heckled two times in 1 week

So, I commute every day of the year on my bike (okay, I walked two days last winter). But, you get the picture. I live in a college town, and readily admit this town wouldn't be what it is without students. Nonetheless, the students have returned, and two times in one week, I have been honked and yelled at by 1) a middle aged woman, and 2) a frat boy type guy. Now, the first time, I was riding outside of the 'door prize' region on a small block between campus and the main street in town. This is such a small road that there are no lines in the middle and no makers for a bike lane. I always try to ride politely and was honked at out of the blue... the second time, I was stopped at a red light (and so was the guy who honked and yelled). This guy chased me across the intersection and rode my @$$ until he couldn't get onto campus. Both times I was baffled at the anger a (polite) human on a bike can cause in those in cars... completely baffled... :confused::confused:

I will say that I am beginning to understand some of the root problems between cars and bikes - no wonder those on bikes throw the finger from time to time. We silently ride while people scream at us and honk and drive aggressively around us... one day, I'm sure I'll throw the finger too...

Opinions? Suggestions? My dbf suggested I take out my cell phone and photograph their license plate then ride on (both instances involved sitting at a red light with someone yelling at me).

I would say just ignore them. (or smile and wave - that's what I do!) You have just as much right to be there as they do.

I agree that ignoring is the best, though sometimes hardest, thing to do. One of my co-workers and I just had this conversation the other day. She's a runner in obviously good physical condition (and ex-military) but gets harrassed and indimidated by motorists (and even other pedestrians) fairly frequently. I'm not naive but even so I was shocked at the rudeness of the stuff people say to her. In that context, I'm sure I'd get upset, angry and embarassed by whatever was said.
I just had my first comment tossed at me yesterday on the way home and even though it was very tame, it did leave me wondering why people feel the need to say *anything* at all...I was heading home from work on the bike path portion of the ride when I passed a group of 3 teenage boys carrying skateboards. One of them called out-"Wanna race?!" and then they all laughed-yes, very tame, pretty innocent, and kinda funny. Could have been a lot worse for sure-he probably would have beat me!

What kind of things get yelled at someone like your very fit, former-military runner friend? I mean, I get the occasional stare or outright snort from people walking around the lake, but no one's ever yelled something abusive at me.

I don't usually ride on regular streets, though, so I've never heard it.

Roxy

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Originally Posted by channlluv

What kind of things get yelled at someone like your very fit, former-military runner friend? I mean, I get the occasional stare or outright snort from people walking around the lake, but no one's ever yelled something abusive at me.

I don't usually ride on regular streets, though, so I've never heard it.

Roxy

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She says people mostly yell stuff like, "get off the road b****" and sometimes comment on her race (she's caucasian). She is by no means a timid person but, as she said to me, "when you are out on a road and a car drives by and says something, you get a little scared if there is no one else around.". She carries pepperspray but has only used it on a dog so far.
We live in an area where there is a lot of gang activity and random violence is not unheard of so I can understand her apprehension.

if it's possible, I try to get close and talk to them in a calm pleasant voice. THey hate to be confronted with your humanity.
"why were you yelling at me?"
"do I know you?"

stuff like that.

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

if it's possible, I try to get close and talk to them in a calm pleasant voice. THey hate to be confronted with your humanity.
"why were you yelling at me?"
"do I know you?"

stuff like that.

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I use this tactic a LOT in life's confrontational moments. It's my favorite and most effective means of dealing with difficult people!

Blow a kiss at 'em.

-- gnat! (I pretend they're complimenting how my butt looks in spandex)

There's a woman around here who deals with those types by putting her best "mom" on..

[in a really concerned tone] I heard you yell, but I couldn't tell what you were saying. Are you OK - do you need help, are you asking me for help? Can I call someone for you? Your parents, the police - is everything OK...

Oh, now that's funny.

Roxy

Eden, Bicyclista, Fabulous ideas! The middle age woman wanted me to come over to her driver's side window (geticulating angrily), and I just said in a friendly (confused) voice, "bicycles can take the lane here". I think going over and asking her if she was okay would have been funnier. My response is to become very confused (why are they yelling at me? do I in fact know them? should I get off the road - major accident ahead?), then I get scared (are they going to run me off the road?), then I get mad:mad:

I need to let it roll off my back. I love the 'mom' voice - excellent!:D

Oh, the things that have been yelled at me!!! You'd think it was a crime to be a fat lady on a bike around here.:rolleyes: It's been worse since school is out and the kids all like to hang around the trail. I've found the most effective response, for instance, when passing a group of teenage boys, hooting about my fat b!tchitude, is to slow down enough to make eye contact and say " YOU have a NICE day, now!" Those particular boys don't yell at me anymore. Some times they say "have a nice day" in an ironic tone when I pass, but considering the alternative, I'll consider that a huge improvement.

ugh.. people suck.

