i think the main reason cargo bikes are (somewhat justifiably) being seen somewhat as a class indicator is that the sweet spot for their use is replacing a second car; i.e. a lot of the early adopters are families who have already been able to invest in a second car; but owning two cars is not seen as affluent, whereas one car and a cargo bike is?
Just taking the straw poll that is boards.ie, it seems that any questions about cargo bikes are about replacing a second car, so you could be right.
"Working class" ( a somewhat silly designation, that has lost a good deal of its meaning, I think) is a stand in for "less affluent people/families", and for some of those families 4,500 euro for a bike is just as unobtainable as 45,000 euro for a car.
Mr. Chiles would probably have been better off simply remarking to himself that the bike cost more than he expected, and continuing with his day, instead of trying to wrap a class issue around it, though.
Ya I say this is the case here for sure.
The Cargobike replaces the second car for majority of people, I know a handful of people in Galway City where its the ONLY mode.
When ya have people like Chiles commenting on it though - shows its becoming more mainstream. Which is good news I think.
Re class. For here yes, but over in UK? Class thing is still very strong over there in comparison with Ireland, outside of Dublin perhaps. Have two siblings over in UK for 20 years at this stage and it still surprises' me when I visit how pervasive this class distinction thing is in day to day.
Re. the UK class thing, what sort of differences do you notice?
I find it an interesting idea. I looked up current definitions of working and middle class, and it all seems to centre solely around income. The traditional ideas of what makes either or no longer really apply.
I grew up in what would have been considered a very working class household. Neither parent finished second level education, father worked in waged employment based around "low skilled" work (although I'm not sure who gets to designate the skill level of any job), mother worked in the home. I wasn't on an airplane till I was 19 or 20.
As the first person in my family to go to third level, I now find myself with a degree and a profession, so sit squarely in the middle class bracket.
good photo
Over UK - Schools one attends, Sports one plays, University Educated, where you go and type of holidays, the pubs one frequents, types of shops one even buys food in, transport (bicycle), newspapers one reads. One has to tick all these boxes.
For Ireland - that definition is probably true in general. Income. You could be a tradesperson here, making the €€€ and you would be considered middle class based on your home, car, holidays etc in the UK somebody exactly the same are always considered working class.
We also have way more young people now attending University and Higher Education here and we are wealthier in Ireland and that wealth is more spread out in Society. So far more people consider themselves middle class here now. I just don't see the same level of mixing over there in comparison with here.
Interesting short read in a UK (right leaning) mag that usually has a bias against people on bikes...
...
This is a nice little initiative being kicked off by the NTA. Bike libraries are being run in 10 schools in this tranche, to be followed by another 10 from Sept.
The Bike Library project will give families the opportunity to borrow either an e-bike, cargo bike or foldable bike for a set period during the school term at no charge. This will allow them to experience using these bikes before having to decide to buy one; “try before you buy”. The aim of the project is to encourage families to make a permanent modal shift to sustainable, active travel for their daily commutes.
Details on how it operates below
They say 10 schools but ONLY 4 are mentioned on the website
https://www.bleeperactive.com/bike-library
any idea on the other 6? Can any SCHOOL sign up?
Ahh - when I clicked on the https://www.bleeperactive.com/bike-library Sign Up link - the GOOGLE DOC reveals ALL
THE 10 SCHOOLS
Assumption Senior GNS, Walkinstown
Assumption Junior School, Walkinstown
Central Model Senior School, Marlborough Street
John Scotus Primary School, Northumberland Road
Mother of Divine Grace School, Ballygall
Our Lady of the Wayside National School, Bluebell Road
Scoil íde Girls’ National School, Kilbarron Park, Coolock
St. Catherine s National School, Donore Avenue
St. Peter s National School, Phibsborough
St. Josephs Senior National School, Ballymun
Christ almighty the comments under that Eamon Ryan tweet. I shut down my Twitter account a few months ago because I kept allowing myself to get drawn into discourse with these people.
A pretty nasty hit and run in Ennis
Indirectly cycle related...
Good to see they're wearing helmets and hi-vis 🤣🤣🤣
TBF, its a) a construction site and b) the ground is strewn with lighting battens about 20 -30 cm from their front wheels
Thinking of the Strava segment names that could be used.... the shitiest segment of all time.
I doub't that there will be many attempting the segment!
Ah yeah, twas only a joke
Damn punctuation I was expecting the clip to end with them being chased by an oncoming wave of brown water!
That would be the best part. Nail the KOM, sewer gets put into use, then it's yours forever
Obviously, shure there wouldn't be GPS coverage down there,
This is like one of those meetings where everyone is talking and nobody's listening😁
My "twas a joke" post was about the helmet and hi-vis
If you're explaining you're losing 😀
Well, I did quote the post i was replying to, but I very often feel like I'm losing, whether I'm explaining or not 😂
Love this
I quoted the wrong post 🤣
I quoted the wrong post twice, I'm going back to bed, this day just isn't working out for me
☺️
In order to receive their licence, a cyclist will have to sit patiently in silence for an hour while a BMW driver repeatedly says ‘cyclists should have to pay road tax’.
New DART carriages - will have bike facilities...
New DART+ prototype unveiled, first carriages to enter service in 2025 (msn.com)
![Photo of [Deleted User]](https://w6.vanillicon.com/v2/62877c35768f143f69acd7bb6cd43f3c.svg)
