Living Car Free - Are Your Friends & Family Making Fun Of You?

200 lbs. was seen as enormous back then, but that's what I weighed when I was a thin little 20 year old.

How tall were you?

Cant we all get along? Shouldnt we be promoting biking as opposed to being dickheads about great we are?

I tried promoting biking for a while to my non-biking friends, but people accused me of being a smug dickhead about it simply for bringing the subject up, even though I went out of my way not be strident, so now I just ride my bike, politely refuse offers of rides in cars, and say nothing.

I've been carfree for four years now, and I've noticed an interesting evolution of the attitudes of my friends and coworkers. At first, they thought it was kind of funny: Oh look, he's being eccentric again. People made jokes, or expressed concern about my safety. Then, when they realized that it wasn't a passing fancy, some people became a bit hostile; even close friends went off on anti-bicycle diatribes, and they were actually pretty serious. Now, it's not even a matter of discussion. I show up places on my bike, and it's as if I drove there. No one even notices. The fact that there are suddenly thousands more bicyclists in Seattle recently hasn't hurt. It's almost normal now.

You just have to be persistent with your friends, I guess. But give up on your family. My family still thinks I'm weird.

I was riding past a gas station today ($4.19 / gallon now - can't wait to see what it is the weekend of the 4th!) and this old man was pumping gas and looks up and sees me and says "I bet you are going to be the next Donald Trump riding that thing!"

I almost fell off my bike...
Best comment I heard yet!

I've been carfree for four years now, and I've noticed an interesting evolution of the attitudes of my friends and coworkers. At first, they thought it was kind of funny: Oh look, he's being eccentric again. People made jokes, or expressed concern about my safety. Then, when they realized that it wasn't a passing fancy, some people became a bit hostile; even close friends went off on anti-bicycle diatribes, and they were actually pretty serious. Now, it's not even a matter of discussion. I show up places on my bike, and it's as if I drove there. No one even notices. The fact that there are suddenly thousands more bicyclists in Seattle recently hasn't hurt. It's almost normal now.
A few people will ask me safety questions or they'll comment about the careless cyclists on the road. Those are valid points. Every cyclist is an ambassador for cycling in general. If there are a lot of reckless riders, cycling will not be as well regarded as if cyclists take themselves seriously.

OK, no friends and family didn't make fun of me. At first they acted like it was just a temporary thing. Then the worst they'd ask "Don't you miss having a car?" They no longer say much about it.

Thank you ***

Sorry, didn't mean to sound like an ***.

I just meant that ignoring them is the best policy. Life's too short to waste time educating the ignorant.

Az

How tall were you?

6'2" That was back when I was working on a loading dock every day. The thinnest I've ever been was 195 and that was rib-poking thin. Many people are simply larger than they used to be for the same height. It comes from a much more substantial diet and abundant calcium and protein I suspect.

but I've already heard things from my co-workers.
One of which has a new nickname for me..
He simply calls me

HELMET :(
[/QUOTE]

have you devsied a nickname for him? how about jack@$$.

None of my family or friends make fun of my bike commuting. They fear for my life. At first my mom went nuts when I told her I was riding my bike to work, she offered to buy my monthly bus pass. I told her I was riding not just to save money but because I love it, it's healthier than sitting for 40 minutes on a packed train and streetcar, and I was slowly losing weight. My partner reminds me to be careful each day, and my best friend thinks I'm even cooler than I was before! But no one made fun of my economic and healthier bike commute. I ride about 15-25 km per day about 6 days a week and finally (FINALLY) the hills are getting easier.

As far as heat and humidity goes, I can deal with it. Drink plenty of water, I pace myself on the really long hot heat waves, and take breaks. I don't have a/c in my apartment, but do have a desk fan for days I am working at home. I hate going into super a/c stores! It's such a damp cold I usually start feeling sick if I have to work in a cold cold a/c place (quit that place too). I also prefer the street sounds when the windows are open versus the constant hum of the a/c.

Are Your Friends & Family Making Fun Of You?

Yes, but not because I ride a bike:rolleyes:

None of my family or friends make fun of my bike commuting. They fear for my life.

Before my father died, I was 'car lite' rather than 'car free', and he told me that he was scared to death when I went out on my bike. I kept telling him that biking was far safer than driving, and that if I wiped out on my bike I at least would most probably not take out anyone else with me.

Before he died, I was at the point where I was really only using the car when I took him to the doctor's or other places where he needed to go. After he died sold it and have never looked back.

