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Nice! I just don’t think you fully appreciate how privileged your position is. Giving up car ownership is extremely privileged. You have a good, salaried job, w

Nice! I just don’t think you fully appreciate how privileged your position is. Giving up car ownership is extremely privileged. You have a good, salaried job, with I’m assuming flexible and encouraging employers. You have enough money for therapy and urban rent (and Blazers tickets!) and enough free time to bike everywhere, and I’m guessing decent health insurance to boot. You also are completely devoid of responsibilities for others. No kids to take to soccer games, no family members of friends in the hospital or who need taking care of. You can afford to fly/hire a driver to travel. I’d venture a guess that most Americans aren’t in a position like this. It’s a lot easier to physically exert yourself to get to work when most of your needs are met. You most likely have an okay boss and at least somewhat enjoyable work. For a lot of people their commute is one of their only times of respite, and it seems they like to drive a car in comfort during that time, it’s why Americans spend so much money on luxury cars (and as a form conspicuous consumption). People of means are quick to forget how important 10 minutes can be when you’re poor and that a car serves as a backup place to sleep and store your effects. It’s not just a dangerous status symbol for everyone. But back to my main point. I just don’t see Americans as a whole adopting bicycles. Able bodied people will routinely wait in line in for minutes in parking lots to park 100’ closer and wait in line(also for minutes) for the elevator to go up three floors. Not everyone is overweight/obese because they are unmotivated, you obviously aren’t, but I would wager based on my experiences that most Americans aren’t motivated(by much beside sloth), and I don’t see how an elected body is going to change our infrastructure enough to motivate people. AARP is a big lobby, and have 0 interest in cedeing roads or sidewalks to bicyclist.

meej 7y ago
While I agree that I am privileged, I disagree that biking, particularly to work, is. The data bears this out: https://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-on-bikes-cycling-is-most-popular-for-poor-people https://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-o... Some of your arguments ring true for traditional bikes but I think they are less true for e-bikes. They're faster, so you don't need enough free time to bike everywhere, you need 20 minutes instead of 15, and it's often much easier to find parking. It's a lot easier to physically exert yourself to get to work when the bike reduces the amount of exertion. And a bike ride provides just as much, if not more, respite than driving a car -- you're not frustrated stuck in traffic and you get a nice endorphin rush.
- riversflow 7y ago
  I guess what i mean to say is that bicycling to work and enjoying it is privileged. Alternatively, bicycling to work by choice rather than necessity is privileged. I think the data supports that.

meej 7y ago

While I agree that I am privileged, I disagree that biking, particularly to work, is. The data bears this out: https://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-on-bikes-cycling-is-most-popular-for-poor-people https://www.vox.com/2014/7/9/5883823/its-not-just-hipsters-o... Some of your arguments ring true for traditional bikes but I think they are less true for e-bikes. They're faster, so you don't need enough free time to bike everywhere, you need 20 minutes instead of 15, and it's often much easier to find parking. It's a lot easier to physically exert yourself to get to work when the bike reduces the amount of exertion. And a bike ride provides just as much, if not more, respite than driving a car -- you're not frustrated stuck in traffic and you get a nice endorphin rush.

riversflow 7y ago
I guess what i mean to say is that bicycling to work and enjoying it is privileged. Alternatively, bicycling to work by choice rather than necessity is privileged. I think the data supports that.