Commuting - Gettin' tired of being called "Crazy" for bicycle commuting

Is it just where I live, or the place I work, or do other bicycle commuters have to put up with being perceived as some kind of alien freak for bicycle commuting to work? I work at a facility with over 1,200 employees. I am one of two bicycle commuters and am the only year round bicyclist.

Especially now that winter is coming on, it is the peak season for people looking at you wierd and, sometimes even treating you like some kind of weirdo simply for chosing to use bicycle transportation in all types of weather. If I go into some public government office with my bicycle helmet under my arm and gaitors on (winter), people just about jump under the tables.

The fact is, I can't resist looking with some degree of amazed curiosity at my neighbors who drive their teen-age kids three city blocks to drop them off at school and then they drive less than three miles to work. These are the people who complain about gasoline prices and are "concerned" about local air pollution. These same people say that I should join mainstream USA. Who is nuts here?

Is it the same around the USA, or is it just here in Gooberville?

How is it where you live?

I live in Edmonton Canada. The cold snap is pushing quite close to -30oC. I still crave my ride to work even though it's only about 10 minutes or so.
I get to work before most of the rest of the staff arrive. Few people recognize me when I arrive decked out is my cycling gear. The staff in my own office have learned to accept my need to bike to work. I mention cabin fever and they begin to understand. I'm sad though because I wish everyone in the building knew that that lonely bike in the parkade was mine.
I guess my problem is the opposite. I long for the recognition as the wacko cyclist among the SUVs.

I understand how you feel. I am 1) The boss, and 2) the only biker at my firm. Thus, my employees eye me suspiciously for a number of reasons...

I was suiting up one afternoon for the drizzly 17 mile ride home, no so bad as all that... temp was right at 40 F, traffic was light on my route. I'd be home in an hour, and within two, I would be showered, fed, and lazing about in an overstuffed chair watching Speedvision on cable.

I'd been commuting by bike nearly daily for twenty years, so the ride itself, even in fog and misty rain, was of no great concern.

One of my employees, who had just bought a van, adamantly insisted that I put my bike in back and let him drive me home. I had to beg him off... he was genuinely concerned about my safety. The words "dark... run over... traffic... pneumonia..." ran 'round his line of reasoning. I'd heard this all before, so I replied:

"Thank you for your kind and generous offer. I must decline, as I prefer to ride my bike home. Yes, I would rather do so on a sunny 70 F afternoon, but the fact that I am willing... if not exactly eager... to do this today should tell you this: That I LOVE bicycling. A bad ride on a bike beats a comfy ride in a car, NO MATTER WHAT."

I don't have to explain this to other bikers, and there is no point in trying to explain to non-bikers...

You have my complete understanding.

Yeah, I've been called crazy a few times. I just wait until they need major repairs on their car or complain about fuel prices and tell them they are crazy for wasting so much money.

I also sometimes get really stupid comments from some people. One that I regularly hear is "Must keep you fit" to which I would like to reply (but have so far resisted the temptation) "Yeah, like your way of getting around keeps you fat!"

I was also once asked "How did you get here?" to which I replied "You'll have to ask my parents, they wouldn't tell me!"

Chris

Everyone at my office who has seen me prepared for my ride home have been supportive and impressed. Of course, there is a definite undertone of "This guy must be crazy." I try to explain to them that 10 miles is not that far on a bike. That's ok; I like being a little different.
My wife is probably my biggest supporter, but when I complain that it is not cold enough to try out some of my new cold weather gear, she looks at me funny, too.
My daughter graduates from college in May and will be working just a few blocks from me. She is interested in fitness and is actually considering riding with me. I must stess considering. I fear public opinion may be against me.
Regards,
Raymond

I've just started commuting to work today. It's about 10 miles round trip. I thought it was great! Okay, a little tiring up the hills, but that's okay, I'll eventually get up those hills someday. :-)

I'm considering commuting to work three times a week, initially, since I'm kind of breaking myself in to it. I haven't been on a bike for at least 10 years!

Okay, so some people at work seem to think I'm weird anyway at work anyway, since I do things *different*. Hey, it doesn't matter.