None of my family or friends make fun of my bike commuting. They fear for my life. At first my mom went nuts when I told her I was riding my bike to work, she offered to buy my monthly bus pass. I told her I was riding not just to save money but because I love it, it's healthier than sitting for 40 minutes on a packed train and streetcar, and I was slowly losing weight. My partner reminds me to be careful each day, and my best friend thinks I'm even cooler than I was before! But no one made fun of my economic and healthier bike commute. I ride about 15-25 km per day about 6 days a week and finally (FINALLY) the hills are getting easier.

This is what I get more than I get teasing. I've heard that I'm:

one elderly driver away from parapelegic
one impatient jerk away from death
one construction truck away from a bad pass and death
one drunk driver away from parapelgic/death
one heart attack away from death
one kid dooring me away from snapped neck


And this is from family and friends. Good thing my outlook on life is far more positive.

This is what I get more than I get teasing. I've heard that I'm:

one elderly driver away from parapelegic
one impatient jerk away from death
one construction truck away from a bad pass and death
one drunk driver away from parapelgic/death
one heart attack away from death
one kid dooring me away from snapped neck


And this is from family and friends. Good thing my outlook on life is far more positive.

So are they, except for the dooring bit. But I'm sure that the increased heart attack risk from a sedentary lifestyle more than compensates for the reduced risk of dooring.

I went car free a little over a month ago when I had to turn in my lease and was to fed up with gas prices to get a new vehicle. Plus I didn't want another $250/mo car payment.

Ever since then I keep hearing wisecracks from my friends and family and it's starting to drive me nuts. Almost to the point where I am going to tell them all where to go if they don't knock their crap off. It was ok at first but it's getting old now.

I left someone house one time and as I was pedaling down the driveway I hear "GO! GO! GO! GO PEDALING FOOL GO!" which inspired my screen name here...

I hear wisecracks like:

- Is it time for an oil change yet?
- You gonna take that to Bell Tire and get new tires soon?
- When winter comes are you going to get chains put on your tires?
- You're washing your bike? Are you going to wax it too?

I guess it will be poetic justice when they decide to get a bike too...
I rode past the gas station this morning by my house... $4.15/gallon!
I was hoping someone I knew would be filling up so I could yell "$0 Per Gallon Baby!!!!"

Soon I will also be able to give them my "fat" clothes to wear since I have dropped 20 pounds already and still going strong. I am almost under 200 pounds for the first time in over 10 years! I feel great!

OK, here's what you do....

First, get yourself a tube of KY jel lube (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-Y_Jelly) and stick a small bow to it like as if it was a present.

People usually make the wise cracks in front of a crowd, usually people they're comfortable with, and usually trying to be funny... and that presents a great opportunity to embaras them into oblivion. Next time someone makes a wise crack you say to them with a very serious and concerned voice "Oh, you just reminded me, I got you a present... Look, I can only imagine how painful it must be now that gas has topped 4 bucks a gallon so I got something to ease the pain that the big oil companies are causing you" reach into your bag and take out the 'present', as you present it say "this will help with the pain of what you're allowing the big oil companies to do to you.... I'm sure you can figure out how to use it next time you assume the position at the pump" and bend over with your rear end up in the air in an exaggerated motion as if pumping gas.


...It's like dropping an embarrassment nuke, and you can be sure that nobody in that group will ever try it on with you thanks to the doctrine of "mutually assured destruction" Let me know how it goes. :D

It's not that they are offending me...
When you hear the same stuff over and over again from the same people it gets to the point where it's annoying and borderline disrespectful...


this is easy. tell them....to EAT YOUR ASS!

but I've already heard things from my co-workers.
One of which has a new nickname for me..
He simply calls me

HELMET :(


have you devsied a nickname for him? how about jack@$$.[/QUOTE]

No, Just start calling him "Vicente" like its his real name. People can't stand that name they go bonkers.

I actually thought it was a good name but apparently no. When someone had a nickname for me I would automatically call them "Vicente" and all hell would break loose.

OK, here's what you do....

First, get yourself a tube of KY jel lube (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-Y_Jelly) and stick a small bow to it like as if it was a present.

People usually make the wise cracks in front of a crowd, usually people they're comfortable with, and usually trying to be funny... and that presents a great opportunity to embaras them into oblivion. Next time someone makes a wise crack you say to them with a very serious and concerned voice "Oh, you just reminded me, I got you a present... Look, I can only imagine how painful it must be now that gas has topped 4 bucks a gallon so I got something to ease the pain that the big oil companies are causing you" reach into your bag and take out the 'present', as you present it say "this will help with the pain of what you're allowing the big oil companies to do to you.... I'm sure you can figure out how to use it next time you assume the position at the pump" and bend over with your rear end up in the air in an exaggerated motion as if pumping gas.


