The Other Cyclists

Cycling enthusiasts and those who favor building for cars only aren't the only two groups affected by infrastructure and policies. Disadvantaged cyclists are less likely to be included in these decisions. "The voices speaking for bicyclist rights and needs, and publicly representing the bicycling community in America are likely only representative of a small segment of the population that bikes," Rachel Quedau writes in Strong Towns. And, while the concerns of more privileged residents might be legitimate, they're not necessarily the same as poor cyclists. On a related note, police in Chicago's richest neighborhoods rarely cite cyclist for infractions, while less affluent neighborhoods, particularly black neighborhoods, get a disproportionate number of tickets.

"It's odd that biking is such a politically charged and polarizing topic when so many people across the country are just using bikes as a simple, cheap way to get to work," argues Quedau.