More deficient?: cycling lifestyle

[shootingstar]

A work colleague has suggested in several ways to me that:
*he hates cyclists (He said this clearly to me. I just smiled at him: I know.)
*feels I lead a more deficient life because:
a) I don't our local road system and things general, because I don't use it extensively. Cyclists more by the river or in mini valley area where there are bike routes

b) I can't get around fast/efficiently.


For a), I feel I'm seeing the better part of the city where there is Nature vs. horrible urban sprawl and lack of lots of green trees/vegetation. Generally by car, it's not pretty. More drab, abit dry. That' why locals escape to the Rocky Mtns. 100+ km north. There aren't many scenic areas in the city.

b) For him, it was to just get around quickly (He and his GF don't have any children.) Actually for him, it was to get to and from his favourite squash club.. He does go to the mountains several times per month to do kite-surfing, hiking, skiing --all good.

If I really need to get around efficiently in a pinch, we take a taxi...that amounts to less than 2-3 times annually. I use the transit rail --once a month or less. I chose to live within 2 km. of services and shops that I need. What more do I need?

So my life is tooling around in the more scenic, quieter areas in a city of 1 million. Is that so horrible? I don't care to know other parts --most of it is urban residential sprawl and large shopping malls with chain stores.


He works 10 ft. away from me daily. So we get along but I know my lifestyle puzzles him. He's lived his whole life in the prairies so far and can't stand higher density living.