The Myth of the Elitist, Gentrifying Bicyclist

Doig says that bicycling in cities has an image problem. While the shift of young, urban professionals to city centers has been part of the impetus for the growing use of bicycles in cities and the construction of new bike infrastructure, Doig says the stats belie the idea that these are the only folks bicycling:

"Over the last decade, the share of white bicyclists fell in proportion to riders of color. And ridership is remarkably equal across income groups. Part of the reason we don't see it this way is because all too often, bike infrastructure gets concentrated in tony areas."

Doig also says the anti-bicycle infrastructure outcry is more than reminiscent of Tea Party, small government thinking.