It's great to commuting again by bike. Yet I didn't miss the anger, frustration, and contempt that I lives on the faces of many who pass me buy. I have heard it all in years passed and I can see it again. "Get that f#@$ thing off the road! That belongs on the pavement!" The car centric culture of the US is clearly going to be difficult one to change. Don't get me wrong, I have been enjoying cars since my Matchbox and Hot Wheels days. I went to the car show in Philly this year and loved seeing all the new rides! Yet we all know the benefits of cycling as exercise, as fun, as practical transportation and as an alternative to using our car. So how do we tell the rest of the US and the rest of the world?
It's great to commuting again by bike. Yet I didn't miss the anger, frustration, and contempt that I lives on the faces of many who pass me buy. I have heard it all in years passed and I can see it again. "Get that f#@$ thing off the road! That belongs on the pavement!" The car centric culture of the US is clearly going to be difficult one to change. Don't get me wrong, I have been enjoying cars since my Matchbox and Hot Wheels days. I went to the car show in Philly this year and loved seeing all the new rides! Yet we all know the benefits of cycling as exercise, as fun, as practical transportation and as an alternative to using our car. So how do we tell the rest of the US and the rest of the world?
Jim
I have a bicycle engine kit, and I just ordered a bicycle specifically to put it on. So (unless you can hold 30 mph) I will get to curse at all of you. ~
stratrider came up with this when s/he headbutted the keyboard a moment ago in alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent:
Quoted message said:
It's great to commuting again by bike. Yet I didn't miss the anger, frustration, and contempt that I lives on the faces of many who pass me buy. I have heard it all in years passed and I can see it again. "Get that f#@$ thing off the road! That belongs on the pavement!" The car centric culture of the US is clearly going to be difficult one to change. Don't get me wrong, I have been enjoying cars since my Matchbox and Hot Wheels days. I went to the car show in Philly this year and loved seeing all the new rides! Yet we all know the benefits of cycling as exercise, as fun, as practical transportation and as an alternative to using our car. So how do we tell the rest of the US and the rest of the world?
Jim
Hi Jim, Jim here. FTW, we're not related. 😉 Thing is, I've found that drivers in the UK get pissy about people who ride on boring looking diamond frames, you know the pseudo-ATB, tourers, that sort of bike - or the racer jocks who've taken it upon themselves to become mobile chicanes. Then there's me on my semi (more a chopper than a 'bent) with chrome all over the place, faux tailpipes, death bar, electric assist motor, and sound system. Turns heads wherever they hear me coming and it brings a smile to the faces of those poor [censored] stuck in perpetual gridlock as I fly past them at the speed of thought. -- If you can read this - The [censored] fell off!
stratrider wrote: :: It's great to commuting again by bike. Yet I didn't miss the anger, :: frustration, and contempt that I lives on the faces of many who pass :: me buy. I have heard it all in years passed and I can see it again. :: "Get that f#@$ thing off the road! That belongs on the pavement!" :: The car centric culture of the US is clearly going to be difficult :: one to change. Don't get me wrong, I have been enjoying cars since :: my Matchbox and Hot Wheels days. I went to the car show in Philly :: this year and loved seeing all the new rides! Yet we all know the :: benefits of cycling as exercise, as fun, as practical transportation :: and as an alternative to using our car. So how do we tell the rest :: of the US and the rest of the world? :: :: Jim
One person at at time....I let people I meet know I'm a cyclist and ask them to join me. Then, I always hear them saying: "Hell, no. I afraid because of the very contempt that I have for cyclists I see them on the road." Then, of course, I begin the education process. The whole nine yards. Typically, I get reports back that they have softened their position when the encounter people riding bikes.
