bicycle culture

[BeeLady]

I'm doing more and more errands on my bike. The more fit I am becoming the easier it is to ride my bike even if I have to take a longer route to avoid the heaviest traffic.

A lot of little details had to come together to make the transition easier: riding skort/skirts and riding shoes with recessed cleats so I can wear comfortable for-cycling clothes to ride in and still feel comfortable in the store/bank/library; panniers so I can just have my groceries bagged straight into them; good lights for nite riding and a bracket to hold me cable lock so its not a hassle getting to it.

Recently added a VERY lightweight German-made mirror that really works well.

I want to help change the culture where I am -- thanks for the links and we can all do our bit. Part of it for me is also having biking appear "normal" and do-able -- I guess the word I'm searching for is actually "conservative" rather than bicyle culture appearing like some left-wing liberal Al Gore plot (I'm in a very blue state, folks!).

[Trek420]

BeeLady "I want to help change the culture where I am -- thanks for the links and we can all do our bit. Part of it for me is also having biking appear "normal" and do-able -- I guess the word I'm searching for is actually "conservative" rather than bicyle culture appearing like some left-wing liberal Al Gore plot (I'm in a very blue state, folks!)."

Disclosure: I'm unapologeticly progressive, radical to most, in a Blue State and a Dike on a Byke to boot but I know what you mean. Bike culture here must look different from most other countries and probably must look different to succeed.

I'm not a sociologist, maybe my sis who's on the board and is one will weigh in on this. I feel the predominant car culture seems tied up with not just 'the freedom of the open road" but also with how we feel about strength, atheticism, power and ultimately masculinity.

Isn't it silly when a truck pulls up along side you and revs it's engine?

But when they puposefully spew smoke, noise and buzz you as they pass?

Or yell at you and or throw things?

I've been called a "f*ggot" by drivers while riding more than any other situation place and time in my life. In case you're wondering I'm not obvious from any viewpoint still or moving much less from a bike. But in this Bluest Spot in the Bluest of Blue States (uh, moron drivers, get the gender right at least )

When I can discern what they yell....thats it!

Our TE guys endure this and more because a man is simply not a man in lycra, right?

We can't be athletes, athletes do one of 3 (and only three) sports which have balls in them. Athlete jerseys have numbers on them. We're not athletes.

It's not transportation, they see it as lack of transportaion. Not a positive thing being "car free" or strong and transporting ourselves by our own muscles, they see it as "we are car'less"

It's about power, who has it, who doesn't I think. Well.....off to watch football.

And as if to prove my point oh look, there's the Dodge Caliper advert. ;-)

[BeeLady]

Trek - I get it!

I think the REAL culture is big money behind the oil biz and the road contracts. Social changes seem like they're easier when a lot of rich folks don't have their billions on the line.

I'm a sweet lil ol' housewife, on the boards for charities (or was til I saw how meaningless much of that was) and generally a reformed hippie who married well and was propelled into the conservative thing.

My liberal/radical side is again showing itself now that my son is away at school and I no longer have to role model "fitting in."

Having been on both sides (so I like to think), making cycling a smoother fit with the Blue State way of thinking will help gain cycling more acceptance more quickly. Cycling is morally superior to air pollution, green house gases, depence on foreign oil, etc. and any thinking person has to see that. The easier we make it for people to change, the better.

[Trek420]

Many don't give a hoot about global warming, could care less about energy independence or *any* issue but they ask me "you're 50!! I don't believe it "

"It's the bike (that and I chose good parents, genetics)" I say.

People will do stuff that makes them look/feel better.

Heh, whatever works.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

There are some good chapters in the book The Art of Urban Cycling which discuss how America came to be a nation of automobile worshippers, and how the cities, housing developments, and roads evolved over the decades to be purposely designed in such a way as to actively discourage any transportaion method other than cars and trucks. It was no accident. There was Big Corporate Money involved in making this design plan become a reality. It also discusses why people in cars feel more "anonymous" and feel they can be way more aggressive than people face to face. They are almost completely insulated and feel devoid of accountability for their actions.

There are bigots, racists, chauvenists, aggressive motorists, and just plain stupid people everywhere. Nothing will ever completely change that fact. The more bikers of all kinds speak out, stand up for themselves and each other, organize, and demand their rights as citizens, the more Stupid People will realize that bullying will not make the people they dislike "go away" and in fact may get them into serious trouble.

