Cycling in long skirts--more driver respect/care?

I was amazed to hear from another woman who does cycle where she does wear longish skirts cycling to work, etc. This is in Vancouver, downtown where she said half-laughingly that she found the drivers seemed to treat her as a cyclist more respectfully when she cycling in a (long) skirt.

She was responding to me after one of the ladies in our co-ed cycling group this weekend was cycling in a long flowing skirt..wth her cycling shorts underneath. She had knotted up her skirt abit at back so it wouldn't catch on wheel. She would have been cycling about town for approx. 35 kms. today.

Ok, this is news to me... driver respect for skirted women cyclists..not wearing mini skorts.

Not sure I could ever wear a flowing skirt while cycling. I did wear an above knee (3 inches above) wrap skirt in Hawaii...but there were no shorts underneath. I rode VERY carefully for 5 kms...

The bob trailer works pretty good for me, especially when with the flag. I think they're worried about scratching their cars. :(

I could see a skirt working with some people, though things being more equal with the younger generation than the old make make it in particular less effective. I'm not saying the younger generation is worse about giving us room, just that a skirt might not sway them either way.

Yesterday people were pretty good but I think it was because they were afraid of the large toy party kitchen strapped onto the bob. :D (darned garage sales)

This reminds me of that research last year where the guy rode with and without a helmet, and with and without a long curly wig, to see how close cagers would buzz him. He assumed that people thought he was a woman when he wore the wig. :rolleyes::confused:

The conclusion though was that it had nothing to do with respect. Rather, if a rider is unhelmeted and/or female, drivers assume they're going to be squirrely, so they give them a wider berth.

Someone else can post a link, I've got to get ready for work ;)

Sometimes I wear long skirts when I ride to school. I have a mixte and I just put on shorts under it. The mixte makes it easy to just wear my regular stuff. I haven't noticed that anyone is more polite when I wear it. They probably couldn't be more polite than they are around here anyway. I'm the crazy teacher that never drives.

Here's one:

http://www.cyclelicio.us/2006/09/new...t-get-hit.html

I remember John Stossel on 20/20 doing this experiment, but I couldn't find the video on a cursory search. He's a bike commuter, btw.

Karen

Oh, on my ride yesterday, the guy that hung back with me all day told me a story. He said his friend who lives here now grew up in Europe (I forget where, now), where there are more bikes. He said (the friend said) that European drivers are more accustomed to cyclists, and cyclists are more accustomed to drivers, and they don't give much room to each other when passing. So, the friend gets over here and gets a lot of one-fingers salutes when he passes cyclists. He couldn't understand why.

My ride partner didn't know about our newish 3-feet passing law, so I hope he informs his European friend soon!

Karen

I noticed when I wear my flowerdy skorts that drivers are more courteous. Just for kicks I'd try a longer skirt but it's too hot now. ;)

I noticed a difference when I wore a tube top the other day.
I was aware that at least male drivers saw me! ;)