Are most Americans scared to bike?

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why people don’t ride bikes. We see lots of inspiring stories about people who do bike, but what about the people who want to, but don’t feel safe enough to put themselves out there? What it really comes down to is a lot of people are just scared, and waiting for things to change. I hope this video tells both sides of that story. Join us as we spend a day with creative duo, Pamela Reed and Matthew Rader and their two lovely children, and as we dream of building a city that can #letpamelaride.
MusicBed ID: MB01XLHA0MKXRCK
#bikecommuting #bikeride #bikelanes

[@grandpashreddypants]

Thanks so much for everyone's participation in getting this story out. Very powerful.

[@KcarlMarXs]

As a physically abled, young man with strong road confidence, I'm scared. I want to share the joys of biking with my others.

[@Propelbikes]

Same here. We have a lot of work to do

[@LucasH567]

I agree. I am a father, riding my 8 year old to school on Benno Boost, with great painted bike lanes. But it is still scary. For every amazing driver that slows and stays wide of us, there is another zooming by while on their phone. But still, I hope to inspire other parents ride w/ their kids. The more people on bikes, the better it will get. Slowly… hopefully…

[@TemplarOnHigh]

I'm confident, skilled, I ride in city traffic on the streets. My distracted driver radar is strong. But when I put my kids on the back, I'm always worried about the fools in the Death Cages.

[@fivehundrediq5212]

Strong road confidence, but you’re scared…….Hypocrite

[@rangersmith4652]

To those drivers who say that bike lanes are everywhere, I say this: Imagine you're driving along in your car and suddenly the road ends, and you find yourself on a giant runway, jet airliners everywhere, enormously bigger and faster than your car. Now imagine these pilots have minimal training and don't respect your right to be on "their" runway. Finally, imagine your car has no roof or walls... That's what it's like to ride a bicycle in a typical American city.

[@clomino3]

I use the EXACT same metaphor

[@ChrisTheAppleOne]

This is like the perfect analogy tbh

[@jooproos6559]

Even worse,you be the one who they targeting

[@tripisco3730]

This is a great metaphor! I’m going to start using this!

[@Salty_reviews]

Compelling analogy

[@ctcboater]

I see one of the biggest barriers to biking in urban areas as bike storage. It's not easy to go somewhere and safely park your bike. Even in the 'burbs, leaving your bike can be a crap-shoot.

[@thom7463]

Safety as well. A lot of Bikes get stolen. Electric bikes especially are a big target for theft. I think we need better solutions for storage/parking.

[@madeleinec147]

My small town has surprisingly good bike routes, but our bike racks are almost always empty. I ride an e-bike because you'd have to be a very fit athlete to handle our numerous steep hills. Meaning our bike routes are more for sport/recreational use rather than a viable transportation route. So most of the time, even if I want to use my ebike to run errands, I end up choosing my car because I don't feel safe enough to take my eye off my bike for more than 5 minutes. Especially since theft has been plaguing our once idyllic town over the past decade. My car isn't cool enough/worth the effort to steal... but my ebike is plenty tempting.

[@LoveToday8]

I’m looking forward to businesses like Oonee expand

[@Free-g8r]

Yes my city is very bike friendly but bike theft is rampant. And it doesn't really matter how much you invest in the lock. They can cut through anything. So I always hesitate to take my bike on errands. But I'm thinking of getting a beater for that and using my nice bike for recreation

[@jameswright3624]

This, this, so much this. Rampant bike theft renders bicycling impractical as day to day transportation - and this is coming from a guy with a daily ridden cargo bike. The inability to safely park a bike in town puts people who could ride in their cars every day, if you cannot leave the bike for more than a few minutes you cannot use it for a huge proportion of day to day transport. Police departments need to focus on bike theft and courts and legislators need to treat it as the serious societal problem it is.

[@BikePretty]

When our family got our first kid-carrying cargo bike, we made the decision that *I* would be the one to pilot the bike with the kid in order to demonstrate that moms can carry kids on bikes too. Women and girls are socialized to be so risk averse, we wanted to provide some counter-programming.

[@andy2585]

You nailed it. I’m a road cyclist with a young family and was very close to buying a Tern GSD last year. In the end I decided against it because our city simply doesn’t have the cycling infrastructure yet to make me or my wife feel safe.

[@Propelbikes]

Thanks so much for sharing this. I think more politicians need to hear this story, your story and the ones like it.

[@garyharty1902]

@@Propelbikes I've sent it to members of our City Council in Lakewood CO.

[@anthonypomerson]

I was in the same situation about a year ago. Considering being a 1 car family with an ebike, but the bicycle infrastructure just wasn’t feasible after testing/trying for a few months. Kept the 2nd car car, but at least found a couple short close trips I can make by bike.

[@FHRider-o1m]

Don’t wait too long, life’s for living and the kids will grow up so quickly. Consider moving to a better city? Or spending every weekend somewhere you can cycle together. We moved, I ride every day, a good city is like a giant play ground 😂 Best thing I remember about my dad was him teaching me to ride a bike, 50yrs ago! 💕

[@GordonChaffin]

I'm sorry to hear this. I hope you reconsider buying that bike and changing your family's habits.

[@RB-sr1oc]

I do know people who won't bike or consider biking to work because of safety concerns. But I've come across probably more who won't bike because of status. Biking to work wouldn't portray the same status as driving that Lexus, Audi etc. I can't recall the number of times I've been asked "do you own a car"? With that careful and quizzical tone of voice that signifies that the question is really "if you own a car, then why the hell would you ride a bike?" For some reason, many of my coworkers would find it totally "normal", were I leave work in my SUV and stop off at the gym in order to spend an hour on a stationary bike. Yet they find it odd that I would choose to ride a bike (or e-bike) to/from work just because ....

