Video of the Day: Moving by Bike

http://xkcd.com/386/

Except that the only person talking down to people is you, and no rules to live by were specified by anyone.

not exactly. it's more like don't talk down to others or act like your ___ doesn't stink when you break the same rules you want the rest of us to live by.

"it's hypocritical to act all environmentally groovy ... when you poisoned the environment in much larger ways."

Otherwise known as the Algore argument: The idea that you cannot be an environmental advocate unless you live in a cave with no electricity, etc.

Thanks for your support guys. I mean really, i'm the first one to admit that i'm not 100% no impact on the environment, and i'm by no means trying to get fame and fortune or attention for myself from making a video like this.

What i am trying to do is to raise awareness that there are options out there, and that with a little bit of thought and care we can make a difference, if ever so small.

The great thing about the internet is that 3000+ people have seen the video so far, and it was only posted a few days ago.

If even 1 other person sees the video and inspired to go out and change the way they do things, or to think about things a little different then the video was successful. Its not about me or my girlfriend or anyone else in the film, its about creating a discourse, engaging a in dialog and coming up with new paradigms that aren't so selfish and ruinous.

Riding a bike everyday and taking public transportation instead of owning a car is my way of trying to limit the damage in do by being a modern day human. Yeah i recycle, i contribute to my community, i educate others, i do what i can. I'm not asking anyone to do anything in this film other than to look around at what they can do- or at the very least, question why they make the choices they do. Or even less, be entertained by a few dorks on bikes trying something new.

Cool idea! I've been an avid cyclist since high school and have probably moved every year since then (even more in college) and it never occurred to me to try it by bike. I'd do it next time if there wasn't an ocean involved. Cycling in NYC is an interesting affair; the lane coverage is actually pretty good and the motorists are at least aware, if not friendly; and the waterfront rides are gorgeous.

Don't worry about the haters on this site - as they say, don't feed the trolls...

I'll say it again, people who comment like the nasty ones above, well they know they are losers and really don't have much to say other than they are useless, which is okay, fine to be useless in society, most people are.

I mean come on, these guys shot a video for Streetfilms, a very low budget one. It got picked up here. They don't say that you have to do what they did, they decided to do it themselves. What is the big deal? Really. It's sad, really sad.

Let them do it. If you wanna move by van or Hummer, go right ahead. No one is attacking you for doing that.

When did you NYC get close minded? exactly. when did you become so sensitive about someone offering a viewpoint that differs from your own?

He said that moving with bikes was more eco-friendly than using a U-Haul. This is true, and we all know it....by avoiding renting one, they inarguably reduced the environmental impact of their move.

that sounds nice and simple, but in actuality, all those people burning extra calories biking to move this stuff, then consuming more food than they would have if they hadn't burned those calories, wear and tear on bicycle tires that need to be replaced, wear on brake pads of cars to avoid them... these things are rarely as simple as portrayed.

what's the point of questioning dude on the environmental impact of his flight to Europe? that it's hypocritical to act all environmentally groovy by moving some stuff using bikes when you poisoned the environment in much larger ways. Not to mention, having been to Amsterdam a few times myself, as much as they ride bikes, I've never noticed anyone there moving a household's worth of goods that way. I guess they really are smarter than us.

wtf is eyekantspel even talking about in this post?

what's the point of questioning dude on the environmental impact of his flight to Europe? He never said that he conserved energy by flying to Europe. He said that moving with bikes was more eco-friendly than using a U-Haul. This is true, and we all know it.

I don't understand your point that there is an environmentally friendly reason for using a car instead of bikes to move. Must we calculate the emissions caused by a few hours of U-Haul truck use versus those additional emissions while cars waited for the bikes on the street? I mean, honestly... And from where did the idea that they were on their way to "doing something else with their time to help the environment and/or community" come? They were just some regular bozos driving in their cars - what difference does it make?

It's not nonsense! Moving trucks get really poor MPG; probably much worse than any of the other vehicles these guys prevented from getting somewhere in a hurry. So by avoiding renting one, they inarguably reduced the environmental impact of their move. No, it isn't a huge impact, but it's still something, and what the dude says is true.

