So today I got out for a 70 km ride with some friends. I haven’t been cycling much lately, aside from my daily 10 km commute. I have noticed a sharp rise in angry drivers now that the school season is back in and there is simply more volume, and less space on the roads. Since the death of courier Darcy Sheppard a few weeks back, I have been more cautious and more understanding of the challenges that we all face commuting to work (cars and bikes alike). Similar advice is being given over at CommuteByBike.com.
Everytime we ride, we accept that on occasion we can have a anxious driver speed past us, someone sneer at us, or the odd honking horn directed our way. But today was a little more special. We were greeted not once, but twice by two different individuals who shouted out their window “FAGGOT!”
I really don’t understand this, I mean, of course, I get it – it’s the spandex, and the bright colours that have somehow equated someones sexual prefernces with their sport of choice. So until hockey players start wearing croptops, and pink helmets, us Faggot cyclists will continue to be in the firing line.
I guess it’s not that I don’t understand it; I think it’s just frustrating to be shouted at, regardless of what the comment is, but especially because the comment doesnt actually make any sense whatsoever. BUT, cooler heads did prevail, and we didn’t react to the drivers, just laughed about it afterwards, because really, what else can you do. As Tim Grahl at CommuteByBike said, it is sort of the bullying mentality.
So I want to open this one up for comment (by the way, the first comment on my blog gets a free lifetime subscription to my blog – value: $0.00 but priceless!).
- Has this happened to you?
- Have you ever heard this while cycling?
- Or maybe as a driver, you have shouted this comment yourself.
- What do you think the deep meaning and social commentary behind this statement might be?
- What are other common words that so eloquently flow off the lips of irrate drivers?
I look forward to your input!
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been commuting by bike since the summer of 05′. My current commute is 7.5 miles ~ 10km, but over the years I have had so many motorest shout, and I never seem to understand as the doplper effect distorts their words, but a few times as I caught them at a light they said for me to follow the law!… Follow the law? harrassing another road user is braking the law and speeding is too, and so is running the red light they did as I pulled out my phone and worded 9-1-1 as I was dialing…. : ) Stupid Americans really give me a good laugh…. I say this after I was hit from behind, while stopped at a red light…. All decked out in reflective gear with reflectors and taillights…. Oh it was a hit-and-run and we are at war because of terrorists? I think we are killing the wrong ones and in the wrong country!
I’ve never had one yell “faggot”, but close. Apart from the usual unintelligible gibberish created by idiots and the Doppler effect, plus the typical “get off the road” or “get back on the sidewalk” (to which I always reply, “SideWHAT?!” It’s not called a sideRIDE!), I’ve heard “Get a car, you queer,” (odd, I don’t wear spandex) and “I almost killed you!” (she went on to explain she had the choice of being creamed by a truck or hitting me, so I asked, “You never thought of using your BRAKES?!”)
I’ve since moved to the country, and things are too far away to bicycle to, and it’s hard to move 300# of animal feed on a bike, even with a trailer! I still like to get out recreationally when I can, but some of the county roads here have very little shoulder, if any, and drivers who’ve lived here their whole lives take them at recklessly high speeds.
Hi Paul, thanks for your comment. I hear your frustration coming through loud and clear. I think its a bit of a stretch to compare terrorists with bad motorists, but I hope you weren’t seriously injured in your hit and run incident. Was the driver charged? What was the outcome?
Let’s all take a deep breath and smile at the good drivers, and report the bad ones.. I know, its a touch idealistic, but its important to always try and take the high road.
Thanks Nick, I appreciate your input. It sounds like you have escaped the daily commute. That’s great!
But you’re right, some country roads can also be dangerous as the drivers are not expecting to see a cyclist. At least in many cities the drivers become accustomed to seeing cyclists on the road.
I find that some of the most dangerous places in the world to cycle are the countries where there are no locals riding bikes.
I feel much more safe when I cycle in a country like Zambia for example where lots of locals cycle, but completely unsafe in a country like Georgia in the Caucasus Region, where you rarely see a local person riding a bike.
Hello Shanny.
I am sorry that you were called faggot. That was rude. Also, I know you have a girlfriend.
I have not been called faggot, although as a girl, I might be called ‘lesbo’, or something of that nature. Also rude.
I was called ‘fatass’ while riding my bike in Toronto years ago. I am still bitter. I was not riding my bike and eating cake. I was riding my bike to better my ass.
Some peope
Thanks Lisu! Very funny (as usual)
Hi Shanny,
I did a bit of googling around the psychology of road rage/drivers/cyclists and came across this interesting website:
http://www.drdriving.org/about/index.htm
There’s lots of food for thought here, and this paragraph struck home for me:
” What we call “traffic” is really an ever-changing set of social relationship tests, and how we engage in these auto-connections speaks volumes about the ultimate quality of our own and others lives. They show that being a “Type R” behind the wheel is not only a culturally acquired habit but one of the most serious risks to our personal and social health.”
Congrats on an awesome blog! I look forward to following you here.
Theresa
Hi Theresa,
Interesting insights – thanks!
I was going down 171 in willowsprings, il. It was in the construction section. There was no shoulder at all. So all the cars has to change lanes to pass. But there was one driver that shouted out Faggot. I didnt know this was a common complaint. Thanks for the post. Im glad im not alone. Sammy =)
yup, guy nearly hit me in a cross walk and right away starts calling me “faggot!!”. We exchanged many worlds, I tried to calm him, he continues the abuse after I point out my right of way. Reported to the cops and to attorney general as hate crime. I know that’s a reach, but figure if they talk hate crime to him, will at least scare em. Got a plate and good description. BTW, not gay but that does not really matter I figure.
Hi Bomber, thanks for sharing your thoughts… and be safe on the roads!