Interesting Information

[Cassandra_Cain]

I think there is definitely some very revealing information coming out of this study. For motorists to pass so much closer or farther based on a few variables like helmet/no-helmet, or gasp, guy or girl is a big deal.

I have short hair, wear graphic/team bike clothes, and have, as C-Mac confirmed, a racer girl body - so does that mean if I put on a waist length curly blonde wig and went for a spin that I'd suddenly get buzzed by cars less often? And if so why?

It seems to me that it indicates drivers think of women riders as less competent, more unpredictable, or simply dangerous to paint jobs on their shiny new BMW's. Which goes with what was said earlier about motorists probably thinking women riders are poor cyclists (or at least worse than men).

The other twist is the helmet vs. no-helmet thing. Essentially this study is suggesting you are going to get less room with a helmet. If you are getting less room then you are closer to being hit. Not at all encouraging and somewhat defeats the purpose of wearig a helmet to begin with. Granted, I always ride with one.

Attitudes defintely need to change among motorists. When gas hits $5+/gallon, it might just start happening.

[Grog]

It was already established in TE common sense that skorts and feminine-looking jerseys did provide a bit more space from motor vehicles passing by. I'm not surprised by the results in this regard. I think it has to do with our society generally considering the women (and children) as more vulnerable.

Regarding the helmet, I'm a bit puzzled because I know the guy did the study while always wearing the same clothes and using the same bike. I know that, personally, when I see a cyclist with no helmet on a city bike, big-box-store bike, etc. I will probably treat that 'vehicle' more like I would treat a pedestrian, give more space, etc. If it's a person on a road bike with a helmet, I sort of expect him or her to be able to hold his or her line a bit more, although this is probably a bad assumption to have. I do give a lot of space anyway. If I see a roadie without a helmet going really fast, I think this guy (usually it's a guy) is nuts and I do everything I can to avoid him, and expect any random move from him, so I keep as far as I can.