Ballard’s own Dutch Bike Company is expanding to New York, and you can’t ask for a better announcement: a story in the New York Times:
“With 170 miles of new bike lanes in New York, it makes sense that the Dutch Bike Co. in Seattle should be opening a branch in the city this summer, its third in the United States (after Chicago). Already, traditional bicycles with upright seats, fenders and chain guards — so-called city bikes — are the biggest growth area at stores…”
It seems to be a match made in heaven: stylish retro bikes making a comeback in a down economy in a dense urban area. But these bikes aren’t cheap: running in the $1,500 range, which makes you wonder how New Yorkers will keep the crooks from cashing in. (Thanks LS for the link!)
![](https://www.myballard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-My-Ballard-Tile-Ad-Troop-100.png")
$1500 isn't cheap. Then again, the Euros use these bikes the way we use cars: daily and with little maintenance. You can get a cheaper bike but things like a rack, fenders, lights, etc. can quickly add several hundred bucks to the price. Plus most bikes sold in bike shops are going to require more upkeep than these since they emphasize speed and lightweight at the expense of comfort and durability.
As for the concept, it can work well in Seattle and especially in Ballard (assuming you shop local). I usually do most of my local errands on a bike not because I care about the planet but because it's often faster and more pleasant than driving. I can take a more direct route by bike, not have to wait through multiple cycles of a traffic light to get through an intersection, and not have to look for parking. Of course for trips of more than a few blocks or if it's pouring down rain the car wins out which is why I have both.
I think the “sell your car get a bike” crowd are deeply out of touch with the reality most people live in. At the same time I think many people who feel the need to get in a car to travel just a few blocks for a bag or two of groceries are incredibly lazy (especially when I know people who are well into their 80's but still manage to walk to the store).
For now it's called “choice” to do what YOU want to. To drive, bike, bus or walk. Our “leaders” have other ideas for us. The more they do for us the more they do TO us. We are “pro-choice”, right? Except of course for education. Good for them if they can sell their product for what they can get. This is called capitalism, for now.
SeaSpider,
I'm one of the “sell your car get a bike” folks.
The thing of is is that I used to be one of those incredibly lazy. I was so lazy I'd drive 2 blocks on a sunny day and circle the block twice to find a close parking spot so I didn't have to walk. I had an unhealthy co-dependent relationship with my car and it was ruining my physical health.
Bicycling changed my reality. I know I'm not in touch with the same reality as others, my radius of travel changed, my idea of how long it takes to get places changed, and my feeling of self reliance changed. Even my circle of friends changed. Most importantly, my health changed for the better.
So, if some of us hardcore cyclists, anti-cagers, “sell your car and get a bike” folks are a bit like recovering addicts, there is a reason.
Sure, the car has great utility, just as pain killers are great when you have dental surgery, but we have a culture of addiction to automobile dependency and there is a backlash bicycle culture trying to remind us that it is possible to live without a car.
To The Norwegian, as much as my fantasyland imagination would like to see a car-free world, don't fear, the most our leaders can do is dis-incentivize car driving, or make it more expensive to reflect the true costs of uninsured drivers, pedestrian deaths, air pollution, noise pollution, water pollution, etc. It is much more than “just for now”, the vast majority of the bicycle riders that you see also own cars for the reasons that SeaSpider mentions.
I lived car free for 10 years but that was in NYC and SF where owning car is more of a hassle than it's worth due to traffic and lack of parking. Living in Seattle and also having kids it's nice to have a car. Public transit in this town is seriously lacking and hauling kids on a bike takes up a lot of time. There are days where I have a couple of hours free and since I have a car I can use that time to take the kids to the aquarium, the zoo, etc. If I had to haul them on the bike I wouldn't have the time to do that.
Norwegian:
Yes, it is about choice. Where did I say it wasn't? I *chose* to ride my bike and save money. You *chose* to drive and give your money to insurance companies and oil companies. Didn't say one was right or wrong and I happen to do both. It's my *opinion* that driving a 4-5 blocks to get a bag of groceries is lazy. The fact that so many motorists happen to be obese does give some weight – no pun intended – to my opinion. However it is just my *opinion* and last I checked the Constitution says I have a right to that *opinion*. I never stated it as fact.
As for capitalism, I'm all for it and never said I wasn't! In a capitalist system fat, lazy people pay more for health care while those of us who are not obese and don't have high blood pressure pay less. Sounds fair to me. It's the choice of the individual to be fat and lazy or trim and fit (and I say that as someone who managed to lose over 75 pounds!) In the case of driving, my decision to not be entirely reliant on the car saves me thousands of dollars each year. It's my choice to spend that money on things I like and supporting oil companies isn't as entertaining for me as spending that money on Mariner's tickets, vacations, etc. I fully recognize other people would prefer to give their money to Exxon and as a shareholder of that company I benefit from that choice too – viva capitalism!