Bike or Car?

Choosing between a bike and a car is a decision many face, and the best option depends heavily on individual needs and circumstances. Let's explore the pros and cons of each to help you make an informed choice.

Cars: The Convenience Factor

Cars offer undeniable convenience. They provide shelter from the elements, transport large quantities of goods, and can cover long distances quickly. The ability to travel comfortably regardless of weather conditions or terrain is a significant advantage. This is particularly important for those living in areas with limited public transportation or needing to transport children or larger items.

However, cars come with their own set of drawbacks. The initial purchase price is often substantial, and ongoing expenses including fuel, insurance, maintenance, and parking can be considerable. Cars contribute to traffic congestion and air pollution, impacting the environment and personal health. Furthermore, car ownership requires a driver's license, insurance, and potentially parking permits, adding layers of responsibility and cost.

Bikes: A Greener, Healthier Choice

Bicycles offer a more environmentally friendly and physically active alternative to cars. Cycling is a fantastic form of exercise, contributing to cardiovascular health and overall fitness. Bikes are typically far cheaper to purchase and maintain than cars, requiring minimal ongoing expenses beyond occasional repairs or part replacements. Bikes also help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

But bikes have their limitations. They are vulnerable to weather conditions, and longer journeys can be tiring or impractical. Carrying large quantities of goods on a bike can also be challenging. Finally, bike safety is a significant concern in many urban areas, with risks from traffic and potential theft.

Factors to Consider:

• Distance and Terrain: Consider the typical distances you need to travel and the type of terrain you'll encounter. Bikes are ideal for short to medium distances on relatively flat terrain.
• Weather Conditions: Bikes are less suitable in harsh weather, whereas cars offer protection from rain, snow, and extreme temperatures.
• Cargo Needs: Cars are essential if you frequently need to transport large or bulky items.
• Cost: Bikes have significantly lower initial and ongoing costs compared to cars.
• Health and Fitness: Cycling offers considerable health benefits absent from car travel.
• Environmental Impact: Bikes are a far more environmentally friendly mode of transport.
• Safety: Consider the safety aspects of biking in your area compared to the safety of driving a car.

Conclusion:

The choice between a bike and a car is not always straightforward. There is no single 'right' answer; instead, the best option depends on the interplay of the factors discussed above. Weighing the pros and cons carefully, considering your individual needs and circumstances, and perhaps even exploring hybrid approaches such as combining bike rides with public transportation or using a bike for shorter trips and a car for longer journeys, will allow you to determine the transport solution most suitable for your lifestyle.

 

Bike or Car?

Choosing between a bike and a car is a decision many face, and the best option depends heavily on individual needs and circumstances. Let's explore the pros and cons of each to help you make an informed choice.

Cars: The Convenience Factor

Cars offer undeniable convenience. They provide shelter from the elements, transport large quantities of goods, and can cover long distances quickly. The ability to travel comfortably regardless of weather conditions or terrain is a significant advantage. This is particularly important for those living in areas with limited public transportation or needing to transport children or larger items.

However, cars come with their own set of drawbacks. The initial purchase price is often substantial, and ongoing expenses including fuel, insurance, maintenance, and parking can be considerable. Cars contribute to traffic congestion and air pollution, impacting the environment and personal health. Furthermore, car ownership requires a driver's license, insurance, and potentially parking permits, adding layers of responsibility and cost.

Bikes: A Greener, Healthier Choice

Bicycles offer a more environmentally friendly and physically active alternative to cars. Cycling is a fantastic form of exercise, contributing to cardiovascular health and overall fitness. Bikes are typically far cheaper to purchase and maintain than cars, requiring minimal ongoing expenses beyond occasional repairs or part replacements. Bikes also help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

But bikes have their limitations. They are vulnerable to weather conditions, and longer journeys can be tiring or impractical. Carrying large quantities of goods on a bike can also be challenging. Finally, bike safety is a significant concern in many urban areas, with risks from traffic and potential theft.

Factors to Consider:

• Distance and Terrain: Consider the typical distances you need to travel and the type of terrain you'll encounter. Bikes are ideal for short to medium distances on relatively flat terrain.
• Weather Conditions: Bikes are less suitable in harsh weather, whereas cars offer protection from rain, snow, and extreme temperatures.
• Cargo Needs: Cars are essential if you frequently need to transport large or bulky items.
• Cost: Bikes have significantly lower initial and ongoing costs compared to cars.
• Health and Fitness: Cycling offers considerable health benefits absent from car travel.
• Environmental Impact: Bikes are a far more environmentally friendly mode of transport.
• Safety: Consider the safety aspects of biking in your area compared to the safety of driving a car.

