kjohnnytarr

Why do we say that people "ride" bikes, but they "drive" cars?

It seems like it'd be the other way around, since using a car is so passive, whereas one quite literally is the driving force of a bicycle.

RadioFlyer

Parkway.
Driveway.

Roody

I think it's because when bikes were first developed, people noticed that you sit astride them, a lot like riding a horse. Later they saw that in a car, you sit in a chair--more like driving a carriage or wagon.

This is just a guess. And I don't know why "driving" changed from it's earlier meaning of herding a group of animals, like a cattle drive or driving a flock of geese. Or even swatting at mosquitoes to drive them away.

maddyfish

I say ride the bike, rand ride the car. It confused people.

kjohnnytarr

yeah, I say "oh, you rode your car here" or something like that sometimes...but mostly, it's a mistake.

Roody

I say I drive my bike sometimes. And I ask people if they want me to give them a ride (on the handlebars).

kjohnnytarr

Haha! You just made me realize that I always say that I ride my bike, but I tell people that I drive a pedicab.

seafoamer

"They see me ro-----llin'...."