Cycling: Who is considered a cyclist?

The image of the ideal cyclist is presented as demanding: fit, young or middle-aged, capable of conquering steep hills, and carrying only a light backpack. If cycling to work, they must also have access to showers upon arrival. This idealized cyclist is also expected to be patient, refraining from complaints about inconvenient bike lanes or routes disrupted by construction.

This portrayal clashes with the author's understanding of cyclists as individuals performing ordinary societal tasks – commuting to work, shopping, or taking children to daycare. The author believes that fostering cycling for a broader population would benefit society by mitigating health issues related to inactivity, reducing pollution and noise, and lessening the demand for road space.

The piece, an opinion submission by Satu Hassikohta, a 75-year-old from Tampere, critiques the notion that cycling is solely for the highly dedicated or affluent. It implies that societal expectations and infrastructure often fail to accommodate the needs of the average person who cycles for practical reasons, not just for sport or virtue signaling.