Inertianinja

as i'm looking for a bike and reading about using it as a commuter, general transportation, or to haul groceries, i'm noticing that it's a little difficult to accept these things right away.

i grew up on Long Island, which ranges from NYC suburbs to completely rural areas. EVERYBODY drives - even down the block. You ride your bike until you're 17, then you get a car and you cruise the roosevelt field mall or, if you're a suffolk county kid, Deer Park Ave. as a broad generalization, bikes are regarded as toys - kids have mountain bikes and some dads have bikes to ride with their kids. many people regard biking as very dangerous, an unnecessarily expensive hobby, or even childish. nobody wears helmets; when i was 14, i ditched my helmet forever, because it wasn't cool. I've never seen someone commuting by bike in a suit, and certainly never seen anyone haul groceries. I think if I did see one, I would think they were crazy.

Since i've moved to NYC, lots of people from back on LI have voiced their opinions that it's too dangerous, and that i should avoid it at all costs. I realize now, of course, that these are the crazy people.

I'm glad, at the very least, that the research i'm doing has helped me break free of the Long Island driver mentality. I'm psyched to get started.

eddy m

Good job getting out of Lawn Guyland. That has to be the strangest place in the whole US, if not the world. After you live in the City for a few years, you should be recovered enough to travel anywhere.

em

noglider 

We have a little of that here in the western suburbs of NYC (aka Noo Joizy) but not as bad. I'm not sure why.

Anyway, welcome to the world of cycling as a way of life.

Nightshade

Peer group pressure is a powerful thing for some people but the true individualist isn't bothered in
the least by peer pressure. The true individualist "man's man" couldn't care less what other people
think so that they never have control over him or what he does. This , as I see it, is your
problem...you care to much what other people think. NOT Good!

Inertianinja

it's not so much that i *cared*...it's just that this is how i was raised.

caloso

Congratulations on taking the red pill.

velocycling

Being a West Coast Surburban boy. I always was being driven or driving once I reached 16. When I was about 30, I was going to a 2yr tech school. About 1/3 of the class were from the Urban cities. They did not own cars. I looked at them like they were crazy. How can any one not have a car. They just said it was not that big a deal. Now, I bike train everyday to work and last year gave away a car. We still have one car, but we have cut our milesage down by moore then half. I wish I was wiser sooner. ;-)

NickDavid

I work in NYC and see tons of commuters on bikes. If you're going to do this, just be smart and wear your helmet. At least 50% of the people I see, are no wearing their helmet. Those painted white bicycles you see chained to light posts are there for a reason.

Lamp-Shade

Even if bicycles are, under official definition of some cosmic nerd floating in the absolute, a "toy", are you telling me its a bad thing to keep with you the soul of your child self as the world continues its efforts to slaughter it?
THIS IS DEEP NOW, K? Seriously. I would just ride my bike and smile. It will feel better after that.