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Ooh classist? I never really thought of being in a higher class because i have a car. I would think i was in a higher class if i had a foreign car that my daddy paid for. I think if she was hot, not too many guys would mind picking her up or even go out of their way to pick her up.

One of the most memorable times that this happened to me was at a party and she wanted me to take her home. When i was able to pry my arm away from her long enough for a bathroom break, I took off out the door, ran down the street and peeled off out of there.

I've never denied someone a ride, but I did turn someone down once who needed a place to stay after her furnace quit on her.

I believed her predicament, but I also suspected ulterior motives and figured I wouldn't be alone on the couch for long (yes, I would have taken the couch so she could have the bed--I am a gentleman, thank you). We were friends, and being her friend, I knew how she was when in relationships: totally dependent and a space invader. She lived to be in relationships and was miserable when not in one. She had zero history of one-night stands (she confided in me about these kinds of things) and I had been picking up vibes from her that she had grown interested in me as more than a friend.

So I lied. I told her I had a friend over who was in a bad way and I was helping him sort out things.

She moved away--job transfer--about six months after that night. I later found out from another friend she confided in that she had indeed ulterior motives regarding me, and the dead furnace seemed the perfect opportunity to make things happen quicker. When it didn't work out, I quickly fell out of favor and she latched on to someone else.

But I would have gladly given her a ride to a hotel or another friend's place if she had asked.

Personally I used to love cars but anymore I'm really sick of cars and everything that people put-in to cars-- figuratively and literally. I own an old pick-up I rarely drive and a gas hog van I never drive but when I'm forced to choose between my 200 mile per gallon motorized bicycle and some woman who judges me based on what I drive... Well let's just say the motorized bicycle is never judgmental and leave it at that.

Some friends and I were joking recently about whether we'd want a Ferrari or a night with Gisele Bundchen.

We figured that driving a Ferrari would lead to plenty of nights with women who look a lot like Gisele, and you'd still have the car in the morning. Y'know, if that's what you're going for. Ferraris are pretty sweet on their own.

I'll probably end up driving my four-door for life. At least it's roomy.

Thanks for your comment, Billy. You made me realize that, in my situation at least, it wasn't the precise mode of transportation that bugged me, it was his lack of any, and the expectation that my manners would keep me from leaving him on the sidewalk.

One of the early indications I got that my current relationship was the real thing was in our hometown, when my partner got an impromptu invite to a cook-out not too far from my apartment. The hosts were cycling friends of his, so we rode our bikes over.

On the way, he told me that he appreciated a girl who was willing to ride a bicycle to a party, sweat, windblown hair and grease-stained pant cuffs (or calves, in this case) notwithstanding. What I appreciated was a guy who would proudly take a sweaty, windswept and grease-stained girl to meet his friends.

So I guess your gears mesh or they don't, and how you get around is just another way to figure that out.

Your bike gets a hi-five from me, Billy.

Biking in Greensboro is about one of the most adventurous things ever for a date. You get all the stuff that Ruby mentioned plus the ever-present feeling of impending doom. What a way to bond. And the best way to find out if she has a sense of humor is to go riding on a tandem bike. I think Ruby's friend should've asked her if she wanted to ride bikes. Now that's an eco friendly date.