General Cycling Discussion - I want you

UNCLE PETEY says, "I want YOU for the Army!"

There is only one way to take ground: INFANTRY!

Do whatever you are doing to promote cycling, but the best way is by DOING IT!

Motorists may argue with what we say. But they cannot argue with results.

This is not a call to clog the road. This is just a strategy of posessing what is ours.

The more we cyclists become a commonplace sight on the road, the more motorists will come to accept that we are ALREADY here to stay.

But what about us forest dwelling creatures Uncle Petey?
Don't we count for anything?:p

Thank you, Sergeant Whoop-A**, thank you. I have now seen the light.

Of course you're preaching to the choir here, Uncle Petey. But you definitely have the right idea. One persistant idea I managed to pick up during my days as an activist during college is that you don't change anything by complaining about it. As a button I used to own, since lost, says, "Quit b@tching and start a revolution." Nowadays, I'm not an in your face kind of activist, but more I try and live by my ideals. I want to live in a world where people ride their bike as a preferred form of transportation. So, I do my part in bringing this reality into existance- I get out and ride my bike as my preferred form of transportation. If each of us here on the bike forums does this and inspires just one, or two other people to do the same, even just for some trips, suddenly, that's a whole lot more people out on bikes. And I really do think that seeing regular folks out on their bikes does make at least some people think, "gosh, I should get out my bike! I remember how fun that is."

I agree to a point. The truth of the matter is (and this is what critical mass riders can't seem to understand) that you can never actually force people to do things they really do not want to do. There is one person you can influence, that is THYSELF!

Therefore, my strategy is to commute by bike everyday, set the example and hope lots of people are watching.

Chris

Originally posted by LightBoy
Thank you, Sergeant Whoop-A**, thank you. I have now seen the light.
If you already use your bike as the primary means of single-occupancy transportation, great. You have my respect.

But don't assume that all cyclists are also bicycle commuters.

I believe there are many cyclists who are serious riders, yet they don't consider bicycle commuting practical, or perhaps they think it undignified, or for less "mature" folks. Also, there may be some who love to ride but are afraid of mixing with motor traffic. You'd be suprised how many people are intimidated by aggressive traffic into avoiding biking to work.

I believe this may be why Americans too often think (erroneously) of bikes as "toys," because unlike Europeans, Asians and Africans,
they only ride them when they are not actually going somewhere.

Originally posted by Pete Clark

But don't assume that all cyclists are also bicycle commuters.

I believe there are many cyclists who are serious riders, yet they don't consider bicycle commuting practical, or perhaps they think it undignified, or for less "mature" folks


I believe this may be why Americans too often think (erroneously) of bikes as "toys," because unlike Europeans, Asians and Africans,
they only ride them when they are not actually going somewhere.

Right you are, Uncle Petey!

I was flattered by my bike shop buddy a few weeks ago on this count. I had stopped by for something and made some comment about "serious" cyclists, not an unkind comment, just kind of joking about probably never being one. He said something like, "Listen, you ARE a serious cyclist!. I know almost NO "serious" cyclists who would do what you do, ride to work every day, rain or shine." Kind of made my day. This guy is a pretty serious cyclist himself. You should see his racing bike - cherry red Somec frame with pure Record 20-speed gruppo. Drool.

Anyway, isn't it funny how most American cyclists are too cool to have practical bikes, like with fenders, racks, baskets and stuff while people in other countries, the REAL serious cyclists, know it just makes sense, especially when your bike is your transportation. How about it, MichaelW?
Regards,
Raymond

But don't assume that all cyclists are also bicycle commuters.

That's part of the problem. Recreational riders and road riders sometimes give bicycle commuters a bad name because they don't obey the traffic laws.

You've all seen the racers and hotdogs who shoot through a red light or past a stop sign.

And then there are the commuters who don't help our "cause" by riding on the wrong side of the road or weaving in and out between parked cars or riding on the sidewalk, then the street, then the sidewalk.

I encountered such a person last week. I explained that what she was doing was dangerous. I explained that many motorists aren't comfortable driving near cyclists, and by moving between the sidewalk and road, her actions were unpredictable. I gave her a few more safety tips and we parted company.

I hope I'm doing my part to promote commuting and safe cycling in general.
Fellow employees see me riding up to the back door at work each day. And all my neighbors see me leaving for work or arriving home in the evening and going on recreational rides on the weekends. I encourage everyone to join me on the weekends or try commuting.
That's all I can do. :)

Originally posted by Chris L
I agree to a point. The truth of the matter is (and this is what critical mass riders can't seem to understand) that you can never actually force people to do things they really do not want to do. There is one person you can influence, that is THYSELF!

Therefore, my strategy is to commute by bike everyday, set the example and hope lots of people are watching.

Chris

This is true. It's hard to buck a trend.

But movements and trends always start with a group of fringe enthusiasts and fanatics. It takes years or decades, depending on the scope of the movement. People have to see something enough times before it starts to seem normal. Often, even, we have to wait for the last generation who remembers the old way too well to age out of the mainstream or die off.

