BikeNinjagirl

Does anyone here have family members who think you are crazy or are embarrased because you choose to ride a bike ? or do they tell you that people will think you lost your license if you only ride your bike? I gave up my car a couple of years ago and now my family is putting so much pressure on me to buy a car...they say they are just going to give me a car for christmas because they think I just can't afford it -totally NOT true - I have a good job and never ask ANYONE for money. I just don't get it, because I ride a bike I must be poor ?? a drunk ?? an idiot ?? I'm so sick of this !! WHAT is wrong with these people??? someone help me deal with this stupidity.... grrrrrrrrrr.....

seafoamer

Tell them that you think they are equally mis-guided, & for Xmas you are going to sell all of their cars & replace them with bikes.

Juha

No. Why on Earth would they do that? It's a mode of transportation, it's not something anyone should get all upset about. That includes family members.

As to your problem, tell them if they give you a car for Christmas, you'll sell it first thing come 27th Dec. and buy bike gear with the money, thank you very much. That should take care of it.

--J

alicestrong

Smile, cock your head, stick out your tongue and say " I just loves me my bikeys!"

That'll show 'em!

cooker

Tell them you will immediately sell it. And if they give it, sell it.

digger

A guy in my office building told me that I should 'take a more mature way to work'

A co-worker said that she'd be 'happy to pick me up and drop me off at home everyday so I didn't have to ride in'.

There's nothing you can do, they don't get it and never will. Why would you walk or ride a bike when you can drive?

wattly

Tell them you'll sell the car and buy them all bikes.

gwd

My family is like that except the buying me a car bit. Over thanksgiving, my father took me aside from the rest of the family and asked if I needed money. But they're getting better, now when I visit my brother loans me a nice bike that he never rides instead of offering one of his four cars.

kjohnnytarr

Haven't you heard: they're status symbols, and if you want to be a respectable citizen you'll have to get one.


Maybe buy some fancy watches? Or a boat?


(personally, I like to shatter peoples' perceptions of my "poverty" by telling them that I make $50
an hour driving a pedicab)

acroy

Funny stuff !

i went from car-centric (5 cars) to car lite (5 bikes).

the family thought i was having money troubles and was quite worried. truth is i never have had so much $$ in the bank!

Honestly i was just very thankful I have people who are that concerned about me. I'd suggest don't let it bother you or make a biggie out of it.

Maybe take them aside, and tell them hey, money really really isn't an issue! it may be tough to get through their heads, as society has beaten into us that one of the indicators of financial security is nice car ownership.

Maybe give everyone a Savings Bond for Christmas as an indicator that yes, thanks, you're doing fine.

Cheers and best of luck.

Cosmoline

Most of them think I'm crazy, but they thought so before I ditched the car.

squegeeboo

My father doesn't understand it. I think it's a combination of three things:

1. Concern that I'll get hit by a car
2. Viewing a car as a status symbol, and not having a car as the opposite of status.
3. Feasibility in regards to it being able to fully replace a car.

cerewa

Or if you want to be really naughty, just let them give you the car, act like you want them to give you a car, and then sell it to buy bike goodies.

gerv 

LOL! I've never heard that one before. I'm usually pretty quick with a reply. But if someone said that to me, I would fall over.

gosmsgo

Just bring about 25,000 cash to your next family get together and say, "see, I could buy a new car with cash because I dont buy gas, cars, insurance, maintance and on and on."

That will show them.

My family stopped worrying about me when I presented my dad with a check for $10,000 for money I owed him when I was in college and was broke....complete with a truck payment.

kjohnnytarr

I'd tell him that decrepit and mature aren't necessarily synonymous.

Cyclaholic

It's up to them if the want to throw their money away like that. Apart from asking them to please not buy you that car there's really not much else you can do. If it were me and they bought me the car then it would sit unused and untouched in front of my place, covered in spider webs and dirt. I would point out to the purchaser that I have not had a use for it and if they would take it with them, every time they came to my house.

Cosmoline

??? The mind boggles

Mago

Mature and grown up are two different things, IMHO. Mature means you understand when to work and when to play, grown up means you forgot the fun of playing in the first place. I hope I never grow up and forget how to play...

Melalvai

My husband thinks I'm crazy and alternates being angry, enthusiastic, or indifferent. My daughter thinks I'm crazy and sometimes expresses embarrassment--particularly about the reflective orange road vest -- but that's mostly her age (12 yrs). She joins me for rides often despite my insanity.

My parents & sister & brother & some cousins & an aunt bike more because of me.

Lamplight

I get this all the time. They mean well, but they can't understand that I ride because I enjoy it. One guy offered me a ride on the most beautiful day you've ever seen. It's baffling. As for family, my mom thinks I'm crazy and my dad does a little, but his natural thriftiness means he's also impressed by it. Years ago I heard him say "I wish we didn't even need cars".

Artkansas 

My Dad used to bicycle commute to work in the '80s: inspired by me commuting to work. But several years ago he tried to convince me that I'd be safer commuting on a motorcycle. LOL He'd never seen the route I was riding, so I guess he was picking up on the paranoia of other family members.

Roody

How could anybody think a motorbike is safer than a "real bike"? Motorcycles rank for safety with parachutes and chainsaws.

Nachoman

I have two kids and my entire family refers to my bicycle as my "third child". I don't go anywhere without my baby.

qw1a

Go out and buy an very good looking bike (whatever you ride, road or offroad). That will teach them.
Originally, when we moved to the burbs, I used to get this "oh, poor you, you can't even afford a car". By now, the neighbors know that my bicycles (summarily) cost as much as a pretty good car, so no more questions. I still hate it it, though - people are extremley appearance-centric around here.