Living Car Free - reactions have changed this week

In the past week, strangers in the building where I work have stopped greating me and my bike with the line "Getting your exercise today huh?". They've changed to "Saving gas money huh?" Hope it is the first step toward acceptance of bikes as transportation.

I've had similar experiences at my job lately. A couple of weeks ago when I pulled up on my bike someone said "there's a guy not paying 3 bucks a gallon".

Lots of Craigslist bike ads these days mention saving on gas. Usually on ads for gaspipe bikes, though. :)

I've been getting the opposite reaction!

Generally, people have regarded my cycling as quaint... "oh you ride a bike, that's interesting"... but its changed this week.

We seem to have the problem of increased fuel prices, AND more traffic. Car drivers are getting angrier. People have started to buzz by me (never used to happen), like they want to teach me a lesson. I can just hear them thinking "Damn you! I have to put up with all of this, while you cyclists get away with blowing red lights and riding the wrong way up one-way streets!".

I can just hear them thinking "Damn you! I have to put up with all of this, while you cyclists get away with blowing red lights and riding the wrong way up one-way streets!".
Maybe you should think about not pulling these stunts so often. You've seen that they piss people off, but also they're dangerous for you.

I did have the girl at the country store say as I walked in now here is the smart one.(They must have been talking oil) Then I got the questions from everybody standing around about you must saving allot of money on gas? I say you know it affects all of us; the prices of everything will go up. I’m just doing my part maybe you should to.

Maybe you should think about not pulling these stunts so often. You've seen that they piss people off, but also they're dangerous for you.
Haha... no I don't pull these stunts. But most people around here seem to think that all cyclists do.