Conclusion:

The choice between a bike and a car is not always straightforward. There is no single 'right' answer; instead, the best option depends on the interplay of the factors discussed above. Weighing the pros and cons carefully, considering your individual needs and circumstances, and perhaps even exploring hybrid approaches such as combining bike rides with public transportation or using a bike for shorter trips and a car for longer journeys, will allow you to determine the transport solution most suitable for your lifestyle.

Hashtags:#bike #car #transportation #environment #health #fitness #cost #convenience #comparison #lifestyle Labels: bike,car,transportation,environment,health,fitness,cost,convenience,comparison,lifestyle

Solar Birdhouse

Why would only humans make use of eco-friendly technology? OOOMS designed a birdhouse with a solar panel on it’s roof. During the day sunlight feeds the solar panel , charging a small battery inside. At twilight the transparent stick will light up and cast a tiny light on your garden.
This light attracts an easy nighttime snack for the bird; all she has to do is stick her beak out of the hole and wait for the buzz.

Description: Solar Birdhouse, FSC-certified Meranti wood
Dimensions: 18 x 9 x 9 cm / 7.1 x 3.5 x 3.5 inch
Design: OOOMS

Buy Here

Cell phone radiation: the long terms effects

The debate over the harmful effects of microwave radiation is about to heat up again. A report issued by the Environmental Working Group has linked cell phone radiation to a number of nasty health problems.

Phone radiation levels
An interesting accompaniment is a chart of radiation output of all common cell phone models. The worst offenders on the list seemed to come from Motorola, whilst Nokia and Samsung generally reside in the lower end of the scale. A number of the popular smart phones were also pretty near to the upper limits, but then again, other popular smart phones weren’t.

The top 10 lists are as follows, according to TechRepublic:

Smart phones with highest radiation
1. T-Mobile MyTouch 3G (1.55 W/kg) – (also known as the HTC Magic)
2. Blackberry Curve 8330 (1.54 W/kg)
3. Palm Treo 600 (1.53 W/kg)
4. T-Mobile Shadow (1.53 W/kg) – (also known as the HTC Shadow)
5. Palm Treo 650 (1.51 W/kg)
6. Blackberry Curve 8300 (1.51 W/kg)
7. Blackberry Bold 9000 (1.51 W/kg)
8. Sony Ericsson P910a (1.50 W/kg)
9. HTC SMT 5800 (1.49 W/kg)
10. BlackBerry Pearl 8120/8130 (1.48 W/kg)

Smartphones with lowest radiation
1. Nokia 9300i (0.21 W/kg)
2. Nokia 7710 (0.22 W/kg)
3. T-Mobile MDA Wiza200 (0.28 W/kg)
4. Samsung Impression SGH-a877 (0.35 W/kg)
5. Nokia 9300 (0.44 W/kg)
6. Samsung Propel Pro SGH-i627 (0.47 W/kg)
7. Samsung Gravity SGH-t459 (0.49 W/kg)
8. BlackBerry Storm 9530 (0.57 W/kg)
9. Nokia E90 (0.59 W/kg)
10. Nokia N96 (0.68 W/kg)

Further Details: here

Planter Wall Tiles – Cool Way to Plant Indoor Flowers

Botanically speaking, there is of course no such thing as an "indoor plant". But many plants can be grown indoors, given the right conditions. People use Pots and other ways to plant indoor plants. Its another good idea for making a place look more lived in is to add a few pot plants.

Some cool indoor plants are:

• Herbs – Can be useful at a later stage if you like the idea of using fresh, home-grown herbs for cooking
• Aloes – For example, Dwarf Aloes.
• Bonsai Trees – Careful, these need quite a bit of care, especially if you want it to “grow” properly and in shape.

Pure Air Sleep System Air Purifier

The Pure Air Sleep System Air Purifier is one of those home tech gadgets that look like something we'd half expect Michael Jackson to use on a regular basis. As strange as it looks, we don't doubt it probably does help extreme allergy sufferers get better rest; when we place our home HEPA air purifier closer to the bed, our allergen reactions on the worst days noticeably improve. Preferably the system would have been incorporated into a more decor friendly form, perhaps disguised as bedside/floor lamp or incorporated into a headboard instead of presented as a strange series of tubes. But as Mom used to say, "health comes first!"

