Comments on: How do we get more people on bikes? http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:38:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Bathroom radiators http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-148572 Bathroom radiators Mon, 04 Jan 2010 07:47:26 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-148572 Completely agree with your comments on this , thanks for taking the time to post. Completely agree with your comments on this , thanks for taking the time to post.

]]> By: fitnessbikes http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-112362 fitnessbikes Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:16:08 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-112362 I would like to say this is a matter of interest. If someone has interest in biking they just need a push through these kinds of articles....nice try. I would like to say this is a matter of interest. If someone has interest in biking they just need a push through these kinds of articles….nice try.

]]> By: Jerry http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-92409 Jerry Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:17:16 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-92409 PS, Tim - please change the "their" to "they're" in the 2nd paragraph of your original post - it's "telling people they're fat," not "their fat." PS, Tim – please change the “their” to “they’re” in the 2nd paragraph of your original post – it’s “telling people they’re fat,” not “their fat.”

]]> By: Jerry http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-92407 Jerry Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:14:16 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-92407 A lot of people, including myself, live too far from where they work to bike to work. But having just bought a new bike (a Brompton folder) that rekindled my love of riding, and being eager to find more opportunities to ride it, I came up with a great idea. Just because I live too far from work to ride my bike there doesn't mean I can't at least ride PART of the way! So, I drive to work but park a couple of miles short of my destination, pop my folding bike out of my trunk and ride the rest of the way to work. It's a perfect way to get exercise into my daily routine, it invigorates me, and having my car parked a couple of miles away from work "forces" me to ride back to my car after work, ensuring that I get my full exercise every day. I hate to exercise, but this is really enjoyable to me. So what do you call this? Multi-modal commuting using your own car and bike! A lot of people, including myself, live too far from where they work to bike to work. But having just bought a new bike (a Brompton folder) that rekindled my love of riding, and being eager to find more opportunities to ride it, I came up with a great idea. Just because I live too far from work to ride my bike there doesn’t mean I can’t at least ride PART of the way! So, I drive to work but park a couple of miles short of my destination, pop my folding bike out of my trunk and ride the rest of the way to work. It’s a perfect way to get exercise into my daily routine, it invigorates me, and having my car parked a couple of miles away from work “forces” me to ride back to my car after work, ensuring that I get my full exercise every day. I hate to exercise, but this is really enjoyable to me. So what do you call this? Multi-modal commuting using your own car and bike!

]]> By: Tom http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-80788 Tom Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:30:49 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-80788 74 replies and nobody mentions electrics....I just test rode a few models and every problem addressed above on why people are reluctant to ride is solved by providing pedal assisted biking. In my case, 40+ y/o with a couple of big hills that I need a day to recover from are no problem with the technology. 74 replies and nobody mentions electrics….I just test rode a few models and every problem addressed above on why people are reluctant to ride is solved by providing pedal assisted biking. In my case, 40+ y/o with a couple of big hills that I need a day to recover from are no problem with the technology.

]]> By: Bedlam in Berkeley http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-77073 Bedlam in Berkeley Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:19:16 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-77073 Ho boy, you got to realize that we are talking about an addiction fueled by a multi billion dollar auto marketing machine. The car and gas and tire companies successfully created a company to pull up all the electric train and street car track on the west coast of California and convinced people it was for "public safety". How twisted is that. They have bombarded the whole country with concept that if you don't drive a car you are: poor, a looser, you will never get a date, life will pass you by, you will not be complete until you have a car. We all know the imagery on TV, billboards, etc. OK, that's on their side. For my part I have a Taoist approach. I don't try to convert, I just am. I'm on my bike, I'm showing up to work, I don't smell bad, I talk about my bike commute when it is appropriate, how it is an aid to my health, I don't try to force the issue, I offer aid and assistance to interested persons when they ask, I hope I look like I'm having fun and enjoying life on my bike because I am. When the weather is good, the bike cage at work is pretty full. It's a start. Ho boy, you got to realize that we are talking about an addiction fueled by a multi billion dollar auto marketing machine.
The car and gas and tire companies successfully created a company to pull up all the electric train and street car track on the west coast of California and convinced people it was for “public safety”. How twisted is that.
They have bombarded the whole country with concept that if you don’t drive a car you are: poor, a looser, you will never get a date, life will pass you by, you will not be complete until you have a car. We all know the imagery on TV, billboards, etc.

