Do women get more hassle when commuting than men?

daniel_b

Chaps and chapesses,

my gf will start commuting to work by bike in about 5 weeks time, and I am thrilled about this as is she, as I also commute by bike, but in another direction, so we won't be commuting together.

I was thrilled, and still am, but I'm starting to get that little worried feeling you get sometimes, as in I worry about her on the road by herself, and she doesn't always make the right, or safest road decisions, and can sometimes not put herself in the correct position in the road, for example coming up to a roundabout, or sometimes when approaching a traffic island, I always look over my shoulder to let any approaching car know that I know they are there, and then move out to make sure they don't try and implement a dangerous pass.

Also, I don't know if this is the case or not, a lot of people are twisted, but do women cyclists get more verbal, or people try and push them out of the way more than men?
I hope not, but feel I should ask.

She's going to be kitted out with bright yellow jackets, for good visibility to other road users, and when required she will have at least 1 rear light, and some super powerful front lights.
Might invest in some tyres with the reflective strip around them too.
Will also make sure the pedals and wheels have the requisite reflectors fitted also, will fit a bell, and probably give her my airzound, as I haven't had need to use it.

There are a couple of major junctions on her route, one a large 3 lane roundabout, where she would have to go straight on both legs of her commute, but there is also a cycle friendly/legal underpass she can use, but then I start to worry about the people you get hanging around in underpasses :roll:

What should she do, and is it worth buying a copy of cyclecraft or similar?

I'm sure she will learn as she rides, and become more assertive, and attuned to road situations, but I want to make sure she is as equipped as possible beforehand.

Thanks

Dan

graeme_s-2

Could you ride the route with her in advance, and discuss how best to negotiate the various junctions etc? This would depend on your personalities, as this would not work with me and my girlfriend, it would be a short cut to a big argument. Failing that get her to read cyclecraft.

As you say, after that it's just practice. My road craft was appalling when I first started commuting, but practice, and reading threads here brought my skills on pretty quickly.

karl j

several specifics in there but to answer the question in the title - no i don't think so.

Maybe someone else can remember better then me but wasn't there some research done (last year?) by some fella (at the university of Bath?) where he concluded that he got less hassle / more room when he looked like a woman from behind ? . I 'm fairly sure iIt was written up in C+ at the time but i can't find it now.

Certainly, riding it together beforehand and discussing potential problem spots might(!!) be a good idea but i dunno about the airzound though - giving my gf one of them would be a shortcut to her fighting in the street

Anyhow, all the very best of luck to her

daniel_b

Thankyou chaps

Any ladies care to comment on their commuting experiences?

Riding the route is a cracking idea, why didn't I think of that :? :roll:
Can ride a section, and pull in to discuss what is the best place to position yourself etc etc

Great idea, thankyou. And with the way our personalities mesh I don't see this being the beginning of armageddon

That's good news if women get given more room as well, it all helps.

Cheers

Dan

Totalnewbie

No, if anything I get less when it is obvious I am a lay-dee (although not on a ladies bike!)

That is to say I get often more hassle when I am bundled up in wet weather gear and looking a bit less feminine that when I am just wearing, for example, 3/4 lengths and my pink jersey - when people often do nice things like let me change lanes/pull out.

Drivers will sometimes take the p*** more when someone of either sex is acting less than assertive though, and try to push through more - it's like an invitation (or maybe this is just a London thing!). So I would mainly try and make sure she doesn't feel bullied into the gutter, and cycles confidently.

I would rather brave a roundabout (positioned correctly) than an underpass, I really don't like underpasses, from a personal safety point of view, esp if they are deserted. Does the 3 lane roundabout you mention have lights?

It probably is worth getting her a copy of Cyclecraft.

Eat My Dust

When Mrs EMD decided to start commuting I went out with on her route. I was alarmed by her cycling!! (sorry if you read this, but it's true!) She as pretty unsure about a few of the junctions and RABs, so I just told her if she wasn't sure to get off and walk. Better than finding herself in a dangerous situation. After a while her roadcraft and confidence got better.

daniel_b

Totalnewbie wrote:

No, if anything I get less when it is obvious I am a lay-dee (although not on a ladies bike!)

That is to say I get often more hassle when I am bundled up in wet weather gear and looking a bit less feminine that when I am just wearing, for example, 3/4 lengths and my pink jersey - when people often do nice things like let me change lanes/pull out.

