Look Ma, I'm a good example!

[MomOnBike]

I had a kind of interesting conversation at work today. A really nice co-worker came up and asked for suggestions for inexpensive commuting bikes.

Of course, I gave him all the usual advice about fit, quality, etc., and steered him in the direction of some of the better LBSs in that regard.

The neat thing is, I haven't been in the least evangelical about bike commuting (or anything else...), just have gone on my merry way and done my own thing. I'm a good example - I can't believe it.

[Tri Girl]

That's very cool!!! It's nice to know you've influenced someone in a positive way! I still get the whole "I can't believe you rode your bike that far" and "are you ok in the head" comments, but hopefully deep down someone will start to think it's possible and start riding themselves.

I'm so proud of you- way to be a good example!!!

[bruiser]

Way to go!

I *ahem* actively try to convert more people where I work . We have a horrendous parking problem, and boy, do people gripe! I remind them that I get the best parking in the center (guaranteed inside).

I've gotten a few people mildly interested...

Hey, now that I think about it, most have been women ! I helped one girl pick out a new bike, and I'm fixing up one of my older 3 speeds to give to another. Once the nice weather rolls around again I am going to start campaigning again

[tulip]

That's great!

I got a few folks to start bike commuting at my old job. I didn't evangelize, I just did it and they asked me about it. That's the best way, I think.

A lady on my commute stopped me, waved me down from her porch, and told me that because she had seen me ride by every day, she and her husband decided to get bikes and start riding them. That made me very happy.

[Flybye]

Way to go!!!

I ride to work on the occasions that I don't have to take a client somewhere. Commuting for me isn't very far - nothing is far away in the city I live in.

The funny thing is that I have had three "no shows" from clients who sat in the parking lot of the counseling center where I work waiting for my car to appear in the lot. I was inside the entire time, waiting for them. They didn't even bother getting out of their cars to check the office door to see if it was locked or not. bruiser, Your comment on inside parking made me smile. It has both advantages and disadvantages. No show=no pay!

[MomOnBike]

Of course, the proof of the pudding is if David actually gets a bike and rides it... But my weekend employer has a pretty aggressive employee health program, it just might happen.

And Flybye, I've had similar problems with people automatically assuming that car=person there. I practically had to sit on the front step (in January) to convince the UPS guy to ring the doorbell and deliver my new computer 'cause the weather was so bad that DH took the car that week. I considered standing in the front window nekkid, but decided not to - after all we live across the street from an elementary school.

[Zen]

A lady on my commute stopped me, waved me down from her porch, and told me that because she had seen me ride by every day, she and her husband decided to get bikes and start riding them. That made me very happy.

I bet there are many of us who are inspiration and motivators. We have no idea who's watching out the kitchen window when we ride by.
I mean that in a good way, not a Merv the Perv way.

I think I just made myself self-conscious.

[kfergos]

My coworkers (most of whom seem to commute over 50 miles each way) have unequivocally told me, "You're crazy and you wouldn't catch me DEAD riding my bike to work." Even people who live within spitting distance of work wouldn't think of riding a bike. Last May I launched a campaign for Bike to Work Day that failed miserably (it didn't help that it rained on the day of). It's a little depressing to be The Only Bike Commuter at my company, and to have the general attitude be so negative about bicycling. I'm glad there are people and companies where bicycling to work isn't seen as an early sign of insanity.

However, on a happier note... Last winter I rode almost every day, through snow, sleet, rain, and freezing temperatures. Sometimes I saw another bicyclist riding the opposite direction, and we'd wave at each other across the road. Then, months later, I was sitting at the train station, and a guy and his wife came and started asking me about the train. I had my bike with me, and it came out that this guy was the very bicyclist I'd waved at for months! Then he told me, "You're a hardy soul," which has stuck with me ever since.

[lph]

hey, kfergos, what a neat story! It often crosses my mind briefly, when I pass the same cyclists day after day - gee, wonder what they really look like... wonder if I'll ever talk to them at some point...hm, would I recognize them?... do they even know I'm female in here?

I love reading stories of people inspiring others to bike commute, way to go MomOnBike and the others!

[Geonz]

I came out from church one tiem last year and a man approached me and asked if that was my bike... and that he worked where I did and I was "his hero" 'cause the bike was out there in all kinds of stuff. And Father Tom told a visiting priest from Guatemala about how much I rode and he was compelled to bless it.
I do an "inservice" for faculty and staff each year on "blending bicycles into your lifestyle." Usually four or five people who are thinking about riding more come... and two or three of the other hard core souls who ride drop by and support me
IT's weird how fine the line is between eccentric and "heroic"...

[kfergos]

I forgot to mention that both of my parents have started riding to or from work after hearing me talk for probably hundreds of hours about how great commuting by bike is. At least somebody listens!

[Melalvai]

I was listening to some folks chat about allergy shots. They said you should wait until you are "cleared" to leave because there's a risk of anaphylactic reaction. I said, "I'm saving myself for being hit by a car," which they responded to as I expected, "You're well on your way." (The doctor speaking about allergic reaction is convinced I'm crazy in the head for all my cycling.)

This led to a conversation about the benefits of cycling, people were asking me questions, and I got to expound on how great it is to get 40 min/day exercise for a 10 min/day investment of my time (travel would take 30 min total by car).

I don't think I made any converts, but I believe what I said changed some motorists' attitudes towards cyclists on "their" roads, and gave them something to think about their own transportation. I might have planted a seed.

I don't preach unless encouraged. I view nearly anything as encouragement!

[shootingstar]

Last year, during bike month (in June) here in Vancouver, I sent out a mass email to all employees (it's only 140 people, excluding labourers who don't get work email access)...to let them know that I had free new local bike maps from the city.

I got over 20 employees wanting bike route maps. Now, we are out in the suburbs and over 98% of employees drive to work.

I got to meet several employees and found out that some did cycle in weekends. Of course I had considerable interest from ex-patriate employees who were unfamiliar with Vancouver area.