[GPGT] Travel on bicycle is good for the environment.

[GPGT]: Got paper got talk.
For this reason, cyclist should be conferred unique rights and responsibilities e.g.:
- never be expected to pay any kind of tax/ toll for use of public roads, be provided with more available parking options by authorities, be provided with more bike tracks around SG.
- be subject to physical road usage restrictions/ requirements- e.g. no cycling on expressways, must cycle in single file, keep to left most lane even if it happens to be a bus lane, comply with 'highway code', have functioning lights/ reflectors at night, wear helmet etc.

Will follow up with detailed energy calc. if I have the time (or anyone else wants to link/ contribute related article(s))- (must pay $41.95 to see indexed article in full).

This thread is in support of cycling as a mode of transport for both health and environmental reasons.

Quote:

[Abstract] A comparison of carbon dioxide emissions associated with motorised transport modes and cycling in Ireland
Conor Walsha, Phil Jakemanb, Richard Molesa and Bernadette O’Regana
Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Chemical and Environmental Sciences, University of Limerick, Castletroy Co., Limerick, Ireland
Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Ireland
Available online 20 August 2008; Abstract.
Cycling is widely viewed as a transport mode with marginal environmental impacts. However, such a view fails to take account of such factors as the increase in carbon dioxide exhaled as a result of increased physical activity or the emission embodied in the manufacture of the bicycle. This paper presents estimates of emission factors for various forms of commuter transport in Ireland that allow comparison against emissions from cycling. When indirect energy is taken into account, the results presented here indicate that a cyclist commuting an equivalent distance to work releases an almost equal amount of carbon dioxide as that attributed to a passenger of an electrically propelled train at full occupancy during peak service times. Travel by bicycle is much less carbon intensive when compared to passengers travelling at off-peak times. Transport by car and sports utility vehicle is the most carbon intensive of the commuter modes of transport studied, however, travelling in a fully occupied car has an emission factor approaching that of off-peak bus transport.
Keywords: Exhalation; Transport; Occupancy; Indirect energy

'Hypothetical' ref:
- 'If the polar ice caps melted, how much would the oceans rise?': "If all of the Antarctic ice melted, sea levels around the world would rise about 61 meters (200 feet). ... There is a significant amount of ice covering Greenland, which would add another 7 meters (20 feet) to the oceans if it melted. ..." [Marshall Brain]

PS: U can argue all U want that the Antarctic ice won't melt, but my point in attaching this ref is to show that yes, there is enough water on Earth to flood most of Singapore. And yes, LKY was right to say that: "No amount of engineering can prevent flooding" [alt URL].

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At/ related:

HWZ:

27Mar2011: [GPGT] Travel on bicycle is good for the environment.
A1forum:
27Mar2011: Travel on bicycle is good for the environment.
SGclub:
28Mar2011: [GPGT] Travel on bicycle is good for the environment.