Women & Negative Interaction on the Trails

[Tania]

@rcannon100 138182 wrote:

The loud sound of a freehub coasting makes everything worse! I’m not naming any names.

Pish. I’m frequently told by pedestrians and joggers that I’m the friendliest/most courteous biker they’ve encountered – usually as I chit chat with them (over the of my hubs) while I’m waiting for a clear trail to pass.

[dkel]

@Tania 138188 wrote:

Pish. I’m frequently told by pedestrians and joggers that I’m the friendliest/most courteous biker they’ve encountered

That’s just what you think they are saying; if your hub wasn’t so loud, you’d know what they’re really saying!

[KLizotte]

I highly recommend that any woman jogger carry one of these alarms. I have one and take it with me when hiking in strange places by myself. It is really, really loud and obnoxious. I figure it should be good enough to frighten off someone entirely or make them startled enough that I can get in a well positioned kick. For the local trails, it should scare away any weirdos and draw the attention of passerbys. The manufacturer has different models. Mine came with a lanyard.

[Crickey7]

On pleasant mornings, I’ll say “good morning!” to most of the riders I pass on the CCT regardless of gender. And because I have the Specialized Roubaix frame on my bike that is both distinctive and relatively common (and IMHO, quite striking), I’ll remark “nice bike” to anyone I pass who has the same frame, regardless of gender. Of course, none of these people are aware of my interactions with others, and so I do occasionally worry I’m creeping out women with those remarks, and then alternately worrying that if I only say it to men, I’m doing something wrong. Although these worries generally flash across my brainpan and vanish.

Should I care more, less or about the same?

[KLizotte]

@Crickey7 138196 wrote:

On pleasant mornings, I’ll say “good morning!” to most of the riders I pass on the CCT regardless of gender. And because I have the Specialized Roubaix frame on my bike that is both distinctive and relatively common (and IMHO, quite striking), I’ll remark “nice bike” to anyone I pass who has the same frame, regardless of gender. Of course, none of these people are aware of my interactions with others, and so I do occasionally worry I’m creeping out women with those remarks, and then alternately worrying that if I only say it to men, I’m doing something wrong. Although these worries generally flash across my brainpan and vanish.

Should I care more, less or about the same?

I think most women have a finely honed radar when it comes to creepiness. If you aren’t creepy, saying “hello” or “nice bike” isn’t gonna freak anyone out; rather, I see it as friendliness like the nodding acknowledgement one makes when you encounter another cyclist in a lonely area.

[mstone]

@dasgeh 138172 wrote:

This culture of male-dominance isn’t going away until everyone – including guys – are willing to stand up to it.

I think there’s a bit of a selection problem here; I don’t have a whole lot to stand up to, because the people I’m generally with wouldn’t engage in such behavior. I’m not claiming it doesn’t happen, but I don’t see it happening near me. I’m not sure how to effect change in a group you’re not part of.

[dasgeh]

@mstone 138201 wrote:

I think there’s a bit of a selection problem here; I don’t have a whole lot to stand up to, because the people I’m generally with wouldn’t engage in such behavior. I’m not claiming it doesn’t happen, but I don’t see it happening near me. I’m not sure how to effect change in a group you’re not part of.

You may not see it, but I doubt it is not happening near you.

[Jason]

@Tania 138188 wrote:

Pish. I’m frequently told by pedestrians and joggers that I’m the friendliest/most courteous biker they’ve encountered – usually as I chit chat with them (over the of my hubs) while I’m waiting for a clear trail to pass.

NO WAY, thats me! Kidding. Seriously though, I dropped my bell and now pass with a courteous “ma’am/Sir, I am going to be on your left here on a bike” I either get a thank you or a spaced out look (earbuds or out of it peds). However, if someone is rude I go to the 11 anger (sounding) scale.

Back to the topic, there is no room for this bullshit, but women (and men), please carry some pepper (OC) spray and be aware. Definitely be aware of your surroundings at all times on these trails. Ive seen allot of creepazoids of all socioeconomic levels on all of the trails in the Arlington loop area.

[Anonymous]

@bentbike33 138173 wrote:

In the spirit of helping everyone enjoy the trails as much as I do, I have a question related to this topic.

I like to ride fast, but also try to be PAL and not make stupid passes. This means I will catch up to other riders (and, of course, joggers/peds) and may need to linger behind them at their speed until trail conditions allow for a safe pass. It is generally fairly obvious to joggers/peds why I am doing this (e.g., much oncoming trail traffic, closely approaching a blind curve) and these instances tend to last for shorter times/distances anyway. With cyclists, it often lasts longer, and some riders frequently look back seemingly nervously (although I honestly can’t say that I’ve noticed women doing this more than men). I follow at a reasonable distance, but generally only say something, or ring the bell, when all looks clear and I am actually going to pass. When faster riders act in this way to me, I am totally comfortable and grateful for it.

