Amazing difference in attitudes towards bicycling n Europe and the US
09-12-18, 01:58 PM
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Amazing difference in attitudes towards bicycling n Europe and the US
In Belgium when I carry a bag of groceries, or other purchases, in a bag that hangs from the handlebars people give a look like "That's good. Enjoying yourself". It's like a status symbol. In the US I have literally had people, usually well-to-do older women, gasp in horror as if to say "How heathen! Our community is becoming a ghetto" I could actually hear the gasps. Amazing.
But what's sick about it, and I mean actually sick, is the US is far, far less healthy than Europe, in large part because the emphasis and embracement on physical activity in Europe. I see 80 year men and women on bicycles that can ride with more vigor than any age American!
But what's sick about it, and I mean actually sick, is the US is far, far less healthy than Europe, in large part because the emphasis and embracement on physical activity in Europe. I see 80 year men and women on bicycles that can ride with more vigor than any age American!
Last edited by willpetras; 09-12-18 at 02:11 PM.
09-12-18, 02:03 PM
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Aren't the groceries spoiled by the time you bicycle from Belgium to the US?
No wonder the concern...
No wonder the concern...
09-12-18, 02:13 PM
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09-12-18, 02:18 PM
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Every day a winding road
In Belgium when I carry a bag of groceries, or other purchases, in a bag that hangs from the handlebars people give a look like "That's good. Enjoying yourself". It's like a status symbol. In the US I have literally had people, usually well-to-do older women, gasp in horror as if to say "How heathen! Our community is becoming a ghetto" I could actually hear the gasps. Amazing.
I think you are imagining things.
09-12-18, 02:27 PM
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I won’t go so far as to say friendly, but Chicago is very bicycle aware.
Except for when it gets cold, something about riding in foul weather seems to threaten machismo.
Except for when it gets cold, something about riding in foul weather seems to threaten machismo.
09-12-18, 02:34 PM
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The harassment and glowers I get never come from pedestrians. It's always drivers with some variation of "I own the road".
09-12-18, 02:52 PM
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I understand where you are coming from, and I must admit to looking down my nose at people who carry groceries and bags that hang from their handlebars. But my objection is that it interferes with steering and stability in a way that front or rear baskets, or panniers or a back rack does not.
Sometime in the last few months I did make a grocery run on my wife's comfort bike comma in street clothes, and with plastic grocery bags hanging from the handlebars, and it was a little disconcerting when turning.
But I think that car ownership and fuel costs are much lower in the United States than in Europe, which is to say car ownership and fuel costs are more expensive in Europe, so you have more middle and upper class citizens using public transportation, and bicycles, and that leads to more upscale bicyclists, bicycles, public transportation, and commuters compared to the United States.
I think the gentrification of cyclist is also evident in larger US cities where vehicle ownership is expensive due to space and parking constraints, and higher taxation and registration.
For the record, I try to avoid being classist and strive to be understanding. My bike commuting takes me through areas defined by homeless camps, homeless shelters, and homeless services. These areas tend to be lower-income and it is reflected in the homes, vehicles, bicycles and attire of the denizens and transients.
Sometime in the last few months I did make a grocery run on my wife's comfort bike comma in street clothes, and with plastic grocery bags hanging from the handlebars, and it was a little disconcerting when turning.
But I think that car ownership and fuel costs are much lower in the United States than in Europe, which is to say car ownership and fuel costs are more expensive in Europe, so you have more middle and upper class citizens using public transportation, and bicycles, and that leads to more upscale bicyclists, bicycles, public transportation, and commuters compared to the United States.
I think the gentrification of cyclist is also evident in larger US cities where vehicle ownership is expensive due to space and parking constraints, and higher taxation and registration.
For the record, I try to avoid being classist and strive to be understanding. My bike commuting takes me through areas defined by homeless camps, homeless shelters, and homeless services. These areas tend to be lower-income and it is reflected in the homes, vehicles, bicycles and attire of the denizens and transients.
09-12-18, 03:15 PM
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You've been to two countries in Europe. Head over to London - it's the capital of the UK - and you'll find many, many people hate cyclists.
Moral? You can't draw conclusions from visiting 2 countries alone.
P.S. I dobn't want to seem harsh, but you do read like a 15 year old on their first trip outside the US.
Moral? You can't draw conclusions from visiting 2 countries alone.
P.S. I dobn't want to seem harsh, but you do read like a 15 year old on their first trip outside the US.
09-12-18, 03:26 PM
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"I can hear the gasps."
