Riding Safety and Dorkdom

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Originally Posted by breezy

I read about a study where drivers gave cyclists less space on the road if the cyclist was wearing a helmet and the most space if the cyclist was a female with no helmet.

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Yes, but there were some serious flaws in how that study was handled simply because it was one person (not a big sample size, folks)... who already had a notion of the results he wanted, so YOurs Truly has to wonder if he didn't make subtle changes (like LANE POSITION) in his riding when w/o helmet... And it wasn't "if the cyclist was a female" - it was the guy, wearing a wig.

I've always felt drivers were more sympathetic to me when they thought I was a Poor But HOnest Student-Type or person Otherwise Too Unfortunate To Be Driving... Jerks are jerks of course, and they're out there, too... but when I'm in town and just another person tryin' to get somewhere, that's maybe different than being out "just for fun" and slowing down those people who Really Have To BE Somewher.e

Still, I love being really dorky :P

Maybe it's just that when you're dress like a "dork", they have to take a second look and say "WHAT THE"??

And maybe the people who sip their latte while riding w/o a helmet are not paying attention to the road in the first place?

I'm not ready to ride in a Critical Mass, but I have to say that I have been very impressed by how much more likely drivers are to notice a cyclist in the inner suburbs than in the outer burbs, even wearing the same clothing, same cyclist, same lights. I think city drivers expect to see pedestrians and cyclists, while folks in the outer suburbs only expect to see cyclists during daylight hours of the weekend, and only in the summer. "Change blindness" is real, and the Critical Mass people are right, cyclists are safer when there are more of them on the streets and roads.

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Originally Posted by CA_in_NC

My theory is that drivers are much more tolerant when I'm carrying stuff and/or look like I'm commuting. When I am just out for a ride (spandex, no cargo) seems to be when I'm more likely to be hassled. I think drivers resent you're being on "their" road to play, as opposed to going somewhere. Just a thought:)

CA

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I agree with this observation, too.

And I'd like to point out the drastic difference between city riding and country riding. Around here, in the city most cars treat cyclists with respect if you obey the traffic laws (assuming they see you, which often they don't). In the country, I've been spit on, had things thrown at me and been run off the road - female, commuter, lit up like a christmas tree not-withstanding. Hell, I've even been yelled at to 'git off the road' while I was standing in a driveway (and not even on the road and not on my bike!).

On the flip side, the opposite was true in my last city of residence. In the city, as a commuter, I was hassled or ignored or cut off. In the country as a rec-rider...I was respected 9 times out of 10.

Go figure. And then, ride like you are invisible. :p

:p

The way you get avoided is to wear a cervical collar. I've personally tested this theory (N=1). They looked at me like I was totally nuts. Which I was, having just had a fusion 8 weeks prior.