Anything I can do to make people more comfortable without being misconstrued?

I’m a looker-backer. (actually, I’m a looker-backer all the time not just when i know someone’s behind me, because i like to be aware of traffic around and behind me and not everyone makes enough noise to hear them coming. You just don’t know that because you’re not there to see me do it). Assuming you’re not following me for an unnecessarily long time on a deserted trail, I’m not doing it because I’m concerned you’re stalking me, I’m doing it to keep an eye on if/when you’re going to pass. Sometimes people pick what I’d consider inopportune times to pass, and don’t call their passes, and I just don’t like to be startled by it. If you want to make me less concerned that will happen you can announce yourself when you catch up to me– I generally assume cyclists who announce when they’re behind me will also announce before they pass, otherwise i have no idea if you will or won’t announce your pass. But I’ll probably still keep a bit of an eye on you back there. Nothing personal.

[NickBull]

@Amalitza 138219 wrote:

I’m a looker-backer. (actually, I’m a looker-backer all the time not just when i know someone’s behind me, because i like to be aware of traffic around and behind me and not everyone makes enough noise to hear them coming. You just don’t know that because you’re not there to see me do it). Assuming you’re not following me for an unnecessarily long time on a deserted trail, I’m not doing it because I’m concerned you’re stalking me, I’m doing it to keep an eye on if/when you’re going to pass. Sometimes people pick what I’d consider inopportune times to pass, and don’t call their passes, and I just don’t like to be startled by it. If you want to make me less concerned that will happen you can announce yourself when you catch up to me– I generally assume cyclists who announce when they’re behind me will also announce before they pass, otherwise i have no idea if you will or won’t announce your pass. But I’ll probably still keep a bit of an eye on you back there. Nothing personal.

A mirror makes this safer … you can look back in the mirror while still looking ahead. Heck, when I’m walking downtown at night and hear footsteps coming up behind me, I instinctively look in the mirror, then realize I’m on foot and don’t have it.

[NickBull]

@dasgeh 138207 wrote:

You may not see it, but I doubt it is not happening near you.

I can’t remember the last time I heard a catcall on the trails. If ever. I don’t doubt at all that it is happening to women. But I suspect that the creeps who do this only do it when there are not other males around. Or only when other males of their own type are around.

[Tim Kelley]

@NickBull 138228 wrote:

A mirror makes this safer … you can look back in the mirror while still looking ahead. Heck, when I’m walking downtown at night and hear footsteps coming up behind me, I instinctively look in the mirror, then realize I’m on foot and don’t have it.

They say that once you get a helmet mirror, you’ll never look back!

[dasgeh]

@NickBull 138229 wrote:

I can’t remember the last time I heard a catcall on the trails. If ever. I don’t doubt at all that it is happening to women. But I suspect that the creeps who do this only do it when there are not other males around. Or only when other males of their own type are around.

My comment wasn’t about catcalls — it was about the general culture. You probably hear comments that reinforce a male-dominant culture all the time.

[Steve O]

@Tim Kelley 138249 wrote:

They say that once you get a helmet mirror, you’ll never look back!

You should probably give appropriate attribution:
@Steve O 119472 wrote:

And you know what they say about using a mirror?
Once you have one, you never look back.

(bada bing)

[FFX_Hinterlands]

@bentbike33 138173 wrote:

In the spirit of helping everyone enjoy the trails as much as I do, I have a question related to this topic.

I like to ride fast, but also try to be PAL and not make stupid passes. This means I will catch up to other riders (and, of course, joggers/peds) and may need to linger behind them at their speed until trail conditions allow for a safe pass. It is generally fairly obvious to joggers/peds why I am doing this (e.g., much oncoming trail traffic, closely approaching a blind curve) and these instances tend to last for shorter times/distances anyway. With cyclists, it often lasts longer, and some riders frequently look back seemingly nervously (although I honestly can’t say that I’ve noticed women doing this more than men). I follow at a reasonable distance, but generally only say something, or ring the bell, when all looks clear and I am actually going to pass. When faster riders act in this way to me, I am totally comfortable and grateful for it.

Anything I can do to make people more comfortable without being misconstrued?

I ring my bell well before I approach/slow down to let them know I’m coming. Most people don’t signal early enough, just kind of pulling up behind someone then saying “LEFFFT” in a grunt as they pass. That’s really not giving anyone adequate time to react. I typically say “hello” as I pass unless the person is clearly jamming out with headphones. But then again, it’s typically the same people in the morning on my commute.

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