tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post7015936830958581812..comments2024-02-20T00:55:18.782-08:00Comments on Change Your Life. Ride A Bike!: Are We Cultured?Adrienne Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16658593098911314756noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-55261261359155121032012-08-18T01:43:09.658-07:002012-08-18T01:43:09.658-07:00Great post, thoughtful. Cycling is making a comeba...Great post, thoughtful. Cycling is making a comeback but it's not like the seventies-style bike culture you describe. Helmets and special bikeways are seen as a prerequisite. I think there's a tinge of panic to that. Or even morality, because people think that bikes simply don't belong on the road, as if the road really were a high-speed rail line or a landing strip at the airport.<br /><br />Sometimes I wonder why we can't just lower speed limits, remove some traffic lights and maybe put in some speedbumps. Raise the age limit for drivers' licenses. Relax the traffic and just get on with cycling.<br /><br />I'm not against bike lanes or anything, I just think the separation mantra has a tinge of panic to it. It's as if people won't think of cycling unless you put in a big lane or sidepath that says CYCLE LANE in big letters. That's a shame.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-10938710612796802542011-08-22T05:08:14.865-07:002011-08-22T05:08:14.865-07:00Bill E: Well said! I know exactly what you mean: I...Bill E: Well said! I know exactly what you mean: It's good to see bikes being used by people from all over. This morning, on my cycle in, I saw: An old guy cycling along the canal tow-path, a child (+ mum) on their way to school, a couple of whizzing lycra people, several people like me heading into work and three people cycling together, with bikes laden with rucksacks and tents, off to the hills.<br /><br />Edinburgh's "bike cultures" are booming, and it's only going to get better: Last summer's rise in cyclists didn't dwindle so much during the winter, and this spring it grew even further.<br /><br />Thanks for the blog and the thoughts!<br /><br />Happy cycling :)<br /><br />Mike.Mike Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-91979978147861760622011-08-18T12:22:34.479-07:002011-08-18T12:22:34.479-07:00BILL E - I'm with you man. I've been ridi...BILL E - I'm with you man. I've been riding bikes since I was a few years old, and I've been through every derivation of "cyclist" since then. I just love bikes. I ride to work in my street clothes, on the road in lycra, and strap them to my car to hit the trails on the weekend. I go out for hours with a picnic and a camera. I just ride as much as possible - not because I'm trying to be a part of any certain niche within the "cycling community", but because I like to ride bikes. I need a few more :)michaelnielnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-27973512434326678382011-08-18T10:51:47.995-07:002011-08-18T10:51:47.995-07:00It's iffy to analyze any culture from within, ...It's iffy to analyze any culture from within, but man this is irresistable. <br />My bicycle culture is that I get as excited seeing a 5% bodyfat dude on a 16 lb carbon fiber rocket, as I do seeing a middle aged guy in a tank top on a mtn bike dodering around the city, as I do seeing a nicely dressed woman getting around on a comfort bike, as I do seeing a grubby messenger on a fixie coming into my office building. I get excited when my kids putter endlessly looping up and down the driveway, and that I have enough random bikes around the house that when their friends come over, there's always something they can grab and join in. I get excited about salvaged trash night bikes that get wired and taped together and put on the road. I get excited when I see my neighbor lady heading out with the bike on the car to hit the bike trail, when I see a Latino dude heading to work on a bike, and when I see a guy delivering Chinese food downtown. When several of these folks occasionally intersect and ride together, and check out each others rides, and the lycra guy slows down a little to ride with the comfort bike lady, who pushes it a little faster than usual, mmm, mm. And when we all stop at a light and chat for a moment with an old black man who thinks that he might have to get himself a bike, that's my bike culture.Bill Enoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-9322856114999805712011-08-18T10:11:42.223-07:002011-08-18T10:11:42.223-07:00Marge- we kicked a Governor out of office in Calif...Marge- we kicked a Governor out of office in California for messing with car fees. That's how we got Arnold! When I tell people I do not drive they think it means I can't. Not many people are able to independently envision a life where they are not dominated by cars (which sounds an awful lot like an abusive relationship to me).<br /><br />SRAB- They love to go after the fear factor with kids in the media! That is certainly part of an anti-bicycle culture which is just a sub-set of current car/dependence culture. Being in SF, where it is not abnormal to not own a car because of out transit system and small size, we don't have quite the level of anti-bicycle crap to deal with, but I sure have seen it in places like Arizona and it is ugly!Adrienne Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16658593098911314756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-12513047881948676692011-08-17T16:12:26.218-07:002011-08-17T16:12:26.218-07:00Whenever I find myself referring to "bike cul...Whenever I find myself referring to "bike culture" in my blog I quickly delete it. I don't know that I want to be part of any special culture. I like the idea of being about to get on my bike to go where I want to go, wearing my regular clothes without anyone blinking an eye. It would be great if the majority of drivers anticipated that bicyclists would also be on the road and attend to everyone's safety. The Arizona