Pros / cons of riding a bike?

_number8_@lemmy.world to No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 110 points –

apparently my city literally literally banned public rail funding, and people online love jerking off about how good biking is, so i figured might as well try. I have come up with:

pros:

  • good for mental health / exercise / endorphins

  • arguably quaint

  • feel like an old timey guy taking his wares to market

  • feel european

  • can annoy others

  • less of a police state around them vs cars

  • more flexible parking, routes

  • capacity to be peaceful

  • nice in summer

cons:

  • look like an annoying dork (esp w neon - which also hurts the quaint factor)

  • have to wear a helmet (^)

  • getting sweaty, potentially "unpresentable" for work

  • still have to find safe parking

  • still takes a while

  • have to find new routes to places

  • can't listen to music or might die

  • little meaningful protection against severe injury

  • can only carry so many groceries/etc

  • sucks in winter

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I've been riding bikes for more than 50 years and never wore a helmet. Now I got an ebike - and a helmet. And I actually like it. It provides a bit of shade, the airflow is still good (it has many air holes), and it keeps almost all sweat from running down my face.

Do you live in a city or an are with a lower population? I strap the helmet on in the city or doing some speed, but when we're out visiting with family in the country or a small town, we usually go without it.

I live in the city, but with the ebike I now can also go to the surrounding country side. I still like the helmet there, because shade for the head and a lot less sweat in my face. And it's not a high end helmet, it is a cheap one from Aldi.