[mimitabby]

All i know is that in most cities, they can only widen the roads so much and the number (and size of) cars keeps growing. this means worse traffic, and THAT means, more of us are going to just realize that it's actually easier to get from point A to point B on a bicycle.

Since the pResident of the USA is a bicyclist, you'd THINK that would help our cause, he even rode with Lance!! but unfortunately, that does not translate down to us on the streets competing with more and more cars, bigger and bigger cars, and worse and worse streets.

[Trek420]

mimitabby ...."the number (and size of) cars keeps growing...."

and cars are bigger because people are bigger because we are sedentary and so on it goes ...

"Since the pResident of the USA is a bicycling, you'd THINK that would help our cause, he even rode with Lance!! but unfortunately, that does not translate down to us on the streets competing with more and more cars, bigger and bigger cars, and worse and worse streets."

I'm noooooo fan of the pResident one thing that he did, well two things:

the donotcall list is a good idea and...

he put some real teeth and money into ICETEA (is that the acronymn?) and targeted it to transportation and urban use.

I'm glad he rides! If you're a fan of the President you're glad he rides, he is one of the healthiest Presidents ever....if you're not then hey, the more he rides the less work he gets done.

Tailwinds, Pres, ride like the wind, ride long, ride hard, it's all good.

Sometimes it's a statement; pedal power vs. oil power, building community vs. sprawl, nice food vs. junk, get happily l@id on a regular basis vs....oops wrong bulletin board sorry, how'd that get there.

Mostly while I feel strongly about those things I ride just to ..... uhm ride.

It's fun, makes me feel good, helps me to deal with my sucky job just to see my bike shoes below my desk.

But most of us here would ride anyway. With few bike lanes we seek them out. find the routes and share them with others and advocate to improve the routes, with few bikes that fit women we find the ones that do, we figure out how to ride to work and still look fabulous with helmet hair.

There's lots of folks who would like to ride in theory but can't/won't deal with the obstacles.

Make it easier for them and we'll see a difference.

[Kitsune06]

I dunno, Trek, with more and more big business leaning on vehicles that run on the blood of dead iraqis, more warmongering and ultimately still more oil consumption, this entire administration is subtly nudging more and more people to become one with Bike Culture.

MWBR... the pendulum is still swinging...

[mimitabby]

this entire administration is subtly nudging more and more people to become one with Bike Culture.

MWBR... the pendulum is still swinging...

one would hope~!

yes, i wish the pResident and all of his men would all get on bikes and go into the hills and not come back.
GREAT idea!

[cherinyc]

All i know is that in most cities, they can only widen the roads so much and the number (and size of) cars keeps growing. this means worse traffic, and THAT means, more of us are going to just realize that it's actually easier to get from point A to point B on a bicycle.

Reading this thread makes me very sad - mostly b/c of the above statement. The roads are getting worse, the cars are bigger, and contrary to what you said mimi - it's making it MORE difficult to travel on my bike. Actually the correct word would be dangerous.

I too have my LBS shop and a grocery store under 5 miles from my house, however, in order to get there I have to travel on a very high speed type highway (3 lanes accross - each side) go through a 4 way intersection as well as a famous NJ jug handle. AND - in an area where there is always lots of traffic. I've really come close to trying it - on the hopes that all the crazy drivers will be civilized - and not be on their cell phones, or eating a sandwich, etc....but I really feel like it's gambling with my safety. (and I'm a pretty big risk taker, trust me)

People here will turn a road's shoulder into a full out lane, if it means getting in front of 2 more cars (and they'll do it going 60 mph).
Gosh - I can't wait to leave NJ.

[mimitabby]

Reading this thread makes me very sad - mostly b/c of the above statement. The roads are getting worse, the cars are bigger, and contrary to what you said mimi - it's making it MORE difficult to travel on my bike. Actually the correct word would be dangerous.

I too have my LBS shop and a grocery store under 5 miles from my house, however, in order to get there I have to travel on a very high speed type highway (3 lanes accross - each side) go through a 4 way intersection as well as a famous NJ jug handle. AND - in an area where there is always lots of traffic. I've really come close to trying it - on the hopes that all the crazy drivers will be civilized - and not be on their cell phones, or eating a sandwich, etc....but I really feel like it's gambling with my safety. (and I'm a pretty big risk taker, trust me)

People here will turn a road's shoulder into a full out lane, if it means getting in front of 2 more cars (and they'll do it going 60 mph).
Gosh - I can't wait to leave NJ.

