Comments on: Do most Seattle cyclists look like the two in this photo? (hint: no) http://blog.cascade.org/2011/09/google-cyclist/ Creating a better community through bicycling, throughout Seattle, King County and Washington state. Sat, 18 May 2013 16:21:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: leo Stone http://blog.cascade.org/2011/09/google-cyclist/comment-page-1/#comment-26717 leo Stone Sun, 18 Sep 2011 22:00:31 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=8192#comment-26717 Frankly- I could really give a hoot what anybody wears- Frankly- I could really give a hoot what anybody wears-

]]> By: Jake Jackson http://blog.cascade.org/2011/09/google-cyclist/comment-page-1/#comment-26553 Jake Jackson Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:14:09 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=8192#comment-26553 Typeone, it's not so much that you guys are in spandex. It's that you're in spandex, running red lights and stop signs, darting in an out of traffic from all directions, and generally ignoring the rules of the road. And then you turn around and give lectures to motorists. The spandex just adds a final insult, by implying that all that daredevilry is "healthy" behavior. Typeone, it’s not so much that you guys are in spandex. It’s that you’re in spandex, running red lights and stop signs, darting in an out of traffic from all directions, and generally ignoring the rules of the road. And then you turn around and give lectures to motorists. The spandex just adds a final insult, by implying that all that daredevilry is “healthy” behavior.

]]> By: Typeone http://blog.cascade.org/2011/09/google-cyclist/comment-page-1/#comment-26536 Typeone Fri, 16 Sep 2011 02:11:54 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=8192#comment-26536 So does this misplaced perception of cyclists have anything to do with the hostility toward cyclists? Does everyone think a cyclist is an elite (or elitist) athlete in sleek clothing on a $8K bike? I tend to think that drivers dislike the cyclist in front of them at that moment, despite how they are dressed. Still, if this is the popular image of a "cyclist," or Google's image anyway, then maybe we are in trouble. I think it was Dave Zabriskie who once commented that when we put on the cycling kit - the helmet, bright fitted clothing, glasses, gloves, etc - we no longer look human and look like we are gearing up to do battle. As more "real people" in street clothes are out there I hope drivers see that cyclists are human beings. So does this misplaced perception of cyclists have anything to do with the hostility toward cyclists? Does everyone think a cyclist is an elite (or elitist) athlete in sleek clothing on a $8K bike? I tend to think that drivers dislike the cyclist in front of them at that moment, despite how they are dressed. Still, if this is the popular image of a “cyclist,” or Google’s image anyway, then maybe we are in trouble.
I think it was Dave Zabriskie who once commented that when we put on the cycling kit – the helmet, bright fitted clothing, glasses, gloves, etc – we no longer look human and look like we are gearing up to do battle. As more “real people” in street clothes are out there I hope drivers see that cyclists are human beings.

]]> By: Steff http://blog.cascade.org/2011/09/google-cyclist/comment-page-1/#comment-26491 Steff Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:07:53 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=8192#comment-26491 Enjoyed my 7-mile commute in 3-inch heels today. I realized I am less impatient about waiting at red lights when I feel pretty. Could beautiful bicycling lead to safer cycling? Enjoyed my 7-mile commute in 3-inch heels today. I realized I am less impatient about waiting at red lights when I feel pretty. Could beautiful bicycling lead to safer cycling?

]]> By: Charlie http://blog.cascade.org/2011/09/google-cyclist/comment-page-1/#comment-26431 Charlie Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:17:32 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=8192#comment-26431 Also, the third google result for 'cyclist' rounds out the picture quite a bit, it's the main picture from this article (girl in NY street attire on a cruiser with shopping bags in the handlebar basket): http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/cyclists-motorists-and-the-aw.php I take your point, but if you had time to watch 620 cyclists ride over the Fremont bridge, you could have used a better sample of internet results. Incidentally, also on the first page of results for 'cyclist' is a picture that is surely from Fremont Solstice (not going to link). Overall, the Google results for cyclist are really more of a caricature of cycling than what I hope popular conceptions to be. Perhaps we should sample from actual media stories involving cyclists? Also, the third google result for ‘cyclist’ rounds out the picture quite a bit, it’s the main picture from this article (girl in NY street attire on a cruiser with shopping bags in the handlebar basket):
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/cyclists-motorists-and-the-aw.php

I take your point, but if you had time to watch 620 cyclists ride over the Fremont bridge, you could have used a better sample of internet results.

Incidentally, also on the first page of results for ‘cyclist’ is a picture that is surely from Fremont Solstice (not going to link). Overall, the Google results for cyclist are really more of a caricature of cycling than what I hope popular conceptions to be. Perhaps we should sample from actual media stories involving cyclists?

]]> By: leo Stone http://blog.cascade.org/2011/09/google-cyclist/comment-page-1/#comment-26414 leo Stone Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:26:46 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=8192#comment-26414 No starkers? Wish I'd of known.... No starkers? Wish I’d of known….

]]> By: Lee http://blog.cascade.org/2011/09/google-cyclist/comment-page-1/#comment-26400 Lee Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:22:29 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=8192#comment-26400 The first result for "person on a bike" is significantly awesomer: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/JimmyCarteronBicycle.jpg/317px-JimmyCarteronBicycle.jpg Awesome dude, awesome bike. Street clothes and no visible bike-specific gear. (Which'd be easier to do in Seattle if it weren't legally mandated.) The first result for “person on a bike” is significantly awesomer: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/JimmyCarteronBicycle.jpg/317px-JimmyCarteronBicycle.jpg

Awesome dude, awesome bike. Street clothes and no visible bike-specific gear. (Which’d be easier to do in Seattle if it weren’t legally mandated.)

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