OK Jamnw, I concur that bicycles don't use gasoline. In reality only a few people can make effective use of them for their daily commutes. Let's be realistic they are a recreational device these days...unless you live in China, or some of the world's lesser advanced nations.
Let's imagine picking up that grocery list at the end of the week, or going shopping for school clothes for the kids and bringing home all those bundles on your bike with the kiddies in tow behind you on their bikes! Bring that precious new Ipad home from the office when it's cold and pouring the rain.
You know it makes for wonderfully green conversation to yip about more facilties for bicycles.
We look so concerned, but in reality life in America is about convenience and putting people back on bicycles is pretty inconvenient.
Since were talking about energy consumption let's take a look at the fossile fuels that were spent to make your environment more convenient. Right now wherever you are take a look around you at all the items made from plastic. Maybe we should work on that. I hate plastic, but without it we would be back to the 18th century when everything was made from leather, bone, metal, wood, or cloth. All natural, organic, good ol fashioned labor intensive, whale killin, forest cutting wholesome products.
While were at it we'll run the labor rates back a hundred years or so and, and eliminate about 60% of the jobs that this convenient society we have now requires.
So....it's nice talk, but that's really all it is.