More About Bachmann vs Bikes

DC Streetsblog: ... let's take Bachmann a bit too seriously for a moment. The chances that she will actually vote for Democratic health legislation are effectively zero. So we can safely assume that her goal here is to burnish her fiscal-conservative credentials by picking a project to deride as "pork." Yup. bicycling is a favorite scapegoat of Minnesota right-wingers... listen to Bachmann apologist Jason Lewis rant about bicyclists: Right-wing bicyclist and comics fan Mitch Berg has an explanation in this 2008 Utne blog post: ".... there’s a certain strain of conservatism that sees conspicuous consumption—driving an SUV and chortling at paying more for gas—as a way to poke a finger in the eyes of the environmental left.” MnIndy points out that Congressman Oberstar is a huge supporter of bikes. Read how Oberstar became an avid bicyclist and bicycling advocate: ... When Rep. Jim Oberstar's wife, Jo, was battling cancer with chemotherapy, their doctor suggested they bike to build up her strength. "He felt it was something we both could do; it was aerobic but not jarring, so we went out and bought four bikes," remembers Oberstar. When she became ill, they put the bikes away. When she died, Oberstar remembered those bikes while he was writing thank you cards. "I had to get out and ride. The first day I went five miles, the next day ten miles. That was in July of 1991. By the end of the year, I put on 600 miles," said Oberstar. Today Oberstar averages 2,400 miles a year despite the busy job of being the second-ranking congressman on the House Transportation Committee. In keeping with changing federal policy toward pedestrian and bicycle transportation, Oberstar is never far from a bicycle.... Maybe someone will organize a Dump Bachmann Bicycle Tour of the 6th District....