5 ms·

The people who say that probably live in California (or equivalent) and can't fathom that some people live in places where weather is a thing. Or maybe they're

The people who say that probably live in California (or equivalent) and can't fathom that some people live in places where weather is a thing. Or maybe they're the kind of hardcore cyclists that wouldn't mind cycling in a Michigan winter or an Arizona summer. Good for them. But there's nothing wrong with needing an air conditioned enclosed vehicle to get around.

elliottkember 3y ago
I live in California. Cycling in Michigan winter and Arizona summer are great! I wouldn't mind either. People do it all the time. Having the right clothing is very important. It's okay to have options. Many people who live in those places and have bikes also have cars. Why not have a small car instead of a big car?
- govg 3y ago
  I live in Madison, which is an incredibly bike friendly city and there is almost no bike usage once winter starts over here. This is in a city with dedicated bike paths and lanes all over town. Under heavy snowfall and -20 C temperatures with wind screeching in cause of the lakes, I really doubt this is a doable scenario.
- menus 3y ago
  If Finns can cycle in the winter (1), why can't Americans? If it is possible for snowplows can clear giant 14 lane highways, they can clear small 2 lane bike paths 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU Yes the answer is more complicated due to suburban sprawl and lack of infrastructure, but it is not impossible. It is always possible.
EngManagerIsMe 3y ago
I live in Seattle, it's cold and rainy all year long (more or less). I still prefer using my bike over a car (though I have no problem with small car that replaces big car.)
- PaulDavisThe1st 3y ago
  > it's cold and rainy all year long (more or less End of May - September, Seattle is the 5th driest metro in the USA, with temperatures in the range that most people consider "ideal". Good effort trying to perpetuate the story told to outsiders, though. (I lived there for 7 years).
  - EngManagerIsMe 3y ago
    I've lived here 35+ years. I mean, May-September can be nice, though these days that's smoke season.
- munificent 3y ago
  I also live in Seattle, bike to work three days a week, and don't mind biking in the rain and cold. Even so, I think mobility vehicles like this are excellent and should absolutely be part of our transportation systems. Sometimes you: * Have a disability that prevents you from biking. * Need to pick something up from the store that won't fit in your paniers. * Want to bring a passenger who doesn't bike. * Need to bring a small child who can't bike or doesn't have the endurance. * Need to carry something you can't get wet and won't fit in your panniers. * Are going somewhere nice and need to arrive without your hair and clothing discheveled. * Won't have a safe place to park a bike. * Need to leave something with your vehicle and want to be able to lock it away. There is a reason cars are so popular. They are amazingly useful and convenient. I dislike arguments against cars because so many of them try to downplay the benefits as if car consumers are idiots. The benefits are real and profound. The problem with cars isn't that they aren't as great as people think they are. It's that the externalities often don't make the benefits worth it. Any vehicle that can give you many of those same benefits while reducing those externalities should be applauded.
  - thewebcount 3y ago
    Thank you so much for posting this sane response. As the spouse of someone who can't walk due to a disability (and also can't move themselves in a wheelchair), reading these discussions where people assume everyone is young, able-bodied, and lives in great weather gets really tiresome. It often feels like they're intentionally not arguing in good faith because some of the points are so obviously incorrect.
JohnFen 3y ago
> But there's nothing wrong with needing an air conditioned enclosed vehicle to get around. There's nothing wrong with wanting that, but calling it a need it overstating things.
TheFreim 3y ago
I don't think this works. Plenty of people where I live bike throughout the frigid snowy winters, other places people bike regulatory even though it often rains.

elliottkember 3y ago

I live in California. Cycling in Michigan winter and Arizona summer are great! I wouldn't mind either. People do it all the time. Having the right clothing is very important. It's okay to have options. Many people who live in those places and have bikes also have cars. Why not have a small car instead of a big car?

govg 3y ago
I live in Madison, which is an incredibly bike friendly city and there is almost no bike usage once winter starts over here. This is in a city with dedicated bike paths and lanes all over town. Under heavy snowfall and -20 C temperatures with wind screeching in cause of the lakes, I really doubt this is a doable scenario.
menus 3y ago
If Finns can cycle in the winter (1), why can't Americans? If it is possible for snowplows can clear giant 14 lane highways, they can clear small 2 lane bike paths 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhx-26GfCBU Yes the answer is more complicated due to suburban sprawl and lack of infrastructure, but it is not impossible. It is always possible.

EngManagerIsMe 3y ago

I live in Seattle, it's cold and rainy all year long (more or less). I still prefer using my bike over a car (though I have no problem with small car that replaces big car.)

PaulDavisThe1st 3y ago
> it's cold and rainy all year long (more or less End of May - September, Seattle is the 5th driest metro in the USA, with temperatures in the range that most people consider "ideal". Good effort trying to perpetuate the story told to outsiders, though. (I lived there for 7 years).
- EngManagerIsMe 3y ago
  I've lived here 35+ years. I mean, May-September can be nice, though these days that's smoke season.
munificent 3y ago
I also live in Seattle, bike to work three days a week, and don't mind biking in the rain and cold. Even so, I think mobility vehicles like this are excellent and should absolutely be part of our transportation systems. Sometimes you: * Have a disability that prevents you from biking. * Need to pick something up from the store that won't fit in your paniers. * Want to bring a passenger who doesn't bike. * Need to bring a small child who can't bike or doesn't have the endurance. * Need to carry something you can't get wet and won't fit in your panniers. * Are going somewhere nice and need to arrive without your hair and clothing discheveled. * Won't have a safe place to park a bike. * Need to leave something with your vehicle and want to be able to lock it away. There is a reason cars are so popular. They are amazingly useful and convenient. I dislike arguments against cars because so many of them try to downplay the benefits as if car consumers are idiots. The benefits are real and profound. The problem with cars isn't that they aren't as great as people think they are. It's that the externalities often don't make the benefits worth it. Any vehicle that can give you many of those same benefits while reducing those externalities should be applauded.
- thewebcount 3y ago
  Thank you so much for posting this sane response. As the spouse of someone who can't walk due to a disability (and also can't move themselves in a wheelchair), reading these discussions where people assume everyone is young, able-bodied, and lives in great weather gets really tiresome. It often feels like they're intentionally not arguing in good faith because some of the points are so obviously incorrect.

JohnFen 3y ago

> But there's nothing wrong with needing an air conditioned enclosed vehicle to get around. There's nothing wrong with wanting that, but calling it a need it overstating things.

TheFreim 3y ago

I don't think this works. Plenty of people where I live bike throughout the frigid snowy winters, other places people bike regulatory even though it often rains.