Hydrated

As I read this thread... 900 Voters, one bike... it got me to thinking about the most common and often incorrect assumptions that people make about cylists. In particular about cycling commuters.

The most common thing that people assume about me is that I cycle to save the planet from global warming. Wrong.

I don't buy into the global warming caused by humans story. I remember growing up in the 60's with the Weekly Reader filling our elementary schools with paniced propoganda about the coming ice age and how it would cause famine and disease in a few short years. It seems as if those experts were wrong. I'm an engineer with a pragmatic streak a mile wide, so I'm still waiting for proof instead of anecdotal "evidence" that humans are causing global warming.

I cycle because I love cycling... and I enjoy having the reputation as an ironman who'll ride when it's 20 degrees outside. (That's downright frigid here in Georgia!) I really don't care how others get to work. If you want to drive in your eco-friendly car that runs on distilled lavender juice, that's fine by me. But if you want an SUV with seal skin upholstery... that's fine too. None of my business... just as my cycling is none of theirs.

What's the most common misconception that people make about you because you cycle commute?

genec

That I am anti-car.

John Forester makes that claim every time I mention working to get more people on bikes.

I just happen to feel there is a time and place for either bikes or cars, or even walking.

Cyclaholic

They assume that I don't have any commitments outside of work/study due to the very long time it must take to commute (it doesn't take that much longer really, and I have a truckload of commitments)

They assume I must be very tired even though they've seen me walking around just fine all morning.... and I have to wait for them at the top of the stairwell.

They assume I'm too poor to own a car yet I'm debt-free, own several properties, and I'm financially independent.

They assume I must have lost my license to DUI

They assume I'm unemployed

They assume that I'm training for some big road race in Europe

They assume I'm riding for recreation or exercise even though I'm pulling out of a grocery store parking lot towing a trailer with 60 pounds of food for a family of 5

They assume I don't ride at night, in winter, when it rains, when it's too hot, too cold, too windy, too whatever.

They assume I'm a vegan hippie untill they see me devour a couple of medium rare t-bones as an appertiser before the main course(s).

They assume my bike was purchased at X-mart untill they finally convince me to tell them how much it really cost, then they assume I'm lieing.

They assume I ride short distances untill they ask me how far I ride, then they assume I'm lieing about that too.

They assume that I eat the same ammount as a normal person untill we go out to lunch.... I wonder if they assume I won't be hungry again in a few hours as I always am?

They assume I'm a queer, ******, sissy, poofter, ****, etc. etc. They also assume it's OK to yell that assumption at me out the car window while also informing me of their assumption that they're going to kick my ass.... untill I catch up to them at the red light, then they assume that winding up the windows will somehow prevent big dents in their panels.

charles vail

+1 to most of that although I won't ride in temps below about 30, only because I don't have the clothing for it. I ride because I enjoy it and it gives me some exercise. I also enjoy the aspect of getting around under my own power plus I am kind of cheap and don't like paying 3.50 per gallon for diesel. If I can ride my bike I will as long as I am feeling well enough and the weather isn't really nasty. I won't take foolish risks riding at night in heavy rain or fog and I avoid icy roads for obvious reasons. This leaves me with the ability to ride most of the year as I live in the Pacific Northwest.

arnijr

As a year round commuter in Iceland, people mostly assume I'm insane. But they also assume I'm anti-car, which is not true, I'm also interested in cars, especially vintage sports cars and modified SUVs. Up here we use the jacked up balloon tired SUVs for travel in the highlands and there is no better tool for the job, except maybe a bike
I have to admit that I find the idea of commuting in an SUV to be rather stupid, horses for courses and all that. I have on a few occasions been forced to use an SUV for the commute and outside of exotic sports cars, there is hardly a tool worse suited for the task. Quite frankly I'd rather commute in a Yugo than an SUV It's just irritating in the same way watching someone pound in screws with a hammer, if you know what I mean. On the other hand I wouldn't take a Yugo into the highlands. Keep in mind that with $8/gallon gas up here, buying a second small car is going to be cheaper than using the SUV for commuting.
Oh, I know what you mean about the ironman reputation, I have to admit I kind of like that too.

tjspiel

People assume I'm crazy for riding when it's below zero even though I'm probably warmer overall than when I drive.

That 4 block walk to the parking lot is a killer and then it's another 5 minutes before it's at all warm in the car. By that time I would have worked up a good sweat on my bike.

DataJunkie

They assume I am listening.

spokenword

My co-workers are routinely surprised when I choose drive to work and I arrive in a Mercedes. (granted it's a 12 year old Mercedes and is in need of various forms of work) but people somehow can't get their minds around the idea that someone can own a nice-ish car and still choose to ride 14 miles to work.

Intheloonybin

+1 for insane/crazy for riding when it is -15°F/-26°C with a strong wind to boot. Ice? that's what Nokians are for!

I have about 45 students that know I ride, and they seem to think it is cool, even if they think I am nuts.

The people on the road look at you like you are a freak of nature though. Well... I spose it is possible.