However, there are others at work that think that riding in to work is great! I wish there were more people riding to work. I think I'm the only one out of 600 employees commuting by bike. I've never seen anyone else bike to work. We only have two bike parking spaces in the front, but I parked my bike in the back today--just keeping it safe. :-)


The weather's been great in California, so it makes it easy to get out there and ride! :-)

its so weird how many collegues of mine stop and ask whether I want a lift to work, or offer to take my bags or something or the other... !!!

I think that many people over here think that I cycle to work in absence of a "better" means of transport. People are really amazed when I tell them yes, I do own a car, and no it's not broken down, and yes, I prefer leaving my car at home in order to cycle to work. More over, due to the general good weather have got "rain fear" and never go out if they don't desperately need to and think I'm really weird when I say I love riding in the rain because the streets are generally emptier, and I manage to control overheating better.......

strange strange way the human race is evolving.......

Claude

I personally could care less what people would think about bike commuting. I as of two years ago commuted 175 miles a week to work. I mean come on you keep in shape, you do not have to spend 3 to 4 days pay a month on gas or repairs, and maintenance. The answer to you question is yes it is the same in the U.S. where are you from anyway? Do not get me wrong I am not attacking yuo I just do not get that whole "mainstream USA" stuff.

I guess I'm lucky, where I work we have 10 employees, and two of us ride to work regularly, one once in a while, the boss brings his bike to ride on his lunch hour, and one of the others is a regular rider in his off hours. We have a road bike set up on a trainer in the building, last year we even had it hooked up to a computrainer, next to our weight room (which we all contributed to, including the non-bikers).
My ride is 16km(10 mi) one way on a two lane highway with no shoulders. A little scary sometimes with hi speed traffic going by inches from your elbow! Sometimes I take the long way and can see the sun rise over the river, giving me a 30 km ride first thing in the morning (on a little used winding road with excellent pavement). Makes it all worth it.
Dave

I have to add, I can't wait to get out next year and do the river road ride on my new (to me) C-dale R800. I brought it home in the first snow storm of the year and am just itching to get on it!

My boss is a cyclist on sick leave (plantar fasciatitis) & has been very supportive of my commute, except after it started getting dark. I'd did get royally reamed one night for working late. Since then he has seen me on my bike after dark, and seen what 30W fore, and 3 red blinkies aft, and lots of reflecters do, and said he is no longer concerned about my riding after dark. Co-workers say they can't believe that I'm still riding in the cold, which mostly hasn't been that cold to someone from Wisconsin. Folks in Boston think that since they are in New England the Mt Washington temperatures apply to them. My husband is very supportive, but since his commute is 70 miles a day, is not likely to become a bike commuter anytime soon. I don't get any more catcalls in bad weather than good. I've come to believe that the attitudes to cyclists is not that different than drivers attitudes to other drivers: look at all the road rage incidents. I think we are just more aware of them because of our obivious vulnerability.

What have you done for the environment, energy shortage etc.

I don't need to pay a gym to exercise

In Europe I'd be hero or not even be noticed

When you can't afford gas, I won't have any problems

What do you do for a challange, anything?

Hell, people used to walk the Oregon Trail, what's a little bike ride,

Do you give skiers a bad time for going out in the cold?

Everyone rode before cars came along and they all got soft.

The auto makers and the gas companies are the ones who want you to think bicycles are for kids

Lots of folks sporting bright yellow jackets and beat up bikes here in Portland so I'm not all crazy but I still get the sympathetic weirdo look when I tell them I ride 22 miles home and back.

But I'm all about other alternative modes of transportation, too. I get even weirder looks when I cruise around downtown on my razor scooter or my rollerblades. There is a perception that adults aren't supposed to be on toys. I try to explain but they just don't seem to understand...

I love to read these posts. It seems all of us who cycle-commute are seemingly alone amongst our co-workers. But after checking this thread, we are apparently not so rare as we are made to believe. "Crazy" is not a term for people who do not follow the crowd; it fits someone who, when faced with reality (such as the real benefits of cycling vs. the dangers of not cycling) continues to believe the falsehood.

I hope I never go back to depending on sitting idle behind the wheel of a car while my blood pressure is shooting through the roof. I look forward to living (hopefully) 20 years longer than average and enjoying them with full vigor until the end. I also hope to convert others along the way!

In conclusion, we cyclists must be doing something we love. We couldn't be doing it for popularity.

