I Want To Ride My Bicycle…
… hence I’m middle-class?
The richest fifth of the population cycle on average 2½ times as far in a year as the poorest fifth…
A spokesman for the [London Cycling] campaign said: “People on lower incomes may be more concerned with the need to earn money than worrying about what constitutes healthy living or about the issue of climate change and how cycling is the greenest option.”
He said that poorer people might also be concerned that being seen on a bicycle would encourage others to view them as socially inferior…
[T]he club’s policy manager said that the growing popularity of cycling among white middle-class men was in danger of creating a new stereotype that would deter other sections of society from switching to two wheels. (The Times)
I’m amazed by the huge difference - richest fifth cycling 2½ times as far as the poorest fifth! It’s quite shocking. Why don’t “poor” people cycle? I wouldn’t have thought that the possibility of being considered “socially inferior” would prevent people from cycling. It seems absurd to me. Cycling is an efficient, healthy, and environmentally friendly form of transport.
I cycle everywhere. I have to. I can’t drive [and couldn't afford a car anyway] and hate the inefficiency, expense, and general crapness of public transport. Thus the only choice I have is to walk or cycle - and walking takes too long.
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Good to see this happening. I’ve jsut been discussing this sort of thing - getting back to simpler modes of transport. So everyone on his bike.