OK, that’s on their side. For my part I have a Taoist approach. I don’t try to convert, I just am. I’m on my bike, I’m showing up to work, I don’t smell bad, I talk about my bike commute when it is appropriate, how it is an aid to my health, I don’t try to force the issue, I offer aid and assistance to interested persons when they ask, I hope I look like I’m having fun and enjoying life on my bike because I am.

When the weather is good, the bike cage at work is pretty full. It’s a start.

]]> By: (undisclosed) http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-75943 (undisclosed) Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:51:53 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-75943 For four years Ive worked for a well known mountain bike manufacturer, and it is a crime how few of the employees ride bikes to work. Eventually I was able to get a bike to work incentive program implemented, but the numbers never really increased that much. Of the 60+ employees, easily 45 of them lived within five miles of the facility. It was a regular bone of contention between my comrades and me, to say the least. For four years Ive worked for a well known mountain bike manufacturer, and it is a crime how few of the employees ride bikes to work. Eventually I was able to get a bike to work incentive program implemented, but the numbers never really increased that much.
Of the 60+ employees, easily 45 of them lived within five miles of the facility.
It was a regular bone of contention between my comrades and me, to say the least.

]]> By: Seamus http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-73324 Seamus Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:27:48 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-73324 Well that was clearly the wrong link http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2500754.ece From The Times September 21, 2007 Ride a bike? You must be rich Well that was clearly the wrong link

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2500754.ece

From The Times
September 21, 2007
Ride a bike? You must be rich

]]> By: Seamus http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-73317 Seamus Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:22:40 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-73317 Just came across this article in The Times My apologies if posting it is redundant the blog search didn't pull anything up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67fFDiPRsrk Just came across this article in The Times
My apologies if posting it is redundant
the blog search didn’t pull anything up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67fFDiPRsrk

]]> By: Paul in Minneapolis http://www.commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/comment-page-1/#comment-73181 Paul in Minneapolis Mon, 04 Feb 2008 01:04:49 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-73181 When I lived in Georgia just south of Chattanooga, I tried to get people who lived close, very close, to work to bike instead of drive. Over three years I could not do it. They saw me ride every day and never had to watch my weight, still they had it in their head that they are above bicycles. Several of those people had weight, heart and other major health problems that biking would help. I even contacted the GA DOT and had them send me bicycle guides and handed out dozens of them. I rode my bike through neighborhoods and shopping centers so they could see it was easy to do. Still, pulling my own teeth would have been eaiser than getting one person to even try. It will take a major shift in our culture for changes to happen. That is something that would take the big corporations to participate in, and they are too greedy. They make money by keeping people slaved to their car. If I am not wrong, our car-culture is the worlds largest business. I moved to Minneapolis where I am not harresed by motorist or police like I was in Georgia and lots of people ride bikes. I still promote bikes as a way of life. If enough people chip-away at the car-culture maybe we can change it over time. When I lived in Georgia just south of Chattanooga, I tried to get people who lived close, very close, to work to bike instead of drive. Over three years I could not do it. They saw me ride every day and never had to watch my weight, still they had it in their head that they are above bicycles. Several of those people had weight, heart and other major health problems that biking would help. I even contacted the GA DOT and had them send me bicycle guides and handed out dozens of them. I rode my bike through neighborhoods and shopping centers so they could see it was easy to do. Still, pulling my own teeth would have been eaiser than getting one person to even try.

It will take a major shift in our culture for changes to happen. That is something that would take the big corporations to participate in, and they are too greedy. They make money by keeping people slaved to their car. If I am not wrong, our car-culture is the worlds largest business.

I moved to Minneapolis where I am not harresed by motorist or police like I was in Georgia and lots of people ride bikes. I still promote bikes as a way of life. If enough people chip-away at the car-culture maybe we can change it over time.

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