Chicks dig my tiny carbon footprint.

This drives me nuts too - I mean, I do like that biking is a "green" activity (in more ways than one) and that is part of why I do it, but for the vast majority of the population this is simply not a motivational point. I do it first for fun, second for health, third for the cost savings, and lastly because it is green. If people realized how much more fun and awesome this is than sitting on your ass stuck in traffic, they'd probably do it. But they think people do it because it's green.

I ride in general and commute because it is a blast, not to mention an excellent source of exercise. The "green" thing, which I like, is just icing on the cake.

I'll admit, I'm selfish, I ride because I enjoy it.

I wish people thought I was green... but I live in a state largely funded by oil companies... so the only people riding bikes are old guys with DUI's. If there's anybody being "green" here I've never seen them... and I ride because I love bikes (I have a supercharged sport compact I love to drive).

It's the same sickness, really... people jumping to conclusions.

I don't get peeved when people tell me how I'm being all "green," but I do make a habit of pointing out that green has nothing to do with it - my poor old 1992 car has 164,000 miles on it, and I figure every mile I put on the bike isn't going on the car. I'm too cheap/broke to buy another car, so I wanna make the one I have now last as long as possible. And if it has a finite amount of miles on it, then riding my bike at every opportunity is lengthening the amount of time until I hit that finite amount of miles.

So it's now become an odd challenge - some things I can't do by bike like I'd like to (doctor's appointments in town 40 miles away) and some things I haven't quite figured out how to do yet (like go to the freakin' laundromat), but I'm still hoping one day to be able to go without the car for, say, a whole month and not just a week like now.

I don't like people assuming I'm green. Some people think that because I rode a bike a few miles to get to work it means I'll be interested in their recycling drive or raising epa regualtions or some such nonsense. I ride a bike because it's fun and I'm fat, not because I'm part of some agenda.

I find that the best way of 'being green' is just to be cheap. Biking is part of that for me. I get where the OP is coming from, though.

hehe i had a good laugh at that thanks

They may think you're sacrificing, being noble for the environment--play it up brother! Play it up! Sometimes being green is fun, who knew?

So what would you say if somebody challenged you about biking and ask if you're trying to be green or something? And then proceeds to tell you that you need to move your tree-hugging, liberal ass to socialist Europe if love it so much...

Did you mean to say carbon fiber footprint?

I think that makes you green... sorry! :)

Moved to Berkeley Ca where you are expected to be a "Lean Mean Green Pedaling Machine!" :)

Problem solved.

I fully agree...my decision to live car free (although my fiancee drives, and I take advantage of that at times) has a lot less to do with the environment and a lot more to do with practical inner city commuting realities. I think the truth is that the green thing is largely a trendy marketing ploy, and one that will become less prevalent with time. As has already been mentioned, the green hybrid cars aren't really much greener than normal cars...it's trendy. I think that's true for a lot of these companies advertising green. Citibank is green? How? Exxon is green? Huh? Marketing.

To me decisions about legitimately going green are only going to happen by economic necessity. When it's cheaper to recycle, we'll recycle more. When gas is a fortune, we'll use it less. Etc. The only practical green initiatives are Government tax based policy decisions...like cutting back on road subsidies and spending it on public transit. My cycling isn't about saving the world...it's about enjoying it, feeling good, burning a few calories, skipping inner city traffic jams, easy and free parking and storing my transportation inside the house. I've had a love affair, off and on, with bikes ever since I was 10...which was long before I knew what ozone was.

Part of it is also that I can't afford a Ferrari (at least without making sacrifices I'd never make). I can't afford a Picasso. Bikes are one of the few things where I can afford the best of the best. I can get some of the finest machines ever produced with two wheels and appreciate their workmanship. Maybe I can't afford a ferrari, but I have a bike hand built in the Merckx factory out of Reynolds 753, one of the finest steels man has produced, for the captain of the Motorola team. That bike cost me 1/20th of what people pay for a mass produced compact car.

Around my home, the only people that ride bikes are recent immigrants that can't afford a truck yet. A neighbor asked me if I got a DUI since they'd "never seen a white guy ride a bike as much" as I do.

OP: i agree with you wholeheartedly. I do it because a) lycra makes my ass look good and b) it's a fun workout. OMG INFINITY MPG yeah not so much. i still enjoy driving my car as well

The only bike users I see are bums using mountain bikes too small for them or a stolen kid bike on sidewalks or wrong side of the road. Global warming always in the media is a lie by communists. Other planets are warming up too.

Oh yeah, the one you came from is warming up also? :p

I would point in the direction of Texas and explain why people over 60 shouldn't be allowed d to vote because all they seem to do is vote for poor republican candidates cough BUSH.. cough BUSH.. who have destroyed our countries relationships with other nations and screwed our economy into the ground.

Global warming.. No that can't be true. The weather is just rapidly changing all over the world for no reason at all. The ozone has been depleting for millions of years didn't you know...

So you're saying size matters?

When people say something about how green I am, I usually say something like, "yeah, _____ seemed a little off in the cafeteria today..." or invite them to go on a bike ride with me :)

One of them yep.

Global Warming on Mars, Pluto, Triton and Jupiter
http://seoblackhat.com/2007/03/04/gl...n-and-jupiter/

Triton and Pluto aren't planets. Which of the remaining two were you from again?