[cperciva]

There's a lot of people who are physically incapable of biking to work -- not because of distance, but because of some combination of {age, injuries, lack of fitness, difficult terrain, luggage}.

It's easy for a fit 20 year old who lives on a flood plain to say that more people should cycle to work. It's not so easy for an overweight 40 year old who needs to drop her kids off at daycare, works at the top of a steep hill, and needs to buy groceries on the way home.

[jiggy2011]

If she bikes to work she might not be overweight for much longer.

I agree though , probably the biggest factor here is managing kids and working everything around their timetable.

I know plenty of people who could bike or use public transport to get to work but like the piece of mind of knowing that if they need to go anywhere they can just jump in the car and go without the planning headaches.

[startupfounder]

The fact is most people work within biking distance of work, yes there are SOME that can't, but most just plain don't want to. In NYC is is faster to bike then any other mode of transport.

If you are in fact a overweight 40 year old who has kids and luggage needs then what about: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/faradaybikes/faraday-por... ?

An electric bike for hills, add on a kids seat on the handle bars and on the rear wheel and then put your groceries in the front basket. Solution. Physically incapable?

This bike is on the expensive side at $9.50/day, but compare that to car, gym membership and public transportation cost and you might be breaking even.

Of course this might not work in all locations, but it is a solution for many.

[Cass]

"put your groceries in the front basket"

That may work fine for one person who lives alone, but the average front basket will barely fit the toilet paper and milk to last a four-person household a week, never mind the two dozen other things they'll need. And someone with two kids doesn't have time to go shopping every single day just because her transport will only hold a fraction of the groceries they need.

[prodigal_erik]

A bike can't offer anything more than a cardio workout for your legs. That's not a substitute for a gym with benches and weights and suspension. And showers, because if you don't break a sweat the ride is even less of a substitute.

[jules]

My grandmother lived at the top of a steep hill, and biked to buy groceries until she was 75 or so. There are not many people who are physically incapable of biking, especially if you have a bike with gears then almost all hills shouldn't be a problem; just go slow.

[engtech]

out of the ~25 people who bike to work at my office the youngest person is 35. The majority of the hardcore cyclists are 45-55.

But there is only one person who uses a chariot to drop their toddler off at daycare on the way.