Photo by Tuaussi via flickr
One of our Twitter followers linked to this article from the Guardian, What is it about a woman on a bike that attracts such unwelcome attention?
Forget modesty: it’s about catcalling. Unlike Gwladys, I quickly gave up on the idea of biking with a skirt on. A pity really, because the thought of commuting to work wearing light and fluttering fabrics is especially appealing during summer time. But from now on, I’m all about ugly lycra capri pants.
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 dishevelled, 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. I even once encountered a pedestrian who, having spotted me cycling from afar in a deserted street, stopped in the middle of a crossroad only to bend down with a huge grin, trying to catch a glimpse of my knickers. Keep reading
We have received several stories from individuals who have been harassed by a biker but have yet to hear from any folks who have been harassed while biking. The other day I was talking a friend who told me she has never experienced street harassment while biking around DC and that she actually feels safer if she is on her bike.
How do others feel? Have you been harassed on your bike in the DC Metro area?
