My Take on the Mary Poppins Effect

I’m not sure about drivers, but I do hear a lot more positive comments from nearby pedestrians when I’m riding my “girly bike” (a bright red upright loop frame) versus my black and silver diamond frame hybrid (sporty-looking, even though it’s still basically upright). People also frequently react positively to the fact that my helmet (dark purple) almost always matches my attire.

Sometimes I do wish there were thought bubbles above vehicles so I could have more insight into what they’re thinking…

I rode to an interview in a blazer and slacks last month and blogged about it on http://www.bikesd.org. Although my blog entry was not on how drivers treated me I did notice a difference from how I am treated when I am wearing my normal jeans and a T-shirt. They gave me plenty of room and even slowed when I indicated that I was changing lanes.

I do the dapper thing, but find I’m given more space by cars when I’m wearing lycra and riding the bike that I race. I guess drivers don’t expect to be held up for so long by the types of riders they know can often keep pace with traffic.
Bike Snob NYC describes the Mary Poppins type as the “Beautiful Godzilla”. Drivers fear her sense of entitlement, that she has learned having had people stand aside all her life, shocked by her beauty.

Hmm. This is a very complicated subject with a lot of very intangible variables. My first reaction was that this would make a fascinating academic study, but no university would easily sanction this based on liability alone.

Nevertheless, it wraps sex, sexism, feminism, aggression, legal rights, perception, safety, expectations, territory, and even power relationships up in a very hot mess.

All forms of clothing are a kind of uniform that sends very specific messages. When you dress for battle, you get battle. When you dress to be attractive, you get attraction. When you dress to say “hey, I’m a serious person, but I’m not out to take your lane away from you,” I think you get that kind of response.

Generally. There are always exceptions.

As a planner who works on bicycle issue, I spoke to a bunch of young bicycle activists the other evening. We talked at length about dress and its impact on drivers’ perceptions. I deliberately these days commute in work dress instead of kitting out in cycling-specific clothes. Most people recognize that I’m going to work just like they are, and although they may not be mesmerized by my shapely legs and long flowing hair, they still don’t go out of their way to buzz me.

Fascinating subject!

Hmmm…I can’t say that I notice this effect, other than a different sort of “reverse-Poppins” effect, in which if I’m all gussied up drivers tend to catcall or honk at me. This is flattering, sure, but I tend to startle easily and the unexpected loud noises make me feel really unsafe.

On many routes where I live, drivers are pretty hostile to cyclists just as a matter of course, so I’m not sure if my city is the most representative area for this sort of analysis.

I think if you are wearing a dress (especially w/o a helmet) 1) you look like an inexperienced cyclist, so people may give you a wide berth. “She’s not a freak. She’s just trying this biking thing out.” 2) you don’t look sporty and thus don’t look like competition in traffic…like someone who would blow through a stop sign and do other annoying things that p/o some drivers. Looking especially pretty or gentile vs. a business suit would magnify the effect.

After I got my Workcycles Transport I expected a little more width because the bike is so impressive, and has better lighting than my old bike. But I was wrong – pick up trucks and mini-vans still try to wing me here in Grand Rapids, and drivers of smaller cars treat me really well – younger drivers and seniors give me the most clearance. Middle age people give me the least. I haven’t really drawn any other conclusions. Good topic!

During November and December, I deck-out my road bike with LED Christmas lights, and a little glowing plastic Santa on the rear rack. Nothing but positive responses from motorists and pedestrians with that get-up! I wish I could say the same for the other 10 months of the year…

This has been such an interesting post and interesting comments following it. I wish I could chime in with something more substantial, but I don’t think I’ve noticed the Mary Poppins effect here. I also can’t fully say since even on my roadbike, I am often sporting heels and skirts, so I don’t know how drivers would treat a more ‘sporty’ and less ‘feminine’ looking cyclist. But in general, I feel like drivers here are pretty bad. Even when I’m wearing a work outfit (dress, heels, etc) and riding an upright vintage bike, I don’t ever feel like I get something approximating respect or friendlyness from most drivers.

I think the MP effect must be very context and location specific. The fact that there isn’t much of a cycling culture here and that many people in town love their big cars and their pick-ups, means that we’ve got a long way to go to seeing the MP effect take hold.

S.

I think a flowy dress provides more visible surface and also takes up more horizontal space… thus the driver moves a bit further away to avoid catching the dress with their rear view mirror or other car part.

Yep. I never wear overt bike clothing, but (compared to casual jeans, etc.) I’m usually treated better when I’m wearing my usual tweed jacket / repp tie professor drag. And better without helmet than with.

But if you want to be treated _really_ well, try full academic regalia — in a cap and gown, you can get away with anything!

Any men/women of the cloth out there? I’m pretty sure that a clerical collar will get you VIP treatment, too.

I bike with my kids a lot (often one of them is on the back of my Yuba cargo bike) and that makes the biggest difference. Though it’s interesting, because while I generally wear a helmet, I don’t always (and have long hair) so sometimes from behind I think people assume I’m a woman until they pass me. The change in reactions is sometimes noticeable at that point. But I’ve never tried biking with a skirt on an free flowing hair at the same time. I’ve had all the typical rude things while biking (including a bottle rocket launched at me)–but I wouldn’t always assume the honks aren’t friendly. Sometimes they are friends saying “hi,” or just friendly people showing their support for biking.

