Transportation After TSHTF?
 

I was thinking today about the problem of transportation in case of EMP, no gas available, van breaks down or no power to recharge anything. I live in a small rural village at least 6 miles from any town and if I needed something, I would have to walk.
I almost bought a skinny-tired bicycle at a garage sale today but thought maybe a mountain bike would be better.:shrug: Don't know if I'm still able to get on and off of a bike.

I would appreciate your ideas.

Horses, donkeys, mountain bikes.

That and people getting together and sharing transport more as they used to.

If things are that bad, I doubt you'd find a lot in town either.
It takes less than a week for all the stores to sell out if they aren't getting deliveries.

LOL I would love to see my landlady's face if I had a donkey out in the yard. I'm not even allowed to have any pets.

I think you won't need to go to town too often anyway. there might be nothing there to buy.

I think if that that happened your landlady would be getting her own donkey.

Is this based upon personal knowledge or are you speculating?

You mentioned being able to get on and off a bike may be an issue. If age or physical restraint is a consideration, you can take a look at a 3 wheel recumbent. Here is a picture of one. ( I am not recommending that recumbent, I wanted you to see a 3 wheeler ). You can also add a small trailer to tow behind. Recumbents are available as 2 wheelers also. If you are somewhat physically limited, a 3 wheeler will help with balance, mounting and getting off the bike, especially if you are carrying a load. Any decent bike may seem pricey, like everything else you get what you pay for.

http://www.hammacher.com/Product/11079?source=FROOGLE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recumbent_bicycle

If the recumbent is not to your liking, take a look at this site. You may know someone handy who is able to craft one for you. I think the Rickshaw is a beautiful, functional vehicle. I hope to own a rickshaw in the near future. After you view the rickshaws, take a look at Reuben's Waves.

http://www.reubenmargolin.com/rickshaws.htm

In my opinion, the wheels are the most important feature for a bike. Mountain bikes have 'fat tires' with sturdy rims and good hubs ( axles ). It makes for a smoother ride, the rims stay true and the hubs are often sealed protecting the bearings from the elements and requiring no maintenance. Rough roads, curb jumping, potholes will easily knock skinny tires out of being true. Truing of the rim is then necessary, I pay $20 plus tax per wheel to have it done. A good sturdy bike where you can add panniers or side baskets for carrying the load should be a consideration. Size is important. A rough rule of thumb,on a 'boys' bike with a crossbar, when you straddle the bar with both feet flat on the ground, the bar should come up to the area of your crotch. Or, you can stand next to the bike and the top of the seat should be in the area of your pelvic bone. A good used bike should be free of rust on the chain and sprockets. Most bikes have hand brakes, check the brake pads to be sure they are not too worn. A good used bike will probably cost you more than think. A cheap one is a waste of money. If you spend much time on the saddle you will be much happier with a decent bike.

I'll just order from Amazon. They have free delivery.


(Sneaking away and ducking all the shoes....)

Thanks for all the good ideas.
I love the rickshaw idea but would rather have a wooden or metal lock box on the back.
I am older and not as agile and strong as in the past but no physical disabilties beside those.

DH and I have been buying old bikes and cleaning them up and doing very minor repairs/refurbishing. For example, we're not painting them or replacing handlebars that have a bit of rust, but we do replace tubes and tires if the tires are bad. We've been paying between 10 and 18 dollars for really nice bikes. So far we have bought single speed, and 3, 10, and 12 speeds (and one that was a 21 speed that was some expensive Italian racing bike that weighs 13 lbs or some such thing. Got that one for $20. Dh looked it up and it retailed for about $2000 several years ago). Got a few mountain bikes and a couple of children's bikes. Best deal was the Salvation Army auction where we bought a lot of 11 bikes for $ 69, tax included, which each bike cost $6.27 each. We are selling these for between $25 and $50 or $60, based on if the bike is vintage enough to be desirable. They are selling well, especially if it's a pretty bike. We are finding that folks don't want to spend $90 on a poorly made Wal Mart bike, but still want to buy a solid, good quality bike, and will buy an older one that is solid and good quality, and the price is right for them too. The ones that sell BEST aren't mountain bikes. The best sellers are road bikes, or beach cruisers, fat tired bikes, or whatever you call them. I've had a few people tell me they don't like riding humped over like on a mountain bike, and I agree. It would *kill* my back and shoulders if I had to ride that way for extended periods of time. I have to sit upright when I ride. It's usually teenage boys who want the mountain bikes.

I need to get out this weekend and buy some more bikes.

BTW, bike baskets are at a premium--the kind made of wire that sit over the back fender and have a basket on each side. If you can find any that are in good condition and they are cheap, BUY THEM! They sell for crazy amounts on Ebay.

Sort of off-topic, sorry, but I thought I would add what we have been experiencing and what people seem to want. And yes, some of them have bought because they want an 'alternative' form of transportation but are just po folks like us, and who don't have big bucks to spend on a nice bike.

http://www.carryfreedom.com/bamboo.html
http://www.pedicabforum.com/forums/forum.php
http://www.goatworld.com/articles/pu...goatcart.shtml

LOL Ruby.

