The Economy

[Zen]

I am single and will likely stay that way. No "DH" to augment my income.
I live off of my disability retirement and the small amount I make from a part time job.
I have a house that is badly in need of repair and I'm hoping to sell it and move in to town.
I have to do all my errands on one or two days, there is no going in to town for one thing only. I can't afford to drive to the gym just to go to the gym. I haven't been to the gym in ages.
Food and fuel prices are rising faster than my salary ever will. This is especially hard for people who live in rural areas.

The sampling of your poll is somewhat skewed. Cycling can be an expensive sport.
The answers you would get from the general populace are far different than those you'll get here.

[Blueberry]

The sampling of your poll is somewhat skewed. Cycling can be an expensive sport.
The answers you would get from the general populace are far different than those you'll get here.

I definitely agree with this. Folks who post at a minimum either live close enough to public internet (e.g. a library) or have a computer/internet connection at home. That, right there, skews the poll. Then you add in cycling as an expensive sport, and even more skew. I have lots of relatives who are hurting. The scary thing is that there isn't more out there about the people who are really hurting. I know they're out there. However, even in this group, most still think the economy is in bad shape and have made major changes (I know we have). That should tell us something...

CA

[RolliePollie]

Like Zen, I'm single and it's just my income, which is nothing to brag about. What scares me is that I've already been living a very frugal life and I am not exaggerating when I say there isn't much else to cut back on. I don't have cable TV, my cell phone is a pre-paid that I never use, and I have dial-up internet. I don't smoke, I don't drink (much), I don't have a Starbucks habit, I rarely go out to dinner, and I shop at Grocery Outlet, which is the coolest grocery store ever (if you have one in your town, check it out!). I don't have air conditioning, last winter I kept my thermostat at 61 degrees, and I wash my clothes in cold and hang them to dry. I want to buy a new bike, but I guess I better get my priorities straight and make sure I can afford to heat my house next winter! I'm even a frugal cyclist. My Trek 1000 WSD (the cheapest Trek road bike) has 4,000 miles on it and I still have the original chain. And I've got 2,000 miles on my current tires. I got a $50 REI gift card for opening one of their credit cards and I'm going to use that to buy tires. Oh, and I always pay off my credit cards every month!

The main change I've made is doing errands after work when I'm already in town and pretty much not driving anywhere else if I can help it. I'm trying desperately to make it on $50 a week in gas, but I'm failing. I drive a Jeep Liberty and it gets horrible mileage. But I own it outright and don't have a car payment, so after running the numbers, it makes the most sense to just keep it. Plus I live in the mountains where it snows and I need 4 wheel drive. I would commute on my bike, but it's just not realistic. It's too far, too hilly, too dangerous, and takes too long. I live in a very rural area so public transportation is not an option either.

I also agree that this poll is probably skewed. I work for County government and my office is in the welfare building. Every morning, there is a line outside the door...and each week, it gets longer and longer. They open the doors at 8 am and my coworkers tell me people start lining up before 7:00. I've heard caseworkers talking about people who were in tears because they were so embarassed to be asking for assistance. I think a lot of folks out there are getting very desperate.

[Trek420]

I The sampling of your poll is somewhat skewed. Cycling can be an expensive sport.
The answers you would get from the general populace are far different than those you'll get here.

*1. I've felt with few exceptions this is a DINK sport (double income, not a lot of kids) and a middle class or higher sport to boot. And I fear as a group (the sport) we don't deal with class issues well.

Most of us here are fairly educated and may have options and access to information others don't. Obviously all here have access to internet. which can save a lot.

I mean look at us here. A quick glance at this board and we're debating which Ti frame to get, which week long training camp to go to, this supplement or that one ... I just got off work where I've been talking to folks who debate whether to get gas for their work, food or medicine.

Yes we all have hard choices to make but most here have it fairly good.

If you think you're hurting consider how this is for others with lower income and or fewer options.

One thing I feel strongly about and not to politicize this thread is we have an opportunity which as a country we'd be fools to miss. I forget the article I read, think it was Will Durst, a comedian I like who talked about this well.

We have the chance to both help people and solve the climate crisis. If we don't take this chance we're fools and deserve whatever flood happens. Do I mean public works programs like the WPA that train people and energy retrofit the homes of those who can least afford to do that themselves? Maybe.

Do I mean entrepreneurs and small businesses take it up, make goo-gobs of money and create green jobs? Maybe.

Do I mean that we donate to charities and non-profits that provide bikes for those who can least afford them? Like here's one:

www.rubarbike.org

Maybe

Do we translate all this info, bike safety tips and tricks to other languages and do outreach to other communities including invisible cyclists? Maybe.

Do I mean we have coalition with the disabled public who need safe transit options and public transportation as much or more than we do to create a huge movement that helps us both? Anyone here can be disabled in a heart beat so we should be working together. Maybe.

[KnottedYet]

Do I mean that we donate to charities and non-profits that provide bikes for those who can least afford them? Like here's one:

www.rubarbike.org

Maybe

And BikeWorks in Seattle: www.bikeworks.org

[jesvetmed]

Well said Trek and Knott!!!!!!

This is a time when giving to others gets harder, and it's the most important time to remember it. Whatever the cause may be.

I TOTALLY agree with your points about time for change! Whatever that means to you, PLEASE make it know by VOTING!!! There won't be another chance like this. Things can and will get much worse if something isn't changed drastically.

Off my soap box!
Happy weekend everyone!

[Melalvai]

The sampling of your poll is somewhat skewed. Cycling can be an expensive sport.

It might be skewed on both ends. Cycling is an expensive sport but an extremely cheap transportation. So people who cycle are either rich, poor and/or eccentric.

Though probably on the net it leans toward expensive sport over cheap transportation, with strong representation by eccentric.