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Permalink Reply by Jim Reho on April 23, 2016 at 7:57pm

The factors cited in this article are relevant, but I think that the most important factors aren't even mentioned.  Here's my list, and it has no business purpose:

     1.  American obsession with automobiles, especially larger automobiles, Model A to present.  In America, being the culturally primitive place it is, bigger is always better.  The moment gas prices go down, Americans go right back to buying the largest vehicles they possibly can.  It's just like houses.  Let's live in exurbia so we can have an extra room and a plastic swingset, and drive 50 miles each way to work.  Let's have everybody driving solo in Escalades.  Let's have politicians trying to fund roads to nowhere between Kane and Will county, or beyond.  Everyone in America should have a monster truck and cowboy boots, right?

      2.  Americans are the physically laziest people in the world.  I should know -- I have tendencies toward being one of them.  Americans will drive one block rather than walk it.  It's that simple.  Rather than exercise just a little, they will jump in the car for a five-minute excursion.  They're even too lazy a lot of the time to take the bus or the el, because they might have to get off and hike a quarter mile to their destination.  Or God forbid, actually carry something.  I'm not talking about the people on the Chainlink, who are generally exceptional.  I'm talking about the vast majority of Americans in general, or at least the ones I see in Chicago and surrounding areas.  And Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.

Most Americans don't care about how many resources they use, how much garbage they put in landfills, or how much energy they consume.  Some do, and some progress has been made.  But this country is way too full of people who think having large gasoline engines and McMansions are a proud sign of achievement.  The U.S.A. is in great need of humility.  

      

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on April 24, 2016 at 4:00am

You nailed it! Our values are largely based on shallow, selfish consumerism, bling and outdoing the Joneses. I consume therefore I am. Most of the things we value, have no real value. Americans are victims of a relentless consumer marketing campaign.  Physical possessions bring at best a temporary satisfaction, which soon necessitates the next fix. I share your revulsion.

Permalink Reply by Paul Lazzaro on April 24, 2016 at 4:26am

I don't think it's just laziness.  Americans aren't afraid to exercise - we probably have more health clubs per capita than any other country.  We just have the mindset that cars are for transportation, and bicycles are for recreation.  Even most of our very fit triathletes wouldn't think of riding to the grocery store to get a quart of milk.

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on April 24, 2016 at 4:31am

I think this is mainly due to poor planning. In the suburbs there is so little infrastructure for bikes, it is pretty hard to get around by bike unless you stomach busy roads with cars and semi trucks getting too close for comfort as they pass you going 45 mph. If there was more infrastructure, people would use it and take advantage of it. 

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on April 24, 2016 at 5:00am

Agreed, the 'burbs were built for cars. 

I had a job interview a few years ago at the Motorola campus in Schaumburg. There wasn't a single bike rack anywhere. It was as if bikes didn't even exist.

Permalink Reply by Jared on April 24, 2016 at 5:14am

I actually prefer riding side streets in the suburbs.  Older suburbs like Oak Park are great for cycling with the exception of a handful of arterials.  Yesterday I rode from Lincoln Square to Joliet and the up to Western Springs I was able to ride on low traffic streets...

Permalink Reply by Maurice on April 24, 2016 at 2:17am

My wife used to work at a small campus of 4 or 5 buildings, all contained in 1/4 square mile.

Her coworkers would drive from building to building.

Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on April 24, 2016 at 4:22am

Brett and I did a "kitchen walk" (it was called a "walk") in Oak Park to check out the beautiful kitchens and were literally the only ones that walked it. Everyone else drove from house to house. It's sad the U.S. is such a car culture. 

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on April 24, 2016 at 4:36am

Neighbors across the way use their SUV to travel about 400 feet to the convenience store for one item usually while wearing those lounging/sleeping pants.

Permalink Reply by Jerry Lee on April 24, 2016 at 4:49pm

Friday was my last day working in Franklin Park, as we moved to Melrose Park. I no longer have to travel on Belmont between 25th street and Cumberland, where I share a lane with cars passing me at 40plus mph, as there is no shoulders or sidewalk and the right side of the lane is full poorly patchup holes. Well I survived 3 plus years of this commuting year round. Commuting from Melrose Park will be a little safer, don't have to share with fast traffic as much.  

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on April 25, 2016 at 4:24am

Sobering stats that confirm many of my thoughts about bike life here in our city. The only time my coworkers would consider riding a bike is a nice day like today and mostly in a park setting.

That's the only time they try to talk to me since I'm the oddball of the group. "Hey it's a nice day to go ride a bike today."  :P

Permalink Reply by Maurice on April 25, 2016 at 5:27am

The bike rack in from of my office rarely has more than 1 bike on it when I arrive in the morning.  In the winter, there are no bikes but mine.  Today, the rack is completely full, plus 2 more bikes locked to a nearby sucker pole.

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