At last night’s meeting of the Sustainable Transportation Committee of Ozark Greenways, I mentioned the new bicyclist harassment ordinance in Columbia, Missouri. And I asked if we should approach the city council with a proposal for a similar law.
In general there was wide support for the law among the members, but there was little enthusiasm for taking on this project right now. Part of the reason is we have our hands full with a few projects already in the works, e.g. our next application for a bicycle-friendly city award. Further, we’re not at all sure just what the extent of the problem is in Springfield.
I’m out there everyday, and it is very rare for me to encounter any problems with drivers. I go many weeks between even the most minor incidents, e.g. a honk. I’ve been in the habit of reporting them on Carbon Trace. If you care too search the site you’ll see that not much happens to me out there except a smooth and pleasant riding experience.
But I’m just one guy. What are you experiencing?
One committee member said he thought harassment might be a bigger problem in the county on rural roads rather than in the city. I have no idea about that. I do not ride those roads.
Via Commute Orlando, I found this advice on winning arguments with drivers (warning: uses the term “lifestyle“). I think this advice assumes two adults trying to come to some reasonable understanding of each others point of view.
You can stop laughing now.
I’m working on a no-response response. But it’s been so long since the last honk that I haven’t had a chance to test it.
Comments 10
I think that harassment has a lot to do with how often you ride and where you ride.
I do not own a car so if I have to go somewhere I am either biking or walking…typically biking.
If I need to go to Jefferson City from Columbia I ride the 30 miles down the shoulder of a large 4-lane state highway. A couple of weeks ago my wife was furniture shopping so she rode 12 miles one way, most of it on the outer road of the interstate.
Even on shorter commutes I find myself on 4-lane arterial streets if the alternative is longer or there is more stop signs etc.
My boss has a commute of about 4 miles but 3.75 of it is trail. The other .25 is a downtown street where there are hundreds of bicyclists scattering about. He can go years without harassment whereas I can go a couple of weeks.
I ride about 5,000 miles per year. So it stands to reason that if someone rides 1,000 miles per year I would probably experience 5 times the amount of harassment.
It’s actually getting MUCH better in Columbia but not good enough. Typically I’m not slowing anyone down….its just someone with an agenda. Really no different than any other type of discrimination except until now no one took this type serious enough to do anything about it.
I once got a license #, looked it up on Publicdata.com, googled his phone number and called him myself. He was not home so I left him a voice mail…..I have no idea if it helped or not.
I’ve talked to many of these people when they make the mistake of harssing me and then pulling into a mcdonalds, gas station or somewhere else. I am always very professional and they have always looked very frightened when the situation all of the sudden became much more “real.” That is despite the fact that I was being nice and weigh 148 pounds…..I’m hardly an imposing figure.
Posted 18 Jun 2009 at 2:45 pm ¶I get it semi often but pretty much exclusively at night and when i am riding home from downtown. And the rowdy frat boys buzz by and yell out the window. But to be honest i am not bothered by it.
Posted 18 Jun 2009 at 3:23 pm ¶My wife has a hard time dealing with it.
She once had someone get out of their truck screaming, “I’m going to kill you, you fucking bitch.” Pretty scary stuff.
Even the honking for several seconds and then the “get on the F’n sidewalk” stuff terrifies her.
To be honest, it pretty much ruins my day as well. I can be having a great day but after that happens I have a hard time focusing on anything else.
I’ve had student after student quit bicycling because of this. It should be no surprise that those of us who keep bicycling are toughened to it. There are reasons why statistically only about 1% of Americans bicycle commute and most of those are men.
Most people could go their whole life without that type of systematic, terrifying, intentional discriminatory threats and harassment.
For example, I’ve never been in a grocery store and had someone walk up and scream obscenities and threats right in my face. Pretty good chance it will happen on the road on the way home though.
Posted 18 Jun 2009 at 3:29 pm ¶Robert… I just received an e-mail from one of the committee members saying that he’s been doing some asking around — including at the PD — and he thinks it would be a good idea to move forward. I agree. No harm in contacting one or two friendly city councilmen for a talk.
Posted 18 Jun 2009 at 5:07 pm ¶Andy that’s great, I hope you can get something similar in Springfield. Even though Robert firmly believes Springfield is as close to heaven as you can get without dying
, I will assume you still have drivers with no tolerance for cyclists. Good luck.
Posted 18 Jun 2009 at 7:06 pm ¶Pam… I’m sure we do, too. And they will crawl out from under their rocks as soon as we advance this thing
Posted 18 Jun 2009 at 7:13 pm ¶Go Bears!!!!
Posted 18 Jun 2009 at 8:54 pm ¶Around here, uttering a death threat is good for five years in jail. My response would be to call the police and request that criminal charged be laid.
Posted 19 Jun 2009 at 10:07 am ¶As Robert says, it’s all about where you ride. Harassment is not much of a problem in downtown Orlando, nor on the low-volume streets near the core. But those streets won’t take you everywhere. Harassment in the burbs and on arterial roads is pretty common, has nothing to do with delay and everything to do with territorialism.
Last Saturday I rode to DeLand (45 miles from where I live) to watch some friends make a skydive. I did a little over 30 miles (of a 90 mile day) alone, the rest with a few other cyclists. I lost count of the number of honks and yells. We got screamed at to get off the road and honked at by two different drivers going in the opposite direction! Sadly, that’s not all that uncommon in Florida—the sentiment out in the exurbs and rural areas can only be described as hate. I was actually buzzed by someone with a Share The Road license plate because I refused to move from the right tire track to the edge of the road when he came up behind me and honked (the oncoming lane was completely clear).
This is not something we should have to deal with, ever. It’s profoundly disturbing that people feel justified in treating fellow citizens this way.
The saddest thing about Saturday was that 3 of the 5 people I was riding with are gutter bunnies. The harassment only solidified their belief that they should cower on the edge of the road like beaten dogs. It’s a constant struggle to get people to ride in ways that increase their safety when they feel like they’re going to be bullied for it.
Posted 19 Jun 2009 at 12:56 pm ¶Keri… I like the term “gutter bunnies,” but not the thing itself. BTW, I’ll get a taste of Florida cycling upon my return over winter break (I visit my parents who winter in Naples). My Brompton has been shipped. I’ll be bringing it with me
Posted 19 Jun 2009 at 1:44 pm ¶