Spare the Air Faire

Yesterday, my Organization held a Spare the Air Faire, where a dozen well-meaning environmental and transit representatives came with the sysyphisian mission of converting car commuters to sometime-alternative commuters. I feel for these people, I really do. They must overcome laziness with good intentions and facts. They hand out brochures, transit time-tables, pens, and fold-and-make cardboard trains. They get vague commitments in return, "sure, I'll take the train, or carpool, maybe, once..."

There was an electric bike to test ride. And I gave it a whirl. It was a fun ride, but not one that makes much sense. A rather heavy mountain bike augmented with a 20-pound motor and battery that promises to zoom you up hills. Except once you take into account the amount of peddling energy expended on moving said device, it seems rather silly. It seems like a "lossy" process.