I don't know firsthand, but every video posted on BF by someone attempting to show how great bike commuting is over there looks like a huge bike traffic jam of depressed people. Everyone is poking along at what looks like around 10 mph, no helmet and staring straight ahead. Maybe that's not the reality, but it sure looks unappealing to me. BTW, my usual pace is 18-20 mph with speeds up to 25 mph with a tailwind for a 30 mile RT commute. Have fun doing that on a Dutch bike.

Exactly,
All I'm trying to do is show that some of the commonly repeated criticisms of roadsters and IGH bikes are no where near as limiting as some try to claim.
Just because a bike isn't attractive to the advanced enthusiast, or doesn't excel at what isn't its primary function, doesn't mean it can't serve many functions and people well.

Right. Maybe I'm a hypocrite, but I recommend the type of bike that I don't like to ride. That's because I've been an athletic cyclist for a long time, and a townie bike might make me feel impaired. It might not actually impair me, but it would feel that way. I'm already molded to feel the way I do, and I'm prepared to pedal hard, unlike some others.

I have to admit, I just looked at Walmart's offerings, and there seems to be a lot more diversity than when I was last there about 5 years ago. Some pretty practical stuff at around $150 to $200.

I enjoy riding all types of bikes. Each has their purpose, advantages, and disadvantages. When someone asks me what they should buy I always begin with a gob of questions about their purpose in riding, where, how often, budget, etc. Some of this requires some probing and often them going off and thinking a bit. I don't really have an overall favorite and what I think someone should get depends on a lot of variables.

What I dislike is when people go in to an LBS or Wal-Mart and get a bike that doesn't fit their purpose and that they're not as happy with as one that does fit their purpose and then they end up not riding very much. Sadly a very common scenario.

As well, I don't often chime in on BF discussions where someone should have a road, mountain, hybrid, or similar. There are a lot of people on here with a lot of great knowledge about these bikes and most times I'd simply be piling on to 30 other similar opinions and I don't usually see much need for clogging up a thread. If I think a city bike or cargo bike would be a good option then I'll chime in because there are only a few of us on here with much knowledge about them.

Maybe I should start adding my pile-on to the 30 others on roadie threads just for balance.

You're probably right. They're people commuting to work who happen to be on bikes, and representative of most commuters regardless of mode. you're an enthusiast who enjoys cycling in a brisk manner. Two very different points of view.

I used to have a strong dislike for those long bikes like the big dummy, or yuba boda, but it was all based on opinions of those who don't ride them, it wasn't until I got into classic transportation bikes that I began to appreciate them for what they are rather than what their not.
Popular opinions are often more myth than fact, and a real disservice to those who are open to all options rather than just following the pack.

I still do. :-)

They are a nice fit between a city bike like an opafiets and a bakfiets. The times I've ridden them I didn't care for the ride, especially when loaded, and that's why I have an opafiets and a bakfiets which serve me better. For someone looking for a cargo bike I do think they should consider them and people I know who have them to like them.

18-20 mph on a cushy, bolt upright Dutch bike without breaking a sweat? Cool. Where do I sign up?

Lijnbaansgracht 32B-Hs
1015 GP Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The don't sweat feature not available in July or August.

:-)

At the top of any hill........

But seriously I can maintain 15 mph on level ground without undue effort, really no different than a MTB with street tires.

This x100. One of my reasons for riding a bike is to get around the city faster than motorized traffic. I go nuts just getting behind a slowpoke in a cycletrack;if things were like Copenhagen/Amsterdam here,I'd just walk and take Metro.

Dutch cycleways make passing quite easy. I've only occasionally been stuck behind people and not able to pass. Definitely the fastest (and most enjoyable) way around Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, and other cities in The Netherlands.