In almost four years of daily bike commuting I’ve had my share of men try to chat me up on my ride. When you’re a solo female it’s bound to happen, especially when your choice in footwear is eye-catching. But when the “Nice shoes!” is preceded by a sense of being followed strong enough to make you look back; and it’s followed by a “Do you ride here every day?,” a simple compliment takes on a whole new creepy meaning.
About the Bike Commute Diaries: Launched in May 2012 for National Bike Month, this series explores the unexpected and surprising things I’ve seen and learned while bicycling for transportation.
Daly
July 17, 2014 at 9:47 am
Creepy indeed. Tell ’em you’re going to the target range or to see your parole officer. 😉 I do think women are safer traveling on a bicycle than walking. I carry pepper spray and am not afraid to use my heels or bike as a weapon or barrier. But since I tend to avoid conflict, most likely I will sprint away.
ladyfleur
July 17, 2014 at 10:19 am
What makes it creepy vs threatening is the ambiguity. Your sensors go off a bit, but you’re not sure if it’s real. Like hearing a noise in an empty house. I don’t carry any sort of weapon like pepper spray. To be honest, I can’t imagine I’d have time to use it for most threats, unless I kept it a quick-grab holster on my bars. Hmm, product idea. (just kidding)
I’m very good at using my outside voice when threatened. Usually it’s just for a rude, impatient, or clueless drivers. And I do feel much safer riding than walking.
Jean
July 19, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Hmm… I haven’t quite had that happen yet. But then I don’t cycle in non-cycling shoes nor in dresses/skirts. Except for skorts. I tend to ignore/barely aware of the car beeps for my attention.
ladyfleur
July 19, 2014 at 8:50 pm
The majority of my commute is on a bike and walking path along a river, so there’s a lot of bike traffic and it’s a lot easier for people to chat. I wore the same thing on my previous commute and didn’t get nearly as many people chatting. Too hard to ride side by side.
Elaine
July 22, 2014 at 12:04 pm
Unabashedly picking your own nose often works to dissuade them.
ladyfleur
July 22, 2014 at 7:44 pm
That’s very clever!
Jenny
November 16, 2014 at 4:34 pm
Am I missing something here. I take it the creepy is the comment on the shoes? Maybe the commenter has a foot fetish? I personally dress down when I commute on my bike and leave my clogs, sandals, etc. at my office. Not a nice feeling I’m sure
ladyfleur
November 16, 2014 at 5:58 pm
It wasn’t the shoe comment per se, it was the context. As I said above in the comments, what makes things creepy is the ambiguity. Like hearing a noise in an empty house. It’s more likely nothing, but you’re just not sure whether is something.