Thanks for the great comment. I definitely think it is really important to talk about these issues, but I try not to make them the centerpiece of the idea of utility cycling. Utility cycling is definitely one of the best solutions to some of the problems I talked about in this post, but in addition to being a bit of a “problem solver”, it is also just a great opportunity that many have missed.

All best with your new business.

You knocked it out of the park with every point.

I’ve been a bike messenger/cycle courier in NYC since 1998, off and on, and have yet to see the work conditions change for the better. I’m mean more than about the bike lanes. I don’t just mean the rate of pay for the seemingly lowly, meager work that we do. (I actually enjoy this work, and look forward to “tough” days.)

I’ve heard it said by a co-worker that, “we are the ball bearings of the economy” and, “we are traffic”. To both comments, I’d add the old Franciscan prayer, let me be an instrument of peace. I don’t believe in supernatural spiritualism; rather I believe we can be superbly spiritual if our combined efforts are practiced in tandem, so to speak. This is going to involve people becoming more savvy about imperial history, rational economics as well as human ethics and the environment studies. This is going to be the worthy beautiful struggle of our children’s lives and must be framed as such and no less than this.

Thank you again for your article and keep writing about this and related topics relentlessly. It is a multidisciplinary task to shed light on these issues, indeed, but so worth doing.

From Queens NYC,
Danny “Harkangel” Jarquio of Flash Couriers, soon to be independently running his own cargo courier/pedicab business.

Sounds like your trailer will be very interesting. We would love to see the photos and hear more about utility cycling in Brazil.

Thanks, Melanie

Good bye!!

Juliano

Thanks for the kind comments… I’d love to be involved: I’ve few ideas but I’ll keep an eye on what you make and your style so I can see what sort of thing you’d be interested in.

Thanks so much for the comment.

I agree that using a workbike to set up a market stall is another great economic benefit of utility cycling. I think it would be great if that the option was applicable beyond places that can’t be accessed by car. In fact, it reminds me of the (PARK)ing Day movement in the US, where organizations take over public parking spaces to make temporary parks.

Also, the time people waste sitting in their cars is definitely a huge factor that contributes to general well-being (or lack thereof) and happiness. We certainly hope to look into that topic as well.

Looks like you also have a great site dedicated to cycling and sustainable transportation. If you would like to collaborate with us through a guest post or linking back and forth, let us know!

Thanks again for the comment.

Also the time wasted by sitting in traffic could be a significant factor compared to a bike that can just go around the back streets.