Why don't i believe this?
Why don't i believe this?
09-12-18, 03:39 PM
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You've been to two countries in Europe. Head over to London - it's the capital of the UK - and you'll find many, many people hate cyclists.
Moral? You can't draw conclusions from visiting 2 countries alone.
P.S. I dobn't want to seem harsh, but you do read like a 15 year old on their first trip outside the US.
Moral? You can't draw conclusions from visiting 2 countries alone.
P.S. I dobn't want to seem harsh, but you do read like a 15 year old on their first trip outside the US.
09-12-18, 03:40 PM
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09-12-18, 03:45 PM
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The first time it happened I lived in Rhode Island. There I have also had a supermarket employee see me in nice clothes pull up with my bicycle, a scene practically no one does, and gave the body language of saying to everyone else in the vicinity "Hey, this guy's a fake!". Really. There is a certain bird that does this. They way I remember it is the one bird will smear berries on it's feathers so it looks like a higher status bird. If I another bird discovers this charade it will peck it in front of other birds.
Last edited by willpetras; 09-12-18 at 03:54 PM.
09-12-18, 04:09 PM
#13
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In Belgium when I carry a bag of groceries, or other purchases, in a bag that hangs from the handlebars people give a look like "That's good. Enjoying yourself". It's like a status symbol. In the US I have literally had people, usually well-to-do older women, gasp in horror as if to say "How heathen! Our community is becoming a ghetto" I could actually hear the gasps. Amazing.
But what's sick about it, and I mean actually sick, is the US is far, far less healthy than Europe, in large part because the emphasis and embracement on physical activity in Europe. I see 80 year men and women on bicycles that can ride with more vigor than any age American!
Sounds like an overstatement to me. An exaggeration. Never had this experience here in America. Or anywhere else.
This is a strange thread. Nominated.
Last edited by BirdsBikeBinocs; 09-12-18 at 04:15 PM.
09-12-18, 04:17 PM
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America, bro!!!
09-12-18, 04:26 PM
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09-12-18, 04:27 PM
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09-12-18, 04:44 PM
#17
Every day a winding road
The first time it happened I lived in Rhode Island. There I have also had a supermarket employee see me in nice clothes pull up with my bicycle, a scene practically no one does, and gave the body language of saying to everyone else in the vicinity "Hey, this guy's a fake!". Really. There is a certain bird that does this. They way I remember it is the one bird will smear berries on it's feathers so it looks like a higher status bird. If I another bird discovers this charade it will peck it in front of other birds.
Berries and birds??? What the .....??? :foo"
Yet another example of a thread that does not belong in General Cycling.
09-12-18, 04:53 PM
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I hang a grocery bag from my handlebar all the time. Nobody's ever given me a hard time. And the store is surrounded by retirement apartments, so there are plenty of well-to-do older women.
There are a number of reasons for the health differences in the US and Europe (access to health care, poverty, labor regulations), and in fact Europeans are catching up to the US on obesity.
There are a number of reasons for the health differences in the US and Europe (access to health care, poverty, labor regulations), and in fact Europeans are catching up to the US on obesity.
09-12-18, 05:12 PM
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Preachy post full of prejudicial generalizations. I don't see the horrible culture you describe here in the US nor, when I lived in Europe, did I see the healthy vigorous utopia from the picture you painted. A little more open-mindedness is in order.
09-12-18, 05:18 PM
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Hanging grocery bags from the handlebars is unsafe and unwieldly. I'd gasp in horror too if I saw someone doing this.
Now racks, panniers, and baskets, that's the way to go. You can literally carry a ton of stuff with these...okay, literally maybe 0.05 ton.
Now racks, panniers, and baskets, that's the way to go. You can literally carry a ton of stuff with these...okay, literally maybe 0.05 ton.
09-12-18, 05:23 PM
#21
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For profit health insurance companies , dumping the expensive to care for old people
without assets to strip, or having taken it all, still thrown out, on the street..
without assets to strip, or having taken it all, still thrown out, on the street..
09-12-18, 06:05 PM
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09-12-18, 07:03 PM
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Every day a winding road
The first time it happened I lived in Rhode Island. There I have also had a supermarket employee see me in nice clothes pull up with my bicycle, a scene practically no one does, and gave the body language of saying to everyone else in the vicinity "Hey, this guy's a fake!". Really. There is a certain bird that does this. They way I remember it is the one bird will smear berries on it's feathers so it looks like a higher status bird. If I another bird discovers this charade it will peck it in front of other birds.