Bachman

I ride my bike on the same road every single day that I can. I'd have to be a hardcore drunk to have that many DUI's. Hell, I should have been incarcerated a long time ago if that were the case.

I'm not witty enough to come up with a good retort when I get honked/yelled at, so I just smile and wave at the idiots. I have a feeling that "share the road and be nice to cyclists" advocacy campaigns just p*ss off these types of people even more. Nothing short of a personal revelation is going to make them see the light.

tjspiel

What people think probably depends on where you live. Though definitely a small minority, it's not that unusual for people around here to bike to work.

When I was younger and living in a smaller town I had a job where I knew several people that had suspended licenses. None of them would have EVER been caught dead biking to work. It just wasn't done. They took taxis or bummed rides. Most of them lived within four miles of work.

coldfeet

I would have laughed, I would have laughed even if I didn't ride, but knew why you did. Did the others think you ride because you have no options?

As for myself, meh.

Before I'm finished, my bike will be worth more than 2 of the other employees cars combined.

I've just come up with a new response to being asked why I ride.

"Man! You should see what I eat!

dnuzzomueller

+1

Also I would say don't catch up to him next time. My general commuting experience is that the last total time you have contact with any single person on the road the less of a chance they have to decide they might get away with vehicular manslaughter.

CptjohnC

You probably should carry your license whenever you're out. Failure to carry appropriate ID can result in a cop detaining you if you get stopped for any reason... not to mention making it harder to ID you in case of an accident.

As to the other, I'm sure folks think I'm a drunk... after all, why else would a guy who lives in an affluent suburb and owns 3 cars ride a bike, right?

diff

I keep a state ID on me, even to use a debit card now they usually check your ID, which I like. But don't carry my license with me anymore since I figure if I loose my wallet I will have my license as a backup ID.

I think it does have to do with where you live or ride. Chicago nw suburbs you don't see many adults riding bikes. So unless you are decked out in a flashy road bike and lycras, helmets, shoes, sunglasses (training for a marathon look), or riding with a large group, they probably think you going somewhere on bike since you don't have a choice.

Gonzoso

Yeah I don't think if you're decked out in biking gear people think you're forced to bike because of extenuating circumstances. Not that I give a crap what people think But I wear a nice colorful jersey, biking shoes for my clipless pedals, a helmet, gloves, glasses, and soon shorts(I just dropped 1k on a bike and gear, I need to save some money). I just assume people think I am one of those crazy biking guys. People call me lance, that annoys me a bit.

I don't care what they think as long as they don't hit me.

amyfischer

I've never been much of a bike rider-until now- and I never had those thoughts. Just thought it was alot of work to go through when you could be driving a car. LOL. Keep on biking my friend!

dynodonn 

I've received numerous comments from being "green", to "your employer must be really docking your pay", to the ludicrous, " is your wife forcing you to ride a bike?". I just have a good laugh, and keep on riding.

colleen c

And say it while holding a U-lock. Guarantee next time that driver will run the stop sign to get the heck out of there instead of waiting for the OP.

irclean

mustachiod

i like to use my FOID card for this

JPprivate

yeah, see... now he's trying to get into your pants.

LeeG

that's my take on it. After confusing the driver with right of way he chases him down? Seems that diff is getting sidetracked for the basis of the altercation.

Fizzaly

Who cares what other people think, i started my car-free career because of dui's, it doesn't bother me if other people think or know that, i could get me license back if i wanted but i no longer feel the need for driving.

SurlyLaika

I actually ride because I'm tired of paying gas money for the stress of riding in traffic, getting tickets, paying insurance, car maintenance, etc. Of course, bikes also require maintenance but that's something I enjoy and I'm trying to learn more about but I would hate work on my car when I had one.

WalksOn2Wheels

Wow, this is almost the same exact thread as the other one I just posted in, but good thoughts all around.

I did start commuting about a month ago to force myself to get some miles in. Ironically, unrelated to my decision to ride my bicycle, I am on deffered adjudication until late november for a speeding ticket I received over the summer. Meaning I can't get another ticket or I have to pay for both and both go on my record. So by riding my bicycle 3 out of 5 days, I've reduced my chances of getting another ticket by 60%. I've also tried not to speed so much..... I stick to 70 on the freeway now.

ItsJustMe

Surprisingly, "getting tickets" is optional when driving a car.

wunderkind

Hand gestures would've cleared up the fog. I always wave or receive one at intersection if neither me nor the driver are sure who should go.

colleen c

Ah, but I only ride with my Chasity belt secure with my U-lock

It was funny because I was joking to the guy but he thought it was real. Another women co-worker then thought it will also be good for her to bicycle to work and hopefully score a free lunch

Seattle Forrest

Yeah ... being able to bundle up so I'm warm when I leave the house, then take a layer off at a red light and stash it in the panniers, or to pull some warmth out of the bag, is a lot more important to me than avoiding the homeless look.

WalksOn2Wheels

WHA?!

AsanaCycles

this would be a good thread in the Car Free forum

As Americans, as sad as it is to say, out off the variables in our individual lives, arguably the Automobile is the greatest common denominator. Most Americans have experience behind the wheel of a car. I'd assume that only a fraction of a single percent of Americans have never been in an automobile.

however, the same does not hold true for Bicycles.

Many Americans simply do not know how to ride a bike.

The Automobile is deeply ingrained into our "Collective Values" as Americans.

what I'm getting at, is that acceptance of Bicycle Lifestyle varies widely from community to community.

while I've been Car Free for a majority of my life, there have been definitive moments when that delineation had become clear.

here's a movie to watch if you have the time:

https://video.google.com/videoplay?do...35784907931000

gholt

I haven't had a comment from a driver for about a year and a half. I guess most of my commute is on MUP and country roads. But, I have never been asked if I had a DUI. But, I could understand why someone would think this.

AdamDZ

I like your signature, but I don't think quoting yourself in your sig is allowed