With rising fuel prices commuting by bike has become a popular way to get to work, class, or just getting around town. More recently some companies have including cycling in their business strategy not only to cut fuel cost, but also to reach out to the growing "green" world we are living in. This article talks about some relator's who use cycling to show homes in areas clients are interested in. This sort of business is certainly attracting a niche market at this time, but from what the article says its doing well and growing at a great pace.
I think ideas like this within a business are great. More and more people today are living green and doing their part in helping the environment. With more businesses offering eco-friendly services like this, its become easier for everyone to go green.
5 comments:
Using cycling is actually a very good idea. I think humans have become more and more dependent on machines as technology develops. Cycling, the new approach to customers (especially the environmental conscious individuals) is certainly a very interesting strategy. Just one side thought, a little related to our topic today in class: the goals of economic outcomes. Goran listed five goals: growth, efficiency, equity, stability, and viability. For a system to be eco-friendly is to reach the goal of viability. However, we've talked in class about how all 5 goals can hardly be achieved simultaneously. There is the common trade-off btw efficiency and equality. And from this article, I can see the trade-off btw efficiency and viability too. For example, if those housing businesses use bicycles instead of cars to show homes to customers, on average, it might take an agent 2 hours to show these homes and neighborhoods by bicycles while it might take only 30' by cars. The trade-offs are not easy, especially in developing countries...
The reverse of this actually happened in China, with more and more of the population using cars and eschewing bicycles, and there definitely was a trade-off between efficiency and viability. Now, although transportation is surely easier and less time-consuming in China with the increased use of cars, there has also been a marked increase in pollution.
Many cities across the country have taken advantage of the increasing need to go green by creating more bike lanes on the roads, and even renting out bikes to commuters for the day. The folding bicycle has been growing in popularity with commuters who need to tuck their bike away on trains, buses, or in the office.
I think the idea of using bikes instead of cars is a great way to help conserve the environment. Tying this to what Paul Romer said in his interview this is an idea which may help us come up with more diverse ideas to save the environment. In that sense this can be looked upon as a “meta idea i.e. an idea that helps us get better at discovering other ideas.” Like Romer said, this is something where we do not have to worry about a tragedy of the commons scenario. Hence I think is more businesses come up with similar ideas and offer incentives to the employees that make an attempt to go green the world will definitely be a greener place to live in.
I'm thinking about buying an used bike for myself too. For me, though, it's not because of the rising fuel price or for the green world to get a bike. I just think that getting a bike makes my life easier as I can get around to the park or class or Kroger faster with fun.
By the way, will there be public transportation in Delaware ever?
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