‘Treadly and Me’ quietly oozed into existence on 1 January 2006. And as each year draws to a close it’s become customary at this time for me to do a bit of an annual summing up. I’m starting to wonder if it’s worth it but here we go anyway…
“It’s funny how a little rain scares so many cyclists off, because a one or two hour ride in the rain is generally a very pleasant experience as long as you keep moving and stay warm.” –SurlyDave
Cycle Commute
- Is fast, fun, enjoyable, time-saving, healthy.
- Makes me feel happy, stress-free, alive, succesful, fit.
–Polak, on Sydney Cyclist
A quick whip-around of news reports and blog posts on the subject of Ride to Work Day.
“I might be showing my age, but when I was a kid, we all biked to school, to sports, to play with friends - almost everywhere, really.” –Jill Merrin in the Illawarra Mercury
“You could give me statistics out the wazoo about bike safety, but the only thing that really made a difference was getting some positive cycling experiences.” –Julie White
“Don’t be a snob; if it can be done on a bike, it’s good.” –unnamed correspondent to RBR Newsletter.
“Cup of coffee in hand, I realize that it’s true what they say: Bicycles Rule in the Netherlands.” –Eric, Downwind of Amsterdam.
“Cycling is an activity in and of itself, regardless of where you end up, or whether you break a sweat.” –Happy Woman Magazine
“Within societies of mass automobility, bicycles are often regarded as a children’s toy, a middle-class sports fad, or a form of transport for those who are too poor to drive. Within less that three generations, cultures of everyday or utility cycling disappeared. Those who continued to cycle are often regarded with suspicion.”–Adrian, Yellow Brick Road.
“The premise that cyclists’ behavior somehow voids their right to sharing the road is indefensible at face value. ‘Well officer I thought it was OK to hit this cyclists because several blocks back I saw another run a red light’ is not something anyone could defend.” –TheWashCycle
“It’s time to take cycling back and place it firmly in the category ‘normal way to get to work, to the shops, to the cinema’.” –The Slow Bicycle Movement
Will humans ever finish designing and redesigning the bike? I doubt it…