It's great that some people can cycle in all kinds of street wear.

But I don't, no matter what the distance except for certain walking shorts with zipper and waistband. For latter, I'm extremely picky since I have cycled 40-100 kms. in them. Though not often in such shorts regularily anymore.

To get anyone back into cycling again, I definitely would not be recommending that they wear jeans for their first few rides. No matter how short the distance. Usually newbies are complaining about their bum/crotch or knees/thighs after their first "revival" bike rides.