Someone left a very interesting comment on yesterday’s post. He could recall when automatic transmissions were still a novelty in cars. Non-automatic transmissions were called ‘standard”—until automatic transmissions became standard. Now they’re called “manual.”
The commenter sees a possible shift (pun intended) in the nomenclature related to two-wheeled vehicles. In my post, I followed the now-standard (!) practic of referring to non-electric, non-motorized bikes as “traditional.” Others probably call them “standard.” But as they are outsold by e-bikes in many areas, and far more are used in bike-share and -rental schemes, they could, as the commenter points out, become the new “standard “ bike.
If/when that happens, what will we call our “traditional” or “standard” bikes? The commenter’s wife has a suggestion : “manual.”
I wonder whether John McWhorter rides a bike, with or without a motor, and what he calls it.