And you have assumed that they did all of this, and taped it and posted it simply for attention. That's not necessarily true. It's a nerdy little endeavor they set out on, and they wished to document it and share it. Nobody broadcast it into your home, and it is the prerogative of others on the Internet [blogs, news, people] to give them attention. You seem to have given them a lot of attention, for example.

eyekantrideabike

Seriously...Bully for these folks. Even if some people want to call you a 'Hipster' or whatever for moving this way, screw 'em. Most likely these commentars are morbidly obese and couldn't move a toothbrush by bicycle. I ride everywhere by bike, and I've done bicycle moves out of economic desperation, and I'm all for it. When did you NYC get close minded?

c'mon nickdigital. If that's you in the video, you said you traveled to Amsterdam (and hinted at other places). In what eco-friendly manner did you get there?

No one is saying that it isn't fine not to drive. But there are times when it makes sense to do so, both practically speaking AND as environmentally speaking. Moving is one of those times.

Whatever incremental amount of pollution would have been added by renting a truck for a quick move could have been more than overcome by having those same people who clogged the streets doing something else with their time to help the environment and/or community.

This video was not posted as "gee, we're so poor the best option is to move by bicycle." It was posted as if this kind of move was environmentally superior to doing it in one shot with a small rental truck. Nonsense.

Not to mention, having X number of people hauling crap on bikes certainly increases the chances that any one of them will get in an accident and hurt themselves or someone else.

If you had fun moving stuff on a bike, good for you, you could have done it without videotaping it. But taping it to post it on the web as a way to get attention for yourself, or to say "look at me, I'm a friend to the environment" is nothing but econarcissism. (yes, I'm adding that word to my lexicon)

Econarcissim- the act of admiring one's own devotion to the environment or eco-friendly causes.

So your saying somehow that double parking a uhaul truck is some how safer than using bike lanes and pedal power to move your things?

yes.

your saying that somehow my causing causing an SUV (who already made the decision to buy and drive one) to drive slow is causing more pollution?

yes.

Maybe if there were more reasonable options for a lower income person, then my girlfriend wouldn't have been priced out of her apartment and forced to move in with me.

sucks to be her.

Way to go dudes! Stick it to the man!! My next move is going to be on a bike.

There is a couple places in Manhattan that rent them. Revolution rickshaws is one. Also, there are a ton of companies online that sell the trailers. I think the one that i borrowed was from Bikes at work.

They are more expensive and more for commercial use but there are others that are much cheaper.

I bike in harsh conditions and zigzag through times square traffic. I have friend with bikes but I have no friends that have a rickshaw.

How many people do? And if you do have friends that do, where do they store them?

Also, where would you purchase one/how much would it cost?

I am not against bike riding in general, but why do you think it's necessary to film your move by bike and post it on the web?

It's not necessary - they made a video and Gothamist picked up on it. Are your multiple negative comments necessary?

This post also really reinforces "stuff white people like" per the blog of the same name.

That's every day life in Hanoi, Vietnam. If it's good enough for the Vietnamese, it's good enough for Brooklyn.

yes my video is very manly, and viral.

Well i don't know... let's see. Maybe we could try to lead by example for one. We could maybe film it and post it to the web as a way to reach a wider audience, so maybe they could feel motivated to do something other than post comments on blogs all day. Oh wait... i forgot that the web was only for elitism and porn. Hmm..ok, maybe i by posting the video online we are somehow validating the idea that more than just snarky, jaded and bitter people live in NY, and that you can have fun with friends and make a little dent in your own selfish draining of the worlds resources at the same time.

No your right, i should have just spent the money on movers, left my camera at home, shot some porn and posted that instead. I could have called it "Dude69 does Crown Heights". That would have been fun. I could have made a bunch of money off of it and bought a suburban, moved to Ohio and get fat.

That would have been a better idea. Yeah. I'll do that next time.

I love riding my bike, and I do consider myself environmentally conscious, but trying to move apartments via bicycle seems pretty ridiculous to me.

What the hell is a virile video?

"Maybe if there were more reasonable options for a lower income person, then my girlfriend wouldn't have been priced out of her apartment and forced to move in with me. She teaches children for f..k sake and can't even afford to live near where she teaches,"

They have schools and plenty of low cost homes in Ohio you know. You can also pack everything into a single, horse drawn wagon to save yourself multiple bicycle trips back and forth to NY.

I meant "viral" video above.

I am not against bike riding in general, but why do you think it's necessary to film your move by bike and post it on the web? Nothing more than to stroke your own EGO with some virile video and instant fame, I bet. Maybe Good Morning America will be calling you for an interview soon, just like those despicable Subway Sweethearts...puke!

The folks above posting hateful rhetoric are just lazy and not doing anything for the better of the planet.

Nothing wrong with people doing a move by bike. Some people like chocolate ice cream, some like vanilla.

sorry for the double posting, my hipster internet connection was being too ironic to make a connection, and i accidentally hit post again when my designer 90's neon glasses with no lenses slipped off.

