I can see at least three plastic supermarket bags. Where are the reuseable shopping bags? This isn't my idea of ethical shopping.

That's a good point, but ethical shopping isn't black and white.

The crude oil used to make all those bags, even if NONE of them are recycled or reused, is far less than what would be used by a gasoline powered car driving to the store. If I did my math right, one gallon of gasoline is roughly the oil+energy equivalent of 500 newly manufactured plastic bags.

Therefore, if you drive your 50mpg hybrid car just one mile to the store and bring your own bags, you are using at least 3 times as much oil as the person who rides a bike and uses disposable bags.

Oh my god Janet. Where's the little emoticon to show you know how ironic you're being?

But seriously, I've seen folks come out of the store with two cans of coke and an apple and not be able to get on their bike to ride away because they refused the bag out of habit.

Personally, I don't consider a bike anything but a toy until it's got fenders and at least one rack. But, work with what you've got.