Lessons from Ukraine

[Bmyers]

I would take my truck, car, motorcycle, ATV, Tractor, minibike, bicycle...in that order.

Yes, good to have a series of priorities.
1. I live in a metro area where the population density can easily reach 30,000 to the square mile.
2. If there are traffic jams, no lights, glass on the streets, the priorities are reversed, with transients with supermarket carts being kings. I have the bike with the attached game carrier, fixed dolly and a fold up flat dolly. I have the backpacks, however, it has been 50 years since I was in the US
army carrying a pack.
3. Years ago, I did some optics with a young big game guide who had a wife and preschooler and lived rural. He was going to stay put and rely upon his motorcycle. He was an excellent motorcyclist. I simply asked him how long his gasoline would last and what he was going to do when it ran out = so you have to think of modes of transportation wearing out and/or eventually failing.

Our first choice would be our vehicles to escape an area. We also have bikes for everyone in the house that we keep serviceable and get them out a couple times a year. Over the years I have sold the motorcycles, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers, so they are no longer an option.

We have a trailer hitch bike rake that we can put the bikes on to allow us to take them with us if that issue would arrive.

[David]

But you don't see them traveling the countryside or filling up the roadways on foot. Relief comes in, even with temp shelters if necessary.

I'll go back to what I said earlier in the thread, as far as U.S. situations, you don't see people bugging out on foot or with carts/bikes and such like you would overseas. The help comes into the area once it's safe. But you don't see people en mass bugging out of an area.

Could it happen? Sure. Has it? Not that I can recall. Disaster happens, passes and then relief pours into the area while people shelter in place.

While it's a good idea to have alternative moods of transportation, you'll need some semblance of a road to use them. If not that mode of transportation is going to be more hassle than it's worth. And you'll need to be in pretty decent shape to haul something behind a bike for any length of distance or time. I know that firsthand.

[Bob]

It is a good point about Ukraine; Going in to help is not really an option there...

[aerynsun]

But you don't see them traveling the countryside or filling up the roadways on foot. Relief comes in, even with temp shelters if necessary.

I'll go back to what I said earlier in the thread, as far as U.S. situations, you don't see people bugging out on foot or with carts/bikes and such like you would overseas. The help comes into the area once it's safe. But you don't see people en mass bugging out of an area.

Could it happen? Sure. Has it? Not that I can recall. Disaster happens, passes and then relief pours into the area while people shelter in place.

While it's a good idea to have alternative moods of transportation, you'll need some semblance of a road to use them. If not that mode of transportation is going to be more hassle than it's worth. And you'll need to be in pretty decent shape to haul something behind a bike for any length of distance or time. I know that firsthand.

You have to pick the right tool for the job.

You can pull more than you can carry.

https://www.google.com/search?q=large+w ... 6&dpr=1.25

[David]

Sure, you can pull more than you carry.

If...

You're in decent to good shape.
You have a road, that is somewhat level and clear.
The tires don't go flat.

[aerynsun]

Sure, you can pull more than you carry.

If...

You're in decent to good shape.
You have a road, that is somewhat level and clear.
The tires don't go flat.

Shape - Almost the easiest prep for a prepper
Road level and clear - take a look at that link and look at ones with large diameter tires - think a bike.
Flat - Tire repair kit or hard no air tires.

Also, some preppers have made a cart that can convert for sleeping shelter.

[David]

I'm not against a cart in any way, shape or form. And we've experimented with them during SEP gatherings. But a few points to consider;

Shape - Almost the easiest prep for a prepper

Not always. There is age (in both directions) to consider as well as medical conditions.

Road level and clear

If it is...great. Don't hang your hat on it being that way though. After a storm/natural disaster you're going to have down trees, downed power lines, washed out bridges, landslides etc.

Again, not against any type of 'pull' prep. But honestly, it's not at the top of my list of reasonable considerations. For the most part, in this country, it's unnecessary. Thankfully.

[Bmyers]

I just pray that we don't ever have to find out which one of us is right.

[Bob]

And I'll go with; As long as your invasion bug out cart has a few other daily life benefit function stacks, cool.

But JUST for that reason...hard to support here.

[bdcochran]

When my sister in law got married many years ago, I gave her a full size garden cart. She was going to live in a detached single family dwelling. She said it was the best gift that she received.

When it came time to consider a bug out cart, I bought a game cart, had a black smith modify the same so it could be attached to any bicycle and bought sturdy wire mesh to serve as a support. Never have had to use it. Could carry 350 pounds easily. Beats wearing a back pack.