I ride my bike to work -- why don't you? (Denver: credit, live)

[TheCaliforniaBear]

Originally Posted by maciesmom

No - just really tired of so many of the Denver threads lately being a certain segment of people who seem to believe that unless you live a certain lifestyle, you deserve to be looked down upon. If you live outside the city limits? snub....if you live in the suburbs? double snub....OMG if one were to live in Highlands Ranch (which I don't BTW) - you might as well hand in your membership card to the human race. Same with biking - not to mention, I am tired of driving home and being in a line behind a group of cyclists riding 3 abreast on a 2 lane highly traveled road at rush hour no doubt feeling superior while I am trying to make it home in time to get my child to his sports game or another appointment I have scheduled. What is the point of riding 3 abreast? I am a careful driver and have no issue with those cyclists who abide by the law and common sense. If people want to ride their bikes or drive their Suburbans, I go about my day figuring they have their reasons. I don't understand all the judgement when you don't have a clue as to what those people are doing or why.

ETA - you are still avoiding my question regarding what is accompished by feeling superior like this? All I can imagine at this point is you must feel you are lacking somewhere else and therefore need the boost to feel OK about yourself....People who are happy and well adjusted really don't need to look down upon others.

I just believe in being healthy. If I encourage people to take on habits that are healthy for themselves and the environment, there is nothing wrong with that.

When people live a lifestyle that is awful for their health, and the environment, then I would say that their lifestyle is inferior to someone who does the opposite. Many people just let their bodies become incredibly unhealthy, and do not try to be environmentally friendly at all. Well, someone who stays in shape and lives an environmentally friendly lifestyle IS living in a superior way.

If you choose to take offense to this idea, maybe you should ask yourself why. You are basically gettng mad at me for promoting health and reducing pollution. Perhaps you are very unhealthy and drive a huge SUV everywhere you go and never exercise? Sounds like it.

About bicyclists in the street blocking traffic. I agree. These people are morons. When I ride I go on sidewalks and alleys and I stay off of busy main streets. I ride totally defensively.

Those bicyclists who block traffic are usually cheesy hipsters. Remember that.

[maciesmom]

California - I believe in living healthy too...I guess the difference is I don't feel the need to determine what that is for everyone around me then point fingers....I don't live my life looking around me to see who I can feel superior to because I understand that there are many facets to life and what I may feel superior about one day, may not be available to me tomorrow. Or, the person I am looking down upon may in truth be far superior to me in other aspects of life. So to look at a person in one part of their life and to feel superior doesn't add anything meaningful to my life or to the lives of others. I do my part and worry about my own impact on my environment - I try to give back to my community and be aware of my impact both positive and negative. I find that worrying about my own life and what efforts I can make occupies enough of my time without wasting my time judging others. Maybe you could spend more time educating and less time judging. Just a thought.

[TheCaliforniaBear]

Originally Posted by livecontent

I applaud all people who commute to their work by bike. The Denver metro area has so many trails and encourages bike riding that riding for pleasure is a good activity.

I use to bike ride all over the area, many years ago but unfortunately, I have a severe illness, neurological and arthritic, that makes walking even difficult. However, I try to walk as much as possible and avoid driving. Last week, I used my car only for one trip, less than 1 mile round trip, because I had to pick some heavy items. My car, that I bought new, is over 15 years old and has only 70,000 miles. Last year I drove 2000 miles.

Now, I cannot walk as well but I use a heavy duty wheeled walker/rollator. It is the most amazing walker and with it I can walk to the grocery store about 1/3 mile. Without it, I could only walk about 300-500 feet with a cane and then I am exhausted and in more pain, I am telling you it is wonderful and more people should use them. I have now been able to walk over a mile with the rollator and I want to walk more.

These rollators where invented in the Scandinavian countries about 40 years ago. Now, many people use them, not only the old and disable. They are used by many people for extended walking in the towns and on trails. Some even have snow glides and bigger tires, as some are used for hiking in rougher terrain. But in America, we have this stupid macho attitude that prevents the wider adaptation of these devices.

Here is a link to some European Models:
Trionic Sverige AB | Made for Walking
Om rollator från Volaris. Välj rätt rollator.

and an American Make:
Rolling Walkers - Nova Ortho-Med Carson, CA (800) 557-6682

I know some of you will have a big laugh at this and I have seen and heard the snickers when I use it. However, it has extended my mobility and I can now walk much farther with comfort and security. It provides the double support from the two sides and gives me confidence to move. Walking with a cane, or two canes, or crutches is just too fatiguing. I now have the confidence to venture out on the buses and trains, when for a while I got depressed and would not walk.

Livecontent

Major respect to you for walking and being active in spite of your illness. I have huge respect for people like you.

[maciesmom]

Perhaps you are very unhealthy and drive a huge SUV everywhere you go and never exercise? Sounds like it.

So because I disagree with you I must be unhealthy and wrong? I haven't said a word against a healthy lifestyle. The thread is about biking to work and what reasons people may have not to. You mentioned that you look down on those who don't and have gone on and on justifying feeling superior to those who for whatever reasons they have, choose not to ride their bikes to work. You feel comfortable making these judgements without knowing the individuals...You have mentioned that you respect livecontent for his activity...however, if you were to see him driving around in a car, you would not know him from Adam....and you would look at him from your bike and feel superior. See the problem with that?

