Dame Sarah Storey, Britain’s greatest ever Paralympian, and the new Active Travel Commissioner for Sheffield has said we need a new word to distinguish between racing cyclists and utility cyclists because of the level of hostility towards “cyclists”.
Dame Sarah’s comments come a week after the publication of an Australian study claiming that more than half of drivers don’t view people on bikes as being completely human.
“We need to realise that a cyclist isn’t just a Lycra-clad yob, as per the stereotype, and that cyclists are just people on bikes moving around on a mode of transport.” Dame Sarah, told The Guardian.
She said that the English language should follow the Dutch example and have a separate word for people who ride a bike as a form of transport. In the Netherlands such a person is called a fietser while someone riding a bike for sport is a wielrenner.
Dame Sarah also argued for better driver education: “People have this massive problem with two people on a bike riding next to each other.
“Yet if they are driving a car with someone else, that person is generally sat next to them and they are having a nice little chat – they are not insisting that the passenger sit behind them.
“So why would someone riding a bike be required to sit in single file and not talk?”
So what should commuter cyclists be called?
The author’s of the Australian study we reported on last week wanted to do away with the word cyclist altogether. Co-author of the study, Professor Narelle Haworth said: “Let’s talk about people who ride bikes rather than cyclists because that’s the first step towards getting rid of this dehumanisation.”
Changing the way people use language though is a tricky thing as Dame Sarah’s suggestion of following the Dutch model illustrates. The literal english translation of fietser is bicyclist or cyclist – it’s the alternative word, we’ll take a wild stab and say the literal translation would be wheelrunner that applies to sporting cyclists.
Given that a large number of UK commuters are also lycra-clad and ride drop barred bikes how either of the Dutch words could be used to distinguish between these two types of cyclists is up for discussion.
What do you think cyclists in the UK should be called? Let us know in the comments below.
42 thoughts on “Another word needed for cycling commuters, says Dame Sarah Storey – but what should it be?”
I propose “Heroes”.
I propose “Heroes”.
As ridiculous as it sounds, I
As ridiculous as it sounds, I think this might actually help.
Cyclists are not a single group, any more than drivers or any other group of people. We have boy racers, sunday drivers, etc… to distinguish between very different groups of motorists.
When discussing infrastructure, casual/leisure cyclists have different needs to commuters who in turn are different to road/sport cyclists.
Obviously there is overlap but I’d argue even if a road cyclist is commuting with drop bars and full lycra, the issues they have commuting in heavy traffic will be different to issues on a sunday morning spin.
The difficulty would be getting others to adopt any terminology, particularly if they are already in the mind set of using phrases like lycra clad lout or “hoodlums in lycra” (per Lord Wills in the recent HofL debate)
I have felt for a long time
I have felt for a long time that the term cyclist is generally used in a dehumanizing and derogatory fashion, by the bulk of the media. It isn’t just the word ‘cyclist’, the Daily Mail appear to have a policy of not printing a picture of Boris Johnson unless he is either on a bicycle or wearing a cycle helmet.
In much the same way the word ‘car’ is used to absolve drivers of blame and responsibility. Apparently it is cars that crash into people, pollute the environment, cause congestion (although there are people like Robert Winston, who would disagree with even this). It has nothing to do with the (generally) lone occupant, sitting behind the steering wheel.
What about “people who doing
What about “people who doing the right thing”.
How about “person”?
How about “person”?
For example:
“A person commuting on a bicycle.”
“A person riding to work on a bike”
But ultimately we should not allow the word “cyclist” to become equated with negative connotations just because of the drivel espoused by the likes of Piers Morgan, Street-Porter and Lord Winston.
Mungecrundle wrote:
Or because of the likes of drivel spouted by any person with a high public profile, like Storey. Why do people think just because they have achieved something they have the knowledge and right to weigh in on everything, as if they suddenly now posess some great wisdom?
I’m a “cyclist” in any form you choose, and if you can’t deal with it, then it’s not my problem it’s yours. Changing names and imitating the Dutch is not going to paper over the problems cyclists have; this approach appears to be grasping at straws because people don’t want to continue the fight.
Mungecrundle wrote:
What you mean like “lorry wanker”, “van wanker”, “school run bimbo,” “teenage twat in a Saxo” etc?
Mungecrundle wrote:
What you mean like “lorry wanker”, “van wanker”, “school run bimbo,” “teenage twat in a Saxo” etc?
Whilst I appreciate the
Whilst I appreciate the intent, and agree that people who cycle for different reasons have different needs, what worries me about this would be if the Winstons/Morgans/DM-readers – and the govt – used it as divide and conquer: support real medal winning sports cyclists, cos that’s good and admirable and great national PR type stuff, but get rid of all thosr annoying people on bikes who get in the way of real traffic.
Who am I kidding? That’s their current policy isn’t it??
While we are at it, could we
While we are at it, could we also find names for all other groups who for some reason are not valued as “fully human”? Because it is obviously about the names and not anything else.
So is a roadie on a mountain
So is a roadie on a mountain bike, a bi-cyclist, or just single track curious?
lllnorrislll wrote:
Probably lost and confused.
The best name for us is Two
The best name for us is Two wheeler.
Jimnm wrote:
You seem to have forgotten something there, mate.
Give it a minute, I’m sure it’ll come to you.
Jimnm wrote:
Hmm, that covers me whether I’m on my bicycle or my motorbike.
The best name for us is Two
Duplicated
Jimnm wrote:
I’m sure the name change will alter driver behaviour and everything will be grand after.
The best name for us is Two
Duplicated
How very 21st century,
How very 21st century, looking for yet another way to pigeonhole people. About 50% of my total journey mileage is by car, and 50% by bike. With each of those modes of transport I do different types of travel: Going to the shops. Going out to dinner. Having days out. Why on earth do I need a different word to describe myself in each case. Besides which creating pigeonholes just leads to greater division, not less, and the last thing the UK needs right now is more division.
Best Regards,
Griff, the lycra clad cycling for leisure, driving when necessary, remainer!
Every commuter in a vehicle
Every commuter in a vehicle should personally thank every commuter on a bike for not adding a vehicle to the queue they are in and not filling up the parking when they finally get where they are going.
Plus if they really want to be in front that much, then perhaps they should consider leaving earlier.
When I saw this I was sure it
When I saw this I was sure it was an April fools, still not sure.
I’m really not sure why anybody in a position to have people listen to them should be talking about “lycra clad yobs”. I’ve rarely seen a yob in lycra – lycra seems to attract a different demographic. If she wants to talk about tackling society’s animosity towards cyclists then don’t put lycra and lout or yob in the same sentence.
Wielrenner = “