The Cycling Demographic ?

[J4CKO]

Ok, is it me or do most cyclists, commuter ones especially seem to be middle class white persons between 25 and 50 ?

Same with Roadies, Tourers usually older, white and beardy.

 

[Downward]

One is a commuter so one has to agree with your statement fnnar fnnar.

 

[thomas]

I'm only 18....but the rest is true .

 

[HLaB]

Ok, is it me or do most cyclists, commuter ones especially seem to be middle class white persons between 25 and 50 ?

I fit that category and judging by the other commuter I pass I'd say 90% meet that stereotype.

 

[Mr Creosote]

I guess that it depends on where you live and your route.

Out here in the sticks, cycling to a rural market town you see all sorts of people on bikes during the "rush-hour".

 

[johnr]

I'm 55, and I don't feel particularly old among the people I see regularly. Only every seen one black guy on a bike round here, but he didn't half look cool... probably responsible for a number of the slightly overweight and over-aged throwing in the towel.

 

[palinurus]

How do you know whether a cyclist is middle class?

 

[palinurus]

Someone must have a punchline for that.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Can’t find it at the moment – but sure there was some research (and it was discussed on this forum) showing that cyclists, far from been on a bike because they couldn’t afford a car, are more likely to be better off financially than most!

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

here you go: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2500754.ece

Beginning of article:

"The richer people become the further they cycle, according to official figures overturning conventional wisdom that the bicycle is largely a poor man’s mode of transport.
The richest fifth of the population cycle on average 2½ times as far in a year as the poorest fifth.
The Department for Transport’s National Travel Survey indicates that the poorest fifth, despite being five times less likely to have access to a car, are very unlikely to consider cycling as a solution to their transport needs."

 

[J4CKO]

Cheers Mr Zappa, that is bang on my thinking.

I am 38 and have a white collar job within cycling distance, I am virtually obliged to Cycle to work, as I get older I will grow a beard, buy a recumbent and get progressively more eccentric....

 

[threefingerjoe]

Ok, is it me or do most cyclists, commuter ones especially seem to be middle class white persons between 25 and 50 ?

Same with Roadies, Tourers usually older, white and beardy.

Ummmm...this is a joke, right? Or, am I just slow? I mean, WHY would a person be commuting? Wouldn't it be to WORK? Aren't "most" workers "MIDDLE CLASS, WHITE, and BETWEEN 25 and 50?"

Now that you mention it, I haven't seen many 7-year-old, rich, green people commuting.

 

[summerdays]

I would say that you see all sorts - full age range, and a variety of skin colours, although certain groups are not seen on their bikes such as Somali women etc. Depends what time of day though - 6pm its going to be the commuters who would perhaps fit that demographic. During the day thats when you see the whole range.

 

[palinurus]

I thought there were hardly any cycle commuters round where I live. One morning I left for work later than usual and took the bus instead of cycling (this is rare- the only reason I did that is because my bike was left at work as we'd all been evacuated the previous day due to a fire). There were loads of people cycling through town, a pretty varied bunch too.

 

[gavintc]

here you go: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2500754.ece

Beginning of article:

"The richer people become the further they cycle, according to official figures overturning conventional wisdom that the bicycle is largely a poor man’s mode of transport.
The richest fifth of the population cycle on average 2½ times as far in a year as the poorest fifth.
The Department for Transport’s National Travel Survey indicates that the poorest fifth, despite being five times less likely to have access to a car, are very unlikely to consider cycling as a solution to their transport needs."

I could have a parking space at work, but gave it up (as do most managers) to be available for the junior staff to have on a rotation basis. The office is city centre and not easy to drive to. But, the squabbling over the car park space is ridiculous. Many of the staff will rather drive than commute on public transport and pay for parking when a space at the office is not available. Many of the managers cycle, the rest will take the train or bus. Public transport / cycling is just so much more convenient. None of the manaers in the area that I work in use the car park.

I was chatting to one of our most junior staff recently and was quizzing her on driving to work. She really could not accept that driving was an inefficient method of commuting. I think for her it was a status symbol and she looked down on catching the bus as beneath her.