Excessive mobile use can cause mental problems like depression and lack of concentration

A new research suggests excessive use of mobile phones can hinder sleep, trigger fatigue and stress and cause mental problems like depression and lack of concentration. At the recent annual meeting of the U.S. Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS), Dr. Gaby Badre from Sahlgren's Academy in Gothenburg, Sweden said teenagers who use their phones excessively are more prone to stress and fatigue. The study focused on 21 healthy people between 14 and 20 years of age with regular work or study hours and without sleep problems. The subjects were divided into two groups. Compared to the control group, who made less than five calls and/or sent five text messages a day, the experimental group made more than 15 calls and/or sent 15 text messages a day. And the latter suffered from increased restlessness, had more careless lifestyles, consumed more stimulating beverages, and reported difficulty falling asleep, disrupted sleep, and more susceptibility to stress and fatigue. Only one-third of them ate breakfast, compared with most in the control group.

Brain wave scan of children with high mobile use showed a similar sleep cycle pattern to that of a depression patient. Conversely, depressive and impulsive children tended to rely more on mobile phones. Experts say those who are at risk to becoming an addict are nervous without a phone, always tinker with it and are at ease only after making a call or texting someone. Doctors also note that texting can be more harmful than phone calls to mental health and sleep levels. Prof. Ha ji-hyun, of the Department of Psychiatry at Konkuk University Medical Center says, "A call is simultaneous communication, but an SMS is not. You can get nervous while waiting for the response."

Save Trees – Write on this Ceramic Notepad

We were in 100% Norway website and found where the smart thing. A notebook in ceramics, with the pen that belongs to, which can be placed inside the "spiral" when not in use. Green thinking with a product that can be used again and again

Bedside Table Lamps

Solar powered Universal Cellphone Charger

Adapter Plugs for mini-USB, USB, Motorola, Nokia, BlackBerry, and new option to add iPhone Adapter.

Via: Link

Solar Power Sunglasses Can Charge Your Gadgets

With the snow coming down fast this time of year, we can’t help but dream of laying on the beach listening to our iPod and relaxing. But how to keep it charged? If we had this handy pair of designer sunglasses, we could keep our iPod or other iDevice fully charged while basking in the sun or walking around town. Designed by Hyun-Joong Kim and Kwang-Seok Jeong, these slick “Self-Energy Converting Sunglasses” feature dye solar cells that are integrated into their lenses. Although perhaps not as fun as using a yo-yo to charge your devices, this solar solution is probably a heck of a lot more practical and stylish to boot.

Jeong and Kim’s power-generating glasses are composed of a “cheap organic dye [that uses] nano technology [to provide] cheap but high energy efficiency.” The sunglass lenses can collect and convert enough energy from the sun to power small devices connected by a power jack at the back of the frame.

We expect to see solar panels integrated into more and more devices in the coming years. We’ve already seen photovoltaics used in bags, backpacks, lawnmowers, and cars, so these sunglasses are no surprise. As solar technology becomes more advanced and lightweight, sunglasses like these may even become the norm. It’s also a good thing that huge sunglasses are in style now, because that means there is more surface area for energy collection.

Incredible Eco-Park - Governor's Island

New York’s Governor’s Island is set to receive an incredible set of renovations that will transform the 172-acre plot of decaying Coast Guard structures into a stunning eco-park. Designed by West 8, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Rogers Marvel Architects, the project is a hybrid of landscape and architecture based around a sinuous set of new paths, watercourses, restaurants, aquaria and even complimentary wooden bicycles. Slated for completion in 2012, the ambitious, new and improved Governors Island will incorporate a host of environmentally friendly features.

The proposal also features a Marine Exploration Center that consists of a set of off-shore “programmed structures” including a coastal plant greenhouse, marine life tank, vertical reef, and two restaurants. “Off-shore programmed structures emerge like bubbles from the water, moving with the tides…” say Diller Scofidio + Renfro, “The Oyster Restaurant floating directly across the harbor from the Statue of Liberty is an inflated sphere, 150′ in diameter, anchored by a man-made oyster reef. Rather than focusing its gaze on the world, it turns to the ecology of the local, allowing guests to eat the site by serving foods from the Hudson and the harbor.”

As visitors head to the southern tip of the island, they will encounter a “Vertical Landscape” of man-made mountains that will incorporate recreational, cultural, and educational functions. Though still in the development stage, features may include snack bars, exhibits, a funicular, and caves for spelunking. West 8 partner Jerry van Eyck says: “We wanted to give it the attitude of a national park, one with primal nature, robustness, where you don’t feel the hand of man.”

Last but certainly not least, complimentary wood bicycles—designed by the architects themselves—will be provided for visitors to cruise the winding paths of the park. Attractions accessible by bike will include the tidal basin, the planned 10,000 seat amphitheater, and a perimeter promenade with killer views of the city and its legendary landmarks. Given the stunning design, recreational and educational opportunities the park will provide, not to mention the tourist dollars it will generate, Governors Island may prove to be the best $1 investment the city has ever made.

Via: Inhabitat