Originally Posted by ScottCommutes

One aspect of biking vs. other popular means of getting around is the relative secrecy it affords. You can easily and legally buy a nondescript bike in cash on a street corner without giving your name. You don't need a license, or (generally) registration. There are no secret VIN numbers hidden on the bottom of any bike parts. Without license plates, optical scanners of that sort aren't tracking you. There's no national bike registry. There's no Onstar or any realistic possibility of satellite or terrestrial tracking of your whereabouts (unless you bring a phone!). Heck, you can even hide your face behind a helmet and visor/glasses and nobody would notice.

I suppose that anybody who really values secrecy (government agents, domestic violence victims, crooks, witness protection program, etc.) won't reply to this random thread. I just find it refreshing that in this day and age of "1984" being foisted upon us, the bike provides a welcome bit of privacy to "disappear" for a little while.