People who like to yell at cyclists

[Cali Sunshine]

I have had a couple of close calls in my life - once when riding on a sidewalk (years ago) and once recently at an intersection where a woman looked right at me and turned right in front of me at a light where I had the right away. I swerved out of the way and yelled some profanities.

Anyway, the most common harrassment I get is people yelling at me while passing in a car and I've also had teenage boys yell at me after passing me on BMX bikes. Teenagers seem to be the main culprit here. I've been called a B**** by a car full of teenagers for no reason (I was riding in the bike lane), I was called a "loser" by some hick in a HUGE pick-up (a young male) and I've had a handful of times when someone will yell at me really loud as they pass me which really bugs me because it can be very startling and I don't think drivers realize they could startle you enough to cause you to fall or even swerve into traffic.

I live in a suburb of Detroit and this area is not known for outdoor health or bike riding. I used to own a motor scooter, but I decided to sell that because of all of the verbal harrassement I got for riding that around. It seems like if you're not driving a car in the "motor city", you are fair game for harrassement.

well you live in detroit, that explains it. that's probably the worst city in the u.s. to ride a bike. new york, l.a., chicago, philly, boston, san francisco, seattle, phoenix, and honolulu are a few u.s. cities that come to mind that are for the most part biker friendly.

you also have to be a little socially aware... riding a motor scooter basically makes you look like a weirdo and a dork... so yes, idiots will yell at you for it to get their little laughs. i mean, i don't think it's right, but if you're going to ride something unorthodox like a motorscooter, or a unicycle, or a pogo stick, or a go-kart -- then yeah, you will be ridiculed.

my area (south bay, ca.) is biker friendly... along the beach, lots of cyclists and joggers.

[spokewench]

Thank you for being Unorthodox! I'm glad, proud and happy to be unorthodox! Everyone on this site should be glad they are unorthodox as Cali Sunshine so puts it!

Everyone who rides their bike to work should be commended not only for staying fit, but also for helping the environment and not wasting resources. Everyone who rides for fitness should be proud that they are trying to do good things in their lives. Everyone who tries to help others in their lives, try to make a better community and are steadfastly supportive of others is to be commended as unorthodox.

The orthodox in this world are too ready to criticize, to be petty, and to be unaccepting of others.

Thank you to all of the unorthodox among us! It is refreshing to find people with such giving hearts. People like the TE Forum ladies.

[Grog]

Thank you to all of the unorthodox among us! It is refreshing to find people with such giving hearts. People like the TE Forum ladies.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Everything you said is beautiful!

[kaian]

Yeah, I would love to move. My partner and I have already talked about it several times - moving somewhere bike and outdoor activities-friendly. I'm in a doctoral program right now that I started in the Fall, so I still have 3 3/4 years to suffer. BUT I'm going to school to teach and do research. I am going to look for university faculty jobs in areas that are more bike friendly for sure!

I want to keep biking for as long as I can and it's so much a part of my life that yes, it would be worth picking up and moving just so I could feel safer and also have more options of where to ride. For now, I'm just picky about where I ride and try to ride with a group if I'm going to ride anywhere I'm uncertain about.

[LisaB]

Hee hee, the best thing I've ever been called on a bike (that was understandable - usually it's just "brarrahrehahdhwahdkdghghblah" as the car speeds by at car speed) was when we were on a tandem weekend with a group, one other tandem was riding with us, both teams male/female pairs, and some yahoo yells out "faggots!!". The four of us still laugh about it.

What part of breasts swathed in spandex did the guy miss??

[lph]

hah, great story. Guess his brain got all the way through cyclists = guys in tights and spandex = "faggots" before his attention span gave out...

I was just wondering about this this morning actually, whether I was recognizable as a woman. I was wearing full winter gear and a Buff over my nose and some guy on the sidewalk turned and shouted something at me - apparently favourable from the smile on his face. Yet another reason to wear headphones...

[Trekhawk]

Hee hee, the best thing I've ever been called on a bike (that was understandable - usually it's just "brarrahrehahdhwahdkdghghblah" as the car speeds by at car speed) was when we were on a tandem weekend with a group, one other tandem was riding with us, both teams male/female pairs, and some yahoo yells out "faggots!!". The four of us still laugh about it.

What part of breasts swathed in spandex did the guy miss??

LOL - that is so funny. Bet they didnt think they would be providing the entertainment for the day.

[Velobambina]

Some of the folks at Bikejournal say that when they wear "American Flag" jerseys, they are less likely to be verballyharassed and/or have things thrown at them.

[MomOnBike]

OK, I'm showing my age, here, but that technique didn't work real well for the young Peter Fonda as Captain America in _Easy Rider_.

I would also guess that in some parts of the U.S., a Confederate flag would provide more protection(?), um, camoflage(?), um, ... whatever it is.

[missymaya]

I live in Orlando which has been claimed as one of the worst areas for pedestrians and cyclists in recent years and I've had all sorts of things said to me. I've gotten the stereotypical redneck in big truck yell outrageous things at me, the middle finger and so on. But there was one instance that blows my mind: I was biking on path that crosses an entrance into a set of college apartments. I'm usually very cautious here, b/c unfortunately, they may be college kids but most are incosiderate here. I was crossing at this truck blasts through the stop sign and comes within less than an inch of hitting me. The thing that gets me, is that this path is commonly used by families as well and there was a little girl crossing the path with her caretaker and this guy wouldn't have seen her.
All I tell myself is that the more they see me at here the more they'll have to deal with and fortunately, I'm not alone in getting out on the road when the day is beautiful. Recently, the Florida passed a law that states that cars and other motorized vehicles must allow 2-3 feet of room between themselves and pedestrians/cyclists and if not, can be fined heavily. Something is getting started but it must continue! Keep riding and stay safe!

[Eden]

I had a run in with a dumb a$$ in a car the other night, but I was on foot! I was walking down to the grocery store at the end of my street and some jerk in one of those mini pickup trucks comes blasting out of the parking lot - must have been doing 35mph coming out of a covered lot and did not stop at the sidewalk - he nearly ran me over and I yelled mostly in suprise. Jerk rolls down his window and starts yelling at me that I was hidden by the column blah, blah, blah. WTF! even if there is no one on the sidewalk you are supposed to come to a full stop before crossing it! Not only that there is a big feaking stop painted on the parking lot. He had the audacity to argue with me and tell me I was wrong. I don't know how half of these people pass their drivers test.

[Velobambina]

I live in Orlando which has been claimed as one of the worst areas for pedestrians and cyclists in recent years and I've had all sorts of things said to me ...

Miss---I was on a week-long TDY to Orlando a couple of years ago and I was appalled at the unsafe drivers there. I live in the metro Washington, DC, which also is a magnet for idiot drivers, but Orlando was much worse. Anyway, I had to drive a rental car while I was there and that was bad enough. I can't imagine riding a bike and trying to "share the road" with folks there. Maybe it's the tourist factor? Also, I couldn't believe the number of hummers!!

[missymaya]

Velo, the amount of hummers is ridiculous. I don't get it, it's not like there going off-roading anytime soon (or at all). I do see more and more commuters, but it's still quite frightening. I just go out and try and be as cautious as I can be.