Daily Derp: The Derp Of Our Times

Quick derp hit.

Here's an article in WSJ about how cities are taking advantage of the corona virus to install a bicycle culture.

My thoughts.

I've been cycling (race bikes) for over 40 years now mostly restricted to riding in farm fields where there are longer roads (and mostly far less traffic) allowing for a rewarding cycling session (you can't ride at 32km/hr in the city in peace)  so I can impart some thoughts based on raw experience on this push to get everyone on a bike.

People supporting this measure in the comments tend to have a one-side, one-dimensional view of his. They figure cars are bad and getting exercise never hut anyone. But this is just paternalistic and patronizing thinking. 

Biking isn't for everyone. Some people just can't do it for whatever reasons and aren't interested in forming a habit. Some people just don't like sports.

I cycle more than the average person but have zero interest in going to the grocery store on my bike. Besides, I'd be worried of it getting stolen even if I lock it up. Expensive custom made bikes I reckon do attract thieves. 

Not everyone can or wants to use bikes as a mode of transportation. In my case, it would be impossible to do everything I need to do for my business on a bike. A bike is a neat way to get around town in short spurts, not so much if you have to zip around quickly for work.

Why should one perspective take precedence over the other? It's been said 'why is this political?' (we heard this about the masks). The drive to change habits is political by its nature and everyone has a right to decide for themselves. Not everyone has the same physical attributes (some have health issues as well) in order to ride a bike. 

Free country and all that. How does it work?

The other part of this story is people are simply not safe on bike lanes. I avoid them like the plague and would never hop on one in the city. The utter lack of basic common etiquette on the lanes is widespread. People simply don't pay attention and are thoughtless. And it becomes a toxic mix whenever lanes are shared with cars. Increase the volume of bikes, expect more accidents and possibly deaths.

This can potentially lead to requiring licenses  because increased usage means probably more accidents and that means calls for more regulation. Just what we need. There's no need to social engineer. 

Let it come naturally. But these days, that's 'extremist' talk.