[@yumi419]

This comment resonates with me deeply. I get asked so much if I own a car and comment how cool my cargo trailer is whenever I pick up pet food from the store. Funny enough, I laugh to myself every time I pass a local shop selling exercise equipment. We wouldn't need these things as much if we had a safer infrastructure for people to get out and commute by foot or bike. For me, I have been an advocate for better parking at work but I was challenged by our facilities saying "we'll reassess usage when people start to return to the office". They had plenty of time to consider better parking for cyclists yet what "numbers" to really seal the deal. Well, if my ebike ever gets stolen from the garbage parking on campus, the executives will be hearing from me. Stay safe!

[@altriish6683]

It's funny people think that way because I bike, and I absolutely pity the people who drive those luxury vehicles. There's a much much greater sense of pride in being independent of your car for transport, and of being able to get yourself somewhere under your own power.

[@robgrey6183]

You're not gonna get run over by a truck on that stationary bike. You're not gonna get attacked by some homeless maniac or angry minority.

[@lilacghoste8366]

​@@robgrey6183it's both, the truck and the homeless

[@danieladecker7231]

I think every woman I’ve dated over 60 years was willing and liked the idea of biking but we’re always afraid because of the American car culture. One gal in the 90s really wanted to bike and tried doing so 2 miles to work in Seattle. She would arrive at work and at home crying because of all the cars screaming at her and nearly killing her. As someone who has biked his whole life in the worst there is of Murican car centric culture, I am left very sad and pessimistic on the Americas ability to change.

[@emma70707]

Thankfully I've seen a lot more female cyclists on Seattle streets since I started committing by bike ~6-7 years ago. It used to be mostly on the Burke but now with ebikes and the city's improvements, the gender distribution is almost 30-70, which is huge, since it was maybe 10-90 when I started.

[@LucasH567]

Watching Matthew confidently, and safely, transport his kids through the streets on an ebike made me so happy. He is such a great dad. And a wonderful example, to not only other NY family’s, but to his own children, that “going by bike” is an entirely possible (and better) way to move people around a city. He is creating future cyclists!

[@marvin19966]

*her

[@HarryLovesRuth]

Walking and riding makes people better drivers. Walking, riding, and taking transit reduces the number of cars on the road which reduces traffic congestion. If drivers want an easy commute, they should encourage walking, cycling, and transit infrastructure.

[@harvey66616]

Exactly right. The one miscue in the video was Matthew saying "cyclists are more on the side of pedestrians, and against motorists" (paraphrasing). While it's true that in the US, there's very much an adversarial relationship between motorists and non-motorists, the truth is that everyone is people just trying to get from point A to point B. Sometimes a cyclist is a motorist, and sometimes a motorist is a cyclist or pedestrian. It should not be "us vs them", the way so many people treat it today. The big problem we have is that motor vehicles are given 100% deference. If even a modest portion of the transportation budgets around the country were dedicated to building bike-friendly infrastructure, and even a modest increase in support for public transportation were made -- perhaps committing only 80% or maybe 70%, instead of 90%, to private motor vehicles -- transportation would be more efficient and less stressful for _all_ users of the transportation infrastructure.

[@ripizhonubi7472]

@@biggibbs4678 and then when less people drive driving would be faster (in average, as you would not need to stop as much), but more importantly more fun and safe

[@slimetank394]

@@biggibbs4678 would drivers prefer 2 hours stuck in traffic jams everytime they drive instead?

[@Arkangel88Mr]

It’s darn sad; most places in the US have all this space, and no sidewalks or bike lanes. With a population that is more obese everyday.

[@whette_fahrtz]

Nearly everyone I talk to about riding in Chicago tell me they would if it was safer. I was in a bad crash a few years ago that probably turned off a lot of my friends from even considering it, despite the fact that years after, I'm still encouraging them as much as I can. It's really just tragic in a "it doesn't have to be this way" way.

[@LoveToday8]

I'm in Chicago too. If I was given a dollar for every person who told me they'd like to ride a bike for transportation but don't because they're afraid they're going to be seriously injured or killed I could buy another GSD.

[@HarryLovesRuth]

I was recently rear ended while in my car. Totalled it. Yes it the safety features of automobiles let me walk away from the crash. But had there been safe infrastructure for me to cycle to that destination, I wouldn't have been stopped at the red light where someone plowed into me. The built environment of the US is not safe. That's a fact. We have compensated by engineering automobiles to be more crash worthy, but that leaves out those who aren't inside the vehicle. We have a notion that travel safety is a responsibility of the individual traveler and not a predictable result of the system that an individual is in. That's why road deaths of all kinds are so high.

[@TheSpaceBrosShow]

Chicago is improving but its still so so far away from the average person feeling safe on a bike

[@lakaiguy1993]

My wife is afraid to ride a bike in our city too. Even though we have lots of great bike infrastructure (for America) there are huge gaps in the network so it's required to mix with car traffic. I wish we could ride together. It is way more fun, and arguably faster than public transit.

[@Propelbikes]

You’re definitely not alone. I wish these stories were more prominent as most think people are just not interested in biking. That’s not the truth

[@TheSpaceBrosShow]

I love biking. Over the past 2 years I've managed to get the majority of my friends into riding bikes as a means of transit around Chicago but I still have some stubborn hold outs. They're scared and it's honestly hard to blame them

[@tedbellWRV]

Chris - one of the more important videos you’ve made. Tells such an important story that so many need to become aware of.

[@ziba89]

the sentence of "it's kind of driving a car and then there's no street anymore" is the most relatable sentence as an everyday rider. it's crazy how people don't see it.

[@barbiedesoto7054]

I love your channel so much! I dream about this beautiful future where we are so much more free. We can all start somewhere. This is so encouraging. Editing to add: My city sent out an email with the mayor in a crossing guard vest that was basically telling cars and pedestrians to "play nice" as if each has the same power in the interactions. It's really mind blowing how many city leaders have this idea that citizens are somehow responsible for the safety, not the city which monopolizes the infrastructure. It's not like I can go and change the road patterns or add raised crossings. Anyway, I wrote an angry email and am also trying to get in touch with my city's traffic engineer. We'll see...

