heckled two times in 1 week

[Eden]

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.

[evangundy]

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. 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.

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 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

[inatree]

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.

[Eden]

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!)

[kfergos]

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".

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!"

Here's the setup we had, although this was actually taken on a different ride:


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.

[beccaB]

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.

[Deborajen]

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.

[MomOnBike]

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.

[GulfCoastAmy]

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.

[Eden]

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.....

[ginny]

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*

[mudmucker]

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.

[Crankin]

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.

[beccaB]

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"

[svendenhowser]

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.