I have only had one commute that REALLY sucked in 2.5 years of part/full time commuting (riding into basically a tornado strength storm- long story). I have had many more driving trips that sucked (although maybe not quite that bad).

I like leaving my full size pick up in the driveway and not paying parking.

CliftonGK1

I had the reputation of "that bike guy" at work, which was upgraded to "that effing crazy bike guy" when I showed up last week after riding 11 miles through 5 inches of fresh snow and packed ice, with studded tires on my bike.

People assume I'm a health-nut. This image is shattered when I come back with Jack-in-the-Box burgers for lunch, or I swing through the McD's drivethrough (on my bike) to grab breakfast on my way in to work. Sure, I ride a few hundred miles a month and I've recently gotten back into lifting weights... but it's only because I find these activities to be enjoyable. Not because of some fitness-minded zealotry that many people assume about me. (I recently quit, but my previous favourite freak-out tactic was to go out and have a smoke with the rest of the crew. It really messed with people.)

mtnwalker

They have assumed that I am doing this to save gas and that I am a tree hugger.

When its raining they assume that I am hard core.

When its over 90 degrees outside they also assume I'm hard core.

I thinks its just their way of saying that I am crazy.

jakbikesdc

I like to assume that people think I'm Commited to what I do.

...but hearing other responses convince me otherwise:
-"you must save a ton of money", " I bet you're extremely healthy. If I did that when I was your age, I wouldn't feel so old right now.", "If more people biked like you do, we wouldn't have all the health problems we have today."
Those are the good responces I like to hear. The bad responses come in the forms of stares, glares, curses, accusations, etc...

Hydrated

I've found that the nasty stares and snide remarks almost always come from some lard-ass in an SUV with a burger clutched in their fist. I usually invite them to come along with me to work off those calories!

ax0n

That's a huge one.

Others that are incorrect:
* I am Broke/Underprivileged and cannot afford a car (I blogged about that one)
* I am on a suspended driver's license because of a DUI (okay, the lady above thought this might be the reason too)
* I wrecked my car
* I am a democrat or at least a liberal-leaning independent or libertarian.
* I am a fitness junkie or I am in good physical condition (I am not either, but I'm in better shape than most people who make the assumption)
* I am out to "stick it to the big, bad oil companies"
* I am out to "stick it to the terrorists"
* I am strange (okay, this is a CORRECT assumption)

Real reasons:
* It's fun
* It gets me closer to community
* I like my cow-orkers to think I'm strange so they leave me alone to do my work
* It's very efficient
* It's a good use of time. It takes 45 minutes longer than driving but I get a 2 hour daily workout with only the cost of 45 minutes)
* It's fun.
* Parking my bike downtown is free. Parking my car downtown 8 hours a day 5x a week is $50-$70 per month.
* My bike is faster around downtown because of alleyways, traffic congestion, and parking.
* My fuel is basically food than I would normally eat anyways, so it's free. Case and point, when I decrease my miles, I gain some weight.
* All told, I'm saving more than $200 a month by riding my bike.
* Did I mention that it's fun? Because it really is!

modernjess

That I care what they think.

Juha

They seem to assume I'm physically fit and mentally not. Especially during winter months.

--J

Tude 

I just seem to reinforce their idea that I'm crazy - especially when they pass me on the road and it's snowing out.

Juha

Old Dirt Hill

Great thread. I can't really add anything that hasn't already been said, but I guess I'll add to this one:

They assume that I can understand them as they lean out the window and scream while passing me at 55mph (in the opposite direction).

Catgrrl70

That I am very brave for doing it and a little crazy, perhaps. And then envious when they realize how much exercise I get.

Billy Bones

My experience is that it is a matter of small import to anyone but ourselves. There is the occasional, "Oh, was that you out there?" or "My brother rides a bike." or "I hate biking.". I suspect it's seen as mildly eccentric, but in a workforce population featuring the demonstrably insane, commuting by bike as a distunguishing personal characteristic, good, bad, or otherwise, falls well short of anyone's interest threshold.

ax0n

And not so much when you pass them because they can't hook up on the ice after stopping.

robertlinthicum

Some think I'm courageous for bicycle commuting, others think I'm foolhardy. (The ones that think I'm foolhardy are usually secretly envious and self-loathing. Willpower's not for everybody.)

pjohn12

People assume either: that I am a critical-mass, anti-car vigilante; that I am riding to my home in a tree; I am a twisted bike nut that thinks he will be the next American TdF winner. I am not anti-car, though I feel a shiver of revulsion every time I see a single occupant Cadillac Escalade and I think more people should ride rather than drive; I do like the fact that I am not contributing to the carbon in the air or the need for oil, but honestly this alone would not get me on the bike on cold wet mornings; While I usually ride with some vigor, I am well aware that I will never likely win a race around my block let alone the TdF, though I am becoming a bike nut. Mostly I ride for the exercise and the fact that its a lot more fun (and quicker) than riding a bus. The rest is icing.

comet the dog

most think that im a stupid frickin idiot with a death wish.