njkayaker

I've never seen an explicit requirement to put a foot down. It's possible that there are municipalities that require it but I'd guess there aren't many (if there are any at all). It would be interesting to see one reference to such a requirement.

==============

No state requires a drivers license for riding a bicycle or for any activity other than driving a car. While it might be a good idea to carry some sort of ID, it doesn't have to be a driver's license. That is, all sorts of things might be "appropriate" ID.

EKW in DC

That's all well and good except for when your SO is a non-cyclist and finds it ridiculous that you want to spend $1100 for a complete LHT or $400ish for a frameset. Otherwise, I tend to agree with you.

colleen c

Sure it is, this is BF

Oh wait, I smell roses

Artkansas 

+5 That's my policy too.

subcinco

In David Byrne's Bicycling diaries he points ou that to a lot of people cycling is a low status indicator. They assume if your on a bike it's because you're too poor to have a car, or like you said have a dui. He said that in Vegas people say that the only ones who ride bikes have lost everything gambling.
also it's my understanding that if stopped by law enforcement you must show id. And they can hold you for 24 hrs if you don't have it.

trekker pete

I never assume a cager's slowing is his way of waving me through, but, if he does wave me through and there is no one else in the intersection, I hammer through it with a smile and a wave.

Vegas Trekker

When I started commuting to school a few of my classmates would ask in a joking manner, "dude, did u get a DUI?" I guess in a way most people cannot comprehend why a person would rough the weather and traffic riding a bike when they have the choice of driving a nice air conditioned comfortable car. I usually get the deer in the headlights look when I reply " No I just feel like riding!"

Grillparzer

It must be a culturally based response, I'm a Caucasian who lives in a working class neighborhood that is largely Hispanic, mostly Salvadorian. When I moved there I thought my bicycling would be a reasonably accepted thing to do for economic reasons, but apparently not for the white guy. I found out the other day that the popular opinion is that I ride a bicycle because I'm intellectually handicapped. Since I probably sound that way when I attempt to speak Spanish, I'm a little stumped as to how I can change their minds.

kjmillig

I like that one. And do it with a face like this...

2manybikes

Be more specific. " I killed a driver for asking stupid questions".

ZmanKC

fyp

fredgarvin7

+1

CptjohnC

Interesting point. a large percentage of the folks riding bikes for transportation in my local neighborhood are Hispanic. They do seem to look at me weird when I pass by (esp. since I'm usually on the street and they're often on the sidewalk). There's a pretty decent number of bicycle commuters in the closer in burbs, though, so I'm not as fringy as I think many folks here feel.