Do motorists treat you better if you dress better?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Do motorists treat you better if you dress better?
Years ago when I road, and dressed much more casually and was not too concerned about fashion. I don't remember, but I think most drivers did not give me much room, and some even honked at me to get completely off the road, or verbally told me to get out of the road.
Recently, I wore a button up dress shirt and my nicest blue genes. I live in a smaller town now instead of a big city, so maybe that is it. But all the motorist gave me the entire lane, passing in the other one. Many yelled compliments too.
Do you think how a cyclist dresses has a large impact on how they are treated?
Recently, I wore a button up dress shirt and my nicest blue genes. I live in a smaller town now instead of a big city, so maybe that is it. But all the motorist gave me the entire lane, passing in the other one. Many yelled compliments too.
Do you think how a cyclist dresses has a large impact on how they are treated?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
I've worn khakis and polos, jeans and t-shirts, a suit and tie, and my team kit. Personally, I can't correlate motorist behavior with my dress.
#4
Disco Infiltrator
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Folsom CA
Posts: 13,446
Bikes: Stormchaser, Paramount, Tilt, Samba tandem
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3126 Post(s)
Liked 2,105 Times
in
1,369 Posts
Is there a male "Mary Poppins effect"? Doubt it... when I see other people riding dressed for California cubeville, my first impression is that they are nerds. (This makes me a hypocrite.) Seeing someone in a suit would just be strange. The other two major categories are fitness roadies, and "people of Wal-Mart" on cheap or old mountain bikes.
#6
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Invercargill, New Zealand
Posts: 21
Bikes: 2006 Colnago Mix, 1998 Colnago Tecnos, 1995 LOOK KG176, 1988 Raleigh 531c Race
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I might try riding naked to see if there's any merit to this theory. Seriously though, I don't think the majority of drivers even register a bike's existence on the road let alone how well attired the rider is. It would be a nice thought though.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Alpharetta, GA
Posts: 15,280
Bikes: Nashbar Road
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2934 Post(s)
Liked 341 Times
in
228 Posts
I am convinced that they react to how you ride, more than how you dress. There are a few whose driving seems to be affected by perceived social status but it's rare. In my opinion.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Posts: 406
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm more inclined to think that the smaller town are just friendlier people who actually cares about one another. I don't really see too much of the car threatening cyclist up here. It's usually a one-off, compared to the rate that I hear about this stuff happening in the US...
#9
Hogosha Sekai
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: STS
Posts: 6,669
Bikes: Leader 725, Centurion Turbo, Scwhinn Peloton, Schwinn Premis, GT Tequesta, Bridgestone CB-2,72' Centurion Lemans, 72 Raleigh Competition
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 21 Times
in
15 Posts
Years ago when I road, and dressed much more casually and was not too concerned about fashion. I don't remember, but I think most drivers did not give me much room, and some even honked at me to get completely off the road, or verbally told me to get out of the road.
Recently, I wore a button up dress shirt and my nicest blue genes. I live in a smaller town now instead of a big city, so maybe that is it. But all the motorist gave me the entire lane, passing in the other one. Many yelled compliments too.
Do you think how a cyclist dresses has a large impact on how they are treated?
Recently, I wore a button up dress shirt and my nicest blue genes. I live in a smaller town now instead of a big city, so maybe that is it. But all the motorist gave me the entire lane, passing in the other one. Many yelled compliments too.
Do you think how a cyclist dresses has a large impact on how they are treated?
#10
The Left Coast, USA
I think there's some study around that says you get more clearance if you are not wearing a helmet. Makes sense to me that the more pedestrian you look the more cautious drivers are.
#11
Senior Member
Around here, I've noticed the Lycra wearing cyclists get more deference than the planclothes guys (i.e. me). This is because I think they look like they're more serious or pro, and I look like a kid playing in traffic.
M.
M.
#12
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,503
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,471 Times
in
1,435 Posts
I'm a quirky person. I wear pink shirts a lot, and once, a passenger in a passing-by car leaned out and yelled, "Nice shirt ... QUEER!"
I once rode my old English 3-speed wearing suit and tie to a concert I was to perform in. I got people hollering and waving at me.
I once rode my old English 3-speed wearing suit and tie to a concert I was to perform in. I got people hollering and waving at me.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#13
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
I don't think it makes any difference. Drivers who hate cyclists don't hate them because of the clothes that they wearing but because they riding a bicycle on the road. It doesn't matter if you wearing a "castelli or rapha" cycling kit or a pair of cargo shorts and a tank top.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Vienna, VA
Posts: 221
Bikes: Cervelo P3 (retired), Habanero Road, Novara Safari, Batavus Personal Delivery Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I ride regularly w/road bike and full team kit and commute daily on a an upright Dutch commuter in work clothes (mostly polo and khakis, but occasional suit and tie). I seem to get more respect from motorists on the commute. Don't know if it's the clothes or the bike or both.
#15
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,627
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1669 Post(s)
Liked 1,822 Times
in
1,060 Posts
According to one study, motorists will stay far, far away if you wear a clown wig while riding.
#16
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,788
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
The ONLY fashion effect on drivers' reactions to my presence on the road was ditching the helmet, much like the informal John Stossel report. I got more room after the fact.
#18
Let's Ride!
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Triad, NC USA
Posts: 2,569
Bikes: --2010 Jamis 650b1-- 2016 Cervelo R2-- 2018 Salsa Journeyman 650B
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 327 Post(s)
Liked 37 Times
in
24 Posts
some of my thoughts
I ride regularly w/road bike and full team kit and commute daily on a an upright Dutch commuter in work clothes (mostly polo and khakis, but occasional suit and tie). I seem to get more respect from motorists on the commute. Don't know if it's the clothes or the bike or both.
I don't think it makes any difference. Drivers who hate cyclists don't hate them because of the clothes that they wearing but because they riding a bicycle on the road. It doesn't matter if you wearing a "castelli or rapha" cycling kit or a pair of cargo shorts and a tank top.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Palm Coast, Fl.
Posts: 164
Bikes: Cannondale SystemSix Carbon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In my area I am probably the most serious looking commuter around since I graduated from mtn bike cargo shorts and tee to Castelli proshirts and bibs. Made the change for comfort and never looked back. Motorists give you a little more room because they think you are more serious. It could also be that I wear helmet, glasses and have a mirror and lights when its dark too......
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Edmonton, Canada
Posts: 737
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have a sample size of 1, tested at a wide variety of points along the dress spectrum. My experience is that the addition of a tie makes a big difference to how people treat me. Beyond that, there's no noticeable difference between shorts with t-shirt and khakis with dress-shirt.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: NJ cellphone central
Posts: 468
Bikes: Surly Ogre // (old and gone) Cannondale ST400, Rockhopper Sport
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Lancaster, PA, USA
Posts: 1,851
Bikes: 2012 Trek Allant, 2016 Bianchi Volpe Disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I think it's less the clothing that you are wearing, and more the behaviors associated with the clothing. In my area, there are a lot of obnoxious roadies that will ride 2-4 abreast, block traffic flow on high-speed roads, and then curse at you when you move into the other lane to pass. Therefore, I avoid wearing lycra, ride courteously, and get generally good behavior from motorists.
I have noticed that when I leave for work a bit later than normal, the drivers are a bit worse, so I think there is something to RidingMatthew's idea. As drivers become less surprised to see a cyclist, they tend to behave better.
I have noticed that when I leave for work a bit later than normal, the drivers are a bit worse, so I think there is something to RidingMatthew's idea. As drivers become less surprised to see a cyclist, they tend to behave better.
#24
Senior Member