Originally Posted by
Jaywalk3r
I've heard people using the limitations inherent to the bikes widely available on the US market as (often valid) reasons why they don't ride. They can't ride in their work clothes, they can't carry enough, the bikes look uncomfortable, bikes need too much maintenance, etc. They're valid concerns.
Or, looked at from a slightly different perspective: Do you actually believe that the bicycle modal share would be as high in Amsterdam and Copenhagen if they only had access to the recreational bikes that are readily available to the US market? Not a chance.
The most vehement objections to considering getting on a bike again for any reason that I have heard from adults came from people who got burned/disgusted by the so-called
10 speed racer bikes of the 70's and never got over how brutal those bikes were to anyone used to or expecting a comfortable riding bike and who never looked at another bike in their life.
Many times I have been queried/told by older people (my age) who upon learning that I bike commute who ask in some form or another:
You don't ride one those bent over the handlebar skinny tire bikes do you? I had one and I hated it.