I've heard it mentioned before that women cyclists are indicator species of good road design. The idea being, I suppose, that women are more cautious than men and so if you can make them feel safe, then you're getting somewhere. Usually when we think of safe cycling we think of safe from collisions and falls, but recent post elsewhere have highlighted that women are also at risk of harassment. Now, as a guy I can't really speak to this issue. I mean I've been harassed, but not sexually - not beyond being called gay for wearing lycra. I haven't personally heard much about it anecdotally, but I don't doubt it happens.
The guardian's blog started the discussion with a post about "how to ride in a skirt."
I love cycling in a summer dress but it has its embarrassing pitfalls. Keeping your modesty is a bit of a challenge when your dress progressively recedes up your thighs.
Which led to another guardian blogger discussing the fact that she won't ride in a skirt anymore.
My admission of defeat isn't about wanting to keep my poise: looking silly isn't too much of a problem if I am in the midst of a strenuous physical exercise. What made me give up dresses was the never-ending catcalls hurled my way day in, day out. No matter that I was just commuting to work at 8.30am looking disheveled, or biking through the park on a Sunday afternoon looking nice: if biking on my own, unwelcome remarks were de circonstance. I have heard it all: from builders demanding that I "flash my boobs, love" and older men asking if I had panties on, to teenagers making furtive kissing sounds supposed to suggest appreciation.
On this side of the pond, Holla back DC (a blog devoted to ending gender-based street harassment in DC) asked for stories about women being harassed on bikes. There are a few women who respond with stories, the worst being
I was asked why I thought it was so funny that my [male] friend was assaulted by a [female] passenger in a car driving so close as to really menace running him over while trying to grab his butt. My response was “because it happens to me almost every single day.” In addition, I was usually groped multiple times a day in elevators.
I guess its easy to assault women who, such as a bike messenger, you are unlikely to have contact with again. Plus, a guy in a suit just looked like a guy in a suit to me. They would have a much easier time remembering me than I would them, although I doubt they put that much thought to the matter.
The City Paper picked up the line with "Why Female Bikers Get Harassed." You should read the article but basically it's a combination of: 1) People (mostly men) like to harass cyclists and 2) Men like to harass women. Put the two together and it's all that much more appealing.
Unfortunately it's hard to say what to do about it. It's not like this problem can be fixed with extra bike racks. I'd like to think that the readers of this blog aren't the sexual harassment (or sexual assault) types, but they are mostly guys. So it's on us to behave right and straighten out our fellow men when we see them misbehaving. Holla back is about women standing up for themselves, but I don't think it's sexist to help out by standing with them against this kind of behavior. And for whatever reason, it seems men who assault women do seem to be attracted to places, like bike trails, where women exercise.
I would say the more bikers and women bikers out on the streets the healthier the environment for preventing harassment. All the more reason for creating facilities that welcome women - like cycle tracks and such that legitimize cycling and make it socially less acceptable to harass bikers (who from the views of drivers are inferior and therefore easier to harass.)
Posted by: neb | July 25, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Well said. I think men who are not doing the harassing and are opposed to women being harassed should also speak up and challenge it when they see it happen. That would both show that we're against it, and show solidarity with the women being harassed.
Posted by: Joe | July 25, 2009 at 05:47 PM
One day the Congress will repeal all of DC's silly gun laws and Im going to bike with a long barrel .357 on my back and I doubt Ill be harrassed, clipped, or otherwise intimidated on the bike again
Posted by: think a little | July 26, 2009 at 02:21 AM
this is my #1 reason for not bike commuting in winter. it's not the cold, it's the dark. i have no interest in being out on the trails after dark, from a safety standpoint (and my commute home would start at twilight in DC, and end in pitch black on the mount vernon trail--no thanks). i guess some sort of "car pool" type arrangement--planning to ride with a group at a set period of time could help, or maybe even offering to stay near anyone you see alone on the trail at night (but this could also be seen as patronizing by some).
generally, about street harassment (cat calls and the like), i would say that the instances of that goes up when i'm on my bike. i think it's because i have a fairly attractive dutch style bike that stands out, and when i'm just riding around town (not commuting) i'm usually in a dress or skirt, which also stands out. plus, i'm moving so quickly, the cat caller doesn't have to worry too much about getting glowered at or shot down...they can just shout their sexually explicit stuff, or whatever they're going to do and i'm gone.
i do like the idea of men helping to stop this kind of harassment, but i'm not really sure how. most of the gropers/cat callers don't do that kind of thing when there are other men around. i suppose just being aware that this kind of thing does happen and is actually fairly common is a step in the right direction. one of my guy friends actually didn't believe that women get groped on the metro or on elevators on a fairly regular basis, and thought that cat calling was something from the past or the movies, because he himself didn't do it and never saw it happen. we told him that it only happens when there are no other men around so that's why he never saw it....still not sure if he totally get is, but it did help some.
Posted by: Catherine | July 26, 2009 at 02:46 AM
I'm curious, where have people experience cat calls or harassment while on a ride?
