BMW…

I ride a road bike to work while wearing multiple layers of minimally branded, non-team lycra because it is light weight, aerodynamic and appropriate for my mode, speed and style. I have my change of clothes sorted for my destination and, thanks to well chosen layers, never arrive with a sweat on, can change quickly and still be quicker from breakfast to desk than driving and parking is.

When I tour or mountainbike, I wear a mix of Ground Effect and Kathmandu outdoors gear because it’s appropriate. If my clothing choices set me apart, that’s the bigotry of others, not anything wrong with what I’m doing.

If I had to wear tweed, and ride a sit-up-and-beg bike in order to not “put people off cycling”, my commute would LITERALLY take twice as long – close to 80 minutes! That would make cycling useless as transport for me, so I will continue to dress to suit my cycling.

It’s not me dehumanising myself, it’s others judging me for not dressing like them. I don’t judge you for wearing tweed, or whatever is your choice, I welcome every rider, of every speed or style. I don’t judge a cyclist for their choice of ride or wear. I don’t judge a motorist for driving in a suit, whatever floats whoever’s boat.

Scott, congratulations, you’ve successfully joined the driving bogans, who criticise cyclists for their choice of transport or their choice of clothing. Your remarks about lycra are no better than anti-cyclist abuse hurled from a wound down car window.

Country link has to be worked on.

As for the daglo, it does prevent cycling looking elegant and beautiful in the Copenhagen Cycle Chic way. (I assume you know that great blog) and denied that sort of a look, is one reason why so few women ride here.

It’s great to see what difference a council can make, especially with relatively limited amount of funds compared to road building.

It shows that, if you provide the right infrastructure, cycling usage can increase.

Nice to see.

Something that Marc from Amsterdamize and I have talked about, is that the more human you look, the more likely people are to treat you humanely on the roads (or just in general, really). It’s easier, I would venture, to view someone in neon clothes, flashing lights, weird shoes and helmet as something “other” than it is a person in jeans, sneakers, a sweater and a wool cap.

I personally have no problem with people wearing helmets, if it makes the difference between them riding or not, and especially if they don’t feel confident on the bike regardless of being in traffic or not, but I do think they are an indicator of subjective safety – the safer people feel, the less likely they are to wear a helmet. I would also say that the vehement helmet evangelists do nothing but harm the cause of cycling.

I think there are a lot of things about the typical European/Asian city bicycle that are both very humanizing and very convenient – see The All-Weather Bicycle on Portlandize.

The process of riding itself is very humanizing, as opposed to driving, as you are propelling yourself, your are not encased in steel, you can see and interact with your environment, etc – not to mention the preventive health benefits.

Good to see someone else out to promote cycling positively, keep up the good work!

You’ve got me motivated. I sent an personal email to each of my 12 local councillors, the Managing Director and Director Assets & Services at the Kogarah City Council in Sydney.
The punch line was a challenge to watch the video with a request for a personal response.

Oh, by the way before all of you non-Aussies sell up and move to Kogarah – watch the video.
http://www.kogarah.nsw.gov.au/www/html/2437-video—the-city-of-kogarah.asp
(notice the beautiful bicycle pic on the top if the page!)
Des
From Sydney

But there was not time in the film for her answer which had more to do with council concerns, than hers. Also the helmet question, which I’ve covered in other films, was not something to get into here.

Jackie wears a helmet comfortably. She’s used to it and and that too is an issue for another film with her.

Take a look at the companion film, Doctor on a bike. Ian Charlton speaks about helmets , their down side, even though he wears one.

Both films make the point that we’d be wise to change the bikes we use, and our posture, for everyday riding, change to sit-ups if we are to make any real progress in growing urban cycling in this country. Mike

Still, even in pro-bike Yarra, we see illustrations of where our fledgling bike culture has a long way to go. The helmets (of course), but also the ghastly fluoro safety wear, which I’m sure puts so many people off riding a bike by implying not only that that cycling is inherently dangerous, but that it is inherently graceless and ugly.

What person with even a modicum of savoir faire or personal style is going to look at that group of Canning St cyclists, in their helmets, dayglo jackets and clinging lycra, hunched over like cavepeople with their arses in the air, and conclude that cycling is a cool and dignified mode of transport, worthy of their attention? Not to mention that hideous competitive little race across the intersection when the light turned green? What adult wants to engage in a mounted pissing contest with some buffoon in a jacket reminiscent of of George Michael’s socks, circa 1984?