Originally Posted by
folder fanatic
Summery
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?a=158497&c=44671
Full Report
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?&a=237507&c=44597
The above article attempts to divide the serious commuter/utility cyclist into 4 types. The types are created out of the foundation fear of all cyclists: You have to be brave to ride a bike because of all those huge bone crushing tanks in the forms of autos & trucks zooming around oblivious to anything but themselves & their own little world! The saddest thing of all....this perception is correct. Every time I venture out on one of my bikes, I feel like I am risking my life and limbs than if I chose another form of transportation (mainly drive in my own metal and glass protected cocoon) or simply give up and stay home if I can. How sad.
Here are the 4 types and how many lay claim to each in Portland OR
(these figures could be easily transposed onto any other major city or town in the North America):
Keep in mind that this is Portland OR! A supposed very bike orientated city. Why do hese figures appear to reflect my native anti bike, car-centric Los Angeles far more? Or perhaps cycling there is more of a image thing than an actual practice? Or something is considered still a prime weekend warrior (and young male) activity-which puts off everyone else that is not born or gifted in this way? Perhaps all of you can make sense out of senselessness.
This is just about the silliest thing I've ever seen, and shame on you for promoting (yet again) fear regarding bicycling. I'm not a brave person by any stretch of the imagination. I'm deathly afraid of heights. When riding in a car going much faster than 60 mph, I get a little nervous. I throw food out way before the expiration date. But I am virtually never afraid while riding my bike. The reasons for this are simple:
1. I ride defensively, follow traffic laws, and generally use common sense.
2. BICYCLING IS NOT INHERENTLY DANGEROUS. (Yes, a few people die because they were riding a bike. But far,
far more people die because they were eating bacon.)
Please, please, quit going on in this vein. Someone who's never been on a bike, but is considering it, might see the nonsense you write and be dissuaded from doing something that is almost as safe as walking and certainly safer than driving a car.