So, does one get a prize for making the 100th comment?

I find the harassment depends more on traffic and location; some may just change over time.

I normally ride upright English 3 speeds (MTB if there’s much snow), and don’t own lycra. Wearning chinos or jeans or the occasional suit and upright bikes don’t reduce harassment. (As a man, I haven’t tried dresses or skirts)

In suburban Delaware, people generally follow normal traffic rules and let me do the same. I find I get more profanity if I am stopped at red lights or in congested traffic (i.e, when cars in front of me are slowing me down, following drivers tell me to get out of the @#$% road).

Harassment has increasing with more bike lanes I find miserably designed. Many motorists are convinced bicyclists cannot leave the bike lane to make turns, avoid parked cars, or use streets without bike lanes. (all problems I’ve had)

In fairness, riding with a friend I have noticed more honking and profanity when she stops at red lights (in her car).

All this is very interesting! My work commute from the train station to my office involves riding through a park, so I don’t usually get that much exposure to car traffic and haven’t noticed the Mary Poppins effect in drivers. Also, as a European (German), I think drivers are quite used to bikes (the fact that this might actually make them less rather than more careful is a different story).

I have, however, noticed it quite a bit in pedestrians. Especially elderly people are a lot less likely to complain about having to share the sidewalk with cyclists (shared sidewalks are quite common over here) if they’re

- a woman
- wearing a skirt/dress
- or some other professional looking outfit (e.g. a suit)
- riding an upright bike.

Jeans, bike clothes, and a ‘sporty’ bike immediately prompt comments about reckless cycling, respect, etc., even if you’re just riding normally.

Have you experienced the pedestrian variety of the Mary Poppins effect?

We need a control group for this “Mary Poppins effect” thing. Perhaps the World Naked Bike Ride here in Portland in June could serve that purpose?

I definitely notice this when riding in a jacket and tie (my usual riding gear). Peds smile at me all the time, and drivers are noticeably more courteous. It may help that I do not break traffic rules. When I tell drivers they passed me too closely, they sometimes say “sorry,” which never happened when I was dressed like a hipster doofus on a fixed gear.

Mainly when the bicyclists are wearing skirts or dressed to the nines, I think a lot of it has to do with psychology.

The “Male Gaze” has a long history in literature (like it or loathe it, it’s there), so a lot of men will slow down and pass more safely, not to pass safely, but to get a better look at (what appears to be at least) the woman bicyclist. The end effect of them passing safely is a bonus, though they really should do that for everyone all the time.

In my personal experience, some female motorists I know will slow down and pass safely to see what clothes the (what at least appears to be a female) bicyclists is wearing. It’s not so much about the bicyclist or the fact that they’re bicycling. For them , it’s about the clothes they wish they themselves had.

Sometimes it is about the bicycle itself. When I’m designated driver for my wife and we pass a bicyclist, I always note their bicycle, and I have noticed I always slow down and pass with even more than the usual safe distance just to get a glance at the bicycle if it appears to be one I like (usually touring or cargo bicycles [I love Surly Big Dummy bicycles] or bright ones (orange or yellow or lime green).

Spandex wearers seem to get treated the same (badly, no matter how safely and proper they’re riding. In fact, the more legally they’re riding the more they tend to get harassed by ignorant and uneducated [about bicycling] motorists.) here in North Alabama regardless of gender.

I ride a recumbent in the Portland, Oregon area. I feel that the unusual shape of the bike makes me more visible. I have ridden for about 4 yers, and can count the number of negative comments/actions on one finger. I do get lots of comments, but more often “nice ride” “Is that as comfortable as it looks?” I also do a lot of local rides/events dressed as a pirate, a bike-a-neer if you will. I get lots of attention, but it is usually only to honk and yell “YARRRRR!” I do agree that the standard road bike with the drop bars and spandex, seem more invisible to some drivers, and an offense to others. The relaxed bike, work clothes, or costumes make one a fun guy to most folks, and not worthy of some of the negative feelings that the “regular” cyclists might get.

What a trail of comments, I can’t believe I missed this. So a couple late anecdotal points –
- riding my Oma in Chicago has been very much like driving my ’74 VW bug in Chicago. it is impossible to drive aggressively in either, and at the same time, each is distinctive, appealing, and they seem to make people smile, wave, pull over and talk to me.
- and a bit of practical advice from my husband, who informed me one day when I was thinking twice about my helmet, “it’s not your helmet we are looking at.”

I don’t notice much of a difference. Mind you I don’t own any tight fitting “cycling” clothes so that might be the reason. When I ride my flat-bar road bike on work days wearing formal office attire I am treated the same on the road as when I am riding to University on my blue fixed gear bike and hi-viz long sleeve shirt. I always wear a helmet as the police like to fine you in Australia. I am also a guy, so no flowing hair or dresses from me.

Some days I do well and drivers are very courteous, other days I am cut off and endangered a few times on the one ride. Just seems there are a lot of jerks out there no matter what or how you’re riding.

Do you really cycle in heels, in chicago?

New to the blog, saw this pop up as a “Related Article” …

I came to a similar realization this weekend. As a female cyclist in Dallas, I find a low-cut top to be my best defense. Men are more likely to notice (and stop for) boobs than they are to notice (and stop for) a bicycle.

Of course I feel dirty and objectified and like I’m conforming to the restrictions of the patriarchy but I live to bike another day.