Alternative Transportation in a Post-Disaster Scenario

     In a disaster or post disaster situation, a lot of services and products we have readily available now will not be available. Since the topic is transportation, I am referring to services such as mass transportation, e.g. airlines, trains, and bus systems, and products such as gasoline or diesel. All of these methods of transportation are the main ways people travel, whether the distance is long or short. Many people will feel quite helpless when it comes to transportation. Suppose there is a family member away at college or in another state or even country, and you have no idea how to get to them to make sure they are safe or even alive. (This is a good place to mention that alternative forms of communication are also important, e.g. ham radio) Or if it is some sort of pandemic or militant situation, it may be necessary to evacuate a great distance.
      When asked about alternative forms of transportation, many people's thoughts lean towards classic forms of transportation, such as bikes or some sort of pack animal. These are both great options. A pack animal would be able to carry many more supplies than one, two, or possibly even three people could carry alone, with the added benefit that they can carry you as well. My problem with pack animals is that they need just as much care as a human, and in some situations more. In particular, the animals need much more food than a human to maintain a consistent energy level. For example, and average sized horse needs roughly 20 to 25 pounds of feed(or about 11 kilos) a day to stay healthy. That means food either has to be found or carried along with to feed the animal. Conversely, although it may not be pleasant to think about, a pack animal could be a significant amount of food itself in a dire situation.
     Bikes are another source of transportation that people resort to in disaster situations. In fact, in cities and many developing countries, bikes are the main form of transportation anyways. Bike are great for disaster situations, as they require very little care or upkeep, and they help to keep the user physically fit as well. Another good "feature" of the bike is that it allows the user to choose their own speed and therefore energy output. If the user is tired, they can take it slow, or if they are feeling energetic, they can cover a decent distance in a relatively short span of time. While a pro can get up to speeds of 30 mph, the average cyclist can achieve an average speed of 10-15 mph. In comparison, a person can hike an average of 14 miles per day, so a bike is a great improvement.

I currently don't have the time to finish this post so I will post a second portion of it ASAP.