On 26 Feb 2007 14:53:06 GMT, Alistair Gunn wrote:

Independence is an absolute state. Something is either independent, or
it's not. It's not possible to be 50% independent. Phrases like "A is
more independent than B" don't make sense (although you could
correctly say that "A is closer to independence than B").

I depend on my local bike shop for the supply of spare parts for my
bicycle.

If you "depend" on the bike shop, then you are not independent of the
bike shop.

According to your logic, I don't have independent travel
facilities since the use of my bicycle is controlled by said local bike
shop.

It's important to bear in mind what it's being said to be independent
*of*.

When travel facilities are referred to as independent, it's normally
meant that their day-to-day use is independent of the permission or
aid of other people. It doesn't mean they're independent of absolutely
everything (occasional need for servicing or spare parts, your health,
the existence of roads, the availability of breatheable oxygen, etc).