I've been yelled at plenty (and I've only been riding 5 months or so). I just ignore it, or I'll wave and smile... I really like the idea of blowing a kiss at people.

My mom used to quote a verse from Proverbs (25:21-22) that still brings a smile to my face (emphasis mine):
"If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you."

I just like the mental image of heaping burning coals on someone's head :D I guess Mom knew the way to get me to be nice back to someone was to give me some sort of vindication :p

An incident last week freaked me out.
I was on a women's group ride with ~18 other riders, and I was at the front of the paceline. A truck passed us, nearly clipped my front wheel, and then slammed on his brakes about 50 ft. in front of me. I thought he was going to get out of the truck or something. He sat there for about 15 seconds (it seemed like an eternity) then sped off. :mad:

lo123,

HOLY COW! I would have been shaking like a leaf! I'm sorry! It's amazing to me how we tend to lose our humanity or something when we put on a helmet and get on a bike. We change from people to icons to hate... I am astounded at the level of anger in people towards those of us on bikes...

I'm glad you weren't hurt!

+1 to Gnat23 and Eden . made me laugh. and +1 to lo123 (my mom made me quote that one and another- Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. That tatic almost always calmed me down)

But I just don't understand why people even bother. I know it's a stretch. But they could just mind their own business.

I can't take credit for the idea - there's a woman around here who is a dedicated commuter and recreational cyclist who also writes wonderfully. Later I'll link to some of her musings on the local cycling forum.

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Originally Posted by lauraelmore1033

Oh, the things that have been yelled at me!!! You'd think it was a crime to be a fat lady on a bike around here.:rolleyes: It's been worse since school is out and the kids all like to hang around the trail. I've found the most effective response, for instance, when passing a group of teenage boys, hooting about my fat b!tchitude, is to slow down enough to make eye contact and say " YOU have a NICE day, now!" Those particular boys don't yell at me anymore. Some times they say "have a nice day" in an ironic tone when I pass, but considering the alternative, I'll consider that a huge improvement.

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I was about 210 lbs when I started riding - During my second year riding, some kids in a car yelled something about "shouldn't have that fat a$$ on a bicycle in public". When I caught them at the light :D I asked them "why should I stop riding, since cycling has helped me lose 100lbs (actually 10 but they didn't need to know that). And then I asked "I did a 100 mile bike ride the day before (which was the truth) - how far can you ride in a day?" The kid that yelled at me actually apologized and said "way to go losing so much weight".

I kinda felt bad about my little white lie (not for too long), but I got the feeling that they would think twice about making those comments to someone else. Kids are easy, it's the adults that yell that are idiots. I ususally put my hand up to my ear and shrug my shoulders, showing them I can't hear them. Then give a big smile and wave. Haven't had anyone slow down to repeat what they said.

Love the "mom voice" idea :-)
Edna

i recently moved and noticed a HUGE difference in the way i am treated when i'm riding. i used to live in santa cruz, and dealt with a great deal of abuse on a regular basis. it was almost daily. the most common occurances were yelling, of course, spitting, and bottle throwing. i got spit on sooooooo many times. thankfully it never hit me in the face, although one time it hit my sunglasses. the bottles mostly missed me but sometimes would hit my rear wheel or my back. at times there were people who would try to run me off the road by slowing down and driving into the bike lane until there was nowhere for me to go and i had to stop or crash. after all that, i really did not mind the yelling, because i was mostly concerned about it being paired with some sort of physical assualt like a slushie or a spit wad.

at one point i began taking pics with my cell phone of these people when i could. interstingly...most were in pickup trucks. i quickly learned nobody cares about these pics and it is up to me to protect myself.

after i moved...to contra costa county....not ONE single incident!!! i swear. in fact, people are even, dare i say, nice. one time i passed a young girl and she said, "have a nice ride!" i still get dirty looks from the yuppy moms of course, but nothing bad has happened. i was apprehensive the other day when i approached two teen boys and i knew i had to pass close by to them and they were staring at me...and as i passed they nodded at me and said hello. i thought to myself....wow, not in santa cruz anymore.

i say ignore them and be glad their words are gone and behind you.

