Originally Posted by
Crawford53
I live in suburbs with no centralized shopping area/town center. This means that there is at least a 5 mile trip to do simple things, like buy groceries or mail a package, etc. While this doesn't matter to me in terms of riding, I have noticed that it makes a difference to other people. Road infrastructure and driving culture here are not bike-friendly, there is only one LBS in a 25-mi radius. I have to say I agree with [MENTION=152773]noglider[/MENTION] about government incentives for sustainable transportation. If the town I lived in had bike lanes, MUPs or any other type of infrastructure designed for bicycles there would be a real difference in daily cyclists. Additionally, there is no public transportation here. No buses at all.
I think that when the conversation about commuting by bike comes up, it's important to think about the vast differences in culture and infrastructure that are possible. Some people in city centers or particularly progressive areas might have access to better bike infrastructure and culture that enable a better and more friendly commute than some of us living in suburbs, rural areas or in between.
And I think this is the big issue here. I lived in the burbs for a lot of years and it is near impossible to simple tasks without getting in a car. The buses only come during work hours M-F, most drivers are not even noticing cyclists, I've had more close calls with cars in the suburbs then I have ever had living in the city. I bike commute during the peak of rush hour most days in the city to, and no one has come close to hitting me. Now that I do live in the city and have lived downtown for about 5 years, everything in walkable/bikeable. It is actually much easier to walk or bike somewhere due to cost of parking or if there is even parking. Once every other week I get big groceries via car, but then maintain it with cycling trips.
It's a cultural thing to. Non of my real close friends who I've grown up with bike like I do. They all drive to work from the suburbs to the city on their 60+ minute commutes by themselves in a car every single day. Their wives look at me like I'm a moron. I have shown up to their houses on my bike and they give me this look like I'm stupid sometimes. And after the night is over every one of them asks if I want a ride home, and the answer is always "No." Initially I tried to get some of them to bike, but they feel the cost of a bike is a waste and could be put towards gas in their car or a house payment, so I just have stopped with it all.
I do have one close friend who bikes but he, as mentioned in this thread before is strictly in the thought camp that cycling requires lycra/spandex and is for exercise on weekends only. He drives to the location of where everyone is meeting to ride a road bike or to the trailhead that is less than a mile from his house.
Just to point out I live in Minneapolis one of the best bike cities in the United States. However once you leave Minneapolis its all pretty much crap around the rest of the state. Sure we have MUPs in a lot of towns but some just randomly end or do not go anywhere that makes sense for commuting. I was lucky when I worked out of the city as I could take ONE MUP all the way from my house to the front door of my job 13 miles away.