I actually enjoy the funny looks that I get from commuting to work on my bike. When I first began cycling to work, the entire office of about 15 people would stand at the door and watch me ride into the parking lot of my office building. Most of the time they would laugh at me as I walked in the door, because they couldn't believe I was willing to come into work after cycling. Since I've continued to commute in spite of the weather, the funny looks and laughing have died down to an silent chuckle. I'm actually disappointed that I'm not the center of ridicule anymore.

Here is an argument that you can use on well-meaning friends or co-workers:

"Do you ever get out of your car after the drive home from work, and you're p*ssed off about the traffic, anxious about this or that problem at the office, tired and vaguely restless?"

"Not me. I'm just happy to have made it home."

I have 13,000 miles of city bike travel logged, most of those being commuting miles, 10 miles total per workday. (I'm retired now.)

I received mainly expressions of admiration from my car-bound coworkers; a couple of them even flirted with bike commuting. The only outright hostility I encountered (I might add I live and worked in the Greater Kansas City area) was from a handful of drivers, mainly of pickup trucks, and especially with ball caps worn backwards. In two separate incidents, such people threw firecrackers at me; the hearing in my left ear was affected by one attack. Another pickup truck jerk yelled that I should be riding on the sidewalk. (I can only assume that knowledge of vehicle laws is not required to operate a pickup truck.)

Otherwise, smooth sailing all in all, with three or four very close calls (I mean by that, inches from death). But in 13,000 miles on poorly maintained streets and in the presence of ignorant drivers--not bad.

And as I say, my coworkers were never anything but supportive. Visitors to the office, likewise--I was able to park my bike right by my desk, and got lots of interested comments.

JonR,

Are you still cycling?

Aha! I wondered if somebody would ask. No, I'm not, but I keep wanting to start again. Not enough, apparently. Major stomach surgery in August 1999 which took most of a year to recover from set me back even further than I already was (I'd quit before that, mainly out of disgust with glass in the streets, cleaning up after wet rides, and general fed-upness). I tried exactly a year ago this week and couldn't go more than a mile or two. Not sure what to do about it--if I could get regularly active again, it would do wonders for me. But now I'm kind of scared--for one thing, I have no insurance! So--I'm "thinking about it." Hmm.

I started bike commuting in November and have dropped 55 pounds during that time. This and the fact that my bosses boss is and avid cyclist have prevented the usual "she's crazy" talk. As it is people are truly supportive. The bosses boss gave me a cube to park my bike in, her exact words were.."You can't park your bike outside! Are you kidding? I wouldn't if I were commuting!" I think most people are just a bit stunned at my commitment.

I am not stunned. I am thrilled!

Yeoh, that 'aint natural.

(Let me point out that Yeoh advised in another thread that he/she get's $1.00 per day for bicycling to work)

Do you work for a .com?

I was interviewing for a promotion with one of our Vice Presidents. He asked me "Did you bicycle to work again today?"

"Yes", I replied.

His immediate response was, "Well, I don't think the fruit is ripe with you yet."

I managed to progress despite him, but his comments reflect a prominant attitude in USA business that bicycle commuting is a fringe thing for freaks and youngsters.

hey, ibikeinpdx! If you have to explain to them about the scooters and rollerblades, then... ;)

I get that all the time. I ride the scooters to go to the hair cut place and to the park sometimes. People look at me kinda funny, and wonder why I'm riding the scooter. Why not? It's fun! I mean if they don't "get it", well then so much their loss...being young isn't getting face lifts, tummy tucks, or the required hydralic chest lifts out here in LA, but it's really in how you look at life, and having some good clean fun.

Sure, a good portion of the natives around me think I'm in insane, but what fun is it to be sane, if you can't enjoy life? :D

Yes, Technogirl! "Normal" is not always "Cool!"

I like being Cool much better than being Normal. Being Cool is basically more fun and you get to be as creative as you can. People who are Normal are o.k., but they are Followers. They wait until someone Cool tries something first and only go ahead and try it after its Safe, when enough Brave people have tried it. Normal people have a few slang terms for Cool people: "Crazy", "Weird", "Fruit not Ripe Yet." Descriptive terms I use for Normals are,
"Hollow", "Freeze Dried," and "Dependent Upon Life Support."

