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Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

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Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#41

Post by s0rce »

monkeywork wrote: post #34
bluejekyll wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where? In CA a cyclist has as much right to the road as a car. A mistake I often see cyclists make is to allow themselves to be stuck in a very narrow space between the center of the lane and the edge of the road/curb/parked cars. When the road is too narrow, and there isn’t a safe place for a car to pass you, it’s important to consume the space in a way that makes it obvious to cars that they should not attempt to p…

https://losangelesbicyclelaw.com/california-bicycle-laws-ove... "When there isn’t a bicycle lane, try to stay near the right curb. Unless you are moving faster than vehicle traffic, passing another bicycle, or making a left turn, you should typically stay close to the curb or road’s edge." http://www.calbike.org/bicycling_in_california_sharing_the_r... "The law says that people who ride bikes must ride as close to th…

While this appears to be the law, it seems to be unsafe. I bike in Oakland/East Bay and I've never heard of anyone getting cited for riding further over in the lane. I do this basically every day and I'd still suggest it. The only times I've heard of bikes getting in trouble is running red lights which is obviously dangerous and you shouldn't do.

I don't like to suggest going against the laws but if you ride near the curb or parked cars you are going to get doored and people will pass way too close. If you move over a bit they may get annoyed but you'll be safer.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#42

Post by justinator »

double0jimb0 wrote: post #37
justinator wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Check out this invention my buddy made - it turns ANY bike into a cargo bike! https://argobikes.com/

Backed Kickstarter for the Argo and the delivered product exceeded all expectations. I hope they catch on, the Argo is 1/3 the price of the fancy euro cargo bikes.

AWESOME! I started a new HN thread on it (for what its worth):

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17484959

Scott @ Argo ran the best bike shop ever, before starting Argo. Such a clever solution!

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#43

Post by rokhayakebe »

kaitai wrote: post #4

This is a really interesting read for me, as I'm considering the purchase of a cargo bike. Apparently, I fit the stereotype pretty well -- highly-educated urban coffee-drinker (no yoga, no vegetarianism, though). The cargo bike would solve the problem of hauling hardware-store purchases home with kid and sans car. But they're expensive! 1.5 or 2 thousand dollars! So for now we're making do with the bus and the stroll…

Re:Expensive

I guess it is an opportunity to buy a few from China and start a rent-by-the-hour service.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#44

Post by s0rce »

st26 wrote: post #17

Does anyone know why dads riding these are called "soft"? I've never ridden a cargo bike, but it takes strong legs & constitution to regularly tow a kid or utility trailer more than a few miles. Is it just that whole notion that fathers who are involved with their children are not masculine?

I don't get it really. I live in hilly Piedmont, CA and I'm amazed at the few cargo bikes hauling kids around, either with mom or dad at the pedals. I see a few with motor assist with sounds like a great idea. Some evening it feels like I can barely get myself up the hill biking home from work.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#45

Post by tomjen3 »

st26 wrote: post #17

Does anyone know why dads riding these are called "soft"? I've never ridden a cargo bike, but it takes strong legs & constitution to regularly tow a kid or utility trailer more than a few miles. Is it just that whole notion that fathers who are involved with their children are not masculine?

>Is it just that whole notion that fathers who are involved with their children are not masculine?

I have never heard that. I have heard lots of women gussing over men playing with kids though.

I can maybe think these dads would be called "soft", because they are in a slow, not so powerful bike, whereas others are in strong, big fast cars, but even that is pretty stupid.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#46

Post by rabboRubble »

Freak_NL wrote: post #24
rabboRubble wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm guessing it's an EU thing to make the article easily discoverable for 3 main EU languages (how the English language thing will work after Brexit, no idea. EU may still have English as an official language for cross border communication). Many academic people speak English well enough to read the article. I'm guessing from my own struggles while Googling stuff in a different language, that is a different art.

I don't think it's that; German would have been chosen instead of Spanish if that was the case.

True. The strange thing is the site overall has other journal articles with the same English, French, Spanish abstract set up. May be a convention for that site.

I'm guessing that the article itself isn't translated into those other languages due to cost. The site provides paid translation services.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#48

Post by pasta »

As a Dutch man owning a cargo bike I have no idea how they came to this conclusion.

There are some stange parts of this study. For example: because the website Geenstijl is linking cargo bike owners to the party Groen Links it is suddenly true what Geendtijl says? It's like saying that electric cars are bad because Top Gear said so.

A cargo bike is just a way to move stuff and kids around in a city. People with low income buy used ones, people with high income buy new ones.

It has nothing to do with status. It's just very convenient.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#49

Post by seniorsassycat »

noelwelsh wrote: post #15
kaitai wrote: post #4

This is a really interesting read for me, as I'm considering the purchase of a cargo bike. Apparently, I fit the stereotype pretty well -- highly-educated urban coffee-drinker (no yoga, no vegetarianism, though). The cargo bike would solve the problem of hauling hardware-store purchases home with kid and sans car. But they're expensive! 1.5 or 2 thousand dollars! So for now we're making do with the bus and the stroll…

If you haven't considered it already, a bike trailer is likely to be a cheaper alternative to a cargo bike. I've had a bike trailer for years. Mine is a Croozer 2. I transported my kids to nursery in it, and did supermarket runs etc. The tradeoff is it is an extra thing you have to worry about. It's much less convenient to park / lock-up than just the bike on its own. Regardless, I'm looking forward to getting it out…

I have a trailer for my windsurf. It's a great way to get around and it doesn't affect my bikes handling. I have an electric bike so I don't notice the weight either.

My windsurf is more than three meters long so I am worried about the tail end swinging out when I turn. A rear view mirror would make me more comfortable. The trailer is low so I'm also worried about a car passing behind me driving into it.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#50

Post by bullfightonmars »

I have been commuting with my son on a cargo bike to school and to work for the past year. It has a canopy/fairing on the front that keeps him dry and warm in the winter rain so that we can commute year round. We are up to about ~3500 miles.

It has been the best purchase I've ever made.

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