Riding my bike is not political
#1
Riding my bike is not political
Upon seeing me locking up my bike after riding it to church an elderly man commented, "Joe Biden would love this guy." (Context: USA)
I guess he meant that riding my bike was a politically liberal thing to do. That really bummed me out. This suggests that some American conservatives don't ride their bike because they perceive it to be a lefty thing.
I want more people to ride bikes and want politics to be left out of it.
I guess he meant that riding my bike was a politically liberal thing to do. That really bummed me out. This suggests that some American conservatives don't ride their bike because they perceive it to be a lefty thing.
I want more people to ride bikes and want politics to be left out of it.
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#2
Senior Member
There are a lot of angry people out there, and they're getting angrier (gee, wonder why...). Anything you are or appear to be, do or appear to be doing ... can be judged in a political context. I think a majority of us have had political hate speech thrown at us on the road by now, whether our riding has some political motivation or we're just out for a pleasant ride. It's part of the scene now. And it's not just cyclists, although we're easy targets because we stand out as unusual.
I ride in a pretty congenial area, but even here it is no longer shocking to me when I get "*******" (edit: "*******" - sheesh, even this is blocked) or similar thrown at me from a passing car. It's about as common now as suggestions regarding my sexual orientation (that's usually high school boys).
I ride in a pretty congenial area, but even here it is no longer shocking to me when I get "*******" (edit: "*******" - sheesh, even this is blocked) or similar thrown at me from a passing car. It's about as common now as suggestions regarding my sexual orientation (that's usually high school boys).
Last edited by cb400bill; 04-16-24 at 06:44 AM. Reason: Do not change the spelling of words to bypass the forum censor
#3
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Don't let others steal your joy. Be grateful you don't have to live or work with a person like that who jumps to baseless conclusions and offers unsolicited opinions.
#4
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Of course the perfect response in a church parking lot would be "Judge not lest you be judged."
#5
Senior Member
The problem I see in this post is not the bike commuting or the rude old man. It's the sad fact that here in America you feel strongly enough that someone is going to break a commandment and steal your bike while it is parked at a church to go ahead and lock it up.
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Well I think riding my bike is political. Not so much Biden vs. Trump but a simple statement that there is another way besides the gas guzzler hot rod means of transportation. That's what I am doing, transporting myself in a simple efficient way. BTW, church parking lots are notorious for road rage. And it's true. One of many reasons why I don't go to church.
#9
Cantilever believer
Leftish points for cycling: saving the environment, minimal fossil fuel use, reduce motorized vehicle dependence, closer to nature
Rightish points for cycling: Freedom to travel, individual effort, great outdoors, self-supporting, reduces costs
...and all the centerish stuff too.
Regrettably, people can make the "bike-left" assumption. In my usual riding group, we have a whole range of viewpoints from mid-left to seriously conservative. Same at the co-op (in spite of it being an anarchist co-op, a few rightists like the volunteering and playing with bikes). But in all these groups we get along, and try not to get under each others' epidermii.
At the national level, though, the skew is different, especially with "full-time advocates". I remember the keynote speaker at the ProWalkProBike conference in Victoria BC in 2004, who took it upon himself to disparage the then-current occupant of the Oval Office. He then caught himself, and asked: "How many Republicans / Conservatives in the audience?"
Three of us raised our hands - and we were all sitting together.
Rightish points for cycling: Freedom to travel, individual effort, great outdoors, self-supporting, reduces costs
...and all the centerish stuff too.
Regrettably, people can make the "bike-left" assumption. In my usual riding group, we have a whole range of viewpoints from mid-left to seriously conservative. Same at the co-op (in spite of it being an anarchist co-op, a few rightists like the volunteering and playing with bikes). But in all these groups we get along, and try not to get under each others' epidermii.
At the national level, though, the skew is different, especially with "full-time advocates". I remember the keynote speaker at the ProWalkProBike conference in Victoria BC in 2004, who took it upon himself to disparage the then-current occupant of the Oval Office. He then caught himself, and asked: "How many Republicans / Conservatives in the audience?"
Three of us raised our hands - and we were all sitting together.
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Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
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#10
Cantilever believer
Well I think riding my bike is political. Not so much Biden vs. Trump but a simple statement that there is another way besides the gas guzzler hot rod means of transportation. That's what I am doing, transporting myself in a simple efficient way. BTW, church parking lots are notorious for road rage. And it's true. One of many reasons why I don't go to church.
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Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
#11
Full Member
I dunno why biking would be political.
Isn't biking pleasure? Freedom? Mobility? Practical? Self Sufficiency? Fun? Makes me happy?
If this is politically incorrect, I'd rather be incorrect.
Isn't biking pleasure? Freedom? Mobility? Practical? Self Sufficiency? Fun? Makes me happy?
If this is politically incorrect, I'd rather be incorrect.
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#12
Newbie
Upon seeing me locking up my bike after riding it to church an elderly man commented, "Joe Biden would love this guy." (Context: USA)
I guess he meant that riding my bike was a politically liberal thing to do. That really bummed me out. This suggests that some American conservatives don't ride their bike because they perceive it to be a lefty thing.
I want more people to ride bikes and want politics to be left out of it.
I guess he meant that riding my bike was a politically liberal thing to do. That really bummed me out. This suggests that some American conservatives don't ride their bike because they perceive it to be a lefty thing.
I want more people to ride bikes and want politics to be left out of it.
#13
Cantilever believer
Oh wait, maybe you are doing it right, but that would mean you're not doing it left, but... never mind.
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Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
#14
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I've been leading a Sunday morning ride for 33 years and counting. There are a very few times when we have a less-than-positive interaction with someone(s) who look like they are enroute to worship. Sometimes I just sigh and say, "I hope they pray for us once they get there."
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Ha... And I guess if ya were tucking away a 5 iron he would have said "Trump..."
Come on man. It was probably nothing at all.
Of course back in my neighborhood in SanAnto they would have quietly said... Watcha...
Come on man. It was probably nothing at all.
Of course back in my neighborhood in SanAnto they would have quietly said... Watcha...
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#16
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So let me elaborate. So in San Antonio what is the Colloquial TexMex term "Watcha"?
Ok, I will try to give ya an example:
There is a large stray brown mut dog taking a big dump on a busy side walk as you and your buddies are driving by. You pull over to the side of the road and tell your buddies "Watcha". A few moments latter you all see the brown dog over by a fence with another dog observing his recent deposit. You then see some young guy walking along the sidewalk with his face buried into a cell phone. As he approaches the dogs deposit you and your buddies see the brown dog turn to his companion and say "Watcha".
Its probably more funny in Spanish... Ha
Ok, I will try to give ya an example:
There is a large stray brown mut dog taking a big dump on a busy side walk as you and your buddies are driving by. You pull over to the side of the road and tell your buddies "Watcha". A few moments latter you all see the brown dog over by a fence with another dog observing his recent deposit. You then see some young guy walking along the sidewalk with his face buried into a cell phone. As he approaches the dogs deposit you and your buddies see the brown dog turn to his companion and say "Watcha".
Its probably more funny in Spanish... Ha
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