Cycling is the most sustainable form of transportation, but the bicycle is becoming increasingly damaging to the environment. The energy and material used for its production go up while its life expectancy decreases.

A great read+great magazine.

TL;DR: Old bikes last way longer than new bikes. From a production standpoint, steel bikes have a smaller carbon footprint than aluminum or carbon frame bikes. Conventional bikes use fewer consumables over their usable life than electric bikes. Among electric bikes, cargo bikes use the most resources to run and maintain.

    • metaltoilet@beehaw.orgOPEnglish
      5·
      1 year ago

      Yep! I’d love to see indie bicycle companies grow. (homemade bikes too but those are more complicated)

      • 𝕸𝖔𝖘𝖘@infosec.pubEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        I saw this guy a few years ago that provided STLs for a 3D printed bike that anyone with the proper printer can print. It was the specialized parts that you printed, and everything else was standard parts from the hardware store. I thought that was super cool. No clue what ever happened to that project.

          • 𝕸𝖔𝖘𝖘@infosec.pubEnglish
            2·
            1 year ago

            I really hope something like that can come back. The same can be done with cars, too. Why does every single model of the same friggin brand have different headlights or steering wheel shafts or whatever? You want to tell me that we’ve come such a long way in 6 months that warranted a brand new proprietary design? No. It’s capitalism for the loss. I, for one, am tired of it. Tired of the trash this creates. Tired of the extra money we all have to spend. Tired of the extra storage space required for it all. Tired of all of it.

              • 𝕸𝖔𝖘𝖘@infosec.pubEnglish
                1·
                1 year ago

                I love that guy!

                I was talking more about the lamps themselves and less about the housing. The housing I get. For design purposes, they have to be different (also, better for the environment and for non-renewable resources). But the lamps can be the same socket and, thus, interchangeable. although, I wouldn’t complain if the housing was the same, too, but not one with the lamp. Personally, I really liked the sealed beam look, but I do understand why it wasn’t the best for the environment, and am glad we moved past. Maybe we’ll get the selective beam as a standard soon. That thing was awesome.