When Did People Start Hating Bikes?

[Bethany1]

More of a vent here, but when I was a kid you could ride your bike anywhere. My brothers built ramps and rode their bikes over them. No one complained. I didn't really have a bike most of my childhood but my brothers were out terrorizing the neighborhood. My DH and his friends did the same thing and didn't come home until dark.

The neighbor kid made a really nice ramp yesterday and he and my son were using it out on the road. There are only six houses and the only traffic is those of us on our street. We were watching for the occasional car and moved over when needed.

Then a strange truck came by and started yelling at us to get off the road, that bikes have no business being on the road and he was calling the cops. He pulled around the corner and I thought he'd left. I went inside to get my helmet to jump the ramp and my son said he came around the corner again yelling that he'd called the police and they were coming and he drove into the neighbor's driveway. Great. Of course it's the neighbor that we don't get along with. We stay away from them, they stay away from us.

Meh. Whatever. I told the boys that if the police do come to let me take care of it. If he says to get off the road, don't argue and do it. A few minutes later an officer showed up. He looked totally confused when he saw us and I explained that we were just using the ramp and we'd move if needed. He said it was all good and just move the ramp over to the side.

I hate to feel smug, but I do. The guy was a jerk. The guy must of told one heck of a story that we were menaces to society or something like that which is probably why the officer looked so confused. It's just a couple of kids and a parent..huh?

So if my kids and the one neighbor kid get harrassed by these neighbors what should I do? The police have better things to do than chase a couple of kids off of bikes, but these neighbors are really petty and have connections. I don't do neighbor wars but I feel like the kids should be able to ride in the streets and jump off a ramp (within reason and safely) if they want too. It's not even close to a busy street.

I feel a little better venting. I just had no idea people hated bikes and wondered why.

[Melalvai]

I don't remember if Nebraska has a state bike/ped advocacy group. I know there's Activate Omaha and they might have some information and resources for you. For example it would be good to be really really familiar with state and local laws as they apply to you, and that can be difficult to figure out when relevant laws are found in several different places.

For me the main reason I'm involved in bike/ped advocacy is because it's how I cope with the haters out there. I can't do anything about the individuals but I feel like I'm making a cultural difference by raising awareness about bicycling as a fun, healthy, and responsible choice.

[maggie's sister]

If the guy comes back, tell him calmly that the police already came by and indicated that you and your children have the right to ride your bikes in the street. If you feel at all threatened, I wouldn't hesitate to get the police involved again.

I think that the trend toward bike hating stems from the cultural shift that occurred between our childhood and the present. We now live in a rapid-fire, constant movement, perpetually entertained space. And I think that people have grown increasingly impatient because of that shift.

A few weeks ago, I was out early (about 6 am) getting in some miles before work and I had a man pull up next to me at an intersection. He said something like "I bet that is good exercise" and I agreed. He then ranted until the light changed about how when he was a kid he wasn't allowed to ride in the street because he was poor and the rich folks changed the laws. Now, because rich people like me ride expensive bikes, it is now legal for us to use the road. Uh...what? It seems like he assumes that cycling is somehow elitist. I don't think that he was among the impatient, but it seems like these two classes of people are the ones that I encounter most.

[Eden]

??????

OK.... I grew up in Pittsburgh. Can't say that my family was either rich or poor, pretty much in the middle. I rode my bike all over the place, yes on the roads. While I'll admit seeing other cyclists was rare, I was certainly allowed to (and you know I can't recall ever being harassed) ..... Sounds like you had a real wack-o on your hands....

[smilingcat]

This is horrible. It sounds like he was threatening you and your children. Definitely time to learn about the laws, talk with the police just for future reference on what to do. Remember that you are just asking on what you should do the next time. You are not filing a complaint, you are only there to ask what to do the next time.

If he is connected, maybe he will hear from his connection to lay off.

And another reason to get involved and get to know your local politicians and police.

Meanwhile, I think you gave sound advice to your children. Stay composed and stay to the facts. It goes a long way.

Hope your ugly neighbor moves away!!

[Susan126]

Hey Eden I was born and raised in Pittsburgh too. I have great memories of riding my bike all over my small town of Sharpsburg right on the Allegheny River. My friends and I owned our town! We cruised every where and never had any trouble with anyone. Of course I grew up in the 60s and it was a wonderful time back then. Walked to and from school or rode our bikes, only a handful of tv stations to watch KDKA, WTAE, WQED, and of course PBS. I was never in the house except to eat, sleep, and do homework! My friends and siblings and I played until curfew in the summer months and we had great adventures exploring camp Guyasuta just a mile from my house. Unknown to my parents my friends and I biked to Etna or Aspinwall on occasion!

It's always nice to run into a fellow Pittsburgher . . . So where are you from Eden?

[maggie's sister]

Eden - this guy was definitely a wack-o. I told him to have a nice day before carrying on.

Nice to see some ex-burghers on here. As a current resident, I am required to inform you that you are missing the renaissance.

[Eden]

It's always nice to run into a fellow Pittsburgher . . . So where are you from Eden?

I grew up in the city proper - in Carrick. After I got a real bike (after I finally was tall enough...) I rode all over the place. My favorite ride was out to Cheswick and back. Through Oakland, down by the zoo, then along the river out and back. I left to go to college and haven't lived there since. I know the city has changed a great deal since I lived there, but the renaissance had started before I left. I remember working mills when I was very little, by the time I left most of them were gone. The last time I went back to visit, you'd hardly know they'd ever been there... I probably wouldn't recognize too much these days.

Can't say I regret moving out here though. I love the west coast...

[buffybike]

Where children are concerned, i don't think people "hate bikes". I think they're more afraid of lawsuits that could result if a child were hurt and they were held responsible. As our society has become more litigious (sp?), people have become more paranoid. Just my opinion.

[buffybike]

In addition, i think that theres been a huge shift in terms of what is perceived to be "safe" for children. When i was a kid, my mom locked us outside until it was dinnertime. Now, people are afraid to let the kids walk down the street a few houses for fear that they'll be kidnapped by a molester. I dont necessaily think there are more people who would hurt children today than there were in the 70s, you just HEAR about it more often because of the Internet and 24 hour news which loves to focus on stuff like that. Now we're scared to let our kids go play like they're supposed to, and instead let them sit around and play on the computer all day sonthey'll be "safe". (stepping off soap box, now)