Comments on: The Audacity of Spokes

By: EmilyBites

EmilyBites — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:11:45 +0000

When I was at university there was some construction work going on at my college, and as I cycled to class one day, a bright spark from the construction team felt inspired to shout 'What a lucky saddle!' I cycled on for a minute or two, then, consumed with rage, cycled back to college, went to the security station and reported the bright spark. Fair play to college, they took me to the facilities manager and the college higher-ups' offices so I could repeat and parse the offending phrase for its specific offensiveness. Complaint logged, they told me they would speak to the company and in light of my likely inability to pick the bright spark out of a lineup, would issue a blanket warning to the crew. The response from my 'friends' was the worst - almost every person to whom I mentioned the incident looked at me aghast, and cried, 'But you could have gotten him SACKED! Why would you DO that?!' One male 'friend' found it so hilarious that he added the quote to his facebook profile page. Why would I do that, my saddle-blessing arse.

By: karamel

karamel — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 22:49:21 +0000

I have that problem with the harassers .- usually on foot. They don't have the balls so much in bike-safe areas ("good neighborhoods") or because you're more mobile (and therefore less victim-looking?) or in my city, having a real bike and a helmet as a female indicates trendy and therefore higher class status, signaling more power than the usual cat caller/smile, baby assholes, which of course makes them feel less entitled to invade your psychological space.

By: Biking Harassment Part II « Holla Back DC!

Biking Harassment Part II « Holla Back DC! — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:01:59 +0000

[...] would-be harassers have an easy way to spark conversation—or harassment. I’d say half the harassers who have targeted me on my bike resort to variations the same line: “Wish I were that seat.” Simple, offensive, [...]

By: Why Female Bikers Get Harassed - The Sexist - Washington City Paper

Why Female Bikers Get Harassed - The Sexist - Washington City Paper — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:24:41 +0000

[...] harassers have an easy way to spark conversation—or harassment. I’d say half the harassers who have targeted me on my bike resort to variations the same line: “Wish I were that seat.” Simple, offensive, [...]

By: Don’t Fucking Tell Me To Smile, Baby - The Sexist - Washington City Paper

Don’t Fucking Tell Me To Smile, Baby - The Sexist - Washington City Paper — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:30:39 +0000

[...] making kissy noises at me, baby, or informing me that you would pay an exorbitant amount of money to switch your body with the form of my bicycle seat, which routinely comes in close contact with my vagina, [...]

By: Amanda Hess

Amanda Hess — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:37:55 +0000

Yeah, in general, I don't respond because I'm afraid of pissing off the wrong dude. Ignoring the calls can piss them off too, though---such as with the gentleman who followed me in a car and repeatedly screamed that I was a "dyke" when I didn't respond to his comments. Luckily, I've never been physically assaulted on the street (though I have been followed on foot). Maybe the bike will help keep it that way.

By: cultureslug

cultureslug — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 20:29:10 +0000

Thanks, Amanda; I actually did read and enjoy Joe Eaton's "Nice Ass" piece last year but hadn't seen your subsequent blog post. I've moved toward just ignoring almost everything, no matter what, that comes from a male stranger on the street. The more direct-action tactic (hitting them with an insult or middle finger of my own) usually resulted in the catcaller telling me I was a bitch/cunt/ugly whore in a loud voice that attracted undue attention. (They really don't like being disrespected by the subjects of their disrespect, apparently.)

By: Amanda Hess

Amanda Hess — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:36:10 +0000

cultureslug,

Joe Eaton wrote an excellent cover story ("Nice Ass") on street harassment about a year ago that details how one woman deals with this:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=1859

After the story came out, I wrote a post about harassment on my street with a sort of tongue-in-cheek guide to navigating the different types of street harassers:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2007/09/20/nice-ass-revisited/

A year later, I still usually ignore. What has everyone else found is the best policy?

By: cultureslug

cultureslug — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:58:35 +0000

If by "particularly interesting" you mean "amazingly offensive," I offer what one leering slimeball stopped in a crosswalk to regale me with while I was stopped on 15th, waiting to pedal across U St.: "Mmmm, nice legs. Nice from ridin' that bike. Nice and hard. Don't you like how hard your legs are from ridin' that bike?..." etc. etc. etc. But aside from that, on a bike or not, I'm interested to know what women think is the best way to respond to street harrassers. I've had mixed success with various methods and wonder what everybody else does.