Conservative Cyclists Transcend Cultural Stereotypes - Can’t We All Just... Go for a Bike Ride?

[BridgeTheGap]

A wiry thirtysomething guy bikes out of the Whole Foods parking lot, a pannier of organic produce strapped to his rack. He’s on his way home to make dinner after a couple of hours spent door-knocking for Greenpeace. He pulls into the street, pedaling quickly, but he’s not moving fast enough for a hulking SUV whose impatient driver doesn’t want to change lanes. She tailgates him for several yards, laying on the horn, then swerves into the other lane and tears past him, yelling something about getting on the sidewalk. The cyclist gives her a one-fingered salute, then notices a McCain-Palin sticker on her bumper.

Typical.

Bike commuters hit the streets in massive numbers last year, and scenarios like this one—starring the lefty cyclist and the GOP-loving driver—have been bandied about in media reports and water-cooler anecdotes. But not everyone on two wheels is out to curb climate change or stick it to the man. There are conservatives who integrate bikes into their lives just as thoroughly as their liberal counterparts do, which raises the question: Do bikes and politics really have to mix?

Mitch Berg is a conservative talk-radio host whose blog, A Shot in the Dark, is divided between political content and chronicles of his bike-commuting experiences. “I grew up in rural North Dakota, and biking was one of my escapes when I was in high school and college,” he says. “It’s my favorite way to try to stay in shape. And if gas fell to 25 cents a gallon, I’d still bike every day.”

Berg doesn’t believe there’s anything inherently political about riding a bike, and plenty of conservative pedal pushers seem to agree. “I do not care about gas prices or the environment. I care about fun and getting where I am quickly,” writes Old Scratch, a poster on Bike Forums, an Internet discussion site for all things bike related. “I find cycling to be a very conservative activity,” writes Maddyfish. “It saves me money and time.”

http://www.utne.com/Politics/Conservative-Cyclists-Republican-Bikes-Transcend-Cultural-Stereotypes.aspx

[RiverStone]

1. Fitness is apolitical....

We should all get off our ass and exercise ---- frequently!

Too bad some "conservative bikers" don't share an appreciation of environmental ethics, but maintaining a healthy body makes health care less expensive for everyone.

[BridgeTheGap]

2. Absolutely. Join together to make the highways safer for bikers too! n.t

[Mika]

3. I cycle commute to work every day in Miami. I ride on the roads w/bike lanes...

... unfortunately many drivers seem to think that the clearly marked bike lanes are for their cars also. I've been sideswiped and pushed off of the road many times by arrogant drivers - a couple of times I've had to veer off the road into the soft graveled shoulder where my front wheel sinks into the dirt and I've flipped over (luckily, no major damage done).

I've gotten so fed up that I've been calling the police demanding enforcement of the bike lanes in the certain areas where this takes place.

Last week FINALLY there were cops at the locations pulling cars over for driving on the bike lanes. I called my local PD to thank them for doing so and I found out that over 200 citations were issued in two days on one short stretch in Coral Gables (where there's a bike laned roadway I take).

I've noticed far fewer cars using the bike lanes this week.

Its about fair enforcement. Its about securing a space for us to take the risk of cycle commuting. We have to pull together to make it happen.

:hi:

[Orsino]

4. Gee, a conservative who doesn't care about the environment?

Who cares instead about his own fun, and time savings?

Revolutionary.