Posted by: Stan | July 26, 2009 at 03:24 PM
stan, it really could be just about anywhere--just like it happens just about anywhere while walking.
i think it happens MORE to women while on bikes because they stand out more, and because the harasser runs little risk of getting snapped at or "shot down" in front of his friends because the cyclist is moving quickly and probably won't stop.
that being said, the "usual" places that this kind of thing happens is anywhere where there's mostly men working mostly outdoor/physical jobs--mechanic shops, construction sites, car washes etc--in dc, in the suburbs, doesn't matter.
me personally, while on my bike, get whistled at whenever i ride by this particular mechanic shop in old town alexandria and once was riding around old town (a not-so-nice couple of blocks part of old town) and went by a small group of young men who were walking on the sidewalk, and got a clever suggestion on what else i might like to ride.
i haven't been bothered in dc while on my bike because i'm mainly only riding up and down the mall (14th street bridge to capitol hill) at 8am and 6pm--not a prime time or location for harassment.
Posted by: Catherine | July 27, 2009 at 01:34 AM
There is an upside to this. When there are attractive women riding bikes, surely - men won't be far behind. More women on bikes means more men on bikes.
And in any case - the men who act this way do it all the time, not just when women are on bikes. And the women who are being cat-called, quite certainly get cat-calls all the time.
The important thing is that getting pretty women out biking will most likely get everyone else out biking.
Posted by: Lee Watkins | July 27, 2009 at 09:38 AM
@Catherine, I have to say that I'm a lot like your friend. I too thought this was something from the past that doesn't really happen very much anymore. I'm a bit surprised and disappointed to find out that isn't true.
Posted by: Washcycle | July 27, 2009 at 09:54 AM
Thanks for this article. It's nice to have this issue mentioned. It's part of my daily experience.
I've been a bike commuter in DC since I moved here in 2004. I'm a small woman (5'2", 110). I ride in skirts frequently.
I've found it doesn't matter if you wear a skirt or not--the harassment doesn't change. It's incessant--from people walking down the streets to people yelling out of car windows.
My worst experience recently was a DC firetruck that pulled up behind me at a stoplight and turned on the siren. I quickly moved my bike to the sidewalk to get out of the way; a firefighter leaned out the window to inform me that they'd turned the siren on to get me to look around and to bring attention to my ass, which apparently is siren-worthy.
Few things ruffle me any more, but this infuriated me. I tried to get a DC cop to arrest the firefighters for misuse of city property (siren for catcalls), but the cops weren't interested.
My conclusion on this: I choose everyday I ride a bike to risk 1) getting injured/killed by an aggressive or negligent driver and 2) getting constantly sexually harassed. Despite the danger and the harassment, I still ride my bike. I don't see why I should give up my freedom because there are a large percentage of assholes. However, I understand that other women make different decisions.
I've also found it helps to focus on the men that yell pleasant things. Not all comments are demeaning; if you focus on the nice comments it helps because 1) you hate men less and 2)you have a nicer day.
I've also found a couple of stock phrases useful. "Is that how your mother taught you to speak to women?" is a great one--often even bringing an apology. "Would you like me to say that to your mother/wife/girlfriend/daughter?" also has good effects.
However, I dare anyone to touch me. I got a man arrested at the whole foods last week for threatening to hit me with his cane. And I have left an impressive trail of bloody noses in my wake of men who have actually touched me when I've been on my bike. I may look small and cute, but I know how to break a nose and kick a man where it hurts.
I would recommend female cyclists carry pepper spray, though. It brings security, particularly if comments continue for several blocks.
Posted by: rustmyrtle | July 27, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Here's a trick I picked up from my dad that can be used on motorists harassing cyclists of either gender: Wait till they get stuck at a stoplight, then pull up next to them and squirt your water bottle through the window they opened to holler at you.
Not the most mature means of handling the situation, but it's very satisfying. Also, I would recommend pulling onto a side street immediately thereafter.
Posted by: ltarte | July 27, 2009 at 02:34 PM
Oh yeah, this is most definitely not a thing of the past. A couple weeks ago I was riding and followed up 14th street about 10 blocks by some assholes in a car yelling "suck my dick" at me the ENTIRE way. Kept thinking I'd lost them then they would catch up at the next light. But what can you do? (I was about mad enough to reach for the old U-lock at that point...) The "high point" was literally having my ass grabbed once while riding in Chicago. You're vulnerable on a bike, more so than walking. I don't know what the answer is, although my fantasies of handlebar mounted annihilator/castration rays can get quite detailed. And wouldn't it be WONDERFUL if the cops actually took this kind of harassment seriously?
Posted by: Erica | July 27, 2009 at 03:52 PM
I fantasize about handlebar-mounted castration rays too. in detail.
Posted by: rustmyrtle | July 27, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Erica and Myrtle--
Have you ever figured out what they actually WANT from you (besides the obvious, which even they know is NOT going to happen)? I constantly wonder what in god's name they do this kind of thing for. Is it to intimidate us so we stop cycling/walking in that area? Is it to show off for buddies (if so, how does this make them look good)? Is it just to pass time/because it's funny (if so, what's funny about it)? Or is a "hey let's see if she DOES want to [fill in the blank]"?
And Erica--that experience is just about the best argument for carrying pepper spray I can think of (that doesn't involve staving off physical threats). Fill the car with that stuff.
Posted by: Catherine | July 27, 2009 at 05:11 PM
I think these kinds of crimes have little to do with sex and a lot to do with power. Maybe guys who do this feel like they don't have as much control over women as they'd like, so this kind of behavior is their way of taking control. Maybe a woman on a bike is extra emasculating - independent and strong - to some guys and so they get extra "attention."
Posted by: Washcycle | July 27, 2009 at 09:06 PM
Your stories are eye-opening. I’m so sorry that you have to endure this crap. Just please be careful where you point the annihilator/castration rays.
Posted by: Stan | July 28, 2009 at 04:36 PM