Originally Posted by
John Forester
A noticeable number of Americans have decided that they like the exercise and enjoyment provided by fast cycling. They have provided the growth in American cycling. Those American groups who cycled slowly have not grown much, presumably because they did not find cycling useful for their purposes, whatever those purposes are. It is silly to argue that the fast cyclists have inhibited the slow cyclists, prevented them from continuing on their useful way, whatever that is.
Fast cyclists have not inhibited slower cyclists... the perception that one has to be lycra clad and fast, along with the negative appeal of sharing the road with the automobile are part of what has inhibited those that might cycle but do not due to those perceptions.
When people see "cycling training videos" showing lycra clad cyclists riding in traffic, they tend to think "that's not for me." Even me showing up to a Road 1 class in lycra and jersey can send the wrong message to those that have come far enough along to desire to take a cycling class.
The perception of the American cyclist is that cycling is done as a sport by young fit males. As the article points out when casually dressed women feel comfortable cycling, they are seen as a good indicator of the general acceptability of cycling.