As debate rages over the cycle tracks, there is a tendency to generalize as things become more heated. People get put in slots, opinions get exaggerated, arguments become polarized. It seems there are only two categories: cyclists and drivers. And only one kind of cyclist.
In fact, like all the categories of cars and drivers, there are many different cycling niches. Forty-two at least.
In a Museum of Vancouver exhibition in 2009 – Velo-City: Vancouver & the Bicycle Revolution, designed by Propellor Studio – they listed them all:
- Commuters
- Freak bikers
- Naked bike riders
- Cruisers
- Dirt jumpers
- Cyclo-tourists
- Bike dance troupes
- Mini-bikers
- Town bike riders
- Choppers
- Pursuiters
- Critical massers
- Sprinters
- Recumbent riders
- Bike cops
- BMXers
- Electric bike riders
- Freestylers
- Trials riders
- Alley kittens
- Cyclocross racers
- Fixies
- Freeriders
- Joyriders
- Midnight massers
- Climbers
- Tall bike riders
- Time trialists
- Bottle collectors
- Trackies
- Unicyclists
- Tandem teams
- Couriers
- Randonneurs
- Hand cycle riders
- Kids with training wheels
- Downhillers
- Bike polo players
- Foldies
- Lone wolves
- Mountain bikers
- Roadies
Commuter. The lanes are good!
Wow, good one Nuri. Obvious miss too.
How about “Cat 6 Racer” – the guy who treats his commute as a race.