And then there is Fried. People who are Fried have their place, too, but can end up on shows like "Jackass," or in the Hospital, Morgue, or any combination of those three. Some people are only Mildly Toasted, like people who can Squirt Milk From Their Tear Ducts After Drinking It Through Their Nose, or who Grow Their Nails Long Enough To Scratch Their Back Without Moving Their Arms. People who are Mildly Toasted are a little extreme, but generally harmless. But then there are people who are Done to a Crisp, such as Phil Donahue, Larry Flint, or Rush Lumbaugh. The difference between being Cool and being Fried is that following Cool people does not make you Cool, but follow a Fried person, and you are Cooked. :)

That's rich, Pete. LOL

Thanks for defining it for us.

Those who follow people who are fried will be cooked.

Indeed!

Yesterday, I stopped by my friend's house after work. His 16 year old daughter said, "He bicycles while wearing a necktie? Is he crazy?!"

This now 16 year old girl USED to ride her bike everywhere until she was 13. Then one day, she passed by a high school and somebody said to her sarcastically, "Nice helmet". She refused to wear here helmet again and her mother refused to let her bike without a helmet. Net result; she hasn't ridden a bike since.

Once, her mother asked the girl to bring a bike home for her from a location 10 blocks away. The 16 year old chose to WALK the bike home rather wear a helmet and ride. Vanity? Sensitivity? Follower mentality?

I went for a ride with my granddaughter last weekend. This was just a ride around the block with a 5 year old with training wheels on her "Little Mermaid" bike, but I wore my helmet, and she was happy to wear her's.

I like to think that she learned at least three things: biking is fun, it can be done by adults as well as kids, and ya gotta wear a helmet. Hopefully it'll stick with her when she's a teenager....

carl

Peer pressure can be a pretty brutal pressure on teenagers, and the only way to resist it is
a. To know that you are the coolest thing since igloos were invented
or b. Don't care that people think you are eccentric, crazy or different.

I'm happy to be in b category, and always have been, but most people are terrified of not conforming.

Most small kids are smart enough to enjoy fun things, but as they grow up and get educated things change.

You said it well. I'm in category (b) also, and it's one of the things I'm most grateful for in my life.

Is it just where I live, or the place I work, or do other bicycle commuters have to put up with being perceived as some kind of alien freak for bicycle commuting to work? I work at a facility with over 1,200 employees. I am one of two bicycle commuters and am the only year round bicyclist.

Especially now that winter is coming on, it is the peak season for people looking at you wierd and, sometimes even treating you like some kind of weirdo simply for chosing to use bicycle transportation in all types of weather. If I go into some public government office with my bicycle helmet under my arm and gaitors on (winter), people just about jump under the tables.

The fact is, I can't resist looking with some degree of amazed curiosity at my neighbors who drive their teen-age kids three city blocks to drop them off at school and then they drive less than three miles to work. These are the people who complain about gasoline prices and are "concerned" about local air pollution. These same people say that I should join mainstream USA. Who is nuts here?

Is it the same around the USA, or is it just here in Gooberville?

How is it where you live?


Just wait until you get hit and return to bike commuting. Then you'll get the crazy comments double.

everyone thinks I'm crazy, I will ride 3 out of 5 days a week until its so cold I can't find clothing to keep warm. I got laughed at and riduculed a lot at first, now since I've been doing this for 7 months no one laughs now.

I love it, It seems like I look forward to 5pm,just to ride my bike home.

I have 2 cars, Mine and the wifes, i've had people offer me a ride home, think my car was broken or repoed.
I tell these same people i'll meet them somewhere an we can ride in, no takers yet.

I tell em I'm saving gas and maintaining my school boy figure (RIGHT) actually a lot of my co workers think its great but when I ask them to join me they seem to have some lame excuse even in the summer. It helps that I don't have small kids to pick up after work and all that or it might cut into my commuting. If they say I'm crazy I just wave when I go by them as they are stuck in traffic.

While I was in the new york city, it was a non-issue - plenty of commuters, a nice guarded bike rack and none of my coworkers gave a snot. The commute itself was almost perfect too - at 5am the central park is still closed to the traffic, at 7pm it is already closed, so it was a traffic-free ride. In addition, I was able to put in a few extra loops after work. Even with some in-traffic riding it was ok, driver recognized the right of a bicyclist to the road.