I looked at the plans for rickshaws but doubt I could make one. The cost to buy one is way out of my range.I see they usually use conduit. I wonder if pvc would work.

I never thought about the mountain bikes riding position. That would not work for me. I will check out the other types with sturdy wheels/tires.

I would be happy to pay $50-$60 for a good used bike.

I won't speak for Bearfootfarm, but I can attest to this.. from personal knowledge.

During hurricane Floyd ('97 IIRC) our farm and pretty much our little community in Harrells Store and Ivanho was completely cut off for about eight days until the flood waters receded. The shelves at the two small grocery stores, retail pork store, and a couple very small c-stores were exhausted after just a few days. Furtermore, after the rivers, branches, and ponds did drain it seemed like weeks before there was some weight back on the shelves.

Just my experience.

I have a bike and a cargo trailer for it (one of the fat-tired road bikes, well-built). I could also make a goat cart, and probably will one of these days, using the back two wheels (plus the seat and the basket between the wheels) of DD's adult trike for the foundation. We don't have enough land for a pony, or I'd go that route -- DD could ride a pony, but not a goat. I could probably carry her on the cargo trailer but am not sure how safe that would be (visibility -- she'd be pretty low, although I could rig a flag for it, I suppose).

We are twelve miles from town, which is probably too far to go with a bike and cart (and a load), and definitely too far for the goat cart. There's a reason the little New England villages were usually about three miles apart -- an hour's walk, or about that with an ox cart.

Kathleen

Not sure what you are referring to as a "hunched over" riding position for a mountain bike, but one reason that I got mine is that it has a much more upright riding position that a street or touring bike. We have friends that regularly ride 14 to 17 miles one way to town, and it is downhill much of the way into town, so a long hill on most of the way home, when they have a load to haul. With the right gearing, it is slow but not a terrible strain.

Don't know if this qualifies as an example of bearfootfarms theory...

But, twice, the Houston regions Golden Horde descended upon my area, during hurricane evacs. The shelves of the two large grocery stores were stripped. Within hours. Weren't resupplied for three days... all the distribution centers were closer to Houston, and they resupplied stores closest first. A lot of folks eyes were opened by spectre of empty shelves.

As for the OP... have several mountain bikes, and a tractor. Both sisters and their families have horses. One has "lots" of extras... about 8 brand new saddles in his living room alone, can't count the ones in his barn. Neighbor/uncle has extra horses, donkeys, and jackasses.

However, for a long time, I'd imagine not wanting to travel to town for anything... a trip would take all of two days, a day there and a day back.

I like to keep stuff on hand that I know I'm going to have to have sooner or later.

Personally, I've got a beater 4x4, mechanically sound and 1/2 ton capacity (plus the 5x10 trailer sitting quietly and unobtrusive, waiting for a ride. Til then, quietly fire it up and give a quick run. 1/2 tank of gas (17 gallons) is always at hand...be it for lawn mower, tractor, gas oil mix, etc.
Matt

Experience:

http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/19990915/

http://www.google.com/search?complete=1&hl=en&source=hp&q=hurricane+floyd+north+carolina&aq=7&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=hurricane+floyd&gs_rfai=CXjYyJyx3TMrJNpXggwTji5TPDwAAAKoEBU_Q5Ocx

We've got a couple of horses, but they are boarded 4 miles away and only one is broken to drive. I see bicycles in our future... maybe an Amish buggy too.

I expect one or more of the enterprising folk around here would get themselves set with a wagon and I could pay someone to take me to town. Lots of folks have horses around here. I just don't "do" big animals and have no intention of starting. OTOH, I have a lovely herd of milk goats and would be fine swapping milk for rides. Nobody else around here has milk animals of any kind.

I am not a big fan of animals for transportation. I've come across way too many flighty horses pulling buggies when I am driving my car or riding bike. My first choice would be a simple sturdy diesel vehicle but all in all it is hard to beat the reliability of a bicycle.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/...8924f4c4_z.jpg

I bought mine about 3 years ago for 90 bucks. I put a MegaGear sprocket set in the back to help with going up hills. The bike is pretty heavy but I've bashed it over a lot of rocks mountain bike style and never had any problems with anything loosening up or breaking. The rims are fairly beefy as well and the tires are nice and wide. The frame itself is a bit thicker and the diameter of the tubing is larger than most other bikes I've seen. I've since found out that other bikes based on that frame have become popular for turning into motorized bicycles because of the frame beefiness. While it isn't as fast as a nice road bike it is a heck of a lot more durable. I've burned through a lot of road bikes over the years, they just don't take abuse although when everything is fresh they sure are fast :D I make sure everything is lubricated nice and thus far haven't had any de-railer problems. If I need something really simple I do have a few old single speed cruisers laying around. I prefer the upright riding position of a cruiser over being hunched over on a road or mountain bike. I have seen a few bikes where they have a step through design so if getting off and on is hard there are options for you. Step through bikes also seem to have pretty decent frames and wide tires as well.