[@FHRider-o1m]

Whenever we cycle on a really wide path together, it’s a real treat. Too often it’s single file, narrow and not the same experience. Great to see kids having so much fun with dad

[@garyharty1902]

Love this video, Chris. Really poignant. I'm lucky that my wife took up cycling when we were dating - almost 50 years ago. Now as an advocate for almost 40 years, the holy grail has been to encourage the 60 % of interested but concerned to give transportation cycling a try. And it keeps coming back to the dangers of some really poorly thought out or nonexistent infrastructure for anyone not in a car. Thanks for putting this juxtaposition of joy versus fear video together. Really well done.

[@buddy1155]

8:20 Reaction of people in the background is great to see.

[@DonnieX6]

loved that part too! :)

[@Propelbikes]

We’re always making a spectacle 🙃

[@LoveToday8]

@@Propelbikes Embrace it! 🥳🥳

[@kuyshina]

Noticed that as well and was happy to receive my little dopamine boost

[@JacobBax]

I just scrolled down to see if there was allready a reaction on that. Those kids were adorable, and I think they slowed down.

[@XxXx-Evo]

I think it is very sad you can't experience the freedom of riding a bike or giving your kids that experience. I don't think you need a lot to start making a change. I grew up around Amsterdam in the 80's and in my memory a lot of the infrastructure back then was not much better than what is shown in this video. The only difference was that we also had roads that were better than this. So I had the opportunity to practice and built confidence on the safer routes, so as I teenager I was confident enough to zig zag through traffic in the streets with less or no bike infrastructure. So I think you need to built at least a few useful (I mean the path has to go from somewhere we're people are to somewhere people want to go, not just a path from nothing to nowhere) separate bike paths to boost cycling in the city as a whole. And as there are more people cycling it is easier for politicians to decide to build more bike infrastructure. So someone needs to break the cycle of "there is no bike infrastructure because nobody rides a bike" and "nobody rides a bike, because there is no proper infrastructure".

[@miles5600]

that's exactly what nyc is going through, but also just the USA as a whole. change is a thing that most people don't like, so there should be people out there that have an actual understanding of what a city needs, not republicans or democrats that only care about money.

[@XxXx-Evo]

@@miles5600 I wish you the best of luck in making people aware not all change is bad. People seem to think they have to give up something (their car) , but they don't have to give anything up, they gain the possibility to choose a different mode of transport to go somewhere (if the weather is nice, if you like to do something for the environment, if you need some relaxing or....).

[@miles5600]

@@XxXx-Evo yes! you got it, it's all about the outside feeling, clearing your mind, enjoying commutes, a better environment, and even traffic relieve. you totally don't have to get rid of your car, but being able to do something else than driving is the key. it allows you to see places of your town/city where you normally wouldn't have been. another problem that many people have is not knowing e-bikes and cargo bikes exist or get used as daily drivers. hopefully as the internet get's more and more easy to use to find anything, people will also learn that riding a bike can be way more fun than driving.

[@PrototypeThinker]

People need to realize out there that they have a vote and petitions etc. It's time for changes, time to come correct.

[@miles5600]

@@PrototypeThinker exactly.

[@nova_verse6284]

From a Dutch standpoint, i wish people would have experienced growing up cycling and giving perspective of what it means to be cycling in a bike/pedestrian friendly society like The Netherlands. Because people around the world have no idea how normal cycling is here, and Dutch people do not realize the luxury they have as other countries are envious of our cycling infrastructure. I hope in a few decades or at least in the next 5 years that cycling is becoming more popular and normal in North America, and in other parts of Europe so we Dutch people don't need to advise cycling anymore. And for people like Pamela, its never too late to learn how cycle, just do it.. And if she wants it do it in a safer place, then she's more then welcome to visit The Netherlands..

[@danieladecker7231]

I just want to say that you did a really great job conveying the need and huge advantage of changing to a people centric culture and away from a car centric one. Your explaining of the fear of cycling was well done. It is a difficult concept to convey. It is always sort of confusing when I explain to others just how much I essentially turn off common sense fear so I can ride in traffic. It is completely reasonable for someone to choose not to expose themself top that fear, anxiety and danger. Certainly, though I have not died and been lucky enough not to have had an accident, I can also attest to deep and substantial anxiety, fear and anger that exists because of riding with cars trauma. In this video you covered so many great points, from dressing warmer, heating up in 5 minutes to how to navigate a city. Thank you.

[@docvideo93]

I love this! It is nice to see videos with bike activists, but I think Propel should make more videos with people who wish to bike but due to either fear or lack of local infrastructure will add more evidence to doubters who say Americans don't bike because they don't want to or simply hate it.

[@brunojulio]

Things improve when car drivers turn also bike riders at times, and use each means of transportation accordingly

[@matshreeve]

Absolutely loving this. Well done Chris, Asia and the Propel Team 👏 Lucky enough to speak to Matthew a lot, via Insta and the GSD Facebook group, and we’re also lucky enough to have the GSD, HSD combo over here in London (U.K.). As Pamela points out, “more people need to care” and more infrastructure needs to be in place to help more people make the Active Travel option. I know CargobikeMums and CargobikeDads over here, and they are true role models of how to do things differently 🚲 The well used analogy in the Active Travel world is “you don’t build a bridge because you see people swimming across a river”, and you rightly say, there’s countless other people, including Mums and Dads, who wouldn’t default to the car (if private car owners) if given the chance to ride in safer environment. Let’s keep putting pressure on our local authorities to make more of this happen. Thanks again for making this video, as a great reminder 🙌

[@rrlabastida]

My wife and I had the same problem. Something that helped was renting a cargo etricycle. The extra width and bulkiness makes you feel safer (SUV effect). We passed that point now, but we do add mirrors to all our bikes, that helps reducing the surprise feeling when a car overtakes you.

