I'm not homeless/DUI, I'm riding because I like it..

[kendallf]

I've ridden thousands of miles a year for a number of years, but much of that mileage was wearing cycling kit (aka spandex).  Since moving to our new house, I'm riding a lot more around the neighborhood and downtown wearing regular clothes.  I should mention here that I live in Jacksonville, FL, several times voted by Bicycling magazine as one of America's worst cities to ride in.

Consequently, I have been seeing a lot more of the standard American mindset toward "utility cyclists".  On a nondescript bike, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, I am automatically poor, probably jobless, possibly without a driver's license. 

It's funny in small doses, but it can wear on you after a while.  My main commuter bike, worth about $1000, was stolen from in front of the main public library last week.  When I filed the police report (over the phone, they won't come out for bike thefts), the officer asked me if I had a permanent address.  Tonight I went into a few pawn shops near downtown just in case it had been pawned; two of the staff asked me if I'd like to pawn the bike I rode up on. 

Things are changing though; there are more and more commuter cyclists in the adjoining historic district, and the city recently hired a full time transportation coordinator who's supposed to work for more cycling infrastructure. 

I think I'll go out and ride the road bike tomorrow night just so somebody can call me a MAMIL.   :-D

[Khan]

Well, like you said, you're in Jacksonville. If you were in Seattle or some other pro-cycling city, that probably wouldn't be the reaction. Are you bothered by that reaction? **** them, you're a mustachian, and you're kicking their asses in the game of life by going against the grain.

Also, my understanding of Jacksonville is it's an incredibly poor city.

Anyways, one of my favorite stories from one of my professors one time was when he went up to a BMW dealership in his regular clothes(khaki's shorts, a nondescript T-shirt, flip flops) and received absolutely terrible service, revealed to the BMW dealer that he could've paid for a brand new car in cash, and told him to go **** himself.

[Empire Business]

Here in Seattle, it all depends on vantage point.  If they are driving a large SUV or even sometimes a small sedan, bicycles seem to employ a form of cloaking device which will not only prevent them from seeing those close by, but even stop them from believing that such things as bicycles and pedestrians in fact exist.

From the point of view of pedestrians, I have sometimes been hailed like a form of demi-god.  This goes double for when I ride my vintage bikes that were from the dump, $10 garage sale finds, grabbed from neighbors right before their dump run, etc.  I have literally had fan letters placed on my bike.

I don't have a driver's license and don't think there is anything wrong with it.  It was not taken away, I just don't have one. I grew up here and always walked, biked and used public transit.

You do you, OP.  I commend you for helping to groundbreak cycling in an area it is not widely socially accepted.  Because of you, it may be one day.

[dragoncar]

Well, like you said, you're in Jacksonville. If you were in Seattle or some other pro-cycling city, that probably wouldn't be the reaction. Are you bothered by that reaction? **** them, you're a mustachian, and you're kicking their asses in the game of life by going against the grain.

Also, my understanding of Jacksonville is it's an incredibly poor city.

Anyways, one of my favorite stories from one of my professors one time was when he went up to a BMW dealership in his regular clothes(khaki's shorts, a nondescript T-shirt, flip flops) and received absolutely terrible service, revealed to the BMW dealer that he could've paid for a brand new car in cash, and told him to go **** himself.

Good thing I'm in the SF Bay Area, where all salespeople are scared any given "poorly" dressed individual could be a dot com billionaire.

[davisgang90]

I lived in Jax off and on for years.  The Jax beach area seems to be a lot more friendly to bikers.  Of course lots of those are simple beach cruisers, but they are riding!

[GuitarStv]

See, the issue is that you're in a warm climate.  Half of the year around here when there's snow, below zero temperatures, and icy blowing wind you are viewed as some kind of Norse god of icy tarmac for cycling around.  I like to enhance that effect with a ninja mask and more blinking lights than a UFO.

[kendallf]

See, the issue is that you're in a warm climate.  Half of the year around here when there's snow, below zero temperatures, and icy blowing wind you are viewed as some kind of Norse god of icy tarmac for cycling around.  I like to enhance that effect with a ninja mask and more blinking lights than a UFO.

Win! 

During the winter when I ride in to work here, I get the same reaction.  On a few days when the temp is below freezing, I am hailed as the ultimate badass, it's hilarious. 

Last year I was in Calgary in February for work and took my travel bike along, as usual.  There was no snow on the ground, and we had a sunny day with temps around freezing.  I took off on my bike, wearing every cold weather item I own -- balaclava, turtle neck base layer, tights, outer jacket, gloves, etc.   As I rode down the path toward town, I saw a jogger coming toward me.  He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.   I waved and he said "Nice day!"  :-D

[GuitarStv]

lol . . . Southerners . . .

[Lans Holman]

I often have a nice shirt and tie on when I'm going to work and I think a lot of people who see me on my bike assume I'm some kind of missionary.

[MrsPete]

Yeah, have you heard scooters called "Liquor-sykles"?  So named because people without driver's licenses can drive them.

[frompa]

Posted by: Lans Holman
« on: October 29, 2013, 10:47:18 am » Insert Quote
I often have a nice shirt and tie on when I'm going to work and I think a lot of people who see me on my bike assume I'm some kind of missionary.


That is fucking hilarious.  I don't know why it strikes me that way, but it does.  Ha ha.

[goodlife]

Haha, I can relate to this. I have never had a car in my life and went to college in a small town in the South where nobody ever walks or bikes. I usually never left campus, but I took a class at another college that was about 1-1.5 miles away. The class was every morning at 8am for 3 years. I walked there and back every day Monday-Friday. It happend to me on multiple occasions that concerned citizens pulled over and offered me a ride. On two occasions I had a police car pull over to ask where my car was and whether I needed a lift somewhere.

[SavingMon(k)ey]

I was just thinking about this today, that since I started riding my bike to work more some of my colleagues (not all!) think I'm a real weirdo. One asked me if I wear knee and elbow pads to be safe! Lol!

[Eric]

I was just thinking about this today, that since I started riding my bike to work more some of my colleagues (not all!) think I'm a real weirdo. One asked me if I wear knee and elbow pads to be safe! Lol!

Hahahahahahaha!  Skateboard bikes are the best!

[rocksinmyhead]

I often have a nice shirt and tie on when I'm going to work and I think a lot of people who see me on my bike assume I'm some kind of missionary.

this made me literally laugh out loud.

the area of Tulsa I live and work in (and mostly ride my bike in) has A LOT of homeless people, many of them on bikes. usually I am dressed pretty normally on my bike, but I am ashamed to admit that sometimes my main reason for wearing my helmet is so that people know I'm definitely NOT a vagrant :(