Is it unusual to be an adult and not have a bike?

[TheKitchenWitch]

It came up at a work thing recently, where we were asked to bring in our bicycles for an event, and I was the only one who doesn't have one.

We live on top of a hill, so there's nowhere I'd easily be able to cycle to (or rather, I could whizz down the hill but getting home again would be a bugger). But even when we lived in a village down in the valley, I would either walk to local places or drive to ones further away. And I've never been one for cycling for pleasure - it's just not something I'd ever do. Had a bike as a kid and then at some point in my teens outgrew it and that was that.
DH i s super fit and goes mountain biking, but that's different - he'll often drive to get to good biking trails, but he'd never just cycle around on roads.

Is that unusual? Do most adults really have (and use) bicycles?

Latenightreader You could donate it to OWL bikes in Chesterton https://www.papworthtrust.org.uk/owl-bikes/

i haven't had a bike since i was a child, and never would.

Anyone i know that has them, has tem for triathlons, not commuting, so specialised bikes.

I don't care for bicycles or cyclists. Neither would be a part of my life thank you very much 😀

I bought one in lockdown and haven't used it since. The kids aren't interested in bike rides anymore and I don't particularly enjoy it.

We rode horses instead.

It's not unusual. I only know one person with a bike

Not owned one since I was about 12 and never will again. Dreadful things!!

I’m mad about cycling, I’ve got 7 bikes….or maybe 8. I cycle commute to work. I road cycle for a hobby at weekends. I’ve got 2 mountain bikes and go off road quite a bit. Do about 4 cycling holidays a year.

I’m not remotely interested in bikes or cycling but, as a non-driver, am completely dependent on one to maintain any degree of independence and to hold down a job. Weirdly, that’s the second time in 24 hours that I’ve been told on Mumsnet that some random facet of my day-to-day life means some other user would want nothing to do with me!

No for me, DH and DD and for most of our friends and we live in a city where cycling is popular.

I haven't owned or ridden one since I was 11 and hurt myself falling off.

I have one in need of a good deal of repair.

I'd say it's unusual to own one, tbh. Where would people living in smaller houses or flats even keep one?

Mine lives on my deck two floors up, covered in a tarp. It is incredibly difficult to get it up and down the stairs.

I only know a few adults who have bikes.

Most (that I know) don't

I have a foldable one but I want to sell it and get an ebike. My daughter and her dad have never learned to ride a bike.

I technically do have one from my late teens that's in my mum's shed which I suppose I could use if I needed to, but I haven't lived there for years, and I don't have one here - nor would I be able to use my old one without it getting some serious attention first.

Nope, I'm dyspraxic and have enough trouble staying upright on two feet. I couldn't ride a bike without stabilisers until I was about 11, and I'm happy to leave that experience back in 2001.

I don’t have one, gave it to a charity shop. I live at the top of a hill and rarely used it, because although I live in a rural area drivers tend to be inconsiderate. I have a horse I ride, not on the road, and a dog I walk twice a day, enough exercise!

I haven't as too many bloody hills.

No

I have several bikes OP but the majority of people I know do not, I live rurally and for me they are workhorses but also riding for pleasure. No car. Buses very limited.
@spookehtooth
Do you mind me asking what make your folding 26" is please? Hoping to save up for one to take on the bus and go further afield.

I'd feel trapped without my bike - they're so handy. Most people I know under the age of 50 have one, but I wouldn't expect it in the UK which is full of rabid anti cyclists.

If you're in Germany you should give it a go.

I'm a complete wimp about cycling (we also live on a hill - tbh I prefer cycling uphill!) I have a bike but it is so unloved and unused that it would need an overhaul before I could take it anywhere!

I wouldn't want to be so vulnerable on the roads and I live in a hilly area, so I don't have one.

Of course it's not unusual! None of my friends have bikes and the only people I know who have bikes are my neighbours on one side.

We all have one in our house, and all of my friends, bar two have bikes they use regularly too. We live in a small market town, for context.

I absolutely hate cycling, so I don't own one.