Riding my bike is not political
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
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.
Likes For Bjorneas:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 743
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 377 Post(s)
Liked 446 Times
in
258 Posts
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
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,999
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1370 Post(s)
Liked 1,699 Times
in
837 Posts
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
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,999
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1370 Post(s)
Liked 1,699 Times
in
837 Posts
Of course the perfect response in a church parking lot would be "Judge not lest you be judged."
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2023
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 641
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 316 Times
in
204 Posts
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.
Likes For ScottCommutes:
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,998
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2651 Post(s)
Liked 2,006 Times
in
1,256 Posts
Likes For pdlamb:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 763
Bikes: 1969 Peugeot PX10, 1992 Della Santa, Linus Roadster 8, Biria 700C ST-8
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 801 Post(s)
Liked 514 Times
in
327 Posts
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
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,663
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 568 Post(s)
Liked 1,971 Times
in
886 Posts
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.
__________________
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
Likes For RCMoeur:
#10
Cantilever believer
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,663
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 568 Post(s)
Liked 1,971 Times
in
886 Posts
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.
__________________
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.
Likes For mlau:
#12
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 49
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Priority Classic Plus Gotham-Edition
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
8 Posts
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
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,663
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 568 Post(s)
Liked 1,971 Times
in
886 Posts
Oh wait, maybe you are doing it right, but that would mean you're not doing it left, but... never mind.
__________________
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
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 13,035
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 131 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4896 Post(s)
Liked 4,068 Times
in
2,637 Posts
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."
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,607
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1015 Post(s)
Liked 1,715 Times
in
1,102 Posts
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...
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 4,607
Bikes: Univega, Peu P6, Peu PR-10, Ted Williams, Peu UO-8, Peu UO-18 Mixte, Peu Dolomites
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1015 Post(s)
Liked 1,715 Times
in
1,102 Posts
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
__________________
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
No matter where you're at... There you are... Δf:=f(1/2)-f(-1/2)
Likes For Siu Blue Wind: