John Hearns wrote:

I disagree. Bikes are pretty personal.
You adjust them to fit yourself, and people don't generally swap them
around. Ever had one stolen?

Yes, but that's not really the point. If some oik wants to invade your
personal space with, say, a water pistol or an insult it's far easier to
do than if you're locked in an enclosed box.
It's personal /space/, not a personal /thing/, that I think was
Patrick's point.

I counter you by proposing that its a misconception among
non-cyclists that its common for people to borrow bikes, and that they
are interchangeable. You certainly can borrow a bike, but would be
uncomfortable till it gets adjusted to suit you. And they come in
different sizes.

My mum rides my Brompton quite happily without any fiddling bar not
pulling the seatpost up so far when unfolding it. I'm 5'8", mum is
5'2". Not all bikes have small size range tolerances, but I think the
main point is that you'd need a Velomobile for separate personal space.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/