carless

If your thinking about biking instead of driving do it. If you read about others in the forum, you know it must be special....and hard.
It's hard because there are no popular people doing it,
no products marketed for it,
no sports teams compete to get milk at the store,
no magazines devoted to car-free people,
no status in doing it,
no real infrastructure,
no commercials,
no image, it goes on.
But the rewards are equally deserved,
live longer, healthier, and better,
if you stop next to a car, everybody looks at you,
sleep problems disappear,
society is no longer out of a glass cage
you can travel different ways everyday,
and of course $.

I'm tired, but I encourage everybody thats hedging, try it.

becnal

Yesterday, I asked my wife if I could borron her train pass so that I could ride the train for free instead of taking my bike for the 40 minute commute to work. I was feeling pretty lazy and diddn't feel like gathering my bike stuff.

Well, she said sorry honey, but I need it to go shopping. So I got my bike stuff together, jumped on my bike, and headed off. It took about 30 seconds of being on my bike to be thankful that she said no. What a great ride.

kurremkarm

Yeah hardest part for me is kitty litter and cat food but once a month or so i get on the bus and shop for those two heavy items. Everything else fits in my pack or basket.

natelutkjohn

The best remedy for those large items is a Military Sea-bag (like in the NAVY). I bought one when I was a kid for camping, now almost 15 years later I use it whenever I need to get largs bags of cat food/litter or do laundry. Those things are bottomless - although rather uncomfortable - however I only need to use it for the occasional trip.

BenyBen

Yes, totaly! Whenever I feel like wussing out, and end up going anyways, I get such a good ride.

It's true that there is no popular support of utility cycling, but who are we doing it for?

nathank

i agree that there is unfortunately virtually no "glamour" and "coolness" in utility cycling -- although in reality it IS much "tougher" and "rugged" and "manly" or whatever other trendy labels you want to use from the auto culture -than conforming and being lazy/comfy in a car and sitting on your butt...

utility cycling thus attracts basically 3 types: (usually a combination of 2 or all 3)
1) people who really do it for economy and savings
2) people who could drive but choose to bike on principle - because of environmental or community or social views (i.e. pollution, isolation of auto, death and destruction of auto culture, sprawl and waste, etc.)
3) people who bike simply because they love to bike and be active and enjoy the health benefits of cycling

but for people who want to gain/display social status and appear "cool" to others utility cycling unfortunately currently offers little...

fortunately most of us are self-confident and independent-minded enough to cycle anyway

P.S. as someone above noted, one of the main reasons why utility clycing is not "cool" is that there is very little money to be made in the industry and as a result no add campaigns and brain-washing... (imagine the "auto-style" adds showing the freedom you attain on a bike or the health or the benefits to your sex life or whatever...)

Heyduke

These are all great reasons to ride, pholks! Anyone still unsure, here are more practical reasons for driving (in addition to those stated above).

Sometimes you can get to where you're going much faster by pedaling than driving. I can't count the times that I've ridden under an underpass and noticed above, sitting in traffic the guy who was sitting in from of me at the last stop light. Don't that make me smile! Of course this only happens when I take the Greenway and avert traffic.

And, no need for parking spaces, parking meter fees, etc. This is especially important at the brewery where there is no free parking for cars!!

Lastly, most cyclists wave back and smile - drivers do not!

Earth First!

carless

Waaay off subject, but what occupation takes you to Germany, NYC and Rio? What part has transportation/lifestyle/globestomper played in your decisions?
As an aside I was stationed in Schweinfurt and well.. as a young soldier I had a different agenda in Frankfurt.

becnal

It's ok to be off subject. It's your thread man! =)

Yep, I'm an English teacher from NYC, lived in Rio for 2 years, now I'm here. I love it. Actually, I've loved every minute of my life so far. I don't thínk many people are as fortunate as I am.

I don't think I exactly get your question. Are you asking me what role my bicycle has on my lifestyle mas a globetrotter?

pedex

Wanna haul stuff, get one of these:

BeTheChange

I can't count how many times this has happened to me (well, maybe I could count the 40lbs I've lost). For a while this happened to me a lot but as I got more and more into it I've realized I almost never get the lazy feeling anymore. Now I'm even saving for a racing bike so I can do some races. When I'm riding I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing.

alterego3

For us newbies what is one of those?

cerewa

It also offers little to people who are looking for things to be easy, and don't want to face a challenge from time to time.

humancongereel

just a big messenger bag. you'd be surprised what you can get in one of those.

but i'm sticking with my ginormous army/navy store backpack. i carried a stereo from the store i brought it at to my house, no problems. a ton of groceries? no worries either. cat litter? i don't own a cat, but i should get one just so i can carry the cat liter on my bike with my backpack.

shishi

The messenger bag also makes for a great travel bag, so you can park your bike at the airport

Elvish Legion

I can....riding faster

Roody

...and further.