Most Cyclists Are Working-Class Immigrants, Not Hipsters

[bcroslin]

Story in Governing magazine about misconceptions about who is actually riding bikes in our communities (http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/memo-to-cities-most-cyclists-arent-urban-hipsters.html)

"Nationally and in cities across Sun Belt, the bulk of those who bike to work – based on our best available data – are low-income people. Nationwide, 49 percent of people in the cycling category earn less than $25,000 per year."

[unterhausen]

that's easy to believe. I stop in at a NJ convenience store occasionally, and there are always 6 bikes outside for the workers. This last time one of them had an electric assist wheel.

Here in State College, the proportion of well off commuters may be a little higher, unless you count students, in which case the income level is way below $25k

[beeatnik]

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=1948650&postcount=19

[Ralph]

True.....also many bike commuters are handicapped in some way (perhaps low IQ), and would have difficulty passing a driving test.....and that's if they could afford a car on the jobs they have. There are lots of people in urban areas who use a bike to get around....who don't consider themselves "cyclists". I think that's one reason, and maybe the best reason, why we need infrastructure in urban areas for bike use. You also see the same folks on buses and commuter trains. I admire their efforts to survive in our culture.

I know a wheel builder, who is also a terrific bike mechanic....who runs a repair shop out of her home to help these folks keep their bikes running. Lots of us locals donate unneeded stuff to her for that use. Her name is Diane Blake, and everyone in Central Florida knows her. (She also builds hi wheelers from scratch and sells them) http://www.victorybicycles.com/

[palincss]

I'll bet that's not true in Washington DC.

[bobswire]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njG7p6CSbCU

This photo reminds me of the ethnic diversity of commuters found here in San Francisco though obviously the photo was taken in LA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtDhtadoeUk) and not San Francisco.You can tell that by mode of dress,some riders are wearing sandals and flip flops, non designated bike lane(s)which is the norm for LA and no one wears an LA t-shirt except an LA'er.

http://i63.tinypic.com/24v8kex.jpg

San Francisco commuters.
http://i64.tinypic.com/14lt4xs.jpg

[bikinchris]

Honestly, I only see these kinds of riders:

Kids and their parents who want to ride with them.

Low income people who can't afford a car.

People with disposable income who ride for fun.

I see nothing in between these kinds of people riding bikes.

[don compton]

Story in Governing magazine about misconceptions about who is actually riding bikes in our communities (http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/memo-to-cities-most-cyclists-arent-urban-hipsters.html)

"Nationally and in cities across Sun Belt, the bulk of those who bike to work – based on our best available data – are low-income people. Nationwide, 49 percent of people in the cycling category earn less than $25,000 per year."
I guess I should consider myself not part of the cycling scene. You brought it up

[Davist]

Honestly, I only see these kinds of riders:

Kids and their parents who want to ride with them.

Low income people who can't afford a car.

People with disposable income who ride for fun.

I see nothing in between these kinds of people riding bikes.

Here in Philadelphia area, one of our friends is in law enforcement, and he says bike riders are either "high" income / ride for fun or people convicted of DUIs (or similar) with a VERY small percentage being the low income people... Cars are among the first things folks aspire to, in his opinion..

[sandyrs]

Love that the response to this study is to continue repeating the same misconceptions that the study is refuting.

[93legendti]

I always knew that Serottas weren't just for dentists...

[Nooch]

I work on the side at a restaurant in Northern New Jersey -- we have at least six bikes out back belonging to our kitchen staff on any given day.

Last night driving home, though, I passed 4 people on bikes -- 3 with no sort of lighting whatsoever, and one, on a fat bike, lit up like the new years eve ball in times square. Easy to tell who belongs to which demographic...

That said -- my wife refuses to accept me riding to my office, then to the restaurant, then home at 11pm (when, let's be honest, 11pm is probably safer on the roads in NNJ than 5pm...) I've given up on that battle, for now..

[biker72]

In my home town in eastern Iowa most of the riders I see are drunks that have lost their drivers licenses.

[harryschwartzma]

In NYC, the type of people I see riding is everyone.

[Mark McM]

Honestly, I only see these kinds of riders:

Kids and their parents who want to ride with them.

Low income people who can't afford a car.

People with disposable income who ride for fun.

I see nothing in between these kinds of people riding bikes.

That may be because of where you live and work. There's plenty more world outside of your environment.

Most of us here ride for pleasure, so we spend most of our times on roads that are enjoyable to ride. Which is probably roads away from commercial developments and industry, or dense housing populations. People who ride mostly for transportation ride the roads were they need to go (for their own economic/social reasons), rather than the roads that might be the most pleasant to ride. Since I ride mostly for pleasure, I don't cross paths as much with those riding purely for transportation. I see more transportation cyclists during my auto commute to work than I do when out pleasure riding.

[93legendti]

All riders matter