Living Car Free - families...hmmm

Does anyone here have family members who think you are crazy or are embarrased because you choose to ride a bike ? or do they tell you that people will think you lost your license if you only ride your bike? I gave up my car a couple of years ago and now my family is putting so much pressure on me to buy a car...they say they are just going to give me a car for christmas because they think I just can't afford it -totally NOT true - I have a good job and never ask ANYONE for money. I just don't get it, because I ride a bike I must be poor ?? a drunk ?? an idiot ?? I'm so sick of this !! WHAT is wrong with these people??? someone help me deal with this stupidity.... grrrrrrrrrr.....

Tell them that you think they are equally mis-guided, & for Xmas you are going to sell all of their cars & replace them with bikes.

Does anyone here have family members who think you are crazy or are embarrased because you choose to ride a bike ? or do they tell you that people will think you lost your license if you only ride your bike?No. Why on Earth would they do that? It's a mode of transportation, it's not something anyone should get all upset about. That includes family members.

As to your problem, tell them if they give you a car for Christmas, you'll sell it first thing come 27th Dec. and buy bike gear with the money, thank you very much. That should take care of it. :D

--J

Smile, cock your head, stick out your tongue and say " I just loves me my bikeys!"

That'll show 'em! :p

Tell them you will immediately sell it. And if they give it, sell it.

A guy in my office building told me that I should 'take a more mature way to work'

A co-worker said that she'd be 'happy to pick me up and drop me off at home everyday so I didn't have to ride in'.

There's nothing you can do, they don't get it and never will. Why would you walk or ride a bike when you can drive?

Tell them you'll sell the car and buy them all bikes.

My family is like that except the buying me a car bit. Over thanksgiving, my father took me aside from the rest of the family and asked if I needed money. But they're getting better, now when I visit my brother loans me a nice bike that he never rides instead of offering one of his four cars.

Haven't you heard: they're status symbols, and if you want to be a respectable citizen you'll have to get one.


Maybe buy some fancy watches? Or a boat? :P


(personally, I like to shatter peoples' perceptions of my "poverty" by telling them that I make $50
an hour driving a pedicab)

Funny stuff ! :)

i went from car-centric (5 cars) to car lite (5 bikes).

the family thought i was having money troubles and was quite worried. truth is i never have had so much $$ in the bank! ;)

Honestly i was just very thankful I have people who are that concerned about me. I'd suggest don't let it bother you or make a biggie out of it.

Maybe take them aside, and tell them hey, money really really isn't an issue! it may be tough to get through their heads, as society has beaten into us that one of the indicators of financial security is nice car ownership.

Maybe give everyone a Savings Bond for Christmas as an indicator that yes, thanks, you're doing fine.

Cheers and best of luck.

Does anyone here have family members who think you are crazy or are embarrased because you choose to ride a bike ?

Most of them think I'm crazy, but they thought so before I ditched the car.

My father doesn't understand it. I think it's a combination of three things:

1. Concern that I'll get hit by a car
2. Viewing a car as a status symbol, and not having a car as the opposite of status.
3. Feasibility in regards to it being able to fully replace a car.

As to your problem, tell them if they give you a car for Christmas, you'll sell it first thing come 27th Dec. and buy bike gear with the money, thank you very much. That should take care of it.

Or if you want to be really naughty, just let them give you the car, act like you want them to give you a car, and then sell it to buy bike goodies.

A guy in my office building told me that I should 'take a more mature way to work'



LOL! I've never heard that one before. I'm usually pretty quick with a reply. But if someone said that to me, I would fall over.

Just bring about 25,000 cash to your next family get together and say, "see, I could buy a new car with cash because I dont buy gas, cars, insurance, maintance and on and on."

That will show them.

My family stopped worrying about me when I presented my dad with a check for $10,000 for money I owed him when I was in college and was broke....complete with a truck payment.

LOL! I've never heard that one before. I'm usually pretty quick with a reply. But if someone said that to me, I would fall over.

I'd tell him that decrepit and mature aren't necessarily synonymous.

they say they are just going to give me a car for christmas because they think I just can't afford it

It's up to them if the want to throw their money away like that. Apart from asking them to please not buy you that car there's really not much else you can do. If it were me and they bought me the car then it would sit unused and untouched in front of my place, covered in spider webs and dirt. I would point out to the purchaser that I have not had a use for it and if they would take it with them, every time they came to my house.

A guy in my office building told me that I should 'take a more mature way to work'

??? The mind boggles

http://www.lakewoodconferences.com/direct/dbimage/50117894/4_wheel_Scooter_For_Old_People.jpg

http://www.peterford.com/stardust2-014.jpg

Mature and grown up are two different things, IMHO. Mature means you understand when to work and when to play, grown up means you forgot the fun of playing in the first place. I hope I never grow up and forget how to play...

Does anyone here have family members who think you are crazy or are embarrased because you choose to ride a bike ?
My husband thinks I'm crazy and alternates being angry, enthusiastic, or indifferent. My daughter thinks I'm crazy and sometimes expresses embarrassment--particularly about the reflective orange road vest -- but that's mostly her age (12 yrs). She joins me for rides often despite my insanity.

My parents & sister & brother & some cousins & an aunt bike more because of me.

A co-worker said that she'd be 'happy to pick me up and drop me off at home everyday so I didn't have to ride in'.

There's nothing you can do, they don't get it and never will. Why would you walk or ride a bike when you can drive?

