Urbanism Is Not Climate Masochism

We once heard a story from a driver in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia who was annoyed that a cyclist was slowing him down. Do you know what he said? “You’re not saving the environment, buddy.” This was interesting. The assumption was that if you’re on a bike trying to get somewhere you must be doing it for environmental reasons, probably in an annoyingly self-righteous way. But what if it was just a convenient way to get to work without having to worry about parking? What if it was how he spends time with his kids? What if he just enjoys the fresh air and activity? What if he sold a car in order to save money for other priorities? What if he just finds driving unpleasant? None of this occurred to the driver. The assumption was that the cyclist was there on a bike slowing them down for environmental reasons, probably climate change in particular.

Keep Urbanity rolling:

References:

[HarryLovesRuth]

Having an older elementary school kid gives me an easy argument: I want my child to have the ability to go places safely on her bike. That painted bicycle on the shoulder of the four lane highway doesn't meet that criteria.

[mackiefarrell]

I once had a coworker in Ottawa tell me that McKenney's cycling infrastructure proposal was nothing but a waste of money. He said no one wants it, and that he had a bike already but it just sat in his garage. He didn't really know how to respond when I asked if maybe his bike stays in the garage because he doesn't feel safe riding it on our roads.

[veggieboyultimate]

People have gotten so much used to cars that whenever they see other forms of transportation, they ridicule it.

[c.i.demann]

Cars are worried bikes will slow them down. Bikes are worried cars will kill them.

[hngldr]

For years I was a full blown climate denialist libertarian but still biked to work because I thought it was insanely inefficient and silly to drive to the gym to hop on a stationary bike.

I also thought it was crazy to wear down one of the most expensive things you can own just to go a couple miles down the road and be stuck in traffic and not get fresh air.

To me biking was freeing to my finances, time, and physically.

I continued to do it even in far-flung suburbs because it was that much of an obvious winning choice.

While I now am the total opposite of a climate denialist, during the time I was biking was still a stupefyingly obvious win

[Coccinelf]

I'm really curious what is the percentage of people who buy their first car because they really want to as opposed to because they don't have any choice. A 16 year old kid buying his first second-hand car because he can't wait to go places without his parents driving him around doesn't buy a car by choice.

[CheekyCheeky]

I often get the idea that some people think that the Netherlands is a bike Valhalla so it must be terrible for driving a car and nobody does it, completely oblivious to the Netherlands having some of the best car infrastructure around.

[JustMikeH]

Last weekend I was taking a break in a park to cool down when someone approached me and started a conversation about my bike.

they were very passionate about cycling and I thought we were having a good conversation. During the conversation I made a passing comment that I stopped driving years ago because I like bicycle touring, and use commuting to keep myself fit. They looked at me incredulously and said, "Oh, you're an environmentalist." then walked away.

I did not say a single thing about the environment, and I'm still dumbfounded.

[SkipGole]

Whenever I get a compliment for commuting to work, my coworkers sometimes comment on how I’m trying to save the environment. This is not my main reason. I tell how it’s much more pleasant and stress free to ride because there’s no traffic. For example, my commute is always 50 minutes. That never changes. In a car, it can be 20 to 45 minutes, which is stressful, especially after all those relaxing bike rides!

[blubberblubb]

I can't blame the car owners. It's really hard to understand without experiencing firsthand. We sold our family car and switched to bikes thinking we'd make a noble sacrifice. Boy was I wrong. There is an indescribable quality to getting around by bike. I never expected this, but switching to bicycles has been a reward instead of a sacrifice.

[Asmodasis]

"You're not saving the environment, buddy" Not to mention some people are legally not allowed to drive cars but may be able to ride bikes.

[j.s.]

It never would have occurred to me that biking could only be about the environment. When I was growing up, my dad had been biking to work for over 20 years. It was exercise, less stressful, and it allowed the family to save money by owing only 1 car. I don't think he once mentioned the environment as a reason, since that was back before anyone considered climate change!

[Moondymon]

the 15 minute cities thing is so ridiculous. "Hey, how about changing zoning so we can put a coffee shop in this residential area?" "Oh no you're trying to trap me in my neighbourhood!!!"

[chefnyc]

I don’t care about much about saving gas because I don’t drive during the weekdays. I am fine driving on the weekends. But I am still a big fan of walkable neighborhoods, middle income housing, biking and public transit.

[oldbrokenhands]

My father had a stroke over ten years ago, and I believe the one thing that kept him going after that was that he was motivated to walk again. Sadly he had to walk in the street because the sidewalks in Dallas are atrocious.

Now as I'm getting older I find myself with lower back problems and trying to stay active and researching biking to replace the jogging that I can no longer participate in.

You're correct in stating it's not just about saving the environment, urbanism and advocating for other modes of transit is also a way of saving folks via the therapy of outdoor exercise, bike commuting, and mass transit.

[lej_explains]

100% - I often find people are more convincible when you approach biking/transit from the lack of stress, happiness, connection, and money saving angles rather than larger societal reasons. (Kinda similar to getting people to try eating plant based - don’t tell them they need to to save the world, just say you felt physically better.

Now if we could just make urbanist experiences safer (concrete bike lanes and dealing with semi-frequent harassment/crime on some metros) we’d be set in convincing a lot more.

[Mrnevertalks]

4:40 that's the same comment I made on that video. It was well intentioned, but it isn't the job of Canadians to tell Americans where and how to get involved locally.
Also, I do find it silly how derisive some drivers can be of other modes of transport when the majority of what I hear from them are complaints about parking, traffic, or costly repairs. Drivers don't even make driving sound appealing!

[Bismvth]

This is a really crucial piece of messaging for the release of our city's Calgary Plan — basically the closest thing our city has to a constitution, and we're replacing it soon! It enshines walkability, wheelability, and transit efficiency just as important as car mobility. It's not about making cars worse (though you do need to remove space for cars to achieve these goals meaningfully), it's about finally not prioritizing any mode over another, and making all forms of mobility viable and convenient for everyone.

"I have to drive because XYZ" is just another way to say "Transit hasn't quite considered folks with XYZ yet." But we CAN, and we WILL!

[kevley]

Babe wake up, our favorite urbanist couple just uploaded!

[melissahalle]

It's weird that more people don't talk about the success story that is the province of quebec with 100% renewables. It's an interesting story and proves it is possible.