Stereotyping cyclists: A Bicycle Film Fest organizer responds
Tim DeFrisco
Jen Nordhem
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Where do stereotypes come from? Some mean, judgmental stork maybe? Probably not—though that would explain the ridiculousness of a lot of them. We’re all subject to labels and preconceived notions about who we are, and so in honor of the Bicycle Film Festival—which has screenings throughout the weekend at Starz FilmCenter—The A.V. Club asked fest organizer Jen Nordhem to respond to some stereotypes about bicycle culture and answer some questions about cyclists, like why they’re always blowing though red lights.
Stereotype: Cyclists hate cars
Jen Nordhem: I don’t think that’s always true. Cyclists are definitely at the mercy of cars when they’re on the road, and there’s hostility between cars and cyclists because of that. But I know definitely that if a cyclist doesn’t have a cargo bike and needs some shit hauled, they will probably call up their friend with a car. [Laughs.] Drivers get pissed off because bikers cut them off, but bikers also want to ride aggressively because they want to make sure they’re recognized on the streets as this, like, vulnerable part of traffic.
Stereotype: Cyclists knowingly break the laws of riding in traffic
JN: The rules of the road aren’t really catered to cyclists. They’re made for cars and then are unnecessarily tacked onto cyclists, like that you need to stop at a stop sign. If you’re riding and you’ve got some momentum, you don’t want to stop, you want to keep going, so if there’s no one there, you’re going to blow it, you know? Until the rules of the road are changed so that they’re more practical for cyclists, cyclists will continue to break the rules.
Stereotype: Critical Mass is for anarchists
JN: Critical Mass has anarchist roots, as far as it being a take-back-the-streets kind of mentality, but I don’t think it’s necessarily just for anarchists. Politically, I think it’s a great idea, as long as people don’t take it too far and it stays as like, “We’re here. We ride the same streets as you. We are traffic as well.” But it doesn’t go into like, “Now I’m going to U-lock your window.” That’s a bit extreme. I remember when I lived in Chicago, one of my friends told me this story about this father with a little tagalong bike with his daughter on it who rode [Critical Mass] every month, and that was his way of introducing bicycles to his daughter. It’s really just a celebration of bicycles.
AVC: Critical Mass here definitely has had its share of troubles, and the interest in it has certainly dwindled over the years. Why do you think it hasn’t taken off here as it has in other cities?
JN: I haven’t lived here long enough to see all of it, so I can’t say entirely. But as far as urban riders and commuters go, there hasn’t been a big movement with people here in Denver. Denver doesn’t like to go by the mold, so we’re a bit different than other cities. We take what most people do—Critical Mass, for example—and we turn it into our own thing. Like there’s Loops, which is a fixed-gear ride, and you’ve got the Denver Cruisers, the cruiser ride.
Stereotype: Fixed-gear/track bike riders are elitists
JN: A fixed-gear is a bike that not a lot people can ride, so I think people who do have this air about them, “Oh, I can do something that you can’t,” and that may come off as elitist. Also fixed-gear kids tend to spend a lot of money on their bikes or will customize them personally, so therefore they’re more proud of their bikes and that also may come off as elitism. Fixed-gear kids are mostly young, so they’re a little snooty and cocky about it too. That’s just the way kids are though. I ride a fixed-gear bike—I’m not an elitist, am I? [Laughs.]
AVC: Fixed or not, though, a lot of cyclists customize and put money into their bikes, don’t they?
JN: A lot of people do customize their bikes. I think roadies are elitists, too! If you’ve got a $10,000 bike, you’re going to ride around like you’re hot shit, you know?
Stereotype: Cruisers are irresponsible drunks
JN: A cruiser bike is a wide-bar bike, more for beginner cyclists because you’re more upright, so people when they tend to ride them seem like they don’t know what they’re doing. A lot of times, I would say, your typical cruiser rider is a yuppie, in their 20s or 30s that mostly drive a car, and then ride their cruiser bike when they’re drinking or partying or something as their alternate vehicle—which is where I think [the stereotype] comes from.
Stereotype: Bike messengers are assholes
JN: When I was a messenger, I was a total asshole—at first. The reason why was because I felt empowered to be on my bike, to be riding around in the city all day, and I felt like a bad-ass. Like, “Yeah, I can take this 30-pound box on my handlebars across town—no big deal.” But I was miserable, you know? I was pissed off all the time, I was yelling at people, cussing people out—and I don’t think that’s a great way to live your life. I eventually realized that making peace with people is a lot better for your own personal well-being. Now, I give the peace sign from my handlebars—like how drivers give a wave to other drivers—to make a show of equality between riders and drivers. Keep the peace, you know?
