tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6203074149634807485.post5882915799022927317..comments2024-03-14T10:19:04.234-07:00Comments on Taiwan In Cycles: The Copenhagen Effect and Taiwan's Trouble With Cycling AdvocacyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6203074149634807485.post-56137466422901583112010-12-07T09:24:57.133-08:002010-12-07T09:24:57.133-08:00True, in the last 7-8 years, recreational cycling ...True, in the last 7-8 years, recreational cycling in Taiwan has become a higher-status way to spend leisure time (and not a little money!). Almost has the same expensive-hobby status as golf. Like golf, it's very much about having the right equipment, right shoes, and right clothes when you are photographed on your round-the-island adventure.<br /><br />But most of these people would not be caught dead riding a bicycle to the office, to a restaurant, or to Carrefors. <br /><br />That's the main cultural difference to understand if making comparisons between Taiwan and western Europe on topics like utility cycling.<br /><br />Same attitudes go for public transportation. When a man is promoted to a managerial position (this does not apply to women) he is expected (both by his superiors and the employees he is managing) to drive begin driving a car to the office. Taking the bus or MRT (or riding a bike or scooter) is no longer considered appropriate.<br /><br />I think these are attitudes that evolve along with other social and economic generational changes in society. The opportunity for personal car ownership is still a relatively new social phenomena in some societies, so it still has significant meaning (and status) attached to it. It also means that the person behind the wheel is inherently more important than the pedestrian or cyclist on the street. It is even more recent in China, and that's one reason walking or cycling in China is even more dangerous than in Taiwan. I think all societies have gone through this stage of SAWCO (Status Associated with Car Ownership!). In the beginning, owning a car makes you more important that others.<br /><br />But some societies (especially places like Scandinavia, Holland or Germany) are a couple of generations beyond that stage now, and so it is not out of the ordinary for even professors and members of parliament to ride their bicycles to work.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03882498887460172298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6203074149634807485.post-29018850095289568412010-12-07T05:25:00.390-08:002010-12-07T05:25:00.390-08:00Nice overview. (But that paragraph on status was a...Nice overview. (But that paragraph on status was a bit overreaching. Emphasizing status is human nature, not some special result of Confucianism. Witness the rise of consumerism across the globe.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6203074149634807485.post-11566584468258751212010-12-07T04:38:01.167-08:002010-12-07T04:38:01.167-08:00Totally agree with you that cycling still seen as ...Totally agree with you that cycling still seen as a poor person's transportation. But that's as transportation; as leisure there are a lot of really fine and expensive bikes out there, and what I assume are respectable businessmen riding them. Really interesting points though.Sudasanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16052498926889454273noreply@blogger.com