Riding a bike is not a political act, yet cyclists have become the bete noire for the anti-woke, anti-green, anti-liberal crowd, writes Zoe Williams
  • Ogmios@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    Because idiots on the Internet keep trying to turn absolutely everything into an us vs them conflict.

    • YaksDC@lemm.eeEnglish
      1·
      9 months ago

      I have not had a car in years and have never felt so free. No payment, no gas, no maintenance and no insurance. Granted I live in DC and I can Metro just about anywhere.

        • rdyoung@lemmy.worldEnglish
          01·
          9 months ago

          This is true for the people who have to have the newest and shiniest car. Buy a reliable car and drive it until the wheels fall off and it’s literally the opposite of poverty trap.

          The above said I do agree with the sentiment. I’ve seen very very expensive cars sitting outside of trailers and other hovels that I wouldn’t go anywhere near. I’d rather have a crappy car and a nice house.

          I have a “nice” car now because I drive for a living and besides it being good for business to be driving something not falling apart, I spend enough time in it that I should have something comfortable.

  • abuttandahalf@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    Cycling as a societal mode of transport deprives capitalist automakers, oil companies, banks, and insurance companies of immense income. The right wing is extremely fervently capitalist and defends the capitalist class maniacally. That is why they defend harmful societal planning that funnels wealth to the capitalist class.

  • Diplomjodler@feddit.deEnglish
    1·
    9 months ago

    The answer is pretty simple. The modern day far right is pretty much a creation of the fossil fuel industry. Therefore they will fight against anything that might lead to reducing fossil fuel usage.

  • GrymEdm@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    9 months ago

    “Woke” is just code for “anything I don’t like, don’t understand, or wasn’t raised with”. Part of the problem is that people don’t like their way of life being challenged by the mere existence of cyclists and public transit. The other part is that in many countries the infrastructure (roads, sidewalks, etc) aren’t optimized for cycling and that can cause problems when cars, pedestrians, and cyclists are dodging each other.

  • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    01·
    9 months ago

    There’s a saying that goes something like:

    There are two genders, male and ‘political.’
    Two races, white and ‘political.’
    Two religions, Christian and ‘political.’

    Well, guess what: there are also two modes of transportation, driving and ‘political.’ Riding a bike is a political act, whether you intend for it to be or not.

    • gaifux@lemmy.worldEnglish
      12·
      9 months ago

      Well I can’t say I’ve heard that racist, sexist saying before lol. Politically I’ve shifted all the way to slightly right of Atila the Hun and I ride a bicycle when I’m not unicycling with my friends. Maybe you’re just sheltered or judging people you actually don’t know? It may also be the case people you ride with actually don’t agree with your politics.