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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

#71

Post by Fricken »

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 picked up a portage bag, which is a heavy duty waterproof backpack big enough to hold a dead body, but I use it mostly for groceries and other big hauls on a bike. It's basically just a big bucket you wear on your back. I suppose it's less comfortable than a trailer, but it doesn't require setup time, stores away nicely, and can hold 2 week's worth of groceries for 2.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#72

Post by mturmon »

Fricken wrote: post #71
noelwelsh wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 picked up a portage bag, which is a heavy duty waterproof backpack big enough to hold a dead body, but I use it mostly for groceries and other big hauls on a bike. It's basically just a big bucket you wear on your back. I suppose it's less comfortable than a trailer, but it doesn't require setup time, stores away nicely, and can hold 2 week's worth of groceries for 2.

OTOH, if you use panniers, the heavy load is borne on the bike rather than your back.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#73

Post by novaRom »

Let's say following: all the urban infrastructure is car-centric, period. Even in most developed European cities the car drivers are privileged. Why should we bike riders use side lanes/walks and not main lanes for example? On rare sundays when vehicles traffic is nearly absent in my town, we do really enjoy cycling the main roads - it is much faster to get to any place even if my town is relatively good place for bicyclists - there are many separate cycling-only roads and bridges.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#74

Post by Fricken »

mturmon wrote: post #72
Fricken wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I picked up a portage bag, which is a heavy duty waterproof backpack big enough to hold a dead body, but I use it mostly for groceries and other big hauls on a bike. It's basically just a big bucket you wear on your back. I suppose it's less comfortable than a trailer, but it doesn't require setup time, stores away nicely, and can hold 2 week's worth of groceries for 2.

OTOH, if you use panniers, the heavy load is borne on the bike rather than your back.

I'm a hipster who rides a stripped down fixie, I don't want to bolt a bunch of crap onto my bike. Minimalism is my thing.

Really what prompted me to get it was this big sketchbook I have that I wanted to be able to ride around with, and there was no regular bag of any sort capable of holding it except the portage bag.

I've done lots of backcountry hiking so I'm not afraid of carrying a big heavy bag on my back for a few miles.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#75

Post by japanuspus »

anonacct37 wrote: post #62
noelwelsh wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 grocery store runs. I feel like a total hipster, probably because I am. But I have so much shit to do and so little time to exercise I have to multitask and game myself into doing things. A good grocery store recently opened up near me and I committed to riding my bike there whenever possible. It literally takes 5-10m more but in return I get 20-30m of good exercise. Seems like a good trade.

This. I have made it a rule to always use the bike when going around town. With kids and family, this is pretty much all the exercise I get, but it's enough that I haven't gained any weight from 8 years of free food at the office.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#76

Post by No1 »

seniorsassycat wrote: post #49
noelwelsh wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Consider putting a flagpole with brightly colored flag on the back of your trailer. I often see these on child trailers and sometimes recumbent bikes - it helps immensely with visibility by putting something in the sight line of drivers.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#77

Post by jacknews »

This seems like fake research to me.

It's simply gethering some news articles and saying that the stereotype of cargo bike owners is of liberal upper-middle-class families of a certain stripe, and implying that they are also possibly riding them to signal virtue and status as much as for practical purposes.

ie dressing up a commonly held stereotype in the garb of an academic paper.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#78

Post by monkeywork »

btrettel wrote: post #67
monkeywork wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would suggest actually looking into the traffic law - MOST - places explicitly state that bicycles should (with very few very specific exceptions) remain to the right side of the lane. The Cyclist community disagree's with this in most places I've seen it mentioned but that doesn't change what the laws are. I'm not arguing safety I'm simply stating what is written. Obviously this varies from area to area but again…

As someone who has read the law in multiple states, your reading of the law seems to be selective. You state that there are "very few very specific exceptions", when in California I count 7 exceptions that cover a lot: 1. When the cyclist is going at or near the speed limit. 2. When the cyclist is overtaking or passing. 3. When the cyclist is preparing for a left turn. 4. When the cyclist deems it necessary for safet…

In general terms I find that:

1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 = all rare (or only valid for brief moments in time).

You seem to be lumping #4 in for all cases which is a subjective view and I would argue isn't at all close to 95 or 99% of the time.

Thus I maintain that "very few very specific exceptions" applies and is not selective reading. I'd further suggest that you're pushing an agenda instead of being pragmatic and honest. It's fine if you don't like the laws as written, it's fine if you think things should be different in terms of how cyclists are treated on the road, however instead of trying to play loop hole games just get the laws changed.

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#79

Post by mattrices »

Fricken wrote: post #71
noelwelsh wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 picked up a portage bag, which is a heavy duty waterproof backpack big enough to hold a dead body, but I use it mostly for groceries and other big hauls on a bike. It's basically just a big bucket you wear on your back. I suppose it's less comfortable than a trailer, but it doesn't require setup time, stores away nicely, and can hold 2 week's worth of groceries for 2.

Would you link the portage bag youre refering to?

Re: Cargo bikes as symbolic markers of egalitarian gender roles

#80

Post by dsfdsfsd423423 »

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?

Does the paper provide any evidence for the claim that dads riding cargo bike are being called soft?
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