Re:Practical engineering solution: ride a bicycle (Score 1)

Mine was $350, at current exchange rates (I'm in the UK)

And that's a reasonable price for probably a really nice bicycle. I was trying to look at the worst case scenario. I've had wonderful US$50 bikes (old Campy drivetrain and components beautiful double-butted Reynolds-531 frame) and ultra-modern carbon-fiber monocoque mtn.bikes and they've all been great.

Take your point on the threat that cycling is to profiteers. They won't ban it outright though: it happens in incremental stages as they try and convince us that it's too dangerous to cycle on the road as a vehicle and we have to ride in "bike lanes".