[@TheMirrorVision]

Such a great video as always! Thank you for telling their story.

[@Propelbikes]

Thank you for your kind works and thanks for commenting! We hope you’ll share this story as I think more need to hear it. I think people forgot that they gave up the idea of biking because they’re scared.

[@CaeruleanWren]

I live in a small midwest town. My car stopped running well in December and I just didn't have a lot of money to fix it, so I haven't. Been commuting everywhere since then, 6 months now. I previously lived in Japan and owned no car, but Japan has decent bike infrastructure. I am damn near fearless when I'm on my bike alone, but I want to start carrying my niece around. With only one car for four people, she doesn't get around as much as I'd like, as much as she'd like. When I'm alone, nothing phases me. I'll take the lane any time I feel like it, I'll ride on rough shoulders all day long, go through 6-lane intersections between 3 different roads. But as soon as I think about having my niece on board, I feel like I can't get anywhere. I'll face getting run over every day just to get groceries, fine, but I desperately want good bike infrastructure so that my niece, my sister, my parents can all ride around together, comfortably. I'm going to build a seat for my bike rack to carry my niece, but even when that's done, there will be so few routes I can take with her without feeling like I'm putting her in just too much danger. Biking around has made me feel so great. I get to work feeling more energetic, getting groceries is actually fun and rewarding, I have lost weight and am feeling great. I just want to be able to share that with my family.

[@rachelcampos3947]

Wow, what an awesome story that I can completely relate to. I didn’t learn to ride a bike until I was 28. 17 years later I still get nervous and anxious at intersections and making turns in traffic. Proper protected bike infrastructure makes the world of difference for nervous nellies and anxious riders. While there is no shame in getting off the bike and walking though a tough intersection or being too uncomfortable to ride though a certain corridor those are exactly the spots we need to attend to so our lowest common denominator (no offense) feels safe. I will say, I don’t know if it’s the lower center of gravity or the pedal assist but I feel much more confident with my Tern HSD than I do with my standard commuter bike. #letpamelaride

[@johnschulz1142]

I’m a grandpa with a Larry v. Harry cargo bike and I gave my granddaughter rides everyday. Some people told me I was not being responsible because of the potential danger. My response was that life is dangerous.

[@HarryLovesRuth]

The people who project their anxieties onto your parenting (or grandparenting) are deeply irritating. I've found that things have gotten better with drivers rolling down windows to tell me I'm endangering my kid. Now mostly get comments about the child seat as I load up groceries on my GSD.

[@altriish6683]

Just tell them to mind their own business, and be more careful in the future when they're driving

[@HarryLovesRuth]

@@altriish6683 Unfortunately, highlighting the jerky behavior of jerks can escalate at situation. Anti-cyclist road rage is frequent enough that I'm uncomfortable reprimanding some drivers.

[@james-p]

This really resonates. I've been riding bikes since I was a kid with my Schwinn Stingray - yes, I'm pushing 60 lol. But I live in Los Angeles, and it's just too damned dangerous to ride in the street here. In fact, the only reason I traded my beloved old city cruiser for an ebike last year was so that I _could_ ride, at least recreationally, up in the Hollywood Hills away from the traffic. Now I can ride up and around those hills that would kill me even when I was younger, thinner, and in better shape, and just enjoy a bike ride a few times a week. I'd love to be able to ride this bike to my friend Jackie's place in West Hollywood, or even to work, and it would only take me 15 minutes to get there, but there's just no way. I travel to Europe about twice per year, and it's heaven over there! Paris has city bikes everywhere and lots of protected bike lanes and closed streets, and of course there's Amsterdam and The Hague... It's true, I'd do 90% of what I do with my car on my bike if I could, but I don't want to get killed or crippled in the process. And it's not even people in cars being jerks necessarily, it could be somebody getting distracted momentarily and running into me because there's no separation. I do make a few short trips on the streets, to places where I can walk my bike in like the pet store and the barbershop, and that's a calculated risk. It's a tough problem. Anyway, thanks for this video.

[@chrisE815]

Now that I am a family man, I'm very cautious about riding with my child on the road. I can't imagine riding anywhere near NYC with a child in tow.

[@Propelbikes]

Do you not bike or know someone who doesn’t because they're scared?

[@GreenJimll]

I only cycle off road routes. Otherwise I walk and push the bike, using it as a two wheeled trolley.

[@dark_winter8238]

Me during winter. No separate paths and can't trust cars if there is any snow on the road.

[@sb1206]

Me! I’m terrified after seeing how aggressive drivers are toward bikes.

[@babybirdhome]

I must confess that I was one of the people on the road in a car who’d make people scared to ride a bike when I was young. I was stupid and i was wrong and I wish I could take it all back for anyone whose life I made worse on any given day. I started riding recently again at 49 because I can’t just be sedentary and expect to be healthy automatically like I could when I was young, and it really opened my eyes even further than just growing up and living in the adult world did. I stopped doing things that would make a cyclist scared ages ago now, but having the perspective of actually riding out there every day just makes a lot of things obvious that were invisible before. I never learned that as a kid because I wasn’t allowed to ride my bike in the street except in the little closed off, dead end neighborhood I lived in, so I had no real perspective even when I used to ride as a kid either. But when I think about riding now, today, there are a lot of places that I would just avoid or try to never ride because the infrastructure isn’t there to make it safe with people like who I used to be on the streets. And since most people on the roads also don’t ride a bike, they’re as blind and uninformed as I used to be, and that’s the big needle that has to be moved to change things fundamentally and get our towns and cities to a state where people do feel safe riding a bike around, and once that happens, people will do it, and once people see other people doing it, more will want to join in themselves because it really is an amazing experience and can change your whole life once you’re doing it. I haven’t had the love and zest for life that I have now that I’ve started rding again since I was a little kid. I had no idea I was even missing it or that I could still have it at my age, but it sure as heck is there. I wouldn’t trade this for anything, and I hope everyone gets a chance to experience that for themselves as soon as possible, too. The world is a much better place when people love being part of it.

