When Did People Start Hating Bikes?

[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)