Comments on: How do we get more people on bikes? http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/ Tips, Hints, Reviews and Safety for Bike Commuters Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:48:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Tom http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#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://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#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://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#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://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#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://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#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://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#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.

]]> By: chunkymonkeybiker http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-72899 chunkymonkeybiker Sun, 03 Feb 2008 04:34:56 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-72899 I think when people see more of their friends die from heart disease, lung disease, etc., then maybe people will commute more. Also, people could at least ride more if they made riding a life decision. You don't have to commute to work to get a ride in. You could ride during lunch, park 10 blocks from your work, just figure it out. I think when people see more of their friends die from heart disease, lung disease, etc., then maybe people will commute more.

Also, people could at least ride more if they made riding a life decision. You don’t have to commute to work to get a ride in. You could ride during lunch, park 10 blocks from your work, just figure it out.

]]> By: bikesgonewild http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-72581 bikesgonewild Sat, 02 Feb 2008 09:16:50 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-72581 ...sorry, that is my post @ #67 but i hit the button to soon... ...short term, ya make cycling more fun but there is a bigger intrinsic problem at hand involving the environment & natural resources & while numbers of people are already addressing it, education will make all the difference in the world... …sorry, that is my post @ #67 but i hit the button to soon…

…short term, ya make cycling more fun but there is a bigger intrinsic problem at hand involving the environment & natural resources & while numbers of people are already addressing it, education will make all the difference in the world…

]]> By: Anonymous http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-72579 Anonymous Sat, 02 Feb 2008 09:05:24 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-72579 ...how do we get more people on bikes ?... ...redefine the culture... ...& in this vast country that was defined by transportation, that is not an easy task... ...the majority of our innovation has gone towards making everything easier, more accessible... ...put that creative energy into sustainable concepts & teach people to think for themselves... …how do we get more people on bikes ?…

…redefine the culture…

…& in this vast country that was defined by transportation, that is not an easy task…

…the majority of our innovation has gone towards making everything easier, more accessible…

…put that creative energy into sustainable concepts & teach people to think for themselves…

]]> By: Kim http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-72227 Kim Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:15:34 +0000 http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/29/how-do-we-get-more-people-on-bikes/#comment-72227 My commute is not long, (about 5km each way) and I commute in my work clothes when it's not ungodly hot. I think the lycra is something that puts some people off- especially people with bodies they feel are not fit to be seen in lycra by the general population. I have riding clothes, but I leave them for touring- days of several hours of riding. With a bike that fits well and my split seat I'm able to comfortably ride in blue jeans. Here in Korea people are big on having the clothes to go with the sport- hiking, biking, or whatever it may be. And I think that idea of cycling as a sport is exactly the biggest part of the hump. As long as cycling is primarily viewed as recreation, it will not be primarily transportation, which is the goal here. I think what others have said is right- Biking needs to be cool (Loved the Miller High Life ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beF_gjnwU5E), and getting ad companies to portray it that way might be some of the best use of advocacy efforts by advocacy groups (a bit of stream of consciousness, here). PSAs and whatnot will also help. Biking needs to be re-branded as fun, cool, accessible, and above all NORMAL before people will pick it up. (most) People believe what you tell them to believe. My commute is not long, (about 5km each way) and I commute in my work clothes when it’s not ungodly hot. I think the lycra is something that puts some people off- especially people with bodies they feel are not fit to be seen in lycra by the general population. I have riding clothes, but I leave them for touring- days of several hours of riding. With a bike that fits well and my split seat I’m able to comfortably ride in blue jeans.

Here in Korea people are big on having the clothes to go with the sport- hiking, biking, or whatever it may be. And I think that idea of cycling as a sport is exactly the biggest part of the hump. As long as cycling is primarily viewed as recreation, it will not be primarily transportation, which is the goal here.

I think what others have said is right- Biking needs to be cool (Loved the Miller High Life ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beF_gjnwU5E), and getting ad companies to portray it that way might be some of the best use of advocacy efforts by advocacy groups (a bit of stream of consciousness, here). PSAs and whatnot will also help. Biking needs to be re-branded as fun, cool, accessible, and above all NORMAL before people will pick it up. (most) People believe what you tell them to believe.

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