Wow, you guys are brutal. But let me get this straight.

"And creates greater congestion and risk of accidents because of a bunch of people making multiple trips on bicycles hauling furniture."

So your saying somehow that double parking a uhaul truck is some how safer than using bike lanes and pedal power to move your things? And for the few streets that didn't have bike lanes and we were forced to ride in the traffic lane (where we have every legal right to ride in by the way) , your saying that somehow my causing causing an SUV (who already made the decision to buy and drive one) to drive slow is causing more pollution?

and please... not that i'm one to defend hipsterism, but riding a bike and deciding to minimize my impact on the environment, or fine, offset the impact i made on the environment by flying to Amsterdam (it was a very lovely trip thank you very much, i took pictures if you care to see how much room the dutch take up in their streets with bikes) Somehow this makes me a hipster gentrifier?

Maybe if there were more reasonable options for a lower income person, then my girlfriend wouldn't have been priced out of her apartment and forced to move in with me. She teaches children for f..k sake and can't even afford to live near where she teaches, and maybe we can all just take a minute and think about who is choosing to purchase and drive vehicles in a city with perfectly good public transportation, or choosing to ride a bike instead of pollute.

Try getting off your high and mighty ass and doing some work yourself for once, stop wasting your time making snide comments on a blog from the safety of your personal computer and do something for your community, give back, educate, participate, anything.

Oh wait, i'm sorry... you probably make enough money to pay someone else to care.

Wow, you guys are brutal. But let me get this straight.

"And creates greater congestion and risk of accidents because of a bunch of people making multiple trips on bicycles hauling furniture."

So your saying somehow that double parking a uhaul truck is some how safer than using bike lanes and pedal power to move your things? And for the few streets that didn't have bike lanes and we were forced to ride in the traffic lane (where we have every legal right to ride in by the way) , your saying that somehow my causing causing an SUV (who already made the decision to buy and drive one) to drive slow is causing more pollution?

and please... not that i'm one to defend hipsterism, but riding a bike and deciding to minimize my impact on the environment, or fine, offset the impact i made on the environment by flying to Amsterdam (it was a very lovely trip thank you very much, i took pictures if you care to see how much room the dutch take up in their streets with bikes) Somehow this makes me a hipster gentrifier?

Maybe if there were more reasonable options for a lower income person, then my girlfriend wouldn't have been priced out of her apartment and forced to move in with me. She teaches children for f..k sake and can't even afford to live near where she teaches, and maybe we can all just take a minute and think about who is choosing to purchase and drive vehicles in a city with perfectly good public transportation, or choosing to ride a bike instead of pollute.

Try getting off your high and mighty ass and doing some work yourself for once, stop wasting your time making snide comments on a blog from the safety of your personal computer and do something for your community, give back, educate, participate, anything.

Oh wait, i'm sorry... you probably make enough money to pay someone else to care.

They are soooo hipsters! This reminds me of the couple of hipster morons moving a sofa on the L train. Video on YouTube, i am sure.

Do what i do next time a friend asks you to help them move to a 3rd floor walkup with a giant coutch that barely fits through the door. Offer them money to hire someone else who does this for a living.

I love the shot at 3:35 showing a bike hauling crap and forcing an SUV to drive slowly behind it, probably doing more environmental damage as a result.

or the part at 2:30 "In other countries that I've been to, this isn't so strange" (showing clips of Amsterdam). What environmentally friendly way did this guy use to travel to Amsterdam? Sailboat?

Hey Brooklyn, look at us, a group of self-righteous d-bags blocking your sidewalk and traffic so we can show the world how much we care about the environment!

Oh relax!

As you can see from the video, there were no accidents. Congestion is a pretty regular part of city traffic, and bikes get around all over the city without causing problematic congestion, so I don't think there's any issue with that.

And really? They're hipsters because of this? Seems like more of an exercise in geekdom to me. The shiftless layabout sort of hipster that is constantly vilified on this site is more likely to hire somebody to do his moving for him, don't you think?

"it keeps us healthier and our air healthier"

And creates greater congestion and risk of accidents because of a bunch of people making multiple trips on bicycles hauling furniture. It would have been better for the environment and the public at large if they just rented a truck, made a quick local move in one trip, and spent the additional man hours in picking up litter or recycling or doing something to help others.

A rickshaw "is very innovative and creative and edgy." lol.

This is why I hate hipsters. "Hey look at me, even my move is environmentally friendly!"