Living Car Free - Street Talk And Signs

I've been car free for about two years now, and for most of that time if someone yells out at me or says something it's been negative. But I've noticed a real change in the past few months. Numerous people have come up to say how cool my BOB trailer is and what a good idea it is. They seem to believe I designed it myself, not knowing you can get them at REI. One fellow gave me a thumbs up from the COSTCO parking lot, which is like getting a cool breeze from hell.

Anyway I know it's unscientific but there seems to be a real change in the air. In addition I've been noticing a LOT more cyclists on my commute and store runs. The racks are full and I'd estimate about twice as many people are riding now than last year.

I've been car free for about two years now, and for most of that time if someone yells out at me or says something it's been negative. But I've noticed a real change in the past few months. Numerous people have come up to say how cool my BOB trailer is and what a good idea it is. They seem to believe I designed it myself, not knowing you can get them at REI. One fellow gave me a thumbs up from the COSTCO parking lot, which is like getting a cool breeze from hell.

Anyway I know it's unscientific but there seems to be a real change in the air. In addition I've been noticing a LOT more cyclists on my commute and store runs. The racks are full and I'd estimate about twice as many people are riding now than last year.
It is happening here too. Even with the city installing bike racks they increase in bike parking lags the demand so we still have full racks and bikes locked to trees and fences.

I've observed the same thing here. Day before yesterday the bike rack at work was full, so I had to run the chain through the rear tire and fork and hope no one had the energy to lift it away.

Fortunately today we were saved by a spot of rain... there was one space left for me when I arrived.

Here in Seattle, there's been an explosion in the number of cyclists. 18 months ago, I could ride to work and never see another cyclist. Now, it's rare to see less than 8-12, and my commute's only 3 miles. In some parts of town, it's become hard to find a place to lock up the bike. I've also seen an interesting evolution of motorists' attitudes towards bicycles: first, there was tolerance; then, as numbers increased, there seemed to be an increase in frustration, even hostility; lately, as cyclists seem to be everywhere, a sort of resignation seems to have set in, as drivers get more used to dealing with very large numbers of people on bikes. I have experienced one or two incidents recently of very extreme hostility by motorists, but they have been remarkable mostly because of their rarity.

Not happening by me.

But it is going to be 113 degree's today.

I see 6-12 bicycles a day on my .75 mile commute. Same number of cars.

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