...It's like dropping an embarrassment nuke, and you can be sure that nobody in that group will ever try it on with you thanks to the doctrine of "mutually assured destruction" Let me know how it goes. :D
Cyclaholic is back! :beer:

Tell them this:

"I think that getting and driving a car is OK for old people, who are no longer are able to get around under their own power. Right now my bicycle is keeping me young, healthly and wealthy but years from now, when I'm old and decrepit, I'll at that time consider getting a car or motorcycle to get around":p.

I wasn't going to post anything, but recently my mother-in-law ( who is a bigger lady, eats whatever, watches T.V., etc) recently chided me for riding in the heat (" You're stupid").I love my in-laws, but anybody that does anything to get healthy, in her eyes, is an idiot. It gets me that she puts people down for getting into fitness and weighs probably 275-300? AARGGGGHHHH!!!!:twitchy:

OK done i feel better....:D

BTW, I've gone from 205 to 192 and I love it.

Brian T: Congrats on the weight drop. :thumb: Sounds like your mother-in-law is projecting her negative feelings about her body unto others. Don't sweat it; sweat while riding instead. ;)

Last year I started using a bicycle to comute to work to amazement from my work mates. All I can say is keep at it, don't make a big thing about it and in the end it will just become part of what you are. People won't even notice.

The thing I am getting most is the 'what if' scenarios...

"What if your wife gets stranded 75 miles from home? You won't be able to rescue her."

First of all, if my wife will not be 75 miles from home without me with her. And beyond that, we have AAA.

"What if it's a really bad snowstorm?"

I dress accordingly, leave extra time, or use my wife's car.

"What if your bike breaks down?"

Other than the chain breaking everything else I can still "limp" the bike to the destination. Also, I've had a few flat tires while commuting and I have been able to fix them in under 10 minutes.

"What if you get sick?"

Then I guess I'll have to call off work.

My family is actually really supportive, but I've already heard things from my co-workers. One of which has a new nickname for me.. He simply calls me HELMET :( oh well! what are you gonna do? :)

I had a company owner who used to laugh at me when I had my helmet on because he thought I looked like Rick Moranis in "Honey I Shrunk the Kids". I shined it on. This was a 400 lb man who bought a new car 3 times a year because he got bored with them. You just consider the source.

The thing I am getting most is the 'what if' scenarios...

"What if your wife gets stranded 75 miles from home? You won't be able to rescue her."

First of all, if my wife will not be 75 miles from home without me with her. And beyond that, we have AAA.

"What if it's a really bad snowstorm?"

I dress accordingly, leave extra time, or use my wife's car.

"What if your bike breaks down?"

Other than the chain breaking everything else I can still "limp" the bike to the destination. Also, I've had a few flat tires while commuting and I have been able to fix them in under 10 minutes.

"What if you get sick?"

Then I guess I'll have to call off work.

Add these to your list:

"What if it rains?"

You get wet.

"What if it's a thunderstorm?"

Ride faster.

:roflmao2:

"What if your wife gets stranded 75 miles from home? You won't be able to rescue her."
I've handled situations like that several times.

The optimum situation is where the family member is fully prepared with cell phone, AAA membership, credit card, and/or ATM card.

If the person is panicked and totally unprepared for a car breakdown:

(1) If appropriate, call state highway troopers or the local police to check on the person's safety. They will most likely use their judgement and take the person to a safer place (like a store).

(2) While that's underway, arrange for a local wrecker. If you're lucky they'll take your credit card over the phone. If they require cash, find out about how much, then you'll have to use Western Union to wire cash to the person.

(3) Have the wrecker meet the person at the place of safety, stop by the Western Union pickup point to get cash, pick up the car, take it to the nearest dealer or shop you like, and then if necessary drop off the person at a local motel for the night.

Car breakdowns under panic conditions with absolutely no preparation are more likely with teenage drivers than with spouses, though.

My parents think I'm a bit eccentric with the biking, but that's nonsense.

Co-workers think it's great. Typical comments include "I wish I had that kind of drive" and "How many miles is it?" I had my first flat on the way to work a few days ago and was late for a meeting, but everyone was fine with it. We all ended up discussing various routes I could take to get to work using the best roads. To maintain the good will I go out of my way to not be smug, and I don't talk about how much gas money I'm saving unless asked first.

My family is pushing pretty hard to subsidize a car for me when I go off to school in a month--that, or for me to use the bus. I want to bike. They either don't take it seriously or think it's unsafe, too far, etc. If necessary, I'll just keep quiet until I'm on my own there in the fall. At any rate, I've started biking around town with a few old bikes I inflated. 'Tis hard, but 'tis fun.