[@babybirdhome]

By the way, I love what you’re doing with your shop and your channel and all your advocacy. Please never stop. You have my support forever.

[@huguinberreondo]

My mom has always wanted to ride a bike in the city. Living in Guatemala city, it's just not possible for her. We've even considered moving to the Netherlands. I hope my city can change at the speed it's needed to let everyone ride a bike

[@martijnvangammeren1868]

I grew up in The Netherlands and rode my bicycle everywhere through town/cities like Alkmaar, Amsterdam, Rotterdam etc. I lived there up to when I was 25/26yo and I moved to Belgium for love. Even with all my experience riding I had moments I was not comfortable at all as the infrastructure is lacking. It is getting better in the city where I live but stil. Last few weeks there where 5 deaths a few children by accidents. So sad to hear and to hear from the minister of road safety there is not much we can do in some instances.. it angers me so much as I know it can be different, it's there in the north over the border. We can do things like that. But mindset is also different between these countries even though a part speak the same language. Here they take the car for even 1,2km on a school run when they go back home. Than at school they wine about parking spaces and dangerous situations with cars and children.. It pains me as a dutch and that is one thing I really, really miss> cycling infrastructure but also when driving a car it sometimes just sucks here. Other things are quite good here, above all the beer culture although drinking is a problem as people drink and drive.

[@marvin19966]

So was the love worth it?

[@martijnvangammeren1868]

@@marvin19966 Two beautiful children so yes :)

[@barriobikes68]

I just watched this episode for the first time. I love all of your videos, but this was probably my favorite. I am a pretty optimistic individual, but as I experience with other important themes this one continues to be challenging...because there are people who deeply care (drivers & lawmakers) about others...and plenty who just don't. Keep up the great work of highlighting all of this!

[@AddisonHaileLegobuilds]

I bike and ride a E scooter to work everyday in Harlem and Bronx. I love it!

[@rissa7059]

This is such a beautiful video; you see how the kids are positively impacted, you see the freedom of biking, and at the same time you see the major fears and limitations of biking from another perspective without diminishing one or the other

[@LoveToday8]

Alright, now I need a coat like his daughter's. LoL. I really like Pamela’s style as well. She will look great on the dragonfruit GSD once NYC builds an all ages and abilities bike network.

[@buddy1155]

Tinky Winky from the Teletubies was killed for that coat.

[@Propelbikes]

Love it!! lol

[@sarahm.819]

New subscriber. I love the conversations you’re having that so many people connect with. I don’t believe that anyone loves car culture. My fam just sold a car and became a one car family and got ebikes. It’s been really great riding with my teenagers, who don’t always wanna hang out with their mom…

[@gorloff]

Great video again, interesting to.

[@Propelbikes]

Thanks for watching!

[@bonilla2022]

Terra, WHAT AN EXCELLENT VIDEO! Brava! Informative, human, future, ideas, Beautiful interviews too. 🙂 I will share your video and story.

[@steverobinson3900]

Great video, and Matthew is a city biking Ninja! My wife and I bought e-bikes recently and my wife is super nervous in traffic. It really takes away from the pleasure of biking.

[@HungryTrashPanda]

I biked in America as my primary transportation and it was often terrifying. Now I am living in Japan and still biking, and it is somehow less scary. The people in cars are kinder, the speed limits are much slower, and even the vehicle sizes are smaller.

[@RideorDieFit]

Its the same in Salford ,England rare to see parent cycling with kids but just been to Cologne Germany.So many mothers cycling with kids ,elderly cycling etc.

[@Optopolis]

I ride a quite a bit, have been since the beginning of this year, and have even ridden off and on throughout my life since being a kid. Even with all the experience I've got, there are still some roads and stroads that scare the crap out of me. In one vicinity of my city, Cheyenne, WY, there are only three ways out there, one of which you shouldn't be riding a bike - a narrow 45 MPH road, a 50 MPH stroad, and a 75 MPH interstate; it's an example of an area I would visit more often, but it's out of the way and feels unsafe; I've only gone out that way once.

[@ermah]

Awesome story and great filming! Hopefully, as more stories like this get out, more people in the US will come to accept biking as a viable form of transportation and invest in the requisite infrastructure and policies needed to make it happen.

[@ActiveTowns]

One of my new favorite films. So well done. Bravo! 😀

[@Digital.Done.Right.]

What a great story and we need more of this. We need more people who are willing and able to get out and challenge the "system". The automobile as the central mode of transportation for individuals will be shown as an outdated solution. Bikes are only a part of our future transportation needs but gosh they can be enlightening.

[@knosis]

My wife is the same. She is so scared of riding on the regular roads. Granted, Nashville drivers are very aggressive and they will blow past you at speed. But when we get on the greenways, she is so chill and we ride carefree. I wish we had more greenways and separated bicycle paths in this town. It sucks.

[@amvickers55]

Amazing and touching video Chris!!

[@Propelbikes]

Thanks so much!! Glad you enjoyed :)

[@Svid1701D]

This is an amazing video that really tells both sides of the story. I would love to bike more, but feel like I am risking my life each time I do so. So many close calls with cars just not being used to having bikes around them, not watching for me and other bikers.

[@Bionicycle]

I plan on riding much more this summer, but do have a fear of being hit by a motor vehicle. My wife could easily ride a bike to and back from her work in good weather, but can't because of the traffic dangers involved. I have at least 4 friends that have expressed the want to start riding a bicycle again, but won't because of worry about being hit by a car or truck. They don't like the hassle of hauling their bikes to the various trails just to ride them. It's sad really.

