Bike Culture. Do we need it? (Say in your best Karl Pilkington voice…)
Here are a couple of photos from the “Bike Culture Summit” put on by Transportation Alternatives back in May. Featuring, among others, the then-recently unveiled Bike Snob, Eben Weiss. I’m not sure if any world problems were solved by the summit, but it was occasionally entertaining, though with way too much audience participation for my taste. In his very first statement, Weiss dismissed the very premise of “bike culture” as needless and really, what did the organizers expect? His entire blog is built around the idea that people should ride bikes and enjoy it, and not try to construct a “lifestyle” or “culture” around it. I generally agree, but then again, if everyone took his advice, we wouldn’t have his hilarious blog, so let’s hear it for bike culture!
Our summiteers: David Herlihy, author of “Bicycle” and “Lost Cyclist”; Caroline Samponaro, Director of Bicycle Advocacy for Transportation Alternatives; and the Snob himself.
Mr. Herlihy shares some bicycle history
The Bike Snob starts out energetic…
But ends up somewhat dejected…
Do you #BikeNYC? I want to take your portrait!