Republic just published a back-to-school article about biking to school that I found particularly annoying. The writer seemed to perseverate on the dangers of biking and putting to owness on cyclist to be alert for "distracted drivers"! I'm not sure how defining bike culture does anything to lessen the hazards posed by drivers who are texting, putting on makeup, reading the newspaper, yelling at rowdy children or just speeding/driving recklessly. I think if I had to be a part of any culture it would be within a larger culture rooted in cooperation and respect for others. My brief bike experience in Portland actually seemed pretty nice. As it is, I live in Arizona . . . . (heavy sigh)She Rides a Bikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10269615938898501712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-31918465268625557122011-08-17T12:51:13.994-07:002011-08-17T12:51:13.994-07:00King County just raised the car tabs $20.00 to per...King County just raised the car tabs $20.00 to perserve transit, in Seattle, and the way people re-acted you would have thought someone murdered their dog. For whatever bizarre reason, a lot of people assume that if you are on a bicycle, you don't own a car. Well I have a car,( so my tabs went up $20, also) I just choose not to use it. btw I'm in my 50's and commute by bicycle to work and just about everywhere else.Margehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05888789928109332374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-60076670994010670782011-08-17T12:28:39.166-07:002011-08-17T12:28:39.166-07:00Dave- I do not like to hear this! Do you think th...Dave- I do not like to hear this! Do you think that some of it is about the growing pains of any movement that hasn't learned how to temper it's reactions yet?<br /><br /> I think San Francisco benefitted in one very specific way from the injunction that prevented us from improving the infrastructure for bicycling here. Because all of us were forcibly kept out, there seems to be a very concerted effort to now bring everyone in. Will it stay this way? Hopefully! There is still a great deal of chatter in the "bikes don't pay their way, wear a helmet, stupid bunch of hipsters" community, and with the increase of younger riders who have never learned how to drive we get a lot of "cars suck and there is nothing good about them" junk. So far, in SF, we seem to be avoiding the worst of it.Adrienne Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16658593098911314756noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-11023167437890303692011-08-17T09:41:09.653-07:002011-08-17T09:41:09.653-07:00er... exclusive, not inclusive - sorry, rough day ...er... exclusive, not inclusive - sorry, rough day for language :)Davehttp://portlandize.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-26849274599332594132011-08-17T09:40:12.310-07:002011-08-17T09:40:12.310-07:00I should clarify that the comments about the "...I should clarify that the comments about the "bike community" don't, of course, refer to everyone who is interested in bikes, but just the set who consider themselves "part of the posse" in a sense. There is a very inclusive set of kind of hard-core folks who want to make sure things turn out a certain way. Unfortunately, they talk loudly.Davehttp://portlandize.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-65517658284638023222011-08-17T08:20:23.188-07:002011-08-17T08:20:23.188-07:00Despite Portland being held up as the bicycle capi...Despite Portland being held up as the bicycle capital of the United States, bicycles are a hugely polarizing issue here. Just mention how bicyclists don't pay for roads, and you practically have online riots on the news sites, with people expressing how much they hope they have a chance to run over someone.<br /><br />We're still blaming people for not protecting themselves enough, and frankly, that might be getting worse.<br /><br />I hear people describe both Portland and Amsterdam as traffic anarchy - the difference is, in Amsterdam nobody follows the rules, they just make their way by watching out for everyone else. In Portland, nobody follows the rules or pays attention to anyone else.<br /><br />The so-called "bike community" spends a lot of time vilifying anyone who doesn't fit into it, fighting against road improvements, and killing a lot of the political momentum that would lead to improved conditions, along with politicians who love talking about bikes, and hate actually doing anything for them.<br /><br />The reality on most of our streets in the central city is that it's safe and easy to ride a bike, and a lot of people are doing it in normal clothes, on normal bikes, etc. But if we want to talk about culture as a whole, Portland is a mess, I think. Especially if you ever set foot in the political or media sphere. It can be very vitriolic.<br /><br />In my opinion, your description of your small town in childhood is what a "bicycle culture" is, if it is anything. A culture in which bicycles are used without being thought of. So, in essence, it really isn't anything. It's the absence of a culture, you might say.Davehttp://portlandize.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-78527750924458549542011-08-17T02:31:01.911-07:002011-08-17T02:31:01.911-07:00Please for Christ sake help this poor boy from Hai...Please for Christ sake help this poor boy from Haiti.Majid Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14912405599661249292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8810099708146569685.post-34949113731879034352011-08-17T00:46:22.126-07:002011-08-17T00:46:22.126-07:00Good question.I think it's just swings and ro...Good question.I think it's just swings and roundabouts and a growing realisation that the old way of doing things was probably the best. Lets hope it stays that way.<br /><br />cheers,<br /><br />Ian,Melbourneian_rm27https://www.blogger.com/profile/16540292911802463405noreply@blogger.com