[TheCaliforniaBear]

Originally Posted by maciesmom

California - I believe in living healthy too...I guess the difference is I don't feel the need to determine what that is for everyone around me then point fingers....I don't live my life looking around me to see who I can feel superior to because I understand that there are many facets to life and what I may feel superior about one day, may not be available to me tomorrow. Or, the person I am looking down upon may in truth be far superior to me in other aspects of life. So to look at a person in one part of their life and to feel superior doesn't add anything meaningful to my life or to the lives of others. I do my part and worry about my own impact on my environment - I try to give back to my community and be aware of my impact both positive and negative. I find that worrying about my own life and what efforts I can make occupies enough of my time without wasting my time judging others. Maybe you could spend more time educating and less time judging. Just a thought.

You keep on accusing me of "superiority", but I am not even that kind of person at all. So I just find these accusations ridiculous. You are making major assumptions about me. It is rather insulting.

I just see an obesity epidemic in the US. And I see an environmental crisis.

And on both of these things. American people are very apathetic and complacent. We NEED to start slapping people in the head with reality about this stuff. We NEED to start getting aggressive and outspoken about changing these things. Some people just want to keep on being comfortable, even though it's a totally unsustainable way of life.

And if people find that offensive, I don't care. I will stand up for what's right even if small minded people don't agree.

I'm not saying that we should all totally stop driving and recycle every tiny thing we use. I'm just saying we need to all respect the environment and ourselves more, and stop acting like over-indulgent pigs. That's the sterotype people overseas have about us Americans, and I hate to see so many people who match this sterotype so much.

[TheCaliforniaBear]

Originally Posted by maciesmom

So because I disagree with you I must be unhealthy and wrong? I haven't said a word against a healthy lifestyle. The thread is about biking to work and what reasons people may have not to. You mentioned that you look down on those who don't and have gone on and on justifying feeling superior to those who for whatever reasons they have, choose not to ride their bikes to work. You feel comfortable making these judgements without knowing the individuals...You have mentioned that you respect livecontent for his activity...however, if you were to see him driving around in a car, you would not know him from Adam....and you would look at him from your bike and feel superior. See the problem with that?

I don't feel superior to every single person I see driving a car. You are projecting, and making assumptions about me. I don't even need to respond to this because it's not true about me. If you want to keep on going, do it though, you might as well be talking to a wall because you're talking to the wrong guy.

[maciesmom]

I call you "feeling superior" because you said you looked down upon others....same thing different phraseology.....not to mention your tone is apparent in your posts....regardless I'm over it. There is nothing wrong with advocating a healthy lifestyle -it's all in how you do it though. Advocating is not the same thing as looking down upon and having no sympathy or understanding of those in different situations than yourself....I'm done for tonight.....enjoy your ride to work tomorrow.

[TheCaliforniaBear]

Originally Posted by maciesmom

I call you "feeling superior" because you said you looked down upon others....same thing different phraseology.....not to mention your tone is apparent in your posts....regardless I'm over it. There is nothing wrong with advocating a healthy lifestyle -it's all in how you do it though. Advocating is not the same thing as looking down upon and having no sympathy or understanding of those in different situations than yourself....I'm done for tonight.....enjoy your ride to work tomorrow.

Don't read into peoples word so much. Sometimes people use the wrong words on accident. Sometimes you will interpret words the wrong way. It's never good to assume you know exactly what somebody's intent is. Usually they mean well. I mean well, yet you are berating me as if I am some evil person.

Peace.

[steveindenver]

Get a room already.

When I ride I go on sidewalks and alleys

You know that riding your bike on the sidewalk is both illegal and dangerous for everyone involved right? Bikes belong on the road and have just as much right to be on the road as cars. Bikes should also follow the rules of the road which includes stopping at red lights and stop signs (at least when traffic is present in my view).

your job may allow you to be at work all rumpled and sweaty but many jobs don't.

This has been answered multiple times. Riding your bike to work does not mean you will be all sweaty and with rumpled clothes. It's not a race.

you completely neglected my comments about those people who are taking/picking up children from daycare.

Excuses are easy.

Since moving here last month, I've had 3 flats.

Get new tires? The older the tires the quicker to puncture. Where are you riding? The high-line canal this time of year is a flatzone for long stretches with all of the barbs on the ground.

I know I should not write this; I have not had a flat in nearly two months. I am now prepared to get a flat today.

[corockygirl]

I drive my car because it it still a free country and I feel like it!

Originally Posted by steveindenver

So for caveats; I don't ride my bike to work much, I more or less work from home or travel to all parts of the world for a week or so -- and so I have about zero to contribute to the whole green movement.

We take our kids to school in the bike trailer year round so perhaps that hepls -- a bit -- but I realize there is some hypocracy in my following question.

Still -- I do bike at least an hour a day; My family (3 kids) now own just one car (down from 2 race cars and 3 other cars at our un-childed prime). We ride or walk to the grocer ... etc etc. A tank of gas last us generally 2 months or more.

I know plenty of people who commute on average 8 miles each way a day to work, some of whom trade the bike for a bus when they are not on two wheels.

So the question is; if your commute is less than 5 miles to work, why do you drive your car?