Creepy People

[CycleChic06]

I was out for an evening ride on Tuesday and as I was riding along and cars were slowly passing me in traffic, I could hear a car pacing behind me. The road is really wide at this point so he had plenty of room to pass me, but he continued to pace right behind me for a good 10 min. I finally looked back to see what was going on and he pulled up next to me and this creepy man driving the car just stared at me. That's all he did was stare at me as I rode. I tried slowing down to let him pass, but every time he'd stop at a light I'd catch up to him. Eventually the traffic made him speed up and pass me for good.

But as a single woman who rides by herself all the time, and this being the second incident in three days where something like this has happened it really starts to make me worry.

Does anyone else deal with stuff like this? I know a few of you have had to deal with jerks while riding and having stuff thrown at you. But how do you deal with stuff like this?

emily

[Veronica]

Got a camera? Take pictures... Pull over and pull out your cell phone...He'll have to pass you and if he stops you're ready to call.

V.

[Bad JuJu]

Memorize the license plate number and report it to the police. They might not do anything, but if it happens again, maybe they'll take it seriously.

[crazycanuck]

Oh dear! (that's the polite way of saying what just came out of my mouth...)

If this is the third event in three days, could you possibly change your route for smidgen bit? I am not sure how small a town/city you live in but this may help in some way???

I hope the next bike ride you do is uneventful & you feel safe again out there!


c

[Geonz]

SOmetimes my strategy is to try to convey that I'm a wilder card than they are - or at least that the don't bother me. THat's weird enough behavior that it's safe to say he was at best seeing how you'd respond (for his amusement at your discomfort)... so I wouldn't give hmi the satisfaction of discomfort, but get something that at least *looks* like a camera and have it handy - or a digital recorder or a cell phone to ever so confidently speak into.
In town I have been known to ride up closely to the back of a car at the light - just being "assertive," and maybe get 'em wondering what I'm doing with my Sharpie pen back there (the one I carry around to correct any grammar errors I may find :-)). It's only when it's fairly busy, though - and it's never so busy that somebody could be inconspicuous.
I'd probably also let my pepper spray dangle more visibly from my fanny pack. (Hey, no dogs have even approached me since I started carrying it - it works!)
... and if there were another route, I'd take it...

[Duck on Wheels]

I agree with Veronica and Bad: Got a cell phone with camera? Snap his pic. Also a pic of the registration nr. (license plate). Then call the cops. This guy's behaviour smacks of sexual harrassment. Or what say you, sister Trek420? You had something like this happen to you back in high school -- a driver cruisin' along at bike speed alongside you. Then it escalated and he started chucking porn out onto the road in front of you, as I recall being told. You did the right thing by turning in a neighbor's driveway and calling Mom and Dad. Did you call the sheriff as well? I'm pretty sure cops take this kind of thing seriously.

[tulip]

Change your route. It's always a good idea to mix it up anyways. I got followed the other evening by a pickup truck, so I pulled over next to a house with people working in the yard and started talking to them. The pickup pulled away.

I'll stay off that route for a while.

[KSH]

Sorry to hear about your experience! That would make me so nervous!

Unfortunately, I deal with this when I go run. Yes, I have had cars on the road... slow down... with the passenger trying to pick me up as he yells out the window at me.

I know when I go run... I try to cover up... that usually keeps the pervs from bugging me.

Unfortuantely, it has been over 95F degrees when I go run though, and last night I work my sports top (has a bra built in and go to my waist) and shorts... and I got honked at 3 times in approximately 5 minutes.

I then decided to go run in a field, so cars wouldn't bother me.

It's hard being a woman getting leared at from passing cars... I know.

[Bikingmomof3]

You have been given great advice. If you can get a photo or a plate number and report it to the police.

[Cassandra_Cain]

But as a single woman who rides by herself all the time, and this being the second incident in three days where something like this has happened it really starts to make me worry.

Does anyone else deal with stuff like this? I know a few of you have had to deal with jerks while riding and having stuff thrown at you. But how do you deal with stuff like this?

emily

Emily - I completely understand where you are coming from. Being in a similar situation, single woman who rides on her own always.