Writings by Claire

Tales from the Road 2 - Claire's Revenge

This one is NOT work friendly - contains language that could get you in trouble!! (but is quite amusing ;) )
Get the %$#$@ off the road

(links edited - they should work now!)

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Originally Posted by evangundy

I was about 210 lbs when I started riding - During my second year riding, some kids in a car yelled something about "shouldn't have that fat a$$ on a bicycle in public".

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My husband and I were out riding a few weeks ago. He's 6'1" and 265 lbs, riding his hybrid bike. I was on my Xtracycle with fully-loaded bags: Picnic blanket, camera, tripod, library books, two liters of water, and a big picnic basket full of goodies strapped on top. As we slooooowly climbed up a small incline on a small, narrow backroad, some people drove by in a car and shouted something like "Get your fat a$$ off the road!" I'm sure they meant my husband, but I immediately commented to my dh, "I can't believe they insulted my bike like that!" :rolleyes: :p

Here's the setup we had, although this was actually taken on a different ride:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/...946d269416.jpg

That said, I get yelled at often -- including being called a b*tch and a**hole and any number of truly inapplicable epithets -- but never more than that. Generally I try to either ignore it, which is extremely difficult, or smile and wave. I find the smiling and waving leaves me feeling better afterward: I tend to seethe inside at insults from drivers, even if I don't say/do anything, but if I smile and wave it actually makes me feel happy and not as mad at them.

I've posted this before, but I get heckled by the "trash" driving around in beat up cars that shouldn't even be on the road legally. Michigan has no automobile inspections like some other states I have lived in, and it's always the people who are driving the nastiest cars inmaginable who say to me "get the f$#% off the road". This is a rural place, and there is plenty of room for everyone. I'm just glad I'm fit enough to ride a bike where those people wouldn't even walk across a parking lot.

I've done the "taking a picture with a cell phone" thing - using a cell phone that doesn't even have a camera -- and it worked. I'm sure it's not guaranteed to work every time, and not in every situation, but I'd do it again. This time, I'd do it with the cell phone with a camera. Some people sure are brave inside their big ol' cars. They think you can't catch them and if you could, you can't prove they did anything. Arghhh.

Glad you're o.k. I know it's unnerving.

It seems to me that we on our bicycles are threatening to the car-bound. We don't seem to need the cars/trucks that in very important ways define them. Talk about an existential threat! No wonder they react with anger. They are to be pitied.

There is also the sub set of people who are surprised by bicycles on the road. They fear that they will hit/hurt us, and react in anger. Hey, I get mad when I'm scared, too. I understand. Education, and more bikes on the road will fix that problem - but don't ask me how the education miracle will happen.

I have no answers to the hosilities we face, other than hoping that the tincture of time will help.

In the spirit of full disclosure, Lincoln, NE is a good place to ride. A vast majority of drivers are considerate, friendly even. Most of comments I've had are of the "cool bike" variety - though there was one drunk downtown who opined very loudly that our recumbents were "lazy bikes" as I was giving it all I had trying to keep up with traffic. I consider myself lucky to have landed here.

I feel fortunate to live in the area I do. I have had a couple people honk at me but for the most part people have been overly respectful. I don't ride when traffic is heavy though, so that could have a lot to do with it.

The ones who annoy me the most are the ones who do something stupid then try to pull the "I ride my bike too" bull pucky....

I had a lady do that yesterday. I was at an 5 way stop - so a weird intersection in the first place, stopped and waiting my turn - there was traffic at 4 of the 5 roads. She pulls around me - thereby being halfway on the wrong side of the road, because I take the middle of the lane at stops. I find this *highly* annoying. 1st, this is a one lane/direction street- it is one vehicle per turn, and I am a vehicle, 2nd she's making it more dangerous for me, as I am now behind her car and not entirely visible to other traffic and 3rd she should just be patient and wait her freaking turn.

I didn't say anything, but I did look at her and give her the wait signal (you know one finger - no not that finger, the index one- held up). She had to pull up too close beside me and start blathering about how she rides her bike every day. Well sorry lady, but that doesn't give you any right to threaten me with your car (she had been revving her engine behind me too) and it doesn't mean you have any concept of how to safely ride in traffic or of how to drive your car.

rant over.....