There are many people who would ride, but it just never occurred to them. They like riding their bikes, they have bikes, they just never thought to use them as transportation. These people just need to the encouragement that others are already doing it. Others will take longer.

Jonathan

Originally posted by RonH


That's part of the problem. Recreational riders and road riders sometimes give bicycle commuters a bad name because they don't obey the traffic laws.

You've all seen the racers and hotdogs who shoot through a red light or past a stop sign.

And then there are the commuters who don't help our "cause" by riding on the wrong side of the road or weaving in and out between parked cars or riding on the sidewalk, then the street, then the sidewalk.

I encountered such a person last week. I explained that what she was doing was dangerous. I explained that many motorists aren't comfortable driving near cyclists, and by moving between the sidewalk and road, her actions were unpredictable. I gave her a few more safety tips and we parted company.

I hope I'm doing my part to promote commuting and safe cycling in general.
Fellow employees see me riding up to the back door at work each day. And all my neighbors see me leaving for work or arriving home in the evening and going on recreational rides on the weekends. I encourage everyone to join me on the weekends or try commuting.
That's all I can do. :)


Bravo!

Jonathan

I think we are doing the best stuff by actually "doing it".
Not just talk
Not just fluff ... $uper $lick high dollar $tuff
but commuting
enjoying it
getting bugs in our teeth from smiling soo much
enjoying getting all the side benefits of health, etc
and enthusiastically sharing that cycling is cool :)

(Even if it is 105 degrees in the shade!) :(

Originally posted by Pete Clark

But don't assume that all cyclists are also bicycle commuters.

I believe there are many cyclists who are serious riders, yet they don't consider bicycle commuting practical, or perhaps they think it undignified, or for less "mature" folks


I believe this may be why Americans too often think (erroneously) of bikes as "toys," because unlike Europeans, Asians and Africans,
they only ride them when they are not actually going somewhere.

Right you are, Uncle Petey!

I was flattered by my bike shop buddy a few weeks ago on this count. I had stopped by for something and made some comment about "serious" cyclists, not an unkind comment, just kind of joking about probably never being one. He said something like, "Listen, you ARE a serious cyclist!. I know almost NO "serious" cyclists who would do what you do, ride to work every day, rain or shine." Kind of made my day. This guy is a pretty serious cyclist himself. You should see his racing bike - cherry red Somec frame with pure Record 20-speed gruppo. Drool.

Anyway, isn't it funny how most American cyclists are too cool to have practical bikes, like with fenders, racks, baskets and stuff while people in other countries, the REAL serious cyclists, know it just makes sense, especially when your bike is your transportation. How about it, MichaelW?
Regards,
Raymond

Originally posted by RainmanP
Anyway, isn't it funny how most American cyclists are too cool to have practical bikes, like with fenders, racks, baskets and stuff while people in other countries, the REAL serious cyclists, know it just makes sense, especially when your bike is your transportation. How about it, MichaelW?


The issue here is all about marketing. Most bike shops emphasise the "sport" of cycling, and that's all well and good, but they don't even mention the fact that it is a viable transport alternative and a way of life for many of us on this forum.

Of course, the walm*rt bikes that fall to bits on the first decent hill a rider attacks don't help. With them around, is it any wonder that people think of bikes as 'toys'?

Chris

Originally posted by Pete Clark
But don't assume that all cyclists are also bicycle commuters.


I don't. Believe me, I don't. I was simply trying to poke light hearted fun at your "Call to Battle" (at least that's kinda how I took it, but in a good way. Really).

For the record, my bike is my primary form of transportation. That is not, however, so much for ideological reasons as it is necessary because I don't own a car. Although, in all fairness, at this point in my life I don't really need one either.

Originally posted by LightBoy
I was simply trying to poke light hearted fun at your "Call to Battle".
Well, it did sound a little corny! :D

But, the truth is in there, somewhere! ;)

Recreational riders and road riders sometimes give bicycle commuters a bad name

Many of the "serious" cyclist with their spandex, lycra, and $5000 toys are just as guilty because of their arrogant and intimidating atitudes towards motorists and to us "common" folk who often ride more miles in a week than they do in a month.

Commuting cyclists remind me of the old "hot rods" in times past.
Guys would soop up old cars that looked like rust buckets and blast new showroom models off the road, partly by deceit. ;)

Many of the "serious" cyclist with their spandex, lycra, and $5000 toys are just as guilty because of their

I know just how you feel! We have guys like that right here in Nebraska! But, I believe that if we "good" bikers keep doing what we do, and talk up biking, we can make a difference! Besides, some of the "serious" folks have attitudes when they are off the bikes as well, and it doesn't take people long to figure them out!

I have found that there isn't a lot we can do about what irresponsible bikers do to our reputation anyway. You can't actually stop them from running red lights and so on (try talking to them and see how far you get). I think all we can do is do the right thing and hope lots of people are watching.

Chris

Originally posted by Chris L
...You can't actually stop them from running red lights and so on (try talking to them and see how far you get)...
Chris

Agreed--but I'd like to see local law enforcement start to cite cyclists for infractions the same way they do cars. Might be the only way to effect a change.

SteveF