why people think that bike riders are homeless

[patel_shital]

this is funny. last night i was going home from work. on half way. i was standing at red signal, and there was a girl who was asking for donation for some "Needy Family". she passed all car ahead of me and behind me. but didn't come to me.

best part was, she was looking at me like i am really home less and as if i will take her money...

i don't understand why people think all bike riders are poor and home less. ?

[Trek420]

Welcome to TE Good question.

Reminds me of this discussion we had

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4996

But again, good question and interesting issue.

Surf on over to the Getting to Know You thread when you get a chance and Welcome to TE

[CyclaSutra]

Coupla years ago I was camping out north of town and had a plastic grocery bag full o hamburger buns (can't get squished!) swinging off the back of my messenger bag. Suddenly I saw a really cool fleece blanket on the side of the road, so I stopped to investigate. Bright yellow with red cherries and somebody's grandma had obviously knotted each little tie just so. I rolled it up, stuffed it between my bag and body and rolled on to the campground. I know I looked homeless THAT day. Italian leather bike shoes and all.

[Geonz]

I had a student wondering if my reflective band (which I sometimes don't bother to remove so I know where it is at the end of the day) was a house-arrest-surveillance device. (She asked somebody else.)

[bikerHen]

I had a student wondering if my reflective band (which I sometimes don't bother to remove so I know where it is at the end of the day) was a house-arrest-surveillance device. (She asked somebody else.)

That's what I tell people my Road ID ankle band is. It's always fun to see the look on their faces. bikerHen

[OakLeaf]

More than once I've had my Pilates mat strapped to the rack on the way to or from the gym, and people have asked me if I was going camping

[KnottedYet]

That's what I tell people my Road ID ankle band is. It's always fun to see the look on their faces. bikerHen

I do the same thing!

[mupedalpusher]

Last summer our neighbor (nice, but nosey) asked me if my husband was still working in Jeff City (he commutes 30 miles south of Columbia). I told him yes and he then proceeded to tell me that one of the other neighbors had told him that I was having to ride my bike to town each day because my hubby had lost his job! I nearly fell over laughing at his assumption that I ride because I can't afford gas. He then asked me why do I ride 9 miles to work, followed by the "how dangerous it is lecture". OMG...some people just don't get it. The neighbor that started the rumor isn't quite 100%, we've noticed he seems to be having some memory issues, but I still find it very funny. We moved to the edge of town so we could have 5 acres and a little more privacy, but 6/10 homes in our subdivision are retired and home all day so they spend their time watching us do all of our bizarre activities like biking and running. Don't get me wrong, they are all nice folks and it makes for a quiet neighborhood but I do get tired of being watched. I am planning my "destitute commute" again tomorrow, hope they are all watching.

[SouthernBelle]

My subdivision seems to be evenly divided between younger couples with small children and retirees. I am a source of fascination for the little kids and the older folks are, I guess, dumbfounded.

[obie]

That's what I tell people my Road ID ankle band is. It's always fun to see the look on their faces. bikerHen

That is the greatest idea ever!

[GLC1968]

We moved to the edge of town so we could have 5 acres and a little more privacy, but 6/10 homes in our subdivision are retired and home all day so they spend their time watching us do all of our bizarre activities like biking and running.

We just put in a offer on a home that is about 16 - 17 miles from our places of work (we work fairly close to each other) so that we could also get about 5 acres. Our realtor knew we wanted to be able to bike to work, so she kept sending us info on homes that were much closer to our offices but that weren't really what we wanted. When we asked to see this place again, she was like "but you can't bike to work from there!". Yes we can. In fact, after having only a 1.5 mile commute for the past few weeks, I'm looking forward to having a longer one! (assuming our offer gets accepted)

It's just such an incomprehensible thing to so many people. I was trying to help a friend come up with ways to save gas and when I suggested biking to work, she flipped. "But we live in the country!". Yeah, she lives less than 10 miles from where she works.

[Melalvai]

We just put in a offer on a home that is about 16 - 17 miles from our places of work (we work fairly close to each other) so that we could also get about 5 acres. Our realtor knew we wanted to be able to bike to work, so she kept sending us info on homes that were much closer to our offices but that weren't really what we wanted. When we asked to see this place again, she was like "but you can't bike to work from there!". Yes we can. In fact, after having only a 1.5 mile commute for the past few weeks, I'm looking forward to having a longer one! (assuming our offer gets accepted)

It's just such an incomprehensible thing to so many people. I was trying to help a friend come up with ways to save gas and when I suggested biking to work, she flipped. "But we live in the country!". Yeah, she lives less than 10 miles from where she works.

Depending on wind, weight of bike, fitness, that's a 1 to 1.5 hr commute. How many people think nothing of making that long a commute in a car!

[Tri Girl]

That's funny about what your realtor said. You can't ride THAT far, you silly woman.

And the Road ID ankle bracelet one. I'm going to have to remember that next time. Except I can't really say that to people at work, or I might get into trouble (I teach elementary school- they wouldn't find that funny).

And most people would think nothing of an hour or so commute. For me (and you ladies, too), I'd much rather be on my bike for 2-4 hours a day, than spend half that time sitting in my stupid car getting angry at the gridlock and frustrated at all the stupid highway drivers. I can't wait for the weather to be in permanent spring mode so I can get out there again!

[abvnx]

a few days ago my mother told me- "that given the price of gas it almost makes more sense to bike to work." since she works only a few blocks from i suggested that it was far more reasonable to bike than drive. she said that she fell off her bike once as a kid and would need a big tricycle.

then again she thought my husband was nuts for biking the 1/2 mile to his old office.

[OakLeaf]

she fell off her bike once as a kid and would need a big tricycle.

Plenty of high-end adult trikes available...

actually I've looked at them myself as commuter vehicles, as it seems they have more easily available cargo capacity than two-wheelers.