With cycling and society, cyclists have a bad rap by the public at large. But cyclists are fit, don’t pollute the air, are self-sufficient, are environmentally conscious, and pay taxes that repair roadways that motorists destroy. So why the image problem?  The excuses are almost all the same. Cyclists hold up traffic. Cyclists slow commutes. Cyclists ignore stop signs. I’m sure you’ve heard more. These derogatory remarks have led to some terrible conditions in some areas for cycling and society.

Tacks and Wires

Two mass bike rides, the Velothon Wales in the UK, and the Seattle to Portland in the United States, have reported tacks and wires strung across the roadways, some on downhill slopes. The sabotage creates dangerous accidents. This type of deliberate angst against cyclists in general is disturbing. So how do others really see us as a group?

Internet Hits

If you punch “cyclists are” into Google, the search results bring back derogatory words like “nuisance”, “idiots”, “untrustworthy,”   and a “menace.” Mountain bikers are “stupid”, road bikers are “snobs”, Italian cyclists are “dopers.” The sea of negativity should be taken with a grain of salt, as runners, triathletes, and any other individualistic group receives similar treatment by Google.

Psychology Studies

Dr. Ian Walker, a psychologist at Bath University, has done studies on why cyclists get treated so poorly. He sums it up like this: “What you see in discourses about cycling is the absolute classic 1960’s and 1970’s social psychology of prejudice,” he explains. “It’s exactly those things that used to be done about minority ethnic groups and so on – the overgeneralisation of negative traits, under-representation of negative behaviors by one’s own group, that kind of thing. It’s just textbook prejudiced behavior.”

A Few Bad Apples

Probably some of the disdain for cyclists comes from a few bad examples: Riding two abreast at the wrong time, blocking traffic, failing to yield when necessary, weaving in an out of traffic, et cetera . The failure of certain cyclists to obey rules gives the pubic fodder for at least some of this bad press concerning cyclists.

Instinct Individualists

Matt Seaton, author of Two Wheels – Thoughts from the Bike Lane, sums it up like this: “Cyclists are instinct individualists and so have an uneasy relationship with being part of the collective solutions dictated by policymakers and town planners. This is a conundrum for advocates and lobbyists but also throws up dilemmas every day as we respond to the behaviors of others, and they react to ours.”

An Embattled Minority

Seaton continues to define it with a simple statement; “Most cyclists seem to relish the feeling of belonging to an embattled minority.” Seaton’s last statement might just sum it up; cyclists don’t really care what others think about them because motorists in general, do pretty much whatever they want with complete disregard for a cyclists safety anyway.

The Cyclist Stereotype

It’s too easy to stereotype cyclists as Lycra-clad snobs who take up too much room on the highway, and that’s what’s happening. And believe it or not, cyclists are just as prone to road rage as motorists. When angry motorists flip off cyclists or shout angry foul words, those same cyclists reciprocate with a flurry of equal, or more foul gestures or language, and the situation continues to feed and grow.

Incorrect View

The general public has an incorrect view of cycling. This reason alone might be at the top of the list why people view cyclists differently. People think of cycling as hard work, maneuvering a complicated machine in dangerous traffic where they don’t belong and are not wanted. The motorist doesn’t know what the cyclist is doing or how they’re doing it. The level of ignorance generally corresponds to the dis-like of cyclists.

Smug Cyclists

Cyclists would be less annoying if they weren’t so smug about being cyclists. Lycra shows off an athletic build, typically much thinner and fitter than others who sit on their asses all day. And then there’s the eco-friendly aspect. Some people just don’t care about the environment and don’t like being reminded of it. Cyclists embody green living.

Not Enough Dedicated Cyclists

Another reason why cyclists get such bad press is that there are far more bicycle owners, than dedicated, active cyclists. Bicycle owners don’t particularly fit into the culture of cycling as they will ride any type of bike, no matter the condition, in any way they want without taking the time to learn the proper etiquette and not to ride on sidewalks, fail to yield or otherwise,or do stupid things on bicycles. Bicycle owners who don’t ride regularly never really get the idea that traveling on a bike is a way of life and obeying all the rules is part of cycling.

Cycling and Society – Lets Put it Into Perspective

Putting it in terms of fatalities and serious injuries, the trouble posed by cyclists is exaggerated with cycling and society. Motorists are too quick to complain about nuisance cyclists but it is vehicles that are responsible for the vast majority of serious accidents.

Bikes in the News

In terms of fatalities and serious injuries, the threat posed by cyclists is exaggerated. Cycle fatalities tend to make the news, emphasizing the dangers of cycling. It’s worth bearing in mind though, that it’s also dangerous being a pedestrian.Four times as many pedestrians are victims of road fatalities than cyclists according to cycle stats in the UK.

The Solution: More Cyclists

Overall, reliable data on bike accidents is hard to come by, so it’s hard to say how many crashes and injuries are caused by inattentive or uncaring cyclists. But here’s the key to how cyclists are viewed and improving the relationship between cycling and society. An increase in the number of cyclists should actually reduce accident rates over time and give cyclists more right of way. It’s because the mere presence of more bikes tends to make people more aware of them, and to be more careful and respectful around them. Not everywhere will be full of bikes though so staying safe and constantly being aware of motorists is the sure-fire way to ride on the roads.