this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2023
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Fuck Cars

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Big step for me at least. I'm not using the bike gutters, because I value my life. Nothing else, other than letting you know that some kid somewhere on earth is biking to school.

Idk, I feel great, but other kids already do this. It's crazy. And they don't talk about it at all, which I should as well, to avoid the cycling stereotype thing whatever. I like talking about things, and I have to avoid talking about it too much. Wish I could, though. That's all. Have a great day.

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[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Wear a helmet, and have a good day at school.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would add to that, make sure to keep your tyres pumped, your saddle height correct and your chain lubricated!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

When I was younger I didn't do any of that, I didn't know!

My bike bearings got bust at one point and I thought it was completely normal... kept riding the bike until the wheel could not spin anymore 😭

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Oh no! Tbh that would be me if I wasn't training to be a bike technician lol

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Thank you! :)

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Biking is life. - signed A Dutch guy.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

Biking (and public transport) is indeed life. Signed, another dutch guy

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

Hell yeah! Get it, fam. And yeah, try not to be annoying about it, but don't be shy about it, either: the more people know someone personally who bikes to places, the more every cyclist on the road gets humanized in the mind of the average driver. It makes all of us safer to talk about bike commuting.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Here in Portland we have the bike bus. It recently got enough attention that the state legislature passed a bill allowing schools to use transportation funding to promote/organize their own.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

That's awesome!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Hard not to talk about it when it is 100% the best way to start your day.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Just got my bike back from shop for a hefty maintenance. A lot had to be done and couple of parts had to be changed. At the end it costed me just 50€. If this was a car with a similar maintenance, it would have been at least couple of hundred, if not even close to a 1k€. Bikes are awesome.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You should mention what part of the world you live in. Western/northern Europe is paradise for cyclists compared to USA, for example

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I live in the United States

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Bike gutters are still safer than sidewalks for cyclists.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Is there statistical evidence of that? Mainly curious so I can arm myself next time someone argues about it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I too would like to see it

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There’s a study I posted below that says that bike lanes are just about always safer, didn’t really talk about sidewalk riding though. Where I live (not Florida) there’s a lot of blind driveways, so riding on the sidewalk can be dangerous for cars coming out of their driveway. (Second link describes that). Happy riding!

https://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/NITC-RR-583_ProtectedLanes_FinalReportb.pdf

https://floridacyclinglaw.com/blog/bicycle-lanes-vs-sidewalks

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Thanks for this, I'm not sure if I'm ready to switch though.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

IDK what the culture is like at your school, but if you're feeling motivated consider offering to organize a group ride to school to encourage others to join in. It could just start out as a one-time or once a month thing and increase from there if there's enough interest.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How would I do that? That doesn't seem like the kind of thing that would happen.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

It would be a similar process to organizing a club, though the exact steps would differ between schools. Ideally you'd meet up at a common central location for everyone and then continue onward to school, picking up other students along the way at other checkpoints.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

You just need biking buddies to talk about it with. Maybe you can start riding with some of your school mates.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What is the 'cycling stereotype'?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

I find it's similar to the XYZ stereotype, where people get annoyed because you're excited and interested in topic XYZ. Then they use that as an excuse to not like XYZ.

This is a joke but also not. People as a group are the worst.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Good on you, buddy. When you say they don't talk about it, do you mean among each other or with others? If the former, maybe you could use questions about bike maintenance as a way to start the conversation?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There aren't many others who also bike. It also feels weird to start a convo just from that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You could just ask something like, what's the best lubricant for your chain, something like that. You'll know from that if they're the type to nerd out about bikes. Good luck!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Idk, there are only so many people, that seems like a weird way to start, and it can be easily looked up. I haven't had a bike for very long, so I've never lubricated my chains. Different times, thanks for the advice anyways.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh I see. I guess it's a different culture where you are.

(you should have lubricated your chains already btw. Give them a clean with degreaser or washing up liquid, let them dry, then add lubricant. Every month or so, more in wet weather. Regular maintenance will save you a lot in repair costs)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago