditioning and central heating and living in caves.

And it only got worse from there.

As it turns out, the article was a sensitive conclusion to two weeks of actual research by Andrea Kelly and Josh Brodesky, who spent a week apiece without using their cars. Andrea spent a week riding the bus and Josh a week on his bike, and they wrote about what was good and what was bad about the effort. I thought it was a terrific idea and an example of the kind of journalism I’d like to see more of from my local daily.

My favorite part of the article was the Number 1 Bus Party. A woman who frequents Route No. 1 invited all the riders to a party at her house. Even the bus driver showed up! A rare example of the formation of a community in today’s isolating world.

–Erik Ryberg

3 Responses to “AZ Daily Star: Bicycles, buses the key to socialist, impoverished world run by elitist liberals”

  1. Mickey Says:

    pimp my ride… for bikes.
    We need to have more bling to counter our impoverished image.

  2. Martha Retallick Says:

    But what if we’re not interested in the acquisition of bling? Does that make us impoverished?

  3. Mickey Says:

    That makes you un-American and a Communist!
    America is about excess, gluttony, and flashiness.

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