I've been a bicycle commuter for close to a decade. Several years ago, I was picking up my son after school when another parent approached me. "I think it's great that you come here every day to pick him up."<p>I thought this was a bit odd. Maybe she meant me as a <i>father</i> rather than his mother? I said, "Yeah, I really consider it a luxury to have that kind of flexibility in my day."<p>She didn't seem sure what to make of this. "I mean it's great that you're so responsible to come and get him every day."<p>This was getting stranger and stranger. "Well, it is my responsibility."<p>"I just mean, it's great to see you being so responsible to pick up your little brother every day when I'm sure there are lots of things you'd rather be doing."<p>Wait, what?<p>Not sure whether to be flattered or appalled, I spluttered, "Um, I'm his father."<p>She turned red. "Oh! It's just that I saw you riding here on your bike and assumed you were coming from high school."<p>This sort of thing is why I have a beard.