Sunday's New York Times featured an interesting angle on the growing conflict between motorists and bicyclists across the country. The article cited incidents of rage and violence in North Carolina, New York, California and Oregon. Seattle's Critical Mass bikes vs. motorist incident wasn't as violent and newsworthy as other cities' conflicts, so it didn't make the list. But frustrations in Seattle were represented by this comment grabbed from an anonymous Seattle blog: "Drown yourself in espresso and tears!" The curious comment apparently refers to the motorists' resentment of "elitist bicyclists." Writes the Times: "There's a whiff of class warfare in the simmering hostility, too. During morning rush, the teeth-gritting of drivers is almost audible, as superbly fit cyclists, wearing Sharpie-toned spandex and riding $3,000 bikes, cockily dart through the swampy, stolid traffic to offices with bike racks and showers." On the other end of the class spectrum are cyclists who can't afford other transportation, "often immigrants on clunkers, without helmets or lights."
This observation leaves me both perplexed and amused. As a regular bike commuter, most cyclists I encounter are a thrifty bunch who definitely do not ride $3,000 bikes. I myself rode a bike I bought on craigslist for $200 for over two years. And the majority of cyclists I've seen without helmets or lights are middle class recreationalists cruising around the neighborhood. A few hot bods out there I would call "superbly fit," but the majority of people on bikes are just everyday folks wanting to get some exercise while saving a few bucks on gas.
Yea, I think thats a bit off base. I think more middle and low income people ride. Not elite, wealty types as much. I've never seen Bill G roll up in Redmond on a bike... Same could be said about the price of Motorcycles, Cars... Its more an attitude thats causing the problem.
Not sure why a $3,000 bike is elitist, although I bought mine used for $180. It may seem like alot of money for a bike, but it's considerably cheaper 99 percent of the cars I see on the road.