Bikes look like a wonderful option for those without larger transportation. As for us, we have the horses and wagons and could take our neighbors into town, too, if they needed it.
Catherine

1983 Chevy Chevette Diesel
1969 VW Beetle
1974 VW Super Beetle converted electronics
bicycles
1979 Chevy C10 (have conversion parts on shelf)
1954 Ford Jubalee tractor
MF 255 tractor
A 70's somrthing mini bike

Yeah I like motorized toys

This is probably what I would do, also. A lot of our neighbors have horses (although I don't know if any of them have a wagon -- one could be built fairly quickly, I think). At least two neighbors have goats, but one place only has Pygmies, and the other people's goats look like meat goats, so I probably have the only dairy goats in the neighborhood. One of my friends who lives about 2.5 miles from us has a couple of dairy cows, but she and I between us couldn't supply all the milk consumed in our area. So it's a good trade item, or trade goat kids to get other folks set up with their own dairy animals.

But, as someone has already mentioned, there probably won't be much reason to go to town.

Kathleen

No, I wouldn't have any reason to go for a while, unless it was to see family. THey have horses, though and could ride out to see me if they wanted to.

I'm thinking of down the road a bit, once things have settled enough to have trade going on again.

My daughter cannot ride a bike or a trike and I know I couldn't pull her in a bike driven cart. Couldn't pull a load of stuff home either. So no bikes for us.

Lots of wonderful ideas. Thanks a lot. I have a lot to think about.

There are other reasons for transportation other than going out for supplies.
I'm thinking about what if one of the kids or grandkids needed me for a multitude of reasons and I had no way to get there or if I needed to get a message to a friend or family member and power and phone lines were down. If my van was broken or gas was not available I could not walk long distances. One son lives 20 miles away and youngest lives 25 miles away.
Thankfully my doctor is only a few blocks away.

well I will raise this again even if you have all the fuel in the world eventually the oil will become your down fall. lots of options for fuel but for high heat little in the line of lube!

as far as animal transport, I have shepards and they do great as "sled dogs" I hook them up to my bike rather then have to walk with them and they love it, never put them on a real sled but they pull that bike like champs. I know they would not pull a big load but for personel transport they would work great.

for a load I dont really see myself transporting such think I would rather keep it in my own store house.

Oh, sumpin I just thought about, looking at the picture of that bike...

BIG SEATS! Speaking for myself, personally, a regular bike seat just kills me to ride for more than about 5 miles. Very painful in the sensitive areas, if you know what I mean. DH got me a big bike seat, and it has made riding much more comfortable.

I spent some time on the bike today. If this is your plan, practice. Currently, my body hurts.

The seat needs to fit the person.

A seat that fits a skinny rail of a guy will not fit a woman with birthing hips.

My seat is medium size.
My boss uses a seat that reminds me of a wedgey.

Transportation of people will involve more hitching rides, walking and bikes. Product transportation may involve home delivery. Anybody old enough to remember the milkman, breadman, jewel tea man, and so on. Door to door salespeople will return.

An old timer in my area told me the other day that there were 11 stores along a 14 mile stretch of U.S. 50, during the other depression in my county. Today there are none and only a couple of the buildings still stand. This sort of thing should return. Within walking distance, ya' know.:coffee:

We have bikes and a trailer to pull the kids, but with the kids starting to learn to ride their own bikes, I have been able to haul a lot more with the trailer. (My oldest learned to ride this summer). We have a tag-a-long for one child and the other still rides in the trailer until the middle child learns to ride by herself.

As what RWBlue01 said, yes practice now if this is your plan! DH started riding his bike to work a couple miles away, for exercise and to save gas money, and the first week he was sore and winded. It's been over a month, and his time has cut in half and he can breathe a lot easier when he gets home now. I think this is especially important if you are hauling anything, as I regularly pull 100+ pounds with the trailer. 2 kids = 85-90, plus the weight of the trailer, along with whatever groceries, etc. Uphill can be a killer!

would these work after an EMP??
We have mtn bikes, they are good for your health besides being a prep item. If that was our only transportation, DH would probably rig up saddlebags, baskets and a cart to pull if we needed to

i think that no matter what form of transportation you choose every one should have several pairs of good season appropriate boots stored. i say this because you will be doing more walking than you ever thought possible and working in rough conditions all year long.:walk:

just my .02 though
dean

I found this site that has adult tricycles; I didn't know there was such a thing.They look sturdy but pricey.
http://industrialbicycles.com/

Yup that is a very good idea. Might not be a bad idea to learn how to repair shoes as well.

Can you canoe? I'm near the Kennebec River....

The largest body of water near me is a shallow creek except in the spring when it rains a lot. So no way to use a canoe.