when gas hit four bucks a gallon a couple of years ago, people were coming into the bikestore who previously had no active interest in bicycling. misogynistic union schlubs, tubby office workers, pensioned public sector clerks, all varieties of people generally underrepresented in the commuting peloton.

desperate, *****ing and moaning about gasoline, they'd head out the door with a new bike or a new bike lock and a strained look of potential fiduciary relief.

With the majority of american trips short, and many americans commutes less than six miles, bike commuting and running errands by bike IS viable for many, many americans previously addled with auto dependency.