Riding a bike is not a political act, yet cyclists have become the bete noire for the anti-woke, anti-green, anti-liberal crowd, writes Zoe Williams
  • GrymEdm@lemmy.worldEnglish
    645·
    9 months ago

    “Woke” is just code for “anything I don’t like, don’t understand, or wasn’t raised with”. Part of the problem is that people don’t like their way of life being challenged by the mere existence of cyclists and public transit. The other part is that in many countries the infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, etc) aren’t optimized for cycling and that can cause problems when cars, pedestrians, and cyclists are dodging each other.

    • YaksDC@lemm.eeEnglish
      21·
      9 months ago

      I have not had a car in years and have never felt so free. No payment, no gas, no maintenance and no insurance. Granted I live in DC and I can Metro just about anywhere.

        • rdyoung@lemmy.worldEnglish
          32·
          9 months ago

          This is true for the people who have to have the newest and shiniest car. Buy a reliable car and drive it until the wheels fall off and it’s literally the opposite of poverty trap.

          The above said I do agree with the sentiment. I’ve seen very very expensive cars sitting outside of trailers and other hovels that I wouldn’t go anywhere near. I’d rather have a crappy car and a nice house.

          I have a “nice” car now because I drive for a living and besides it being good for business to be driving something not falling apart, I spend enough time in it that I should have something comfortable.

      • rdyoung@lemmy.worldEnglish
        10·
        9 months ago

        I lived for years without a car but sadly most of the country isn’t amenable to biking, walking, bus, etc. I now live in what I call country’ish and if you don’t have a car, you’re straight fucked. No car means no way to get to stores, work (assuming you don’t work from home), etc. Now I drive for a living but we would still need at least one car in our household if we didn’t want to continually over pay for groceries being delivered, need to go to Dr appointments, etc.

    • NadiaNadine@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      9 months ago

      But would they react the same way if I was on a horse?

      Driving a horse and buggy?

      I still think it’s just basic tribalism. Bicycle rider=wrong tribe.

  • Diplomjodler@feddit.deEnglish
    282·
    9 months ago

    The answer is pretty simple. The modern day far right is pretty much a creation of the fossil fuel industry. Therefore they will fight against anything that might lead to reducing fossil fuel usage.

    • dual_sport_dork 🐧🗡️@lemmy.worldEnglish
      101·
      9 months ago

      And anything that they might label – or have had labeled for them, more likely – as “sissy.”

      The hilarious irony being that if any dedicated cyclist kicked your garden-variety right wing asshat, I’ll bet they wouldn’t find that person so sissy after all. After they got up from wherever they landed.

  • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    244·
    9 months ago

    There’s a saying that goes something like:

    There are two genders, male and ‘political.’
    Two races, white and ‘political.’
    Two religions, Christian and ‘political.’

    Well, guess what: there are also two modes of transportation, driving and ‘political.’ Riding a bike is a political act, whether you intend for it to be or not.

    • gaifux@lemmy.worldEnglish
      37·
      9 months ago

      Well I can’t say I’ve heard that racist, sexist saying before lol. Politically I’ve shifted all the way to slightly right of Atila the Hun and I ride a bicycle when I’m not unicycling with my friends. Maybe you’re just sheltered or judging people you actually don’t know? It may also be the case people you ride with actually don’t agree with your politics.

  • Ogmios@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    171·
    9 months ago

    Because idiots on the Internet keep trying to turn absolutely everything into an us vs them conflict.

    • henfredemars@infosec.pubEnglish
      4·
      9 months ago

      My father to a T. I can’t impress upon him enough his own complete lack of desire to find a solution, only underlining the problem i.e. whiny baby crying.

      • tim-clark@kbin.social
        41·
        9 months ago

        My son to a T. He is 25 and can’t be bothered to look for solution to any issue, just complains and scrolls tik tok.

        Idiocy is across all generations

  • abuttandahalf@lemmy.mlEnglish
    152·
    9 months ago

    Cycling as a societal mode of transport deprives capitalist automakers, oil companies, banks, and insurance companies of immense income. The right wing is extremely fervently capitalist and defends the capitalist class maniacally. That is why they defend harmful societal planning that funnels wealth to the capitalist class.

  • SuperSynthia@lemmy.worldEnglish
    72·
    9 months ago

    “How dare those fit as fuck losers take lanes from me? I’ll have to exercise for once if this keeps up!”