[@altriish6683]

I think about that safety fear, too, sometimes, even though I've biked a lot on roads. Really though, drivers are generally respectful of you and your space, and I've not yet had a single safety issue involving a car or truck. It's the kind of thing where because you've never done it your fears outrun reality, I think, and you just have to give it a shot on a smaller scale first to dispel some of that fear.

[@jacko601]

Beautiful vid, Chris. Just saw it. Thanks.

[@BillyBurgh]

I’m in southern CT. Sadly, on these small New England roads you have aggressive drivers, tired from their 30 mile two hour commute, and god knows how long work day just wanting to get home. Toss in a few jerks playing Tour de France clogging small roads and suddenly Sarah in her Tesla doesn’t mind ripping past Charlie on his Trek at 45mph 8inches away. As a chauffeur in the city, it’s refreshing to see protected bike lanes popping up, rather than just the painted gutter lanes, which are starting to pop up up here. Regardless, gutter lane or not, it’s a start, and year round promotion and marketing of these bike lanes, along with police enforcement, that would be helpful. I envision sitting in on a city planning meeting in my area, throwing in my two cents. I suppose that’s really the ticket in this country. Individual communities saying “we want this, make it happen” rather than complaining in a KZbin comment section.

[@Jawnderlust]

This is beautiful. Good job all.

[@krob9145]

There's a few parents in my neighbourhood riding around on Terns or similar bikes with two children on the back. They make it up and down hills too. I ride as well. There are some places I won't ride but I've found alternative routes and got help from other riders to be more confident at some places. My mother grew up not knowing how to ride a bike whilst her brothers and father went on day trips on their bikes. They made it a boy thing and laughed at her when she first tried so she gave up. My generation wouldn't let that get in the way of us learning to ride. We had to teach ourselves without parents help and we got on with it. It did take a long time to convince then to get us girls bikes when our brother had his for years before us. Finally we got them. Fortunately we grew up on quiet streets where we could play and ride in the neighbourhood. One woman told me that it's the type of bike she's seen available that put her off. She likes the smaller wheel foldable type. Not the athletic performance speeders. Some need to know there's variety out there if you know where to find it.

[@umfilmmaker8253]

Great interviews. I’ve never even considered that a lot of people didn’t grow up learning how to ride a bike. Even for those of us who are very experienced riders, I agree that I would never ride in NYC whether there were dedicated bike lanes or not. Yet…I’m comfortable on a motorcycle. 🤔 I hope Pamela considers learning to ride in a parking lot, or park, where she can feel safe to make mistakes, and learn at her own pace. She’s clearly missing out on a lot of fun times with those adorable kids and her hubby.

[@longrider42]

Problem is drivers in the US, do not consider bicycles a legit form or transportation. I ride every day, because I cannot drive. And I used to get yelled at a lot to "Get off the Road" Then I started flying an American Flag on my bike and things have gotten better. Also cities really need to step up with Bicycle infrastructure. Bike Lanes and bike paths and signs. Plus, businesses need to install good bike racks and other forms of bike storage that is safe. When I stop some where I lock my bike up with a good cable and padlock. But even I know that would only slow down a determined thief. But its what I have to do. Maybe when gas prices hit 5+ dollars a gallon, and stays there. People will think about using bikes more.

[@scb2scb2]

As a Dutch person i have grown up in a bicycle friendly country for the last 50 years, what worries me for other places is indeed not just the infrastructure but that not all people have grown up on bikes and fully see people on bicycles as valid and 'weak' members on the road because they are or have been themselves it will sadly only fully happen if you get several generations to become default. Laws, infrastructure can do a lot but changing minds will be slow.

[@ernststravoblofeld]

There's a huge epidemic of fear. Sometimes they sell us fear, and sometimes they hand it out for free. People are afraid to walk or bike or ride a bus. Things are so much safer now, but people are more afraid than ever. Maybe there's a connection.

[@martinsicher]

Wonderful video! Thanks.

[@geoffreyhoney122]

Thanks for this inspiring and frank video Chris! I will be sharing it in my circles. We have to get the infrastructure to a point that will "Let Pamela ride"! Matthew is such an awesome dad and reminds me of my former self 30 something years ago biking as a 1/2 time stay at home dad with our daughter laughing on the back bike carrier "More bumps daddy! Big bumps daddy! " I loved the footage of Matthew threading needles on the bike with the kids so obviously enjoying themselves (loved the flapping wing action!)! This video is great for politicians to see, so they realize we still have a long way to go. This underscores exactly WHY we need this to happen! I love biking for daily shopping, transportation and exercise here in Hamilton Ontario. We even have a local Cycling Without Age programme here. Asy ou said inthe interview with Russ with Path Less Pedaled, streets need to be designed for safety in America. Right now they are designed for car primacy and bicycle riders and pedistrians are just "collateral damage ". We just lost our dear renouned world famous conductor Boris Brott to pedestrian slaughter along with the most deaths to date. We need to be like the dutch of 50 years ago and say "No more child murder!"

[@JoeyHoogendoorn]

I'm Dutch and think this video has a great message. I haven't thought much about cycling until I moved to the UK. In the Netherlands, you simply don't have to think about cycling at all, how you can get somewhere, where you park your bike etc. In the UK, cycling is more for leisure, but it's definitely better than many places in the US. It's just doing daily things like shopping that are really awkward due to the lack of cycling infrastructure and the higher chances of getting your bike stolen. I even store my bike in my apartment here. The UK is great when you can limit yourself more to country roads, gravel/forest roads though. I'm a confident cyclist and also feel a little intimidated by the bigger roads you are sometimes forced to ride on in the UK and US. Last time I rode a Citibike in NYC, which definitely seems to be a better experience in recent years, but there is a lot of room for improvement. In less dense places in the US, cycling infrastructure is even more difficult given how everything is built around cars and you can't just walk or cycle to the store. It's a wider city planning problem..

