RubeRad

Well, is that really traveling? That's like saying we travel 24,000 miles every day because the earth spins around (not to mention how many miles along its orbit around the sun it goes (not to mention motion of our solar system due to expansion of the universe))

alan s 

Sure. That is the distance the ISS has traveled from a fixed point on Earth where it started. The same way all travel is measured.

Phamilton

I have sometimes responded something like "I appreciate your concern. When you're out driving, try not to kill people riding bikes and encourage others to also try not to kill people riding bikes".

But quite frankly, it comes across to me as "I'm concerned about your personal salvation ..."

IMO opinion it's a sort vomited response when a person encounters another person living life in a way they simply can't understand. Their mouth was going to open by force of habit anyway and that was what the un-exercised brain managed to do with the words before it did.

I agree that there's really not much to bike commuting, and it takes about a year to get the hang of it. After that, it's like lather, rinse, repeat.

I regret ever having felt like I knew anything about bike commuting prior to getting rid of my car and doing it every day. A single bike commute in a year worth of driving is an honorable mention, for sure, but until you commit to riding every day regardless of weather, traffic, and what your body is doing - well, it's just to say that it's an entirely different experience. It changes you, profoundly. Add distance on top of that - plan to not relate well to the rest of the driving world at all. Including most of those who also sometimes ride bikes.

Skipjacks

Earth is super dangerous.

93% of every human being in history has died on Earth! No joke!

On average, 6,316 people die every hour on Earth. At a rotational speed of 1,000 mph (at the equator) that is a death rate of 6.32 people per mile!

This planet is a death trap that needs to slow down!

It's safer to ride a bike in traffic on Earth than to simply stand still on it!

Tell that to the next busy body co-worker who says biking is too dangerous. Mention that you notice they are standing still....ask them what type of flowers they want at the funeral.

(I love statistics. You can prove literally anything with them.)

Data sources...(showing I can back this nonsense up!)

Death rates
https://www.quora.com/How-many-peopl...rage-worldwide

Earth speed
https://astrosociety.org/edu/publica...1/howfast.html

Skipjacks

I'm convinced the ISS driver is lost and too proud to stop and ask for directions.

Darn thing is just going in circles.

alan s 

Guarantee it’s a guy driving.

Skipjacks

Hey...he's going to ask for directions as soon as he needs gas. No need to make an extra stop!

Problem is that darn thing is powered by lateral free fall. And gravity gets REALLY good millage.

Anyway he may be lost. But he's making great time!

Jim from Boston

What do you say when...Since I was hit from behind with six weeks hospitalization three months off work, I’m a poster boy for those concerns, I have posted: and
Finally however, I have posted on several threads, even as a cycling advocate:

Riveting

I always say that a texting/drunk driver could easily cross the center line of a 40mph road (80 mph combined) and kill them, yet they continue to drive. Why?

RubeRad

I find that counter never works, because they just say (rightly) 'I've got a better protection in a big heavy car with airbags than you do on a bike'

Skaughtto

My response has been "the world is a safer place without me behind the wheel of a car" and "I feel a lot better mentally and physically as a result of riding a bicycle daily."

I've been doing it for two or three years and have lost like 30 lbs. Enough people are impressed by the weight loss and health benefits that I can argue they're in more danger as a result of going from sitting in a car, to sitting at a desk, to sitting in a car, to sitting on a couch every day.

Being free of the aggravation of sitting in traffic, responding to the price of gas and dealing with car maintenance has lowered my stress level a lot too.

noglider 

I like a lot of the responses here. One of my techniques for discussions like this is to start with finding common ground. So if someone says it's dangerous out there, I say, "Yes, I know. Some people are just crazy. To ride a bike out there, you really have to know what you're doing." Bam, I've just implied that I know what I'm doing. If someone wants to hear what expertise I have and how I acquired it, I'm happy to discuss that. The fact is that skill has a huge bearing on how safe you are on a bike. It matters more than whether you wear a helmet, and that's why I'm not a helmet advocate. I wear a helmet, and a helmet once saved my life, but I don't talk about it, because I'm on the skill bandwagon instead. And please, let's not discuss the merits of helmets.

Cycle Tourist

"I encounter fewer drivers acting crazy on a bike then when I drive. They generally feel less threatened."

wipekitty

Oh yes - I used to get this all the time, especially when I was a younger woman, and especially when I attempted to bike commute in professional clothes (rather than looking like the hot mess of bike gear and social deviance that I go for now.)

Co-workers, family, concerned community members - you name it, everyone thought I was going to get hit by cars and die, get mugged after dark and die, or get too hot/cold (and of course die.).

My usual responses focus on things like my experience riding lots of roads in lots of places, route planning, safety features of my bicycle and gear, and bringing up the fact that people die in cars as well (and the bike might be safer, since there's more room to move.)

My favorite, if I'm feeling snarky, is the hardman response: "Oh, yeah, I've been hit a few times. Two were just a bump and didn't even knock me off the bike. The only bad one was back in '08 when I got smacked by a minivan. I broke a few ribs and couldn't sit for two weeks, but I made it to work on time, even worked part of the day before going to Urgent Care!" The reactions are priceless, and I usually do not get schooled on safety again

base2 

Well, If I'm feeling curt, I usually just say: "Well, car drivers don't want to hit me either."

If they feel inclined to push the issue, then I usually respond with information overload. I extoll the virtues of speed limits, coming to a complete stop at stop signs, obeying all the traffic laws, how the brain/eyes do scanning & fill in the blanks...You are a good driver aren't you?

Then there's the bit about how as fast as cars are, they really aren't any faster from point A to point B for most trips. Partly because of traffic controls, but mostly because of other cars.

Then there's the bit about the danger to everybody else, (the reason for licensing standards, afterall.) & the $500/month obligation just to keep a car around just doesn't make a lot of sense financially, to me. I do have a car, but it's a dozen years old & paid for. "How's that extra shift at work working out for ya?"

I never need to find a parking spot & I can ride all the way to the time clock at work. Trip time is the same no matter which method I choose.

My health really isn't part of the discussion. I really don't think that is a factor in my bike riding. So, I don't bring it up. But the Mr. Metabolic Syndrome at work still gives me a look of disgust, so I must be doing something right.

Usually when I'm done, they are sorry they've asked.

chas58

I just smile, nod, and say “will do”.

I’ve been bike commuting since 1975, so I’m aware – and awareness is key. Its something not everyone has (I cringe when I hear of people dying of the right hook). That said – everything changed about 15 years ago when cell phones got popular. Suddenly it is as if 10% of the drivers are drunk drivers. I tell my kids that they have to ride like people in cars are trying to kill you – as there is not much difference between someone on a cell phone not paying attention an someone who is trying to hit you. The results are too often the same.

So, I avoid routes with traffic as much as possible (unless I’m riding the same speed as traffic), and I always use a helmet mounted rear view mirror.


And oddly, Cars treat me more like a human when I’m wearing street clothes and no helmet, vs wearing lycra and a helmet. Something about the traditional bike outfit removes our humanity.

acidfast7

I agree.

Also, riding styles may differ between me commuting in my Birkenstocks and a lycra-clad race commuter boi with drop-bars.