Car Less Brit

Having received a few negative messages and expressed concerns from Roanoke bikers about the Manif Spaciale event, pre and post event, it is interesting that this reveals Roanoke has now accumulated enough numbers of bicyclists that there are now factions of bikers developing, or subgroups (a more neutrally descriptive word).

For example, these sub groups may consist of ( and I am learning that there are many more- thanks, Eli):

- lycra bikers - these bikers have cars as their usual form of transportation and primarily are ‘road bikers’. They are often members of traditional bike clubs and often ride on bike club organized rides. They wear classic lycra biking gear, ride higher end bikes. Sometimes politically active towards gaining more bike lanes, greenway space, etc.

- recreational bikers - ride on greenways and other specific bike designed routes at weekends for recreation and exercise. Use cars as primary means of transportation.

- cultural bikers - for example, ‘fixed gear riders’ and ‘bmx riders’. In addition to the enjoyment they get from riding this particular type of bike, the style and hipness perceived as belonging to the person that rides this style of bike is a considerable factor in its appeal. Mix of car driving as primary transportation and not.

- commuter bikers - these bikers use the bicycle as their primary means of transportation. Reasons for this choice are numerous but the bike functions much like a car does for the majority of car drivers - a means to get from A to B.

- environmental bikers - ride bicycles as a conscious choice to reduce the environmental damage their lifestyle creates.

- political bikers - ride bikes as their primary means of transportation to bring about political change. They consider environmental issues ( in the broadest sense), ‘oil’ issues, the car industry, alternative transportation development, etc, to be enmeshed in broad political activity and motivations. Specifically, they regard ‘transportation’ as a political issue, usually driven by capitalism, and regard their bike riding as a political statement of power.

- mountain bikers - off-road bikers. Transportation issues not so relevant here unless i guess you ride over the hills and vales to work or the grocery store.

With reference to the Manif Spaciale event I would guess it brought the ‘lycra bikers’ to be at issues with the ‘political bikers’.

Most likely membership and definition of sub groups are fluid. For example, if I am riding downtown to buy some milk or something but am also perhaps open to romantic opportunities during the trip, I may ride my commuter bike for ease of riding but fit myself into lycra shorts for stud factor (if one believes being squashed inside lycra appears studly).

‘anyway, these are some thoughts on these issues, ‘very much in beginner stages. ‘kinda interesting topic to me.

thanks Jeremy for highlighting some of this stuff during recent conversations.

p.s. roanoke biking sub groups are a positive development, ‘sign of progress and multiplication