Daniel4

Originally started in this thread which I totally agree...
https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cy...p-cycling.html

30 Reasons to take up cycling
30 reasons to take up cycling - BikeRadar


… and being the tolerant and understanding person that I am, these are the following reasons I would accept for not cycle commuting.

You have a physical disability;
You have young children;
You are looking after your elderly parents
You live over 10km or 10miles from work
You are female

Although there are people in these forums who fall under any one of these categories and are able to cycle commute, I am not going to wag my finger at them for those who don’t.

And for those who don't fall into any of these categories, I am unable to find any other reason to stay in your car and criticize or complain about cyclists on the road.

spare_wheel

wtf?

ThermionicScott 

+1. And what authority do you have to judge anyway, @Daniel4?

katsrevenge

.....really? O_o

FBinNY 

Who needs reasons to justify whatever means to get to work they prefer, be it bike, car, train, bus or helicopter. You are free to get to work however you wish, and likewise so am I and everybody else.

But if you insist on a reason how about "I prefer not to (bike)"

Some years back, I was invited to visit one of Sram's factories in Taiwan. Out front was a bike rack with one or two lonely bikes. After the tour, I had occasion to remark aabout the irony that only two out of some 100 employees in a BIKE factory rode a bike to work. Answer, they don't ride because it's too short a trip. Everybody lives locally and they walk to work.

scroca

Haha.

You do realize that lots of females ride bikes, right?
And you do realize that 10k is 6.2 miles, right? That's not real close to 10 miles, right?
And you do realize that 10 miles is not too far to ride a bike, right?

Maybe you're just trolling.

Hypno Toad

Must be a Canada-thing, 'cause I know TONS of women bike-commuters in Minneapolis and they CRUSH the 10 mile 'limit'.

My daily commute is typically more than 10 miles one-way.

Oh and the men and women that bike with small kids, I know a bunch of them too.

I know a TON of car-free people that fit all of these categories, but I live in Minneapolis ... we're 'different' around here.

There are no real limits on bike-commuting, expect the limits you accept.

Daniel4

That's right.

I've had many discussions with people telling me why it's silly that I'm bicycle commuting. I've also been in some of their positions. So if they are able to cycle even if they do fall under some of those categories fine, great. But if not I'm not going to be a cycle-Nazi and say, others can do it too you so you have to.

Having young children - it gets complicated if your child's school gives you a call and you have to be there quickly. If you don't have young children to worry about then you should able to cycle commute.

Having elderly parents - similar to having young children.

If you don't live over 10km or miles from work, you can cycle commute. There are people in these forums who live 10miles from work and commute and I know people from my work too. So if you live closer, you can commute by bicycle. If you live too far, it's legitimate that you can't.

Of course females can cycle-commute. But they get harrassed just by walking down the street. So if any female is afraid due to this safety factor, it's a legitimate excuse not to cycle-commute.

ThermionicScott 

Well, goll-ee, maybe they should just stay at home in the kitchen where it's safe?

timvan_78

It's not.

Wittyname

Riding a bike is a legitimate method of getting to work.
Walking is a legitimate method of getting to work.
Driving a car is a legitimate method of getting to work.
Riding the bus is a legitimate method of getting to work.

Also, 10m and 10k are not the same thing, please stop using them interchangeably.

Hypno Toad

OK, maybe a Toronto-thing. You know, like their wonderful bike-loving (former?) mayor Chris Farley.... no, no, no, that's right, his name is Rob Ford. Never get that right.

Hypno Toad

Actually, I just thought a very good reason not to bike-commute ^^^ this is your mayor and he drives an SUV on your roads.

cale

I accept that a woman might not feel safe commuting on a bike. It's not any safer than walking and there are plenty of authorities on safety that would back me up.

Jumping on the OP about being sexist is very unfair and suggests that most comments to that effect come from people who didn't read the post carefully. It happens.

The OP asks why someone who doesn't fall into one of these categories, and is a member of these forums, would continue to drive or take the bus.

