[southernnaturelover]

If you're going to be riding a bike around the south I recommend doing it around late October/November when it's cooler and less chance of severe weather. I know it gets hot in Australia, but isn't that a dry heat? The high humidity in the southeastern US would be a totally different experience.

[Threestep]

Alabama's countryside is not at its best in November. Gray, brown, some fall colors still, winter weather and rains are setting in. It is also the beginning of the Holiday Season with food, decorations, arts and crafts shows and music/theatre.

[Reactionary]

Tommy, not trying to be negative, just trying to give you a feel for transportation options. Rail or bus transit is rare in the South.

How much walking do you plan to do each day?

For example, if you wanted to tour the Shiloh battlefield it is over two hours by car from Memphis TN or Huntsville AL (where I live). No rail transit. You could walk the hundred miles there and hundred miles back, but at a rate of 20 miles per day it might take awhile. Maybe there's a bus (don't know) that could take you as close as Corinth MS, but then it's still a 30 mile hike.

Some good news is that there are several Civil War battlefield sites or coastal 'star' forts accessible from larger cities / airports. Some places, like Fort McRee in Pensacola Florida, are only accessible after a five mile hike through the dunes; the park also offers primitive camping at the fort (the park has camping facilities in the developed areas of the park). The weather would be beautiful in the Fall.

[absurd_planet]

I think your romanticized view of the American South is naive.
Adventuring off the beaten path is an exciting way to understand things about a country that don't reveal themselves in the largest cities.
Right? ....So what?
As the other people that have commented on previously, many places in the deep south are out of reach without a car. I have lived in many cities and traveled much. In California for example, it's not continuous urban growth. What about Monterey? Sacramento? Tahoe? Napa? Santa Barbara? And I understand that the geography is different in the south, i just bring this up to highlight the fact that when you visit L.A. you don't have to be in the city the whole time and there's a multitude of deserts,valleys,beaches,mountains and entertainment within a couple hours reach. Not to mention a fully functioning rail system that can get you to those isolated locations.
Also, it's ridiculous that you try and call me out for being obsessed with my comfort zone when I live in this country and have spent time in various cities in the south/midwest.
I take public transportation everywhere, and out there it doesn't really fly dude. I wouldn't even consider telling an Australian what he or she shouldn't feel comfortable doing in a city or region in their country. Don't get robbed by someone who thinks you have a funny accent late at night when your trying to see the ''real'' section of town.

[Keeper]

I think the folks here just want to be sure you are aware of the pitfalls of traveling in the US without a car. Of course, it can be done but no one wants your vacation to be a disappointing.

There are so many beautiful areas all over the south. The ppl are welcoming and friendly. The food is different than in other areas of the US.

[dating101]

Originally Posted by Keeper

I think the folks here just want to be sure you are aware of the pitfalls of traveling in the US without a car. Of course, it can be done but no one wants your vacation to be a disappointing.

There are so many beautiful areas all over the south. The ppl are welcoming and friendly. The food is different than in other areas of the US.

Oh yeah! you are really right. it should be memorable, right?

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by Keeper

Well there are greyhound buses that you can take to/from many large cities and state to state as long as you aren't in a hurry. Larger cities have city buses but they may not go where you want to go. The problem in the US is that everyone has a car and only a few cities (NYC, LA, SF, Miami just a few) have public transportation to just about any place you want to go.

It's most unfortunate that so many of our old school buses end up in Latin America where enterepreneurs buy them, splash some bright colors on them, and use them for transit, called chicken buses actually. And those big pick-up trucks, they put railings around the back and use them for transit as well.
I've ridden both of them down there and I dream of the day when Greyhound and city buses get some competition by private enterprise transit options.

So much unemployment today and this could get some people working again.
Each bus has their fare collector, then the driver and the baggage handler, that's 3 employed people per bus. And then you factor in the vendors who hop on the bus at various points, selling anything to the riders from A to Z.
You'll never starve on one of these buses. There'll always some hot fried chicken or sandwich vendor selling you something to eat.

I dream of the day when Chicken buses and riding in the back of pick-up trucks make their debut in the U.S. as I'll be be the first to take a cross-country trip utilizing them. And down there, even in the remote areas of Central America, I've rarely had to wait more than 10-15 minutes for a ride to my next destination.

Sure, this is a third world invention, but since our country is rapidly becoming a third world country, let's enjoy one of the greater features that 3rd world countries have to offer: a superb transportation system, equal to none.

[Keeper]

Great idea.. Chivas in Panama were always full of ppl. They took ppl around Panama City or they made trips to the smaller cities in the interior of Panama. Cheap too...Some would only ride with a certain driver too. Can't say I ever rode one since I lived in the CZ but they had some amazing artwork on them.

[bluebeard]

Originally Posted by tijlover

Sure, this is a third world invention, but since our country is rapidly becoming a third world country, let's enjoy one of the greater features that 3rd world countries have to offer: a superb transportation system, equal to none.

Nice exaggeration about the US becoming a 3rd world country...
The reason that wouldn't work, is that labor isn't cheap here, but "stuff" is. The price of bus fare would have to rise in order to pay for fare collectors and such. Even in places such as China fare collectors are becoming more rare in certain cities.

[kcummins]

Honestly Alabama and Mississppi have been known for being poor states, they probably just can't afford to keep up w/ a hostel plus.. yeah I don't think to many young pple want to vist here... trailers are pretty cheap to rent and I find most low income pple can afford them.