[@RealButcher]

Glad to see more and more biking. Cars have to go and more bikes and walkways.

[@benobaars]

Looking forward for episode 2.Thank you for uploading. For all the scared people: go ahead and give it a try.

[@Ray-dz9fn]

As a U.S. kid in the sixties and early seventies, my friends and I rode town to town (maybe to the next) and crossed paths with other kids doing the same. Later, I bike commuted to work on Long Island, in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Sunnyvale CA, Rochester NY, and finally a mid east coast state. Retired, I now errand ride. These days (years) I rarely if ever see other adult riders, and once a decade have I seen a kid riding on the public, non-neighborhood roads (probably on the wrong side, unfortunately). Roads too dangerous for bikers, and seeminly there are little to no no funds to provide for non-car-specific improvement. I'd love to see a poll for like U.S. transport riders on they feel whether or not this will change is the near future - my vote would be no, it won't. Even if the climate science regarding warming trends proves true. The roads would have to melt before you'd get drivers to even consider climbing out from behind their steering wheels. Too much embedded "stroad" car-only infrastructure, too many generations mindset - catch 22. I want to be proved soo wrong on this feeling.

[@enriquecastellanos4398]

Thanks for this video and your channel. I just got back from a visit to NYC and was hoping to see your shop in Brooklyn. During the trip I took two bike trips with my girlfriend. The first was from Central Park to near where we were staying near Times Square. The route we took didn't take us to Broadway nor 8th avenue so there were no separate bicycle lanes. The second was from Brooklyn, over the Brooklyn Bridge, to the Hudson River Greenway. This route was mostly separate bicycle lanes or paths with a shorter ride across Manhattan via whichever street Apple Maps told us to take. The experiences for both of us were markedly different. I enjoyed both rides very much. My girlfriend however hated the first ride, through Manhattan traffic. She enjoyed most of the second ride, the portion we were on the separate lanes away from traffic. I am saddened that we didn't both derive the same joy from the experience. I very much want to get back to NYC for the 5 Boro ride next year. I hope if I do, I will get a chance to see your shop.

[@ivanjose200]

Love the video. It's very close to real life, I would like my city to have to have this level of infrastructure

[@SherlynTalactac]

My husband and I have been biking on the trails in the weekends since the last snow melted. We also took a biking in the city class. My goal is that I can confidently bike to and from work. I may have to put my bike on the bus rack for the parts that are too hilly but at least a ride some parts of the way. Hopefully, I can call myself a bike commuter soon.

[@skyfirefly76]

Really great video!. I'm watching while I'm waiting for your rebranding bikes video in 10 minutes!

[@TheAdfk]

First time I took my daughter in a car, she vomit. First time on a bike, she laughed all the way. We chose the bike.

[@chrisnatale5901]

I started bike commuting to work about six months ago and the most common response from friends and coworkers is that they hope I stay safe. Definitely wouldn't have gotten the same response if I said I was driving to work.

[@realityblooms]

You convinced me to make a bike centric video about Philly. My home town, we are making great progress in that aspect.

[@andrejmarich1061]

I think you may have inadvertently volunteered yourself to create a place where people can upload videos or stories about this very topic. I think the more people who can hear other people's concerns and fears about active transit, the more headway we can make. I look forward to hearing about the development of your new project!! 🙂

[@allenschmitz9644]

Stroads and cell phones make biking fun like a death wish game of skill.

[@peterjv8748]

I'm a confident rider and it feels very much like all drivers hate me.

[@highwayman15]

Chris, The video is more than a year old, but it remains relevant. We need the cycling infrastructure and calmed streets, so people from age 8 to beyond age 80 can bike-ride in comfort. Then again I'm one of the converted. The other thing that needs to be addressed is bicycle parking --both the regular kind and secured parking. There just is not enough of it. Thank-you for the videos.

[@HolgerNestmann]

I like how you combined your usual format and sat down with Pamela. I am sad about the situation she is facing and I dont want to discredit her fears. But I would advise her to seek out safe routes. Take a train to long island and cycle there - only practice and experience will reduce the personal barrier. But of course the policy is the biggest thing and more cyclist on the road will help

[@kingkal81]

I live in a large Town in the UK. We have a lot of cycling lanes but nobody uses them. As the car is still King. The UK does have a cycle to work schemes which subsidises the cost of the eBike which comes out your salary tax free. I think if your mileage is up to 10 miles and you live in a town or city eBikes are the future of personal electric transport. "The Future is Electric" Electroheads

[@vdubs5189]

I live in a new urbanism suburb in the USA. We have a very good network of streets with slow speed limits, sharable walking/biking paths, and an every errand within walking or biking distance ( groceries, library, gym, restaurants, movie theater, doctor, dentist, hair salon, you name it). Yet, hardly anyone over the age of 15 bikes for transportation. The paths and parks are full of people walking and biking most days, but just for recreation. People take the car anytime they need to actually go anywhere. Here too, the car is king.

[@alexwilsonpottery3733]

I moved to Des Moines, Iowa from real London thirty years ago where I bike-commuted and there was absolutely no bicycle ‘infrastructure’. Naturally, when I got here I continued bicycle-commuting but quickly experienced the cavalier attitude most drivers have toward the possibility of seriously injuring or even killing cyclists or pedestrians. So, it’s OK to be scared - it’ll keep you aware and hopefully, alive. I admit to being alarmed the Dad in this video did not look round before completing manoeuvres in heavy traffic; signalling your intent isn’t enough…even, and especially, when you have kids on the back. Keep em rollin, rollin, rollin.

[@curthott1317]

This was a great story!

[@onebackzach]

This really resonates with me. I'm far from inexperienced, and ride mountain bikes fairly regularly, and have even raced gravel and mountain bikes before, but my city is just too dangerous for me to feel comfortable riding a bike. I used to ride some, but after several near misses in the "bike friendly" parts of town and the constant stream of headlines about pedestrians and cyclists getting killed despite being a tiny fraction of the population, I just don't feel comfortable riding.

