What caused Shimano's Coasting-program to fail? (2010)

It was very surprising to see them discuss for so long without even mentioning what it the system is. Maybe shifting gears based on speed is simply a bad idea?

Agreed, the main reason for low cycling uptake in some countries is because it is utterly terrifying. I'm a seasoned cyclist in the UK; there are some roads I just will not cycle on because it is too dangerous to do so. If _I_ am too afraid to cycle on them, then what chance is there of people who have little experience of cycling picking it up?

Cycling uptake starts with cycling infrastructure, very few people have a problem learning how to ride a bike.

I worked at bike shops for several years in college. We'd sometimes get the customers who would ask, how is this bike worth $X more than a bike I can get at Walmart? All you'd have to do is get them on the bike for a test ride. The difference is night and day. Given that, I feel like the goal of the Coast project wasn't necessarily to increase ridership, but to increase profits margins with a clever doo-dad.

There's always been a lot of hand wringing by cycling enthusiasts in the US about increasing ridership, and being more approachable, better group rides may be one way to do it. There are a lot of obstacles here; road conditions (potholes), hilly in a lot of areas (it does not take a steep or long grade to flummux a introductory or casual rider!), but at the end of the day, cycling is just dangerous. American car culture is not friendly to anything else being on the road (talk to motorcyclists for example!). When I think back on some of the close calls I had, and accidents my friends had simply riding around, I'm kind of amazed I was ever that fearless.

There is a large trend growing in the cycling world that is focused on the non-competitive aspect of cycling. As someone who used to be a somewhat competitive cyclist I have fully adapted to this trend because it is probably the coolest and most wholesome trend I have ever experienced. Even the big manufacturers are trying to catch up.

Bikes can get you to work, to the store, to a camp site, around the park, whatever. Cheaper, cleaner, and more fun than cars at the same time.

I too have had enough close calls to rethink the whole thing.

One time I was riding on Second Avenue. The bike lane turned into a 30 foot deep sinkhole with a couple cones marking the hazard. By the time I noticed, there was a long flatbed truck in the lane next to me. I merged over and had what felt like an inch of space to ride in -- 30 foot drop to my death to the right, big unaware truck to the left. The truck moved over to the right for no good reason and the tires rubbed off most of the skin on my left arm. One more inch and my username would be talking_panckake. (Just kidding, I'd be dead!)

Another time I was riding on First Avenue. First Avenue has one of those bike lanes that's next to the sidewalk, and parked cars separate you from traffic. Some idiot, and I don't use that term lightly, decided to walk their bike off the sidewalk right in front of me, and position it at a right angle to the traffic flow. I was going too fast to stop that quickly and plowed right into the bike. (The rider noticed me and jumped back onto the sidewalk, saving himself from any injury.) My main memory was flying through the air and seeing my bike flying right next to me. I landed on my arm like an idiot and my right shoulder popped out. I popped it back in and rode 40 more miles that day... but it wasn't pleasant. I now have the ability to dislocate my right shoulder on demand!

I don't think those two events were what killed bike commuting for me, but I was pretty shy for a few months after each of those incidents. What killed it for me was the constant close calls that don't really make good stories (and a lack of shower facilities at my most recent workplace). I still bike early in the morning. Very few idiots out and I can go fast for a couple hours and then take the subway to work.

But yeah. I consider myself a seasoned cycling veteran, and in the last 3 or 4 years it just got to be too much for me. I moved to New York City in 2012, and honestly, things were great back then. But over the years, the city just got more and more crowded with cars, and there is no room for bicyclists anymore. (When I visit places like Montreal, I feel great. I think it's just a NYC thing.)