Tpcorr

Interesting article in the NY Post.

https://nypost.com/2018/09/01/nyc-sh...bros-on-bikes/

Colnago Mixte

I have never heard anyone yell that line once in my entire life. Not even homeless people are that naive. This author seems to have a Pete Townsend-like obsession with those "rough boys" on bikes, maybe he should try talking to one some time.

indyfabz

I know it's not a representative sample, but I just rode from central NJ to downtown Brooklyn on Sunday and spent the night there. I saw what I think was a much higher percentage of female cyclists on the Brooklyn Bridge and in Brooklyn itself. None of them were in parks or trails. And there were plenty of non-white people cycling, both mail and female. It was really only on Sunday morning as I was walking to my car for the drive home did I see a significant number (relative to the four block walk to the car) of white, male "kitted out" riders. I do this ride every year and my observations are the same.

The real danger I felt were the eBike riders, most of which that I saw were operated by delivery guys. They speed nearly silently down residential streets, sometimes going the wrong way. You really need to look both ways when crossing even though there is not supposed to be traffic coming from both directions.

GrainBrain

Well that was a fun read, glad I have another reason to check myself - I was born, to able.

What could have been a very insightful piece turned into something you might read from a freshman in highschool. How come so many cyclists are white males? I'm a white male, I grew up riding single speeds then got into cycling. I didn't flip through a catalog of "Skin color / demographics and appropriate sport" then decide on cycling after considering Tennis or Baseball

I can see a point to the article, a vocal minority that's already perceived to be overly privileged getting more things. Except the author stumbles against their self by half heartedly admitting others utilize and benefit from the lanes as well.
So the author admits the whole gist of their argument is biased. Then throws the class warfare card into it

wphamilton

The author should look for data, instead of pretending that what he saw on his drive to work or the club is representative. Here's some ASSUMPTION BUSTERS: 12 FACTS ABOUT RACE, ETHNICITY, INCOME & BICYCLING While "white bro's" may be the majority on bikes, proportionally more people who are non-white ride bikes for both recreation and transportation. And, to the point of the article, the non-white segments are MORE likely to be favorable for bike lanes.

Colnago Mixte

What's most pernicious about all of this is that riding a bike makes a person who's not white, appear to onlookers to be white. That's totally just unacceptable in today's world.

People need to proudly assert their cultural heritage at every opportunity, not BLEND IN, geez, that's not what this country is about!

BobbyG

+100
Thank you, wp.

TimothyH

Guys, the article is in the New York Post.

That automatically renders it not interesting, truthful or relevant to anything actually taking place in the real world.


-Tim-

Maelochs

Every time one of us clicks on that article we encourage the author to write a sequel.

salcedo

Dumb, racist, and classist article. But this quote from the article explains why better cycling infrastructure is needed:

The reason why you see "young athletic testosterone-driven" males on bikes is because cycling in a city without infrastructure is scary. Not because there is some innate feature of white young males to make them like bikes.

TheLibrarian

I think part of the disproportionate amount of money or space spent on cycling infrastructure is because some would like to encourage more people to bike for environmental, cost and congestion reasons. And the city has to catch up to providing a safe routes which would then hopefully not cost as much to maintain.

trailangel

The author forgot to include the fact that white bros scream like girls when they fall down.

Milton Keynes

I did a popular ride on Saturday, anywhere from 200-400 riders, and I'd say that roughly half of all cyclists were women. Not very may minorities, but there were a few. And in the local cycling group I'm in, I'd say that at least half of that group is made up of women.

So, in other words, it's unusual to see minorities on bikes except when you see them on bikes.

Colnago Mixte

Take your pick, "White Punks on Bikes" or "White Punks on Dope".

trailangel

Hold on... half of the bikers were female! Where is this?

indyfabz

Somehow, like an idiot, I managed to lose What Do You Want From Live on vinyl.




"White punks on dope! W.P.O.D!"

salcedo

Looks like Vox made a video replying to OP's article (not really, but the timing and the theme work)

Milton Keynes

The Gorilla Century in SE Kansas. I don't know exactly what the percentage of male to female riders was, but you didn't have to look too far to find women on bikes. I'd say it was roughly half and half male to female. In fact, there was even a female racing team riding that day, they passed me several times.

CB HI

Since NYC has mandatory bike lane laws, the true racist and man hating, youth hating, fitness hating people are the motorist demanding infrastructure to get young white cyclist out of their motoring way. No sharing from that racist, man hating, youth hating, fitness hating group.

Hokiedad4

You're only allowed to rant about white dudes. Any other gender or race, you're fired. The guy has a beef with cyclists, as though their tiny fraction of vehicles are "clogging" the roads of NYC and not the billion or so cars. So he takes it out on white dudes.

JoeyBike

Cycling NYC even with infrastructure ain't for the faint of heart. Also, I have a mom, sisters, wife, and female workmates and none of them ride a bike due to worries of being accosted.

Also, just speaking for my community, white boys/girls are more likely to be able to afford and maintain a dependable bike.
.
.
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JoeyBike

That is the only demographic he has left. Cut him some slack, he probably has a family to feed. 🤣

Rollfast

I prefer the Warner Bros and Sister Dot.

salcedo

That means you have bad infrastructure. Paint on the floor is not infrastructure. If it is not safe enough for an old lady to ride in it, then it is bad infrastructure.

I don't know where you live, but were I live it would not be acceptable that women have to be locked indoors or inside a car to avoid being accosted.

Yeah, white people are wealthier on average in the US. Buy cycling is not for the rich. Cycling is common among rich people who are too good for a car, but also among poor people who can't afford a car. A 100$ used bike is more than enough to commute in a flat city like NYC. You don't need a 5000$ electric road bike with disc brakes and integrated GPS to get from A to B.

Rollfast

The whole place was thought up in the 1600s and got a 'makeover' throughout the 20th century. I suppose that if you have a few trillion bucks, go ahead, fix that