Originally Posted by dynaryder
Most Americans drive automatics because they're lazy,not because of their gender. When I was in England,most folks of both sexes drove manuals with no probs. Your previous statement was still stupid and you really should apologise for it.
Why should I apologise?
I can just add a line.
90% American women doesn't know how to drive a stick shift car.
75% American men doesn't know and have no will to drive a stick shift car.
Neither know they how to handle geared bikes.
So what? They need automatic, low-maintenance bikes.
Sure, the British have to know how to drive stick in order to obtain a driver's license.
In the UK they use all sorts of bikes for commuting, mostly Dutch style bikes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A689033
This is largely a matter of where you are commuting. If your journey is under five miles on nice flat roads, a classic roadster in the Dutch mould will transport you in comfort and leave you looking over the roof of all but the tallest cars. For longer journeys a touring bike is a good choice. On pot-holed city streets a mountain bike with suspension and narrow, high-pressure tyres is responsive without pounding the more tender parts of your anatomy. For mixed-mode commuting, a folder is just the thing. In fifteen seconds your bike transforms into a neat hand-portable package which you can carry onto the train.
I heard you have to pay £8 to enter London in a car.