Does cycling lead to activism?

iPete

Does being on the streets and seeing whats really going on suddenly turn you into a lentil eating hippie?

In the past few months I've attended 3 protests, spectated another and may go and check out the Occupy event @ St Pauls later.

Is it just me?

rick_chasey

iPete

No seriously, as a commuter on Public transport or as a driver I never gave a sh*t about the streets I lived on..

I'm not suggesting a direct link with cyclists and activism, more a link with giving a sh*t about whats going on based on being out on the streets more...

prawny

Nah, I commute part way bike part way train. Used to commute the whole way.

I'd rather ride the long way than go through a council estate.

notsoblue

Cycling is a pretty interactive activity, its hard to zone out and insulate yourself from everything else while you're doing it. Or perhaps its because cyclists are relatively vulnerable road users at the moment and you have an interest in improving this since you start riding.

mybreakfastconsisted

Early cycling in Britain was associated with socialism and emancipation, the suffragettes used bikes I think. I don't think it's the other way round, activists cycled, they didn't become activists by cycling!

rick_chasey

Activists are usually a little poorer, and cycling is a much cheaper way of getting about.

clarkey cat

Yes absolutely - I cycled up to Dale Farm this morning to protest on behalf of the travellers.

My bike's been nicked though so don't know how I'll get back.

Kieran_Burns

I joined an apathy activist club.

No one turned up.

veronese68

notsoblue wrote:

Cycling is a pretty interactive activity, its hard to zone out and insulate yourself from everything else while you're doing it. Or perhaps its because cyclists are relatively vulnerable road users at the moment and you have an interest in improving this since you start riding.

This is pretty much what I was thinking. Just worded betterer so I've quoted it.

seataltea

iPete wrote:

Does being on the streets and seeing whats really going on suddenly turn you into a lentil eating hippie?

In the past few months I've attended 3 protests, spectated another and may go and check out the Occupy event @ St Pauls later.

Is it just me?

It is just you, I eat meat, support right wing oppressive regimes, capitalism and am happy to see protesters hit with sticks.

Of course, these feelings have only come over me since I began cycling.

Gussio

Rick Chasey wrote:

Activists are usually a little poorer, and cycling is a much cheaper way of getting about.

I blame Wiggle for making me a little poorer

W1

iPete wrote:

Does being on the streets and seeing whats really going on suddenly turn you into a lentil eating hippie?

I can quite confidently say - no.

I do hate the fact that crustyism is associated with cycling though.

iPete

Activism was the wrong choice of wording, along with the lentils, that was tongue in cheek I certainly eat plenty of meat, a few cows worth a week thanks to the cycling!

Point was, once you start to cycle more, do you start to care more about your area, planning, people space etc.

But Gussio hit the nail on the head!

joelsim

I had Goan spiced lentil soup for my lunch today. And very nice it was too.

Off now to buy myself a Guarniad and some synthetic leather elbow patches.

Monkeypump

No, unless there is a latent activist lurking inside.

You'll know you're beyond help when you begin extolling the virtues of Critical Mass.

Jay dubbleU

Not in my case - I see cycling as a means of transport or a sporting activity not a political statement

Stone Glider

^ Wot 'e said. I do find a faint sense of disappointment from some of my CTC friends when I turn up to evening meetings in the car. Err, no, it's cold and dark and I want to get home quickly when the meeting finishes :oops: I feel no need to evangelise.

fossyant

There is a big 'scene' in Manchester with the Critical Mass and other stuff. Some of the other 'stuff' is very good - bike co-op, and a cafe etc. Me... whatever.

I ride fixed (not a fixie) because it's bloody good training and it's my work bike - no mechs to service. I like it. It also really 'hisses off' some road bike riders (ps I am a roadie) as they get their ass kicked. I have the excuse on downhill and tail winds.

I've never done green - bike for me means keeping fit for life and weekends - no-one likes grovelling up hills when you live on the edge of the Peaks. 'Serious' since I was 16.. :twisted:

Aerozine50

Whilst not a protester, the cycling has made me leaner, meaner, more street aware and has given me a whole new vocabulary of anglo saxon to use, the next time some complete tW@t in a white van, BMW or bingo playing pensioner that I've held up for 0.0001 Nano seconds decides to pull a nasty move on me.

It also costs me less money, as I am able to swing the taxman for 20 p on every mile I do to and from work and makes me laugh at how little fuel tax there is on human beings (Food taxation) compared to petrol/diesel etc.

I will occassionally ride in sky rides or the like, but have not done a critical mass thing.

As for protests and non violence, well i work in the defence industry, Dale farm should really have been used as the next paveway bombing range and the looters of late should have been shot on site. I'd have volunteered for "Looter shooting duty" if I could have.

Der Kaiser

It's bizzare but I have become far more militant recently.

I get annoyed at people in 4x4 in urban areas. I also have noticed what an absolutely terrible state the countries roads are in. You don't notice them in a car unless they are the size of the grand canyon but on a bike they are lethal. I have been noting them for the fill that hole website as well.

Gallywomack

Not really, although I do take in interest in 'the cause'. Not an active one though.

It may be that my route in is quite tame but a lot of the nasty stuff you see on helmet cam vids just doesn't happen to me. So I've never really reached the 'angry cyclist' stage. I'm more likely to be annoyed by other cyclists pushing in front of me at lights and RLJing than what other vehicles are doing.