Comments on: Biking up the Wrong Tree

By: Herve

Herve — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:09:44 +0000

It is sad, isn’t it.

Sydney is such a beautiful city, with good weather all year, and mostly flat.

You would think there would be much more bicycle usage here. Not with this govt efforts to discourage cycling.

I agree, we need to get rid of this of this pointless helmet law. It has already done too much damage. Time for lobbying and increasing the political pressure to support rather than discourage cycling. The focus need to shift to bicycle infrastructure.

Not sure how well the bike shares would do here though. The bicycle culture and infrastructure might need to be a bit more established first.

By: datillo

datillo — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:56:58 +0000

Adrienne, you comment is precious. You confirm everything I’ve been saying and from a base of far more years of experience than I’ve had. I hope you’ll join on your blog in promoting this link we’ve identified between up-straight and happier safer, commuting.

Let’s try and recruit more testimony along the same lines. I don’t know if Beetle Bane as I call it, (see the second last post ) is as rife as it is here. I’m convinced it’s one of the reasons we lag so far behind in Aust, in our bike utility use rates. That’s my hunch. You start me on the path to proving it

My next move is going to be to get some physiotherapists on film. I hear they often have bike ailment patients, and may have something authoritative to say.

Re your gazelle, I know the two nice guys who are bringing Gazelles into Aust. They’ll be pleased to read about your choice.

Again, thanks so much for going to the trouble to leave your comment. Mike

By: Adrienne Johnson

Adrienne Johnson — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:00:21 +0000

I commuted for many years on a mountain bike. I never really thought about it until I suffered some rather nasty injuries that made the quite aggressive seating position of my sport bikes very uncomfortable. There were no upright bikes being made in the US at that time, so I suffered through. Then about 7 years ago, my local bike shop guy suggested some modifications to my bike that made me upright. It was a different biking world. No more strain, no more difficulty keeping my eyes on the cars, no more pressure on my wrists and neck… It wasn’t until I had to go back to a sport style bike for awhile that I noticed the more subtle differences riding upright makes- when I am upright I am able to react to situations sooner because I can see them better, I get into fewer situations because I can be seen. Most interestingly, I deal with much less driver aggression when I am upright because I can make eye contact with drivers- fewer incidences of getting hooked at intersections, fewer doorings, less verbal abuse…..
Now I ride a very traditional Dutch bike. Very upright, no helmet, regular clothes. It humanizes me in the eyes of those who see me riding, and it makes me feel more secure knowing that I am seen as a person, not as a speeding daredevil. People approach me about riding in the City and ask about my bike and how I get around. It makes me an ambassador, not just a commuter.

As to why people put up with it? I think it is because riding in a city without proper infrastructure and a terribly car-centric outlook is a lot like going into battle. Riders, on some level feel they need to be aggressive and fast to keep up so they choose aggressive cycles and posture. I also think there is a certain desire to be anonymous to try to avoid backlash on the road. It does not help that many people who sell bicycles have very rigid ideas about what cycling should be. Just my theory.

By: datillo

datillo — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:46:29 +0000

Adrienne, perhaps you have not seen, Planet Bike, and so wont know what I’m talking about above. have a look. Mike

By: datillo

datillo — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:45:09 +0000

Adrienne, I found your blog, I don’t know how exactly. perhaps via David Hembrow or was it copemhagenose. Anyway, I like it’s cheery feisty tone and so am very glad you got back to me. I think I linked to you also.

What do you think about my contention that for everyday getting somewhere bike us, the sit bike is by far the best. I have to E bikes. My daughter was riding the Giant Suede , the posture I like best in the movie, Planet bike. Do you sit up like that, ever?

I cant understand why riders here, esp women, endure so much unnecessary pain in their backs, their necks, their crotches and their wrists. They seem to think it just goes with the wheels. Mike

By: Adrienne Johnson

Adrienne Johnson — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:31:42 +0000

When I one day make it to Australia, I would love to ride around your town and see it the way you do! The cause of cycling has just gained a wonderful new defender! OK, 2- your friend Bruce is pretty cool!

By: Brent

Brent — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:35:13 +0000

I love these movies, for their charm and wistfulness and storytelling, and for their ability to show me that the bicycle situation is almost the same everywhere among rich countries (save a few). Change the accent and put traffic on the other side of the road, and this film shows Los Angeles, my home town. We don’t have the all ages helmet law, but our streets are devoid of bicycles all the same, and like you, some of us hope that time will bring change.

By: Paul van Bellen

Paul van Bellen — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:23:47 +0000

Nice post again Michael! Keep up the great work and know that one day the cities will cycle again!