Eden,

Awesome! With fellow cyclists that phenomenal in their cars, I suppose we can't be too surprised with those who don't ride do the same thing *shaking head* :eek:

This is amazing, this rudeness and disrespect that you guys are reporting. I can't say I've experienced any of this where I am. I've never had anything thrown at me, I've never had anyone say mean or disrespectful things to me. I've had people yell out "pedal faster" being sort of a smart *** but very harmless. I've actually had people yell out encouraging remarks. Today I had someone honk at me as I neared the top of a long hill - I interpreted that as encouragement from the driver since there was a wide shoulder and no other traffic. I've had other honks like that, mostly on hills. Other honks I can tell, is just to alert me that they are behind me. Most of the drivers in my area are pretty respectful and most seem to pay attention.

I commute into a more urban area. Even there they are pretty alert and respectful. I take the lanes. I'm certain that most drivers don't know or understand that you as a cyclist can do that or that it is the right thing to do in those circumstances. But they accept it and work with it and I've never had anyone yell anything at me for it.

My experience is pretty much like Mudmucker's. When DH and son #2 started riding in the late '90's they did get hassled/yelled at and things thrown at them. The throwers were always guys in pick ups. One time, they were having a drink and sitting on a bench in front of the west Acton Pharmacy and some guys screamed at them, calling them "fags." Huh? My son was 14 at the time and I guess those guys just couldn't take seeing a father-son bonding experience in lycra.
One time last year around this time of year, I was doing a late afternoon ride with a friend. We were riding down South Acton Road in Stow and i was pushing it, far ahead of my friend. A pick up (naturally) came very close to me (there's a wide shoulder for riding and lots of cyclists on this road) purposely, I think. I almost stopped, but just went on. When my friend caught up, she had witnessed this and got the license, so we called the police. Of course, we never heard back.
Overall, though I have had mostly words of encouragement.

I think a lot of the heckling instances are worse in areas that are economically depressed, as my area is. My mom would have said "they ain't had no fetchin' up" :D

Hey guys! I'm a newbie! But I haven't had any bad remarks from people while riding on the road. Most people are encouraging, like mudmucker, mostly on hills when I'm obviously stuggling up in my granny gear :P The construction workers always say hello and cars generally give you plenty of room. It's the mums dropping off school kids that get to me.. but thats a whole different story, I just don't ride at those times anymore.

I just have to say, once more, how great it is to ride in mid-Missouri. I have NEVER been yelled at, or even honked at. I've had people get on to me because I didn't wave at them, though.:D Once I had a car follow right behind me from the school to the post office and then pull in behind me. Turns out it was a couple of my students wanting to know how fast I could go. They had clocked my speed. At the grocery store, they always ask me if I'm on my bike at the checkout so they can bag my groceries accordingly. Then again, everyone knows my business...

For me there's a significant correlation (i do believe -- I"d almost want to crank out the statistics ;)) between what I'm wearing and riding, and where I'm riding, and how motorists respond.

On the Xtracycle and "regular" clothes and non-arterial roads, I get more room and tolerance than if I'm (span)dexed out. On any campus road when it's Drunks R Us time, welp, even then the ludicrous comments are more positive if I'm on a steel bike.

Today I was greeted by one of the guys in the Safe Haven community that hae taken up residency at my church (and are causing zonal conflicts - our pastor has cited the law that says guvmints have to allow people to practice their religions with the least resistance possible, and our religious practices include sheltering the homeless) with "that's the way to travel!" and that's perhaps the most typical comment I get. Even the students' comments are along the lines of "can I have a ride?"

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Originally Posted by Geonz

On the Xtracycle and "regular" clothes and non-arterial roads, I get more room and tolerance than if I'm (span)dexed out. On any campus road when it's Drunks R Us time, welp, even then the ludicrous comments are more positive if I'm on a steel bike.

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Around here I've found the opposite.... If I'm wearing regular clothing people are more willing to drive too close, cut me off etc than if I am wearing my racing kit.

last week when i was crossing a road on a green light, a man who had to wait for me to pass before he could turn left (gosh.. was that 4 seconds? 5?) actually made an imaginary gun with his hand, and 'shot' me. i was so shocked that i darned near drove into his car.

Got my first heckle this past Friday and wouldn't you know I was nowhere near the city which is where I would have expected it with the denser traffic. DH and I were downriver in Wyandotte when a girl drove by and yelled out a racial slur...in this high-pitched scream. The crazier part is that she drove down the road a bit, turned around and stopped, waited for us to pass and yelled "get on the sidewalk!!!" The craziest part? There was no sidewalk.

Go figure.

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Originally Posted by mizzbananie

last week when i was crossing a road on a green light, a man who had to wait for me to pass before he could turn left (gosh.. was that 4 seconds? 5?) actually made an imaginary gun with his hand, and 'shot' me. i was so shocked that i darned near drove into his car.

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oh that's horrible!