In short, anyone who finds bike commuting or camping being done by people who can afford a car or shelter offensive really needs to thicken their skin up a bit and it is shocking they made it to adulthood.

I say, if you love something why question it. I would really like to talk with someone who honestly felt camping was offensive. It is in no way trying to play poor, it is simply trying to enjoy the world around you and look at it from a different perspective.

I would also add, I think if anything commuting has given me more respect from some of the homeless customers I worked with when I was on the retail side of the bike world. I have ran across one of our regular homeless customers a number of times when I was on my commute, we both really enjoy talking with each other and he seems excited whenever we cross paths and get to talk even though I am on a Ti commuter which is clearly not cheap.

I think the homeless love seeing people that are able to drive whenever they choose riding a bike because it is finally wearing down the stigma that everyone on a bike is poor and has no choice and I think they love the fact that for once they are not always instantly thought of as a "poor person on a bike" but rather just being thought of as a person. I don't know many people that like being instantly labeled.