In our efforts to reach more of the ever-growing audience on BikeForums.net, I’ve learned that there seems to be two distinct camps among those that choose pedals over pistons for their sole means of transportation.
A suggestion was made recently to incorporate a “Utility Bike” forum. Unfortunately, this topic does not fit neatly in Commuting, Alt Bikes, or even Living Car Free. Some people want to know how to build a trailer, or what gearing works best with an Xtracycle. Others are interested in hauling things like groceries, building supplies, or kids. It all comes down to bikes and accessories that are made for work, not just getting to work.
And therein lies the problem. A vocal minority of car-free cyclists consider their decision to be a political one. Something about the internal combustion engine being the root of all evil in the world. They’re making a “statement”, as opposed to those people that just choose a bicycle as their primary transportation because it’s cheap, fun, and healthy. In some cases, this means that they feel they can look down on car owners. Because of this, they have a relatively small percentage of the forum membership actually participating in their discussions. I’m sure there are plenty of lurkers, but they choose not to join or post, as it’s not the most welcoming environment. It also means that utility bikes, something that many of them may rely on in one form or another, will need to find a home in a different forum.
For those people that are looking to lessen their reliance on a car, but don’t necessarily want to give it up completely, you won’t be left out in the cold on the forums. There will be a place for you. Watch for it in the next week or so. And remember, all those little steps really add up. If they lead to a car-free lifestyle, all the better.
By the way, I personally dislike the phrase “Living car free”. The boys at Xtracycle have a much better term - Bicycle Lifestyle.
