I didnt start for political reasons but somehow a higher
sense of politicality happened naturally over time........

I gave up political statements when I got out of politics. I ride for me, any statements derived from that are your own affair.

Wish I had a political reason, I am selfish, I do it for my health and because I love it

I do notice that cars that buzz me, cut me off, etc, have bumper stickers mostly from the left side of the aisle. Just an observation. It may have more to do with the demographics of the area I ride in than those of poor drivers.

Trollin, trollin, trollin'... ...RAWHIDE!

ditto, in all respects.

The only political statement I care to make is "Ha ha, I'm having fun and you're not!"

I do the commute because I love it. I have so much fun, especially now that I ride a trike. I get to see some beautiful scenery both ways, work off the stresses of the office on the way home, and just enjoy the experience. Driving a car isn't enjoyable. It's frustrating. Why fill your life with frustration when you can have fun instead?

That's my political statement. That, and "I belong on the road."

That's me as well. Every day I don't drive is 20 pounds less CO2 released by my car. I'm a lot trimmer than I was before I started. Also I find if I've had a bad or busy day, commuting clears my mind before I get home (or sometimes, to work). I also sleep better due to the exercise.

But mainly, it's the environment. Yes, my little bit won't make a difference, but everything starts somewhere, and if the people who care don't do anything, why will anyone? In 50 years when we're in emergency mode, 30 years past tipping point, at least I'll be able to say I did what I could.

guys, most of you are americans.
let's hear it from the south eastern part of asia, Jakarta, Indonesia.

most cyclist here, I mean cyclocommuters, are people who CANNOT, I repeat CANNOT afford to buy motorcycle, let alone cars.
most cyclocommuters do it because they can SAVE money, by not riding public transport.
This, I shamingly must admit, is worsening since an almost 100 pct oil price hike last october.

but, besides the people who HAVE to ride bicycles, some others are MtB lovers, whose bikes are at least $1000, owns one or more cars, who lately try to politicize (am I spelling this correctly?) the issue with a B2W (bike to work) campaign.
I prefer not to join them, just because I think I'd rather be a private rebel.

I ride because I like to ride. I like it because I don't have to sit in car, caught in a jam
The excercise is a health benefit, since I don't do any other sport ( other than the one in bed with my wife)
but I also love to make some statements at the back of my white T-shirts, in black big block letters like:
TRANSPORT. NOT SPORT.
ONE LESS POLLUTER.
and since the govenrment is making an unpopular decision to raise gas price, thus making the poor people poorer, I have also one with
PRESIDEN SEDANG MEMBERI CONTOH. the president is giving an example.
I wear it while coomuting by bike, and slipping through the traffic jam!!

I think of it more as a social statement, not a political one. I'm not going to support pretty much any political agenda. I'm out there because I like it, and it's cheaper. There is pretty much no way that I could afford to drink like I do and own a car. Especially seeing as how it would probably be taken away from me on a fairly regular basis

I do have a few freinds and coworkers who have talked about riding more often when we talk about my riding. I try not to stress anything political in those conversations, but simply keep it focused on the personal benefits. Otherwise, it can seem far too preachy, and most people here in the US HATE being told what to do (yeah, subtle influence by both parties and a host of religions are fine, but don't tell them exactly what to do, or suggest what they are doing now is wrong.) I figure the more they see me doing it, the more likely they are to think 'hey, I could do that to.' True, this could lead to a world more to my liking, especially if there are others out there having the same effect. But that has nothing to do with politics.

It's evangalism. Preaching the gospel of the one true gear (46x16 fixed, btw. All the rest of you are sinners!)

Well, I hope that people seeing a 52 year old ambling along to work might get the idea that they too could use a bicycle in their life.

But mostly I ride to get somewhere and feel like I am doing it the right way.

If you want my political statements, check out alternet.org.

There are always those who remain at-the-ready to protest one thing or another. So I can see someone riding their bike with some self-inflated sense of gratification; a legend in their own mind.

The way I see it, if you want to make a political statement, stand in the middle of the street and wave a sign.

People only glance at and pay attention to cyclists in order to avoid scratching the paint on their bumpers.

I have no statement to make, other than I just enjoy riding, and don't weigh enough to collapse the supension of a minivan.