I get this all the time. They mean well, but they can't understand that I ride because I enjoy it. One guy offered me a ride on the most beautiful day you've ever seen. It's baffling. As for family, my mom thinks I'm crazy and my dad does a little, but his natural thriftiness means he's also impressed by it. Years ago I heard him say "I wish we didn't even need cars". :D

My Dad used to bicycle commute to work in the '80s: inspired by me commuting to work. But several years ago he tried to convince me that I'd be safer commuting on a motorcycle. LOL He'd never seen the route I was riding, so I guess he was picking up on the paranoia of other family members.

My Dad used to bicycle commute to work in the '80s: inspired by me commuting to work. But several years ago he tried to convince me that I'd be safer commuting on a motorcycle. LOL He'd never seen the route I was riding, so I guess he was picking up on the paranoia of other family members.

How could anybody think a motorbike is safer than a "real bike"? Motorcycles rank for safety with parachutes and chainsaws. :D

I have two kids and my entire family refers to my bicycle as my "third child". I don't go anywhere without my baby.

Go out and buy an very good looking bike (whatever you ride, road or offroad). That will teach them.
Originally, when we moved to the burbs, I used to get this "oh, poor you, you can't even afford a car". By now, the neighbors know that my bicycles (summarily) cost as much as a pretty good car, so no more questions. I still hate it it, though - people are extremley appearance-centric around here.

Fortunately, my family is pretty environmentally conscious, so my bike riding fits well in their worldview.

I also like to refer to my bike as my "cheap gym" and discuss the fact that I make better time across town -- and find better parking -- than folks in cars. The trick is to give them something that makes sense in their paradigm.

In terms of getting the car, a good response might be, "That's very kind of you, but I'm enjoying not having to pay for insurance right now. I love the freedom I have to live this way, and I know you want me to be happy."

Does anyone here have family members who think you are crazy or are embarrased because you choose to ride a bike ? or do they tell you that people will think you lost your license if you only ride your bike? I gave up my car a couple of years ago and now my family is putting so much pressure on me to buy a car...they say they are just going to give me a car for christmas because they think I just can't afford it -totally NOT true - I have a good job and never ask ANYONE for money. I just don't get it, because I ride a bike I must be poor ?? a drunk ?? an idiot ?? I'm so sick of this !! WHAT is wrong with these people??? someone help me deal with this stupidity.... grrrrrrrrrr.....

How nice of them. Accept the gift, then sell it and make some extra cash. he he. Next year ask them if they are going to give you another car for Christmas, but this time with more options (higher re-sell value).

grin and bear it. They're normal and care.

Or sell the car and buy a $2700 Bakfiets cargo bike.:D

How could anybody think a motorbike is safer than a "real bike"? Motorcycles rank for safety with parachutes and chainsaws. :D

Well, it confused me too. He used to bicycle commute when he was working and he used to worry so much when I did own a motorcycle. Needless to say, I was so poor when he suggested a motorcycle that the bicycle easily won out.

I am so blessed to not have these conversations with friends and family. Growing up in a small town I used bicycles and then small motorcycles until I was a senior in highschool. I had a variety of motorcycles over the years and often used them for commuting. I bicycle commuted while on Okinawa for four years and used a bicycle while in Italy, too. There area I live in now and the jobs I've had the last 12 years or so were not condusive to bike commuting. But, the new gig IS. I'll be starting to use the bicycle sometime after December 15th!!
Fortunately my wife fully supports biking. The health benefits (I'm diabetic and she's a nurse!) as well as the financial savings (we have great jobs and $$$ are not the central issue) are significant. Heck, having one car and losing the 2nd car payment, fuel costs, and insurance will be a HUGE pay raise!!

I think a lot of it is what you're used to

My mom grew up in the city and at 60 something still rides her Ross 3 speed a lot in the summer for shopping/errands/etc and often takes public transport to work. (I honestly think the only thing holding all of the rust on her bike together is the accumulated grease and dirt, but she won't let me build her a new one). My dad on the other hand grew up in the country and thinks riding a bike in the city on anything other than a quiet residential street is madness. He hates it and really worries when my mom does it, less so for my brother and I.

He understands that for me it's quicker and cheaper to ride my bike than to drive, but I think the explanation that he appreciated most was that if I didn't bike as much I would have to switch to light beer. No loving father would wish that on his son.

My father doesn't understand it. I think it's a combination of three things:

1. Concern that I'll get hit by a car
2. Viewing a car as a status symbol, and not having a car as the opposite of status.
3. Feasibility in regards to it being able to fully replace a car.


That was the way my dad was. The only reason we kept the car was to take him to the grocery store, doctor's appointments, etc. I almost always rode my bike places, and he told me that every time I left the house he was terrified that I would get creamed by some crazy driver, or fall off.

Now, back when I was 13 or so I went over the handlebars of my bike and landed flat on my face; the only thing holding in my front teeth were my braces. It didn't involve a collision with a car, but the chain popping off my bike when I was going down a steep hill at high speed. Perhaps seeing my battered and bruised countainance and paying the ER and dental bills traumatized him with relation to cycling. (I should mention that he never learned to ride a bike himself in all his 82 years.) A few months after he died, I sold the car.

I'm one of the fortunate ones. In the 1970s, my dad got a bike and commuted to work and for errands during the warmer months. In winter, he walked. I'm now following his footsteps (or tire tracks, if you will.) My mom didn't ever have a driver's license so she walked or cycled where she went. Because I watched my parents often cycle or walk instead of driving, I see that as normal behaviour. I only hope a few people around me will be inspired by my lifestyle.