Interesting note...I was ribbing a coworker 2 days ago about riding instead of driving. She acted as if it was no big deal and she could hammer it out no prob. I "challenged" her to ride the following day. Well...She came in the next day in a summer dress and said, "I was going to ride but figure it would not be appropriate in a dress." She was kidding of course as she had no intention of really riding.

Now this morning she tell me that she was worried she was going to wake up to a flat tire in her Expedition today because she thought she ran over a nail yesterday and the tire was low. Instead of readying her bike, which she has never ridden to work I must add, she told her hubby to take her car and deal with the flat so she could have his car today.

When asked why she didn't just try to ride it she said, "The chain fell off and I don't want to deal with fixing it."

I have given up hope for converting. If I do then I do if not then oh well.

I am waaaay past that sort of thing bothering me and would actually find it funny.

Why would you want to waste your time, effort and stress trying to convert? You don't get any bonus points for it, and you'll never convert enough that you don't have to suck exhaust fumes on your commute. You might wear yourself out with wasted trying enough that you come across as pitiful and desperate to people you might otherwise win over, though.

Seems to me a more reasonable thing to do notice is people who already seem curious and interested, but reluctant, then encourage them by empowering them to overcome whatever concerns are keeping them away, with information.

You think bike commuting could be fun but you're worried about arriving at work as some kind of sweat monster? Here's a link to a thread of someone else with the same problem, and a gang of ways to obviate or solve it. You need to haul around more tools than you can easily get into a backpack? Substantial bike trailers exist, let me show you a place to buy some nice ones. There aren't sidewalks along the whole way? Good, you shouldn't be riding on the sidewalks anyway; here's an explanation of why it's demonstrably safer to ride on the streets, now let's examine what the local laws have to say on the subject.

You may have indirectly converted someone just by being out on the road. Who knows? That's why I decided to give bike commuting a try. You see enough people doing it and suddenly it doesn't seem so impossible.

I witnessed great hordes of cycling commuters in China in 1982. It was a very dismal and depressing sight.
Part of me hopes the masses leave the road to me and continue taking cars and subways.

ding ding ding! I used to encourage people but I've realized more bikes on the road is a bigger hassle for my commute. too many people can ruin anything.

Some people hold up Amsterdam and Copenhagen as great models, but all I see are miserable looking cyclists on 50 pound city bikes in bike lane traffic jams. China is certainly worse, adding in the pollution and the even greater numbers. I remind those who may be interested of the drawbacks, including exposure to the weather, sweating, crashing, flat tires, etc. None of this stuff bothers me, but are "no gos" for the average person.

They're just more insulation.

Now I know. - Thanks ;)

It would sure be nice if they worked like cooling fins, though.

Tell her that you will meet up with her at her house and ride in with her! :)