How scary and frightening. You know something? Even when I'm walking (forget riding), if someone walks close behind me for more than a minute or two in public (not at a mall or the like), I always stop. It creeps me out to have people following me.

You've been given some advice here too, but in addition to that I'd say....consider getting off the road for a moment - like say, turn into a driveway, a house, an apartment complex, or just get on a sidewalk. Obviously the camera/license plate/picture thing is still in effect, as well as possibly changing the time you ride or modifying your route slightly.

Good luck and best wishes!

[Lenusik]

This is definitely a discomforting experience. That's one of the reason I ride with someone else, most of the time. When I ride alone I try to hook up with some other riders if they are on the same road.

But if you do not have any of these options, definitely have a cell phone. You may not be able to take a pcture but you can either pretend or really call police. If he drives with an open window and hears you reporting on him, even if you are just pretending, he may just go away.

Stay safe!

[7rider]

But as a single woman who rides by herself all the time, and this being the second incident in three days where something like this has happened it really starts to make me worry.

Does anyone else deal with stuff like this? I know a few of you have had to deal with jerks while riding and having stuff thrown at you. But how do you deal with stuff like this?

emily

I hear you. There are a lot of freaky people out there.
You did get some great advice: mix up your route and the time of your ride are two good ones. Carry a camera or camera phone and write down plate numbers, too.
I once got shot in the leg by a sniper with a pellet gun. It didn't give me anything more than a welt on my thigh, but I kept riding and rode straight to the police station to file a report. Turns out they knew about someone in that area taking pot-shots at cars, so perhaps there have been other reports of your creep oggling other cyclists or joggers.
Lastly, and this is just me and my Big Catholic Guilt upbringing..when I ride alone, I try to be as androgynous-looking as possible on the bike. I save the "girlie" bike tops for when I'm riding with a group or when I'm riding with my DH (not that you'd ever see me in racer tops, crop tops, or anything belly baring!). Alone, I wear the LBS team jersey or plain ones. Something you'd see on the guys. I suppose my body shape gives me away (darn those hips!), but I don't want to give them anything to look at.
Which brings me to....you may want to call your LBS and find out if there are any group rides you can join so you aren't always riding alone. It's more fun to ride with others anyway!
Good luck and stay safe out there!

[Denise223]

Hi Emily!

I'm sorry to hear about this creepy guy -- there are sooooo many creepy people in this world!!
I live a couple of towns over from you, so I know we have our share of creepy people out here.

Is this the same guy, 2 times in 3 days??

You have been given some great advice here. I love the camera idea and taking out a pen & paper to write down license plate info, color & make of car.

Always make sure that your cell phone is totally charged up before you go out for your ride.
Make sure that you have important #'s on speed dial. You can put 911 or your local police station on speed dial - just let them know what you're doing when you log them into your phone.

Try and stay on roads that are well populated.

This happens all too often, and it really pisses me off !

Stay safe out there.

Have a peaceful day.

Denise

[esther231]

YUCK

Amazing we still aren't safe alone, isn't it?

Wonderful advice. All of it good. Such a great forum.

The driveway one was one I used when I lived in SF. It worked.

I do carry pepper spray. It's my back up plan. I keep it where I can grab in a heart beat. Won't do you any good zipped in your pack. So keep it close and a second away from your hand, just in case. Hopefully, with all the suggestions, you'll never need it.

[Bruno28]

But as a single woman who rides by herself all the time

I was sorry to hear about your bad experience.

as usual TE women have come up with good advice - I carry my mobile phone but never thought of using it to take pictures in a dodgy situation (doh!)

I also cycle alone, and I spend time on cycle paths through woodland areas. I felt quite safe until recently when two shifty looking guys emerged from the undergrowth (carrying a rolled up rug for some reason!???) Suddenly I became aware of the potential dangers.

Anyway, I refuse to have my freedom limited and reckon, statistically I'm more likely to get knocked down on the road (that would be highway to you folks) than be attacked in the woods.

Having said that - anyone got any safety tips for cycling alone in a non-urban setting?