My family is pushing pretty hard to subsidize a car for me when I go off to school in a month--that, or for me to use the bus. I want to bike. They either don't take it seriously or think it's unsafe, too far, etc. If necessary, I'll just keep quiet until I'm on my own there in the fall. At any rate, I've started biking around town with a few old bikes I inflated. 'Tis hard, but 'tis fun.

For the price of a car, you could easily get a decent bike and plenty of safety equiptment to put your parents at ease. Helmet, headlamp, tail light etc.

It's not that they are offending me...
When you hear the same stuff over and over again from the same people it gets to the point where it's annoying and borderline disrespectful...

I can understand this but, if you were not a Car-Free person, there would still probably be some things that your friends would say to you every time they saw you.

If they really are friends, then you have to realise that they are not trying to be mean and nasty to you.

I had someone ask me the "what if you break down" question just the other day...
I thought gee, cars never break down or something?

At least with a bike you can wheel it around alot easier than a car.

BTW, I've gone from 205 to 192 and I love it.
Good job!
I started out at 231 in May when I first dumped my car.
This morning I am at 198!

Not to many people are laughing at me anymore.

My family is pushing pretty hard to subsidize a car for me when I go off to school in a month--that, or for me to use the bus. I want to bike. They either don't take it seriously or think it's unsafe, too far, etc. If necessary, I'll just keep quiet until I'm on my own there in the fall. At any rate, I've started biking around town with a few old bikes I inflated. 'Tis hard, but 'tis fun.
If you've just started cycling, it will take a while before your friends and family realize you're serious about it. They'll want to make sure you have a back-up plan, just in case you change your mind or move back into car-primary transportation. What you're experiencing is no different than what a long-time smoker might experience if he or she is quitting. For the first number of weeks or months, people will be watching carefully to see if the change is permanent.

I'm originally from SE Michigan, and I hate to say it, but more people in your neck of the woods need to hear that. There's like this collective amnesia there (and other places, of course) about how lack of physical movement = major weight problems.

My quips:


Just keeping the Type 2 away...
What's your blood pressure?
Every time you fill a gas tank, a terrorist smiles.
I'm not into making charitible contributions to Al-Qaida.
When I look at my savings account balance, I want to hug my bike.
I was able to eliminate all my consumer debt after a year and a half of bike commuting. How's that working for you and your car(s)?
(One for Detroit especially) There's no American-made car with the kind of gas mileage I want. I've decided to wait until there is one available before I get a new one. (IMO, this is a safe declaration. :rolleyes:)


If I were still living in Detroit, I'd focus mainly on the money and supporting terrorism, saving the weight statements for the really mean people.


I know exactly how that is since i live 15 mins north of detroit. i was car free for 18 years of my life then got a car and put on almost 90 lbs in 2 years. i just sold my car 40 months ago and already lost 35 pounds. my body and bank account is loving it. ill just need some good knobbies for the michigan winters

ill just need some good knobbies for the michigan winters
Nokians are the best...

i just sold my car 40 months ago and already lost 35 pounds. my body and bank account is loving it.

Good work! Keep it up!

I'm lucky not to have family members or friends who would say anything negative about bicycling.

I work for a delivery service doing short haul freight, the bike messengers and the car drivers appreciate not having to do as many short box jobs. Bikers prefer envelopes and drivers prefer long routes. So, no negative comments from co-workers.

I get 5 to 10 complements on my vehicle from strangers everyday. What kind of car gets that kind of positive response?

I pulled a BOB trailer for about two years before switching to a Bikes At Work 64A. People didn't seem to notice the BOB much, but the BAW elicits a very positive response. People in D.C. dig it a lot. Who woulda guessed?

People who drive Hummers get compliments too, and some people hate me* as much as some bikers hate Hummer drivers, but there is much love and respect for the HPV truckers in our nation's capitol. God bless America!

*Because I'm slow and harder to pass than bikes or cars/trucks that aren't double parked or stuck in traffic.

I get a lot of "what are you, Lance Armstrong?" types of responses from people I work with (blue-collar semi-washing, about the last place I thought I'd work a summer job), but practically everyone else either doesn't mind, is impressed, or is jealous and plump. In fact, my fat coworkers are probably just jealous, too.

I got some lip, til these gas prices took hold, now I got less belly than they do and I can afford lunch.

Hey gas prices been under $4/gallon here for a couple days now...
Maybe I should go and get a car now...

Nah! Don't think so!
:)