Quote Originally Posted by Geonz View Post
It's that idea that the car-centric lifestyle is righteous and good that is galling...
Where I live, oil and natural gas production is king. The local economy depends on it, and people tend to equate it with patriotism as well (domestic production = stronger, more independent nation). Cyclists are often viewed with deep suspicion, assumed to be anti-oil and a therefore a threat to the American way of life. Or at the very least, weird.

It probably sounds like I'm exaggerating. Certainly not everyone in town feels this way, but here's a sampling of the bumper stickers I see on the way to work, mostly on the back of really big pickups:
Earth First. We'll Drill The Other Planets Later
If You Believe in Climate Change, Ride a Polar Bear to Work
I ❤ Drilling (this one is everywhere)

Kind of hard to feel welcome on these streets.