Drivers will sometimes take the p*** more when someone of either sex is acting less than assertive though, and try to push through more - it's like an invitation (or maybe this is just a London thing!). So I would mainly try and make sure she doesn't feel bullied into the gutter, and cycles confidently.

I would rather brave a roundabout (positioned correctly) than an underpass, I really don't like underpasses, from a personal safety point of view, esp if they are deserted. Does the 3 lane roundabout you mention have lights?

It probably is worth getting her a copy of Cyclecraft.

Thanks for your reply TN, that sound promising in the main then.

I'm hoping here in the suburbs, it won't be quite as much cut and thrust as London, but in rush hour it will still be pretty hectic and clogged up.

I think cycling confidently is the key, and I guess that grows with experience.
The roundabout has no lights unfortunately. I've never had an issue with it, as I just treat it as when I drive, ie if there is a gap for me to go I take it and accelerate like mad to minimise the danger opportunity.

I'll do the ride with her, and discuss various scenarios and what she would do, and then see about cyclecraft, and if she thinks she needs it, or doesn't feel fully confident.

Thanks for all the replies, any others more than welcome.

Cheers

Dan

fly-pie

Hi,

I've been reading this forum for a while now, but never replied so far.
But since i'm a girl I thought I could write to reassure you. I agree with Totalnewbie.

I always cycle together with my partner, but he's usually (a long way) ahead of me, and especially when we're in the innercity, he gets the verbal abuse, not me. Of course there are always idiots who think cyclists shouldn't be on the road, and cut you off etc. but as everyone else says, you'll be able to deal with that better when you're a confident cyclist. So it's a good idea to cycle along with her first.

I hope she will enjoy it!

Hannah

Totalnewbie

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that in the early days I used to get off and walk lots of junctions rather than wobble around nervously! Sometimes I would watch to see what other experienced-looking cyclists did and copy them next time. I figured them out one by one.

In fact if I am going somewhere I don't know, and end up in the wrong position at an unfamiliar junction/roundabout, I will still get off and assess it rather than mess about.

claash

Hi
I am also a girlîe commuter. I cycle with my partner sometimes and other times alone.

Confidence is a really big issue! It can be gained or lost vey easily. Had a near miss with a truck on a hairpin bend where he over took me (although he couldn't see round the corner!!) :roll: pushing me right into the gutter and forcing me to brake fairly hard!! My lesson learned: ride more in primary on that hill with the haipins!!
The more your GF rides, the more confident she will become!

It is really good that you want to do the cycle stretch with her. Do it before she starts, and talk her through things! That will definitely help!

But, (and this may only be me) after 2 weeks of cycling on my own my partner started cycling on the commute with me again, and pointed out every little pot hole/bike/pedestrian. I was a nervous wreck by the time we had done 2 trips together....... That really knocked my confidence: I know he was trying to help but he has to trust my instinct/ability. Your GF can do it!! Trust Her!!

Kafka\'s Doll

She's a woman not a six-year-old. She'll learn just like you did.

Drfabulous0

If she has a nice arse put her in lycra, then she will be noticed at least.

cee

Drfabulous0 wrote:

If she has a nice ars* put her in lycra, then she will be noticed at least.

and cycle behind her

el_presidente

Kafka\'s Doll wrote:

She's a woman not a six-year-old.

Well let's hope so

helz

I think you're worrying way too much. I've rarely had any hassle at all, in fact I think women are far less likely to receive any verbal abuse from other road users than men are.

daniel_b

helz wrote:

I think you're worrying way too much.

I expect your almost certainly right, but then we do about those we care about don't we, goes with the territory.

Thankyou to all those who took the time to post, mucho appreciated

Dan

alexB

Does she know how to fix the little things that go wrong?
I spent 5 minutes fitting an inner tube for someone tonight. She had a pump and tyre levers, but no spare tube.
She wasn't sure how to get the rear wheel back in (getting the chain on) and I had to undo her brake cable to get the wheel back in as the brake was set too close to the rim.

I've also shown a few people the trick of putting the chain on at the bottom of the chainring and pedalling backward to re-mount the chain rather than trying to feed it on at the top around the front derailleur.

knowing these things will stop her being stranded out on the road.

Milkie

I've also shown a few people the trick of putting the chain on at the bottom of the chainring and pedalling backward to re-mount the chain rather than trying to feed it on at the top around the front derailleur.

Sooo damn simple and logical... Why didn't I think of that!

BTW, I am laughing at how protective these boyfriends are!