Comments on: Do We Get Harassed? http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/06/do-we-get-harassed/ Getting Around on Two Wheels and Two Feet Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:30:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andy Cline http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/06/do-we-get-harassed/comment-page-1/#comment-2925 Andy Cline Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:44:01 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=1433#comment-2925 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 :-) 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 :-)

]]> By: Keri http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/06/do-we-get-harassed/comment-page-1/#comment-2924 Keri Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:56:57 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=1433#comment-2924 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. 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.

]]> By: Kevin Love http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/06/do-we-get-harassed/comment-page-1/#comment-2923 Kevin Love Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:07:46 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=1433#comment-2923 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. 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.

]]> By: robert http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/06/do-we-get-harassed/comment-page-1/#comment-2918 robert Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:54:51 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=1433#comment-2918 Go Bears!!!! Go Bears!!!!

]]> By: Andy Cline http://isocrates.us/bike/2009/06/do-we-get-harassed/comment-page-1/#comment-2917 Andy Cline Fri, 19 Jun 2009 01:13:17 +0000 http://isocrates.us/bike/?p=1433#comment-2917 Pam... I'm sure we do, too. And they will crawl out from under their rocks as soon as we advance this thing :-) Pam… I’m sure we do, too. And they will crawl out from under their rocks as soon as we advance this thing :-)

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