Cycling harassment (Read 756 times)

 

Honestly, I haven't really had that much of any of this done to me.  At most a 'run forest run' or a horn beep at the right time to scare me.  Maybe Californians are more accepting of sharing the roads with those of us that try to get out under our own power?

Me neither.  While in California.  In other regions of the US people aren't as accepting of runners or especially bikers.

I've run for 35 years, mostly in the South, mostly as a woman, and mostly alone. Nary a prob beyond some teens throwing a water balloon at me once.

 

What are you people doing to instigate all this fervor from strangers?

+1 for the underline portion

(only part I have questions about is the "mostly as a woman" comment)

I've run for 35 years, mostly in the South, mostly as a woman, and mostly alone. Nary a prob beyond some teens throwing a water balloon at me once.

 

What are you people doing to instigate all this fervor from strangers?

It seems to be highly regional.  When I lived near Detroit, crap was almost a daily occurrence.  I was full on assaulted on runs twice in six months.  Six years in Indiana, only one accidental running off the road.

Three or four years running in rural East Texas on secluded back roads, no incidents.  Well, one time a car swerved a little close, seemingly on purpose, but if it was, it was a pretty weaksauce attempt at harassment.

It actually often occurs to me how odd it is that I don't get more harassment, being that I'm one of like five people in the area that runs (that isn't on the cross-country team) and the vast majority of everyone else is sedentary.  I generally get cheerful waves and the occasional kid sticking their hand out for a high-five.  Speaking of kids, at the school I teach at, they're fascinated with my running, always asking how far I run every day, noticing the shoes, etc..

I don't know that I do anything to discourage harassment.  It might just be that it's a small community and lots of people know me,  I do try to make sure I show as much courtesy to others, wheeled or not, as possible.  When running, that basically means I get over as far as possible, on the grass if possible, and I always wave politely if I can.  MTA: I'm sure others who get harassed do these things, too...like I say, I don't know exactly what makes it different around here.

Strangely, the few "Run, Forrest, Run!"-type incidents have been when visiting my parents in Northwest Arkansas, which is generally a slightly more "healthy" part of the country (not exactly Colorado, but better than East Texas).

Regarding the spandex...I think it just goes back to the old "look, something different! Haw haw!" that some people just can't grow out of.

Wait - MOSTLY as a woman?

Some of that was when she was a little girl!!  

 

I think it's a mix of teenagers (or adults who still act like teenagers) showing off , angry drivers who get mad that they have to slow down or wait to pass you, and jealous people angry at the world that they don't have the hot bods we do.

I think that all the people who harass me while I am cycle are mentally ill and can be dangerous. Since my state is rednecked enough to allow concealed weapons, all harassers are suspect.  I used to give these people the finger (that was before my mentally ill conclusion) and have since changed my gestures to a happy wave when it is at all possible.

jules2: