But not East Los Angeles (California State University, Los Angeles) or Hollywood/Central City (Los Angeles City College/Trade-Technical College). That is the general locations of a few of the higher education campuses I attended-and have lived in or presently live today. I do admit I did not bring a bike on campus as bikes were not used very often then-about 30 or so years ago-as they are now (young female professionals had to maintain a certain image in class at that time-I don't think my professors would like to see me ride around on a bike then, even if modern folding bikes were available!). But once I was free of their critical judgement and evaluations (graduated), I did as I pleased-moving on and going in a really good direction in my life. Inheriting my parent’s house meant that I have to deal with the same stifling gang-bang environment I abandoned when I graduated from college.. So.....in my classical way of dealing a rather bad hand (poor economy & a house I never liked in the first place), I chose to adapt. One of the tools (I have many options and tools) I use to adapt is the folding bike. The basic reason is still the same as the day I first picked up my Dahon Boardwalk-not waiting around for others to offer a safe option to keep the bike safe, but “hide”/bag (not lock) the bike in case I have to go to the hospital in the middle of the night. I don’t really use my present bikes (1 primary & 1 back up) that much. I like them and all, and the trike I will be ordering very soon will expand the potential uses (hauling large amount of groceries) I have for them, but in the end, I don’t care to be set up as crime victim and these type of bikes give me the needed protection from being another crime statistic. Providing I don’t treat them just like a bike (there is always a catch) and resort to locking them up outdoors. And when I want to sell the bike, I can and have done for the first time ever.

It is a free country (last I heard) and others have the freedom to choose what they wish to do-as I hope you will, Martin. This is what I want to do-]I wish to continue to keep my possessions close and don’t listen to some half baked minimum wage part time “employee” telling me what to do with my bikes in the store or whatever. That is the real underlying secret reason of using folding bikes-at least for me. I like the freedom not to lock up and yet not have my bike get in the way of everyone like my former Piccolo (photos below) is doing.