For me, biking is a political statement. I ride everyday and take a full lane, even when at times it would be much easier to just take a different route. The reason I do this is to show people that cycling is a reasonable way to get around, and that bikes have just as much right to be on the roads as cars do. Don't get me wrong, I also bike because it is fun and it keeps me healthy.

Tell you what. All you guys making a political statement should put a sign on your back so that it's clear to everyone what statement you're making. But PLEASE stay out of my state; I don't want to give the redneck cagers another reason to try to hit me!

It is a political statement, just like all the other contents of your daily life. Whether you eat granola, recycle religiously and commute on a Breezer, or dress up in full Disco kit and spend thousands of dollars on carbon fiber parts, you're making a political statement. Whether you drive a Hummer or a Prius, you're making a political statement. Whether you eat lunch at McDonalds or the local veggie co-op, you're making a political statement.
I suppose I'd rather be considered a self-righteous martyr in my own mind than to somehow be under the delusion that I'm NOT making a political statement with everything I do during the course of a day, no matter how silent or apathetic I may happen to be.

for me in no order of priority

1 money, i save a ton of it

2 values. i value a simple life, biking makes me organize my life better, and "think outside the box/cage" i think this is also political as well. i vote and support local candidates who propose good transit, and increase ways to help my neighborhood.

3 health. i value my health, and my daily commute greatly increases my metabolism and immune system. i've seen in and felt it over the past three years.

From what I can tell, any statement I might have even thought of making is not being understood.

My colleagues think I'm a nut for riding in all the time.

I just want my pants to fit and to get my heart rate going. That's my goal.

<gasp!> The true gear is 45x17! Heretic! Subversive! Apostate! <splutter>

I spin my wheels for Mumia , the training wheels of the protest movement....

Political statement? Maybe in a way. A secondary reason I do this is to reduce my dependence upon oil for when prices really start increasing. With China industrializing at an increasing rate I do not see how prices will remain relatively low in the US for the future. Now if I can figure out what to do with my house.

My primary reason is and always will be health. I am tired of being an overweight lazy american. Now I am more of a hyper chunky american. Plus, being healthy has inumerable benefits.

Personally, this is the number one reason I commute, right up there with healthy lifestyle/ weight loss. However, I don't delude myself into thinking anyone else in St Louis "gets it". Most likely they are thinking, "what a jerk, get outta my way, a-hole".

Statement? I could imagine a neo-nazi who thinks cycling could help build a stronger, tougher people to better conquer the world. Or a Maoist on a Flying Pigeon who supports Communist China and decries the economic changes there. Or a Republican, Democrat, or Libertarian. Or a nonpartisan, patriotic American, who wants to cut back on petrodollars that will inevitably find their way to terrorists.

I think that riding a bike is too ambiguous to be a political statement, even though it may well reflect a political position and have significant social impacts. All it means for sure is that you are riding a bike.

Paul

I hear many people saying, "Nope. Not a political statement. I bike commute for other reasons." Well, that's me, too.

Yet lifestyle choices, such as bike commuting, inadvertently become political statements. Not Republican or Democrat, not necessarily aligned with any other specific agenda, just solidly pro-bicycle.

When you have Dick Cheney as vice president of the United States, commuting by bicycle is a political statement.

It's definitely political, including but not limited to the environment, for me. I also believe that it's a good practice to get into, and to model for my children, for the uncertain energy future we are heading into. I have been known to wear signs on my backpack like "Commuting, Not Polluting" and "Not Using Mideast Oil", or promoting particular candidates, or even "Where's the WMD's?" (A co-worker from Georgia informed me I'd risk getting shot if I did that down there!)

That said, I respect that it is not the same for all cyclists. Furthermore, if you are intent on deriving satisfaction from how much you are doing to "make a difference", you are likely to just get frustrated in the face of all the evidence to the contrary. What it comes down to for me is that I feel that this is what I should be doing. I'm not making a judgement about whether or not it is what other people should be doing. But for me, not to do it would be to not be true to myself.

Other reasons to bike are good, but not as important to me. Exercise is good and I'm glad I'm in better shape, but I've never been very into exercise, and I wasn't about the join a health club or anything even before I started riding. I'm blessed with a good metabolism, so weight was never an issue. And of course it is enjoyable, most of the time, and I get a certain enjoyment out of figuring out how to beat the elements. (Though I wonder how many years I'll be able to take continuing to ride through sub-freezing temps.)