“Let’s have a moment of silence for all those stuck in traffic on their way to the gym”
“Let’s have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle” is a jocular one-line gym saying that has been printed on many images. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) had made the saying several times, with varied wording. “How many people will sit in their cars this evening, stuck in traffic on their way to ride a stationary bike or run on a treadmill?” asked Blumenauer on the floor of the House on July 28, 1997.
“Just think how many Americans get stuck in traffic—just frustrated—on their way to a health club to ride a stationary bike,” Blumenauer said in 1998. “‘Let’s have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle.’ - Earl Blumenauer” ws posted on the newsgroup rec.bicycles.misc on August 2, 2005.
Wikipedia: Earl Blumenauer
Earl Blumenauer /ˈbluːmənˌaʊər/ (born August 16, 1948) is the U.S. Representative for Oregon’s 3rd congressional district, serving since 1996. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes most of Portland east of the Willamette River. He previously spent over 20 years as a public official in Portland, including serving on the Portland City Council from 1987 to 1996.
Google Books
28 July 1997, Congressional Record—House, pg. 15994:
How many people will sit in their cars this evening, stuck in traffic on their way to ride a stationary bike or run on a treadmill?
Google Groups: misc.activism.progressive
USA: TEENS LOBBY FOR BETTER CYCLING CONDITIONS
Mark Graffis
9/19/98
Copyright © 1998 The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (September 17, 1998 2:25 p.m. EDT
http://www.nandotimes.com)—A band of youthful lobbyists made a fervent pitch Thursday for Americans to, as they put it, “get out spoke’n”—that is, to go cycling.
(...)
“Just think how many Americans get stuck in traffic—just frustrated—on their way to a health club to ride a stationary bike,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore, adding that he has used a bike exclusively since arriving in Washington.
16 January 2003, Tallahassee (FL) Democrat, “The deep end of the cesspool?,” pg. A11:
It’s irritating to be stuck in traffic on your way to the gym to ride a stationary bike.
Google Groups: bikecurrent
Converting to 12V, Mounting the battery
John Clary
7/3/05
(...)
“Let us all bow our heads and contemplate those people stuck in traffic trying to get to a gym to ride a stationary bike.” politician on the opening of a new bike trail
Google Groups: rec.bicycles.misc
? on hlemet conspiracy
Just zis Guy, you know?
8/2/05
(...)
“Let’s have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle.”
- Earl Blumenauer
20 July 2007, The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)< "5 reasons to bike commute," pg. D1:
Fitness. In the words of Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.: “Let’s have a minute’s silence for all those Americans who are currently sitting in traffic on the way to the gym to ride a stationary bicycle.” An hour of leisurely cycling burns about 270 calories.
Twitter
Yann Kerhervé
@yann
“Let’s have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck
in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle.”
12:22 PM - 31 Aug 2007
Streetsblog NYC
Earl Blumenauer Kicks Off 2008 Bike Summit
By Ben Fried
Mar 5, 2008
(...)
Blumenauer thinks we need to have a new version of the question, “How many people are stuck in traffic on their way to ride a stationary bike at a health club?” We need to craft a similar question for national infrastructure and determine what bicycling can do to answer it, he says.
Twitter
stanfordcat
@stanfordcat
Let’s have a minutes silence for all those Americans currently sitting in traffic on their way to the gym to ride a stationary bicycle.
2:17 PM - 3 Jul 2008
Twitter
Luca Volpi
@Goldmund100
There’s something wrong with a society stuck in traffic on the way to the gym to ride a stationary bicycle.~ Bill Nye
4:01 PM - 23 Jun 2014
Twitter
Taras Grescoe
@grescoe
“Let’s have a moment of silence for all those stuck
in traffic on their way to the gym to ride a stationary bicycle.”
—Earl Blumenauer
12:42 PM - 22 Dec 2016