In my spare time I am involved as a cycling advocate. This involvement stems from my concern that the human species consume vast quantities of materials, energy, and resources to transport individuals and populations locally and globally.
Despite its relatively low use today, the bicycle made a significant contribution to mobility a century ago. Here in Australia the bicycle opened up access to vast areas of the continent to ordinary working Australians.
In the latter half of the 20th century, the motor car has gradually displaced the bicycle . With the gradual disappearance of "Cheap Oil" this century, the bicycle could potentially make a big comeback in the transport of individuals and groups, as well as play a major part in the development of integrated ecologically sustainable transport networks.
In the 21st century we are rapidly coming to the end of cheap energy which has enable the car to become the dominant mode of transport in developed nations. Other less well developed nations in Asia, Africa, and South America, are pursuing this dream of ease of mobility seen as a right in more developed nations. Here in Australia we emulate the car culture of California and the rest of the America. Australians in general have little knowledge or concern about the long term impact of the motor vehicle on our lives, biological ecosystems, and the limited natural capital of oil.
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