anastrophe

Huh. So if I have a college degree and a cushy paying job, but I don't have a drivers license and choose to ride a bike instead, am I a low-life too?

vrkelley

Well 'mixups' seem to occur when they see me in foul weather!

2manybikes

Most drivers that are not cyclists think you can't get a liscence for some reason, if you are not in a college town. DUI, no money, or some kind of handicap. If you ride a trike of any kind they think you have a balance problem.
They really don't think about bicycles much. Even when they pass you they don't think about you much.
They don't care. Unless you slow them down.

Rowan

And wasn't it you that came back with the classic "yeah and I don't need a stick to wipe my butt"?

Contender for post of the year 2006, that one.

CrosseyedCrickt

yup, same thread even
ahhh the memories of that incident....

Portis

I've been called one many times, but never mistaken for one.

rs_woods

Kids at the skate park think I'm a homeless lady, despite the fact that I am very much a male (with facial hair and everything) and ride a $500 trek and wear designer clothing (hey, I just quit working at a department store. It was the discounts, the discounts!). They holler cuss words & stuff at me but if any one of them comes close they'll get my U-lock in the teeth.

HereNT

As new coworkers come in, they usually take a few months to figure out that I really don't have any interest in cars. Or even getting a ride home in a blizzard or thunderstorm.

They eventually figure out that the bicycle is pretty much a tool that enables me to have more money and party more than they can. The funny thing is that they're all 'I could never do that.' It's not like it's hard.

Living in mpls probably helps - people are used to seeing crazy bikers of all kinds pretty much year round.

dynodonn 

I'm haven't been mistaken for a low life, just wearing a bicycle helmet usually elevates one's status in my area.

RomSpaceKnight

I get mistaken for a "poor" person all the time. Till people get to know that I just a weirdo who prefers to ride a bike than drive a car. I make 60,000$ a year and own a 200,000$ home yet I don't own a car. A big fast red motorcycle and two 1500$ bicycles though. I have had non-regulars at local pup yell out "Get a real job" as I lock my bike to the patio. They usually drive of in an early 80's bucket of a pickup in need of a tuneup, muffler and ring job. I'm a single bachelor I could have a huge SUV or even a beemer. I love the disposable income not owning a car gives you. 5000$ a year to piss up against the wall buying toys and good times.

capejohn

On a very early morning commute, I saw a man standing next to his bike. He was about 60 yards away. As I neared, I noticed he was in his early twenty's, longish hair and a little unkempt. Just as I came along side of him, from behind, he was mounting his bike. I asked. "You ok, need any help or tools." He jumped a bit, took a quick look at me and ate his cigarette.

"I'm fine", he said.

As I passed him, I caught the distinct aroma of pot and said to him, "Just having your morning tea?" And rode off.

So my answer is, I don't look like a vagrant, I look more like a cop.

HereNT

Crap - I forgot about that. I've had a few times when I was looking for a place to stop and have a beer and a smoke (nicotine) on a late night ride and surprised vagrants. They (different people at different times) thought I was a cop because of all my flashing blinkers! They're usually cool once I crack a beer and start chatting...

ax0n

I ride in jeans and a hoodie most of the time when it's chilly out, and I've gotten looks as if I'm pseudo homeless and/or convicted of DUI or something. I'd imagine if I looked OCP people would probably think "oh. fatzo bike fairy. someone give me a spork so I can gouge my eyes out!" instead of "I'd bet that guy has had a crappy life." or "Hey, it's a bike messenger!"

I really don't care. I make more money than they think I do -- As a matter of fact, I probably make more than most of the chubby cagers that point and laugh at me. And if I don't, I'm at least getting fit instead of corn-fed.

TomM

I get sneaky glances from people at work. Personally I don't care what others may think of me.

Golf XRay Tango

I haven't had anyone call me a lowlife (to my face). I did have one lady sing out "you don't pay any tax" when she pulled up next to me at a light.

I asked her to be my accountant, since I paid over $50K last year, and wouldn't mind getting some of it back. I don't think she caught my reply, since she'd returned to her regularily scheduled daze.

donnamb 

I can't help but wonder what they think of Bailey. Rear gunner, perhaps?

I guess there is something to be said for looking very much like a frumpy, middle class female with my purple windbreaker and my braid hanging out of my helmet down my back. I don't get mistaken for the women on bikes who look like they were ridden hard and put away wet or the women hipsters, so I experience a minimal amount of botheration.

My housemate is 10 years my junior, looks somewhat hipsterish, and rides a lovely, old Univega. She gets so much more crap than I do.

deputyjones

Yeah, I tried to word that so I did not offend the car free crowd, but apparenly I failed. My apologies to you, and I never intended to call anyone a low life just because they choose to not have a drivers license. In face, my hats off to you as I don't have the guts to go car free just yet. Although given my profession I will always need to maintain a valid driver's license (hmmm...retirement goal perhaps?)

The Figment

Onward Thru The Fog!! You need to go check out Austin,Bad traffic,but many ways to avoid most of it on the side streets,Lots to do,and NOT San Antonio!!

RomSpaceKnight

I had a psycho guy off his meds hit me over the head with a bottle cause he thought I looked like an MTB cop in my blue windbreaker and dark helemt. Lucky I was wearing a helmet. It took 5 cops to get him in paddy wagon for trip to LPH (London Psychiatric Hospital, Highbury Hilton). They were trying not to hurt him but for a little guy he put up one heck of a fight.

cyclezealot

THere are so many cyclists in SO Cal; they are not surprised to see us milling about. BUt, that does not mean that many a motorist hate us.

Sammyboy

Here, bikes are mostly ridden by people in low paying factory jobs - or at least that's who I mostly pass on the bike paths at commute time. Those guys are all wearing a greasy/dirty hi-vis, big workboots, and riding a cheap MTB, so I don't generally look like them. I've not noticed too much judgement, to be honest.

substructure

Not me. I'm too friggin good looking to be considered anything but a pro at the highest level on a training ride.







i hope this "power of positive thinking" thing really works

you ARE a good cyclist
you ARE a good cyclist
you ARE a good cyclist

Saintly Loser

I've never been mistaken for a lowlife, at least not since I turned 40. But then, here in New York, it's perfectly normal not to own a car. And I ride my bike to work dressed in a suit and tie. Really, I don't get a second look. My co-workers who know how I get to work think it's fine. They think I'm a fitness nut sometimes, which is pretty far from the truth, but that's as bad as it gets.

anastrophe

Sorry here too, I was a bit jumpy. I get mistaken for a college student all the time--my coworkers think I'm totally nuts but when they start telling me about what I'm missing out on by not having a car, I just respond with "...and I don't have to pay car insurance."

2manybikes

This is how Bailey sees himself......