Well, it's not bad enough yet there Cheri. when the cars are in gridlock, you will discover they are very easy to get around!

aren't there any lights that you can cross against? I do remember crossing highways in NJ IN A CAR and it was already quite an adventure in 1970!

[xeney]

One of the reasons that my husband and I will never have any money is that we make living in a cycling/walking friendly area a priority. Actually, it's not the reason we will never have any money; it's just the reason that we live in an old house that isn't really big enough for us. But neither of us is willing to commute by car, which limits his job options and pretty much keeps him in the public sector instead of out there making a kajillion dollars and buying me $5,000 bikes. My office is probably going to move in the next four years, and that means I will be looking for a new job or going into private practice. I am just not willing, as long as I have any choice at all, to get in a car and drive every day.

I get a lot of "you guys are so lucky!" from coworkers and relatives, but that irritates me a little. We bought our house when prices were really cheap in this area, but the neighborhood was also a little crappy. We were just very committed to living here. Many of my coworkers used to live in this area, but as they made more money and started families, they moved to the nicer suburbs, and now they spend two hours every day in their cars. Choices.

When I was a kid my parents chose to move to the country, to an area where it was seven miles to the grocery store (but my mother usually drove fifty miles to buy her groceries at the Air Force commissary instead, because it was cheaper) and forty miles to my dad's job. The reason I never rode a bike as a kid is that we weren't allowed to ride on the roads because of all the drunk farm kids and the huge semis on our roads. If my parents couldn't drive us somewhere, we were stuck at home.

When I grew up and moved to the city (first Los Angeles, then Davis and eventually to Sacramento), I learned very quickly what I wanted out of my adult life: I wanted to be able to walk to the grocery store and to restaurants and theaters, and most of all to my job. I have commuted on foot or by bike since 1992 and I don't intend for that to change. When we were buying a house, we didn't look at a single house that was not walking or biking distance to my job and to the area where my husband is likely to work for most of his career.

We occasionally talk about moving out of state, but this is always the priority: we have to be able to do almost everything we need to do by walking or by biking. Period. Life is too short to spend it stuck in traffic.

[mimitabby]

Xeney,
great post. Yes, it is all about choices. I too, live in a small dumpy house in a working class neighborhood so that I can choose to spend my money AND TIME on things more important.
I have a 4 mile commute and have had that commute for almost 30 years now!

[cherinyc]

When I grew up and moved to the city (first Los Angeles, then Davis and eventually to Sacramento), I learned very quickly what I wanted out of my adult life: I wanted to be able to walk to the grocery store and to restaurants and theaters...

Xeney - I think you've helped me a great deal with what you've said above. I am getting ready for a move to Denver, CO - having lived on the East Coast my whole life. And when I tell people I am moving there, the first question I hear is "oh? are you moving for work?"
NO - I am not - I am moving for life. This is the first time I am moving somewhere - that I am NOT going for financial wealth, but for quality of life. To quote you above "I learned very quickly what I wanted out of my adult life". Well maybe not so quickly, but I have learned that I don't want to be in an area that is not health/life friendly. Nor do I hope to have a child someday, and raise them in an area that they can't be outside and active.
To each his own right? But I applaud you, and mimi, and the others - who have put material things (higher wages, bigger houses, etc) second to just being able to feel healthy and alive.
I am feeling very overwhelmed and emotional (slightly teary) about all this right now...that tells me I've just had a "EUREKA" moment.

[KnottedYet]

I just want to ride my bike whenever and however I want, eat nice food, breathe clean air, say "hi" to people I encounter, and get happily l@id on a regular basis.

My bike can get me most of that, but for all of that I need other folks to participate.

Bike culture has a place with car culture, and it all comes under the Golden Rule. Unfortunately, we live in a culture of empire (with all that entails) not a culture of Golden Rule.

I've come to the somewhat disheartening conclusion that the best i can do is follow the old cliche and "be the change you want to see in the world."

I get an inordinate amount of pleasure from having some pedestrian smile and wave when I holler out "Good morning!" on my commute to work. Or having a driver do the same thing when I wave and shout "Thank you" to the car who gave me the right-of-way (even though I legally had it anyway). Just change-mongering my way through my day.