[xeroxing pages is] a good alternative,
especially if you only need a few pages.
..
But be careful with that--copy paper is generally a
heavier grade

True, plus a person making Xeroxes in a hurry may only xerox to one
side of each page, doubling the number of pages needed.

A lot depends on your mode of travel. A big book is more hassle for
someone backpacking than for someone who's cruising around in a rental
car.

If I was in shape to ride a bicycle all over the place
I'd just ride the damned bicycle and not bother with
the public transportation.

Nice in theory but not always practical, due to big distances between
cities, mountain ranges, urban areas with heavy traffic, etc.

James