Originally Posted by
Ramshackle
I read the post a little differently. It seems to me that the underlying issue is how you build a bike transport culture as opposed to a bike enthusiast culture. That would require cheap but sturdy standardized bikes with interchangeable parts and maybe a 3-5 speed rear derailleur.
Yes
The problem is that biking in a lot of major cities is dangerous given the roads, speeds and the lack of designated bike lanes. To build a bike transport would require rebuilding the urban infrastructure to make biking safer.
That is indeed a problem - but despite it, there are already people using bikes for transport
- Because they enjoy it
- Because they believe strongly in minimizing the use of motor vehicles
- Because their financial situation gives them no alternative
Making bike-based transport safer and more popular is indeed important. But the linked article and this thread is focused specifically on the needs of that last group - the people who already see a bike as their only choice, but need to find one suitable without sinking a lot of time into chasing the variations of the used market.
Not that what works there couldn't also be appealing to those who could afford (and may in fact own) a better bike for enjoyment rides, but would prefer to only risk a budget bike where having to lock up outside, winter road salt, etc aspects of commute/utility cycling are concerned.