Originally Posted by
2 Piece
Nope, cycling is not generally seen as a sport. You do know that the USA only makes up like less than 5% of the world bicycle market right? Countries like China and India where bicycling is a primary resource for transportation. Study up a little bit about cycling in Netherlands.
I drive around on the roads in a car that weighs 3000 pounds along side tractor trailers weighing 45,000 pounds. That does not make it unsafe, what makes it unsafe is the mindset and attitudes of those involved, the same goes for cycling.
Why do people slip and fall down stairways and kill themselves? Are stairways unsafe? I would say no when you exercise proper safety procedures, but be deadly if you do not. Most any activity can be dangerous, but that does not make them inherently dangerous.
You must also remember that 99.999999% of all accidents (even fatal) are a result of several judgement errors distractions. Remove just one of those distraction/ judgement errors and the likely hood of having that accident is reduced to almost nil.
Safety is an attitude. Having an attitude that general cycling is a sport can and usually does lead to disaster.
See, this is the same argument I used to read during my motorcycle days. It's always those darned "cagers" causing all the problems, never the motorcyclist or the bicyclist in this case. So yeah, OK, you win - all of the supposed problems people express with regards to cycling must all be because of those darned people driving automobiles. Obviously this safe form of transportation has the motoring public at large to blame for all of its problems (or do we have any since it's so safe?) and none of it can be attributed to the cyclists themselves - gotchya. I'd also keep your voice down by not letting the billion dollar bicycle (and related accessory) business hear you say it's not a "sport"
