Thank you, Clifton.
I have heard about the Citizen Breezer, but I perused the website, and it seems that their frames do not surpass 17", and I think I'd be most comfortable on a 19" or higher. What are your thoughts on that issue?

Ok, I'm a Cookoo head (in the words of my nephew), lol. I revisited the website, and now I see larger frames. Ok, well, now I have more options to consider. Thanks again.

Hello, Birka,
Thanks for your input. Yes, I have heard about the weight issue, as well. I will have to hall it up one flight of stairs, but I'm pretty strong. The lightest I've seen is 35lbs, which isn't that bad. Also, their most expensive is about $700, plus a $97 delivery charge. I do not own a car anymore, so I'm willing to spend that much on a bicycle because ONE car check up used to cost me $800 each time! So, a one-time expense of that amount doesn't bother me.

FD,
That's exactly how I feel about the whole "price" issue. Well, for me, the step-through bikes eliminate having to throw your leg over the seat to straddle it in preparation for riding. Also, when stopping, you can simply shift your feet through and dismount without having to stop the bicycle completely, therefore making stopping more efficient. This is especially good for those who have had leg surgery. It works great for those who ride to work or an event in their dressy clothes. It also works good for some elderly riders who may not have the kind of lower body strength needed to straddle a bicycle the way others do. Finally, some have argued that it could be safer, in that when an emergency situation is realized, a rider can quickly and more easily dismount without having that crossbar as a hindrance.

On a personal note, I am tremendously clumsy, and I've tried to dismount on regular diamond-frame bicycles, while still moving to no avail. It's just tremendously awkward, due mostly to my long legs. Secondly, the threads in the seat of my pants kept weaking and coming loose. Thankfully, I'm pretty good with a needle and thread, but that gets annoying after a while. With a step through, there's no cross bar to stretch your leg over.

The benefit of the step thru really comes into play when you're trying to dis/mount your bike on slick, snowy pavement when you've got full panniers. Not having to swing a leg over a diamond frame is quite a benefit. Check out the design on the new Salsa Fargo to see a traditional frame design that incorporates the ultra-low top tube design.

A friend in Portland rides an Uptown 8, and her bike is awesome. She uses a pair of bucket panniers on the back, and a Wald basket up front, and it's one of the most fantastic bikes I've seen. Since she's car-free, it's her only transport; and I agree with others in saying that the price of a good bike or equipment is justified when it's your main transport. (I have about $2K invested in my commuter, and I'm getting a Bikes at Work trailer this summer.)