Now, after I moved to the burbs, its a whole different ballgame. The commute involves a train (I call it suburban triathlon - bike to the train, ride the train, run from penn station to the office), the drivers are complete ******* and the roads suck. The most recent comment I heard from the drivers - "you should get on the sidewalk".

I would imagine that if you work with suburbanites you will be looked at with some disdain. Thankfully, my coworkers are all urbanites and still do not give a damn.

Ps. There is an office poll on how long I will last in the burbs (over/under, 100 bucks a day).

I can't recall any comments. Long ago in the 1970s I'd get comments when I was riding 1) in the winter, 2) home from a party at 1 am with 25 miles to go, 3) to a distant place, and 4) on a bike with one fixed gear and a front brake. I haven't heard comments since. Everyone where I work commutes by bike at least sometime. Where I worked in Oak Ridge we had cycle commuters, never heard a comment. Of course, I hadn't thought of it as anything unusual until this thread. I don't really distinguish cars, motorcycles, & bicycles. I'm not about to ride my bicycle to Walmart for groceries, but only because I don't have the time. The weight and potential for comments wouldn't concern me. Wouldn't have crossed my mind normally.

I live in a sprawling, hot, hilly city with fairly poor road conditions for cyclists, but of the 20 people who work in my building at least half ride fairly regularly. We all live in different parts of the city and one guy is 50km away.

I'm lucky as we all tend to support one another.

There are at least three bikes not visible in the attached picture.

Wow, if the date info is correct for this thread, I started it back in December 2000. Thanks, Schwinnrider for bringing it back!

Assuming the date info for the thread is correct, the price on that day in December 2000 was $1.63/gallon on average in the USA.

A lot has chanced in the nearly eight years since then. Now, gasoline is over $3.00 pe gallon. We are starting to see fast-paced inflation in the costs in most of the basic needs sector including food, fuel, and daily use goods.

I am seeing more people bicycle commuting now than ever before. I think eight years ago, bicycle commuters were considered odd excentric folks. Today, fuel prices and general inflation aren't so funny. I know that some people who are bicyling because their budgets are getting squeezed like never before.

It will be interesting to see how attitudes have changed over the past seven years. I hope that bicycle commuting doesn't take on the image of the transport of economic necessity.

How about now? Is bicycle commuting getting more prevelent? Is it raising less eyebrows and fewer comments than before?

I guess after 5 years, everyone in my relatively small office (~200 or so?) knows about me by now, because no one raises an eyebrow anymore when I walk in with my flourescent jacket and Polertek balaclava on the coldest or snowiest days. It almost makes me nostalgic for the days when I could count on getting some attention. :D

Back when people didn't know me that well yet, here is how the year would go. In the summer, in nice weather, they would ask me politely about it, and tell me how nice it was that I did that. As fall progressed, comments like "You don't have much of the season left, do you?" would start. That's when I got to tell them "Oh, I do this all winter too." (This is Maine.) "Really?!" You could almost see the gears turning. You see, back in the summer, they thought I was just a guy who was dedicated to his hobby, and that's cool. But now, I'm taking it a little far, aren't I? Why would anyone intentionally ride in the rain, or worse, snow?! I'm turning into this weird, non-mainstream person they don't understand. It seems that most people just don't get the concept of transportational biking.

But now, as I say, they must be used to it, because I feel more like just another employee and no one usually expresses any kind of surprise. And in a way, that's good, too. Maybe it's subtly becoming more normal to them, at least as something "some people" do, even if they still never consider it for themselves.

I think it's some kind of milestone that for the first time this year, after 5 years of riding all winter, the building's maintenance crew actually shovelled out the bike rack after the first storm without me having to say anything about it. In prior years I've always had to remind them. :rolleyes:

I try to not to make a big thing out of my life choices, i.e. riding to work by bike(It is only 4 miles one way) my decision to not eat meat. I am not trying to convert anyone. The interesting thing is that I have a co-worker who is big on recycling and saving the earth, but he does not own a bike.

Gas, the price of a can of beans.