I can think of a number of reasons:

* You work where it is impractical to commute by bike. Distance, location, etc.
* You live where you're uncomfortable with a bike commute. I commuted once between my apt in Brooklyn and work in Manhattan on my bike but I wouldn't do it now. I'm older and more conservative with the risks I'm willing to take.
* It's raining outside, you wear a suit, there's a meeting, no place to lock the bike, no place to shower. The OP would have us overlook these limitations but they are real.

Edited to add, I live in an extremely bike-friendly city and, for the most part, cars and bikes get along.

CrankyOne

Good reasons to ride a bicycle to work:

You have a physical disability; Riding a trike, handcycle, or even a mobility scooter will get you outside in the fresh air and allow you to get some much needed exercise. The reactions on all of your obese able-bodied co-workers will be priceless.

You have young children; There is no better way to build a relationship and teach them about the world than having them sitting in front of you on your bike or bakfiets and talk to them and answer their question while riding. At the same time you're setting a great example of a healthy active life.

You are looking after your elderly parents; You need to remain healthy because it won't do for them to have to begin looking after you.

You live over 10km or 10miles from work; Who needs a gym membership.

You are female; Well, I'm not sure why this makes a difference. Male, female, or eunuch, just ride.

KBentley57

For anyone looking for actual data:

Revised: Bike Data Breakdown | League of American Bicyclists

The slide show is worth looking at.

bconneraz

As someone who fits every one of these catagories, I'd say that these are excuses not to ride a bike to work, not legitimate reasons not to ride.

You have a physical disability; yes, I do, and cycling helps it. Plus, I love to ride my bike so it helps my head too.
You have young children; Indeed, and he rides his bike to school every day, rain or shine. He loves to ride his bike as well.
You are looking after your elderly parents- I help with my parents; my mom enjoys following me on Strava and seeing Instagram pics from my rides
You live over 10km or 10miles from work- heck, 10 miles isn't even half my commute one way. I'm not lazy.

And while I'm not a woman, I see plenty of them on my rides, and have been smoked by lots of them.

Santaria

I just finished physical therapy for my knee and was told I'll never run again; I still ride.
I have four children - all of them ride. My oldest boy rides to school in the 7th grade and my 9-year-old is desperate for his chance to bike commute with me.
My mother-in-law is Bavarian, born in 1946. She knows hardship, and walked a BSO uphill 10 miles, barefoot, in the snow, to get brochen, to ride 20 miles further to go to school. She's not a threat to my ability to bike.
I've walked 10 miles to get to work when I couldn't afford to repair my car and had to sell my bikes to finish graduate school. 10k is a mild stroll.
My wife rides the same trips I do, and commutes as a student to the university I'm a staffer/faculty member at.

cale

@bconneraz

Well, of course you feel that way. It's what makes you you!

ThermionicScott 

A man might not feel safe commuting on a bike. A man might not feel safe walking down the sidewalk.

After equating womanhood with being disabled, it's nice that the OP has someone to stick up for his feelings, too.

Santaria

How I wish there was a like button.

katsrevenge

I'm a woman. I found (and find) this attitude patronizing. No one telling men not to attack.... just telling women to curtail their behaviour. Eesh. For shame, for shame.

cale

You're being silly. I can tell you there are a lot of men that might be afraid to commute and would that make you any happier? The strong prey on the weak in society. Let's get real.

cale

Clueless, I don't think have a grasp on reality. Really, I don't think you do.

https://www.rainn.org/get-informatio...ssault-victims

katsrevenge

Thanks for making sure to downplay my opinion on this subject as 'silly'. Perhaps I'll just take off my shoes and go sit in a kitchen somewhere. Or maybe I'll just ride my bike to a local suffragette meeting. Sounds more fun.

Edit to add. I'm female but I could bench 250 just a few years ago (when I had access to a gym). I'm not very tall either, so it isn't as if I'm some sort of Amazon. My understanding is that this is an impressive weight for a man... so take that as you will. Weak, indeed.