I feel that all of the above commenters would do well to reread the letter. Haworth was not attacking anyone's right to be a mountain biker, but merely drawing attention to the disparity in rights between those who ride bikes for transportation versus those who ride for entertainment. Not to mention that a letter to the editor is not an article and primarily expresses an opinion rather than a body of research data. As someone who rides for transportation, rather than just for fun, I find Haworth's assessment of the situation very valid. The truth is, I have lived in several cities in the US and Knoxville is severely lagging in this arena. Even something as simple as the awareness that bicycles belong in the street and not on the sidewalk seems to be missing. It seems from your comments that you all read the title (written by MetroPulse, I have no doubt) and skipped actually reading the letter. The disproportionately hostile reaction to this opinion makes me think that perhaps she has struck a nerve— that perhaps the guilt associated with your white privilege is exerting itself as meaningless aggression. It's a common trope for the haute bourgeois to repeat the mantra "I am by no means wealthy," as if speaking it will make it so. But, I suppose Voltaire knew best: "No man is satisfied with his fortune, yet every man is satisfied with his wit."
What the heck is wrong with riding a bike for entertainment (exercise)? Most of the mountain bikers I know are proponents of bike transporation around town and have worked hard at making it better. I know several mountain bikers that commute everyday. If people like you and Ms. Haworth got involved like the rest of us in various pro-bike groups in Knoxville then you might see the hard work that is being done "behind the scenes" to make Knoxville a better place both on and off the road. Knoxville may not be the most bike frinedly place in town but we are working on it. I would suggest Ms. Haworth do some research before posting on topics she obviously knows nothing about. White privelege has absolutely nothing to do with this whatsoever. I see bums riding bikes all around town - black ones, white ones, and some crazy ones.
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ezduzit writes:
What the heck is wrong with riding a bike for entertainment (exercise)? Most of the mountain bikers I know are proponents of bike transporation around town and have worked hard at making it better. I know several mountain bikers that commute everyday. If people like you and Ms. Haworth got involved like the rest of us in various pro-bike groups in Knoxville then you might see the hard work that is being done "behind the scenes" to make Knoxville a better place both on and off the road. Knoxville may not be the most bike frinedly place in town but we are working on it. I would suggest Ms. Haworth do some research before posting on topics she obviously knows nothing about. White privelege has absolutely nothing to do with this whatsoever. I see bums riding bikes all around town - black ones, white ones, and some crazy ones.
Share your thoughts
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