I am sure that a lot of people in town think, (know) I am crazy, but......I started to ride as a lead by example sort of thing for my kids. Now I ride for the enjoyment and for the kickstart to the day, better than coffee! The ride home in the dark after a day under the lights seems to calm the nerves and refresh the spirit. My only regret is that I did not do it 10 years ago!

I try to not to make a big thing out of my life choices, i.e. riding to work by bike....

+1 But, it does cause people to ask a lot of questions. Have been doing this since '87 and having worked several jobs in 4 different cities I can say the questions and statements are pretty common. "What do you do when it rains?" "snows?" "gets dark?" "gets hot?" "Keeps you fit!" "Saves on gas!" "Man, that's what I need to do." "Don't you get nervous w/traffic and stuff?" "What if you get a flat?" "What if your chain breaks?" "You got a license for that thing?" "HOW MANY BIKES DO YOU HAVE!!?" "What do you mean it's not just transportation, it's a way of life?"

I do my best to remain patient and encourage anyone who asks about commuting to give it a try. It's really not that difficult and I'm not super-human. Most people are agast at paying 4-500.00 for an entry level cummuter-cycle, but wont hesitate to drop 15,000.00 on a car which will cost them well over 1,000 per month when you factor in insurance, gas, repairs, etc.

It was the same way when I owned my own window cleaning business. The standard question was, "But, what do you do besides clean windows?" "Well, I wipe the sills..."

Living inexpensively, but not cheaply is very gratifying. We have 4 bikes, 3 are mine and all are running great. All are capable of being commuters, though only 2 are set up specifically for that.

Whenever one does something a little out of the mainstream you're going to asked about it. I think it just comes w/t territory. Anyway, it's been a nice read and I didn't realize the thread was as old as it is. 1.63 per gallon?...those days are gone forever that's for sure. And I HAVE noticed a small increase in cyclists of late. And I've got more and more people asking me about getting started. "How much do you want to spend?" "Well, I saw one at Wal-mart...." and so it goes...:D

I live in a city where commuting by bike is relatively common so I only get questions in bad weather. I started out riding to work just once in while. A few years ago it became more practical to make it my preferred mode of getting to work. I'd never intended to bike year round but once fall of that first year rolled around I didn't really want to stop. Then I happened upon the icebike site and realized that I could bike through the winter, so I did.

Even in a state that prides itself on cold weather hardiness, most adults here spend little time outside in the winter. There are plenty of folks that love winter sports but still don't quite get why people would choose to do something as utilitarian as commuting in the cold when there are warmer alternatives. So I recognize that I'm on the fringe.

In our office, there's a 50 something year old, not particularly athletic woman who started commuting this summer and it's safe to say she's inspired people that I wouldn't have because I'm viewed as a fanatic. She says she wants to ride this winter but will only do so when the roads and trails are clear of ice and snow. If she does get out there some this winter, that again may inspire some people.

I grew up in a small town where few people biked other than kids. I had an older brother (about 10 years older) that was very unusual in that he biked everywhere. He didn't get a drivers license until his late 20's or 30's. If I didn't have that early exposure to an adult who used his bike for commuting, I don't know that I would have ever considered it when I got older. Hopefully I will do it at least long enough for it to be imprinted on my kids.

We couldn't be doing it for popularity.

WHAT???

OMG... I'm a bike nerd??

*Huddles in the corner as reality dawns on me* :eek:

Getting perceived to be crazy just goes with the territory, so it's something you need to get used to.

In the winter months, I rarely encounter other cyclists -- there's nothing unusual about going a month without seeing one. When I do, I sometimes think of them as nuts even though I'm on my bike when I see them. Everyone is crazy except me.....

Getting perceived to be crazy just goes with the territory, so it's something you need to get used to.

In the winter months, I rarely encounter other cyclists -- there's nothing unusual about going a month without seeing one. When I do, I sometimes think of them as nuts even though I'm on my bike when I see them. Everyone is crazy except me.....

I think they all went into hiding this morning on the east coast. In the summer I probably encounter something like 20 in a 4 mile stretch on the MUP; most days this winter I've seen about 5.

This morning? Other than me, the number of fellow commuters was the same as Bluto Blutarski's GPA: zero....point...zero.

Not sure why - 15F wind chill with 20mph winds, but skies and the ground are clear.

