I hear at work all the time, from my co-workers, "If I could, I'd ride." I just smile and nod. But yesterday has me smiling a bit wider, I've influenced a couple of my clients. They went to the Y yesterday, and when they came back a couple of them came up to me to tell me they rode the stationary bike 23 miles at the Y, the length of my commute. I'm sort of beaming at the moment. I'm also wanting to be careful and not pop the baloon for them about how I ride a fixed gear, and contend with hills, and wind, hope it carries over when they leave.
What I really can't wait for is a bunch of bikes locked up when I roll up for work, and all them belong to staff. Maybe get them primed for Bike to work week. We've got a couple on the staff that ride the MDA Ride across MN.
Anyone else find they've influenced someone with your riding?

I haven't gotten anyone to start bicycle commuting, but people do tell me about their trips to the gym, their recreational bicycle rides, etc. However they get their exercise, I'm glad for it. It's too bad that bicycles are still not widely seen as transportational vehicles but recreational equipment. But that's better than nothing!

the bike parking area i use at work is also a smoke break area. Great idea huh? anyway, The smokers get a snicker when i come out and get on my bike to ride home. i think they got an extra laugh yesterday watching me change the flat tire that was waiting for me on my bike. does that count?

My mom is getting more attached to the idea of commuting to work via bicycle...

Yea, my wife keeps saying she is gonna start bike commuting. I even bought her some panniers. (they are still unused.) I keep hope that one day she will get with the program. She, like me, has Type 2 diabetes. I am having a heck of a time getting her to excercise in any fassion.

They won't snicker when you ride your bike to their funerals.

There are two people at work who I have inspired to ride on a regular basis. there are a handful of others, who will ride ocasionally. One woman who thinks that our work neighborhood is unsafe, says that she'll ride if I accompany her home at midnight when we are released from the salt mines. This will add only about three miles to my ride of 7 miles. That doesn't sound too bad. We have to wait for ideal weather, though.

Every one my coworkers who bike, lives closer than I do. I imagine that they got started by telling themselves," if Rich can go 7 miles, I should be able to do 3 or 4."

I managed to get a co-worker to take it up a couple of years ago in my old job. Unfortunately the company went down the crapper shortly after that (no, it wasn't a related incident), so I don't know if he stuck to it or not.