“Anyone can do it!”

Recently on Twitter, Alicia and I talked about the whole “anyone can do it!” phrasing that’s incredibly common in several groups (off the top of my head, the groups that come to mind are minimalism, lifestyle design, “green”, and even some vegan groups). I can’t recall what sparked the discussion, but I remember that we were talking about one example that is everyone’s favorite – just ride a bike instead of using a car! It’s so easy!

Except that…

in many parts of the country, riding a bicycle everywhere puts you at risk of a heat stroke for a good chunk of the year.
many people don’t have bicycles. They can be obtained fairly cheaply, to be sure; although one article I saw that suggested this commented on how an inexpensive bike could be obtained for $150 or less, acting like that was a minimal investment. Suffice to say, I don’t think it is for many people in the current economic times. And that also leaves out basic essentials like lights (which are required by law in Austin when riding at night), a helmet (a good one can run $50+ new), and a lock; even if you manage to get a bike for $50 used off Craigslist, you’re still probably looking at a good $200 investment when all is said and done.
lots of people live in places where cycling is just not an acceptable form of alternative transportation. In rural areas or suburban sprawl, it doesn’t work nearly as well as it does if you live in the center of a city.
are you ready for this? I know it’s a total shocker. But. NOT EVERYONE CAN RIDE A BIKE. A wheelchair or cane user would have a hell of a time on your average bike. People with chronic pain or fatigue conditions, or temperature or light sensitivities, probably wouldn’t find riding a bike worth the amount of energy (aka spoons) it would take.

Usually when these suggestions – ride a bike, get rid of your car, buy fair trade, ask your boss to let you work at home – get thrown about, it’s from someone who seems to either not know or care that there are others out there who have different circumstances than they do. It is really not that hard to think of situations other than your own before assuming everyone else has the same options you do.

I don’t have anything against any of these groups in particular, but I think it’s incredibly disingenuous to claim “anyone can do it!” and then spout off a list of things that not everyone can do. It’s just plain silly to claim your advice applies to everyone when it clearly doesn’t, and what’s more, to act like people who don’t implement your advice are merely lazy, mindless consumers (switch out as needed for environment haters, omnivores, cubicle wage slaves, etc.), instead of people who have valid reasons for not wanting to. That doesn’t always happen, but I’ve certainly seen that straw-person get bandied about before and I’m sure I will again.

I felt the need to write a post about this because it seems like it’s been everywhere lately and it drives me up the wall!

http://gothicburlesque.blogspot.com/ Hexotica

I agree. Growing up in the suburbs of Atlanta, I know that that’s one area that riding a bike will both get you run over and a heat stroke most if the year.
I live in an inner city hood now and I’m too scared to ride my bike! Too many cars and hard-core cyclists to watch out for.. good thing I can just walk everywhere…
.-= Hexotica´s last blog ..New Product- Moll Maura Cabaret Goth Fascinator =-.
http://trouble.dreamwidth.org Anna

Heck, even before he ended up using a cane, Don couldn’t ride a bike: He has inner ear problems that made it difficult for him to balance.
http://www.innyvinny.com Alicia

I can’t stand this. I hate being all excited about an idea, get to a list of suggestions, and I can swing maybe 1 out of 20. It’s frustrating and then I stop caring altogether. LOL.

I think it would be better if folks acknowledged that situations aren’t the same everywhere. Far less douchey, IMO.
http://clandestinechic.com Sheena

Agh, that’s a phrase that tends to bother me as well. When I was younger, I used it much more in an absent-minded way, but now that I’m older, I seldom say that “anyone can do it” about something. If you have the ability to do something or live a certain way, etc., then I say good and consider yourself lucky.
.-= Sheena´s last blog ..Revisiting Goals =-.
http://crankyoldman.dreamwidth.org Cendri

That’s big in my area. Several people I work with subscribe to the “green” or what have you transportation thing. But it’s not easy for me, as I don’t live right in town like they do. If I want to get into work on time and god forbid when winter comes–gotta drive.

It’s like how people in certain cities ASSUME that everyone has reliable public transport. I don’t even get curbside garbage pickup out here. When I recycle, I have to haul it MYSELF. I would LOVE to take a train into work (I like trains) and sit and read or play my DS instead of driving, but unless I move to a coast that isn’t going to happen.

Also, I’ve been to Austin before, in August; heat stroke for certain would happen if you biked around. The downtown looked deserted at certain times of the day. It’s like that in the winter up here but for the cold.
http://www.wicked-whimsy.com Michelle

@Hexotica – yeah, I bet the heat in Atlanta is just as bad as in Austin!

@Anna – I didn’t even think of something like that. Another good point.

@Alicia – Exactly, I mean, I know it’s unrealistic to hope for something like people to *really* think about it in a deep fashion…but can we at least stop acting like everyone has endless amounts of disposable income? Given the current economic situation in America, I don’t think that’s too much to ask!

@Sheena – true that

@Cendri – Definitely; I get frustrated when I hear people talk about transportation issues because they never even consider people who live in rural areas the vast majority of the time. Talking about getting rid of cars is all good and well, but in a huge chunk of America that would mean literally no way to get to work unless they wanted to walk or bike the 30 (or more!) miles!

The heat is terrible. It was 105 the other day, with a heat advisory. I pretty much make it a goal to stay inside until four or five every day, haha.
http://www.retrochick.co.uk Retro Chick

I agree totally. There was show on over here recently about growing your own veg with that kind of “anyone can do it!” message.

The woman had a huge garden and ended up “thrifitily” spending several hundred pounds on reclaimed glass to make a green house!
.-= Retro Chick´s last blog ..The Kindness of Strangers =-.
http://storiteller.livejournal.com storiteller

I work in environmental communications and I really try to stay away from that language. When we write things like “take public transportation,” I make sure to say “when possible.” Likewise, when we recommend that people buy fuel efficient vehicles, we say “buy the most fuel efficient vehicle for your family’s needs.”

But…I think we need to work towards a world where those options are possible for everyone. Not that everyone will be able to ride a bike, but I want it to be possible for almost everyone (very rural exceptions, perhaps) to get around without a car, whether it’s walking, biking, public transit or whathaveyou. Likewise, I want everyone to be able to eat good, fresh, local food, no matter their income level. Even if it doesn’t exist now, that’s a world worth working towards.
http://www.wicked-whimsy.com Michelle

@storiteller Oh, I agree that we should work towards goals. I just don’t think that guilt tripping people who don’t have the means to obey all of the common rules/suggestions is a good way to try and work towards those goals.
http://lowenmensch.livejournal.com/ Bitu

“in many parts of the country, riding a bicycle everywhere puts you at risk of a heat stroke for a good chunk of the year.”

Or at risk of frostbite because the temps drop well below zero in the winter, never mind the great difficulty of riding a bike through slush and snow.