[@marygehling3466]

I live in a small town and purchased my new Tern HSD from a larger city with two Tern dealers. I intentionally chose to purchase from the one adjacent to a greenway so that I could test ride out of traffic. I ride all over our town, but can't get to the next small town because the connecting highway is way too dangerous.

[@Livisliving]

This is my issue as well, can’t get to the other smaller towns around as there is no bike path and it is only 55mph highway. Hopefully in the future countries or states start to only design highways with protected bike paths.

[@kailahmann1823]

This is something that always wonders me - when you have no car, there is no transit and distances are to far to walk, what would you do? In most of Europe (at least north the Alpes) people would then choose a bicycle, even in places where they have absolutely no infrastructure. Go to a tiny village that doesn't even have sidewalks (yes, those exist here too!) and where the cars rush through at almost 45 mph - still you will find around 5% of all trips done by bike. In the US? They either ask somebody to drive them or don't do the trip at all - even with all the negative consequences. And if they are really desperate, they walk absurd distances.

[@benjaminroyer1458]

I live in Berkeley, Ca. There are some good places to ride and some that are absolutely terrifying. The worst part about some areas is that my recumbent tadpole trike is beyond terrifying to ride. I often times have to ride on sidewalks that only are about 6 inches wider than my trike. The way I see it, there is 3 things missing that could make riding not only safer, but a lot more enjoyable. First, streets need protected bicycle tracks/ lanes. Second, priority signals need to be placed that prioritize pedestrians and bicycles. Last, parking for bicycles needs to be massively increased.

[@calebickler6052]

loved this video, keep it up

[@MsLori62]

Well done!!

[@ComfortRoller]

I'm 51, it's so weird to hear parents even question whether or not to let their kids learn to ride a bike. I was on training wheels by the time I was the age of the oldest kid here. Even with a small driveway and a busy road my dad would park across the entrance so I could develop. I'm sad for the wife not having the experience to have confidence. I was "cycling" in 100 plus mile events by 15 on my Peugeot with no bike lanes, rd shoulders at times or parents and those are awesome memories and confidence building experiences for a young person. My friend and I would ride 50 miles to a bigger city just for the excitement of riding in traffic haha. I'm not a cyclist anymore but I do ride multiple times a week and I live rural with no bike infrastructure. I'd feel in a prison if I let assholes in traffic limit my experiences, it's a gamble but I've been downed several times before and I survived fine.

[@jacob.rausch]

i'm an american who is very skilled at biking (have been mountain biking for 9 years) and yeah the biking paths are pretty horrible, enough that i would almost always rather walk

[@georgekarnezis4311]

This story format is phenomenal great work Tera

[@flowgood123]

To the lady in the video, I'm 62 and did know how to ride a bike, but I was still terrified. First we bought regular bikes but we have a lot of hills so we did not ride much and then we bought ebikes and fell in love but I was terrified , and we would ride a little every day and I still get a little anxious but it quickly goes away as we ride. So please just ride a little everyday like around the block and your confidence will grow .

[@bobvorwald9737]

I fully appreciate the issue of being scared to ride on local streets/roads. For years I road a couple thousand miles a year (mostly for exercise). About 6 years ago I literally lost the nerve to deal with the local traffic (too many close calls and being hit by cars, aggressive drivers, even police that don’t give sufficient space). (FYI I live in a suburb of Salt Lake City). I really miss riding daily.

[@scb2scb2]

Ok first time i see something on here that i have not seen in the Netherlands on bicycles someone with a basketball on his head that was something. Good to see someone biking from 'new' brooklyn my parents had a second home in the little town in the Netherlands where it got its name from and i used to bike from Utrecht to Breukelen its a lovely ride... Keep up the great work..

[@mclau1524]

I just biked 2 miles down some roads in the midwest USA and there was no bike infrastructure and im too afraid of cars going 50 mph so I rode on the grass next to the road lol

[@mickie214gostars]

My ebike took away 1 challenge, routes were limited due to hills. However, still when you get to your destination, there are no good options for leaving your bike outside. I wouldn't trust a lock on a bike rack. Second, you are disheveled when you get there, what you can wear is limited, you have helmet hair and your face is a sweaty mess. You can't walk into work like that. Lastly, you are limited by what you can buy or transport home, and it takes too long to get anywhere. I love to bike for exercise, but these other problems are a challenge.

[@krob9145]

A trailer could always be added for shopping.

[@tims_builds]

I see this in my mom too. She knows how to bike but just isn't as confident. She's fine in a residential neighborhood or on a greenway but when you start talking street-gutter bike lanes and requirements to fold in and out of traffic and using normal traffic lanes at intersections, she's not comfortable. That difference would mean that the ride I do regularly to work and feel safe on, she wouldn't be comfortable doing at all. On one hand, yes experience helps with confidence, but it's hard to get the experience if you can't access areas where you can be comfortable.

[@Ditto787]

Boston area resident: I'm ok risking my life with the way folks drive and the way the infrastructure is. I'm delighted it is slowly growing, but I'm not yet at a point where I'd feel comfortable biking errands or to fun locations with a child, especially not if they're on their own bike.

[@RalphGranata]

I grew up in the Bronx 60 years ago, and my mother would not allow me to own a bike; sadly, I never learned to ride. The story does not end there; I'm waiting for the call that my recumbent trike is ready. While I no longer live in NYC, I will ride in traffic.

[@quantumfx2677]

We will move very fast in tech over the next two years and new laws and built bike lanes with charging stations are very likely as battery fast charging is coming. Lots of potential as ebikes will continue to grow.

[@ahkl77]

Biggest barriers will be NIMBYS and car-centric media bent on wedge politics

[@quantumfx2677]

@@ahkl77 You got that right. Sad to say.