I live in a town of over 90,000 people, and in the year and four months I've been commuting I've seen only three other commuters, and two of those only once. So needless to say, my coworkers think I'm an idiot. Nevermind the fact that, as they complain about gas prices, car repairs, accidents, emmisions testing, and traffic, I silently show up every day no matter what the weather and just observe the insanity. There are only 15 of us, and counting me there are at least 8 of us who could easily ride to work every day, but of course I'm the only one. To add to the laziness, they just bought a $3000 golf cart to go from the front warehouse to the back, which is less than 180 feet! I can't fathom being that lazy, and yet I'm the weirdo? :lol:

Is it just where I live, or the place I work, or do other bicycle commuters have to put up with being perceived as some kind of alien freak for bicycle commuting to work? I work at a facility with over 1,200 employees. I am one of two bicycle commuters and am the only year round bicyclist.

Is it the same around the USA, or is it just here in Gooberville?

How is it where you live?

Sounds exactly like what I deal with - about 300 people, I am now the ONLY person taking "alternate" transportation. No one else even carpools, and a lot of these folks live in the same neighborhood!

From all the various threads on BF, I get the impression this is totally blindered, car-centric attitude is particularly strong in the Central US. Bicycling seems much more mainstream on both the Left & East coasts.

get used to being perceived as crazy. In the public's eye, we are. "What, don't you make enough money to buy a car?? then why do you not drive?? you must be crazy."

Personally I like being a bit crazy. It's something that sets us a bit apart from the mainstream. My wife used to be a bit embarassed that her husband rode the bike everywhere, but now she's proud of it. Actually brags about how far I go in poor conditions and how great my legs are :D

Cheers ;)

I've been riding every day for about a year and a half. At first I got all the standard questions, but now I only get comments when the weather is really bad. Some coworkers think I'm a nutter for riding when it's barely safe enough to drive, and tell me so. Others probably think it, but don't say anything. Only a choice few seem to be impressed by my youthful recklessness and stalwart devotion. And, as you'd guess, there's no-one parked next to me on the bike racks when the weather turns sour. So be it!

I don't preach my need to cycle, though if people ask I try my best to explain it to them. It's not just about getting exercise, not just about helping the environment or saving money, and not just about good old pride ;) I suppose I'm doing what I can to prove that cycling is a valid form of transportation, and that you don't need a car for every trip. Hopefully I'll inspire someone to follow suit someday.

<snip>

From all the various threads on BF, I get the impression this is totally blindered, car-centric attitude is particularly strong in the Central US. Bicycling seems much more mainstream on both the Left & East coasts.

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There's some truth to that although I live in Minneapolis which is as about as central East-West wise as you can get and it's relatively cycling friendly. I would guess large cities which tend to vote for Democrats would have more bicycle commuters than smaller towns with Republican leanings.

I grew up in a small town and I myself have to admit that my first inclination is to take a car once the distance gets past 1/2 mile or so even though I could often easily bike. I'm working on it.

No one where I work knows I cycle commute, unless I tell them. I've only told a very few people.
Al

I don't commute, but I do a lot of winter riding, night riding, etc. One of my co-workers likes to comment on my riding, insinuating that I'm weird, eccentric, or whatever. I do not understand why he feels the need to make those comments. All I know is that cycling is fun and it's good for me. I do it every chance I get.
Once I met a woman in a park, here in Illinois, who likes to dogsled. I was riding in the snow. We talked about our hobbies. She told me to just continue to do the right thing and be an example for people who make bad choices and are lazy. I think about that conversation whenever someone like my co-worker makes a comment about my riding.

I am ambivalent about politics at best but where I work I have a number of co-workers who are vocal conservative types. Anyway one day one of these guys takes to calling me an eco-nazi/treehugger (joking in his mind) because I ride a bike year round. He did this in front of a group of people. Just to be clear, I ride because I like to and need the exercise. All of the "environmental stuff" if true is just icing on the cake. I told him that I was being patriotic in the best way that I knew how, by not sending additional oil $$ to countries that sponsor terrorism and are trying to kill our military folks. I then asked him how many mpg he was getting on his new supercharged Bentley?;) (i.e. questioning his patriotism) Boy did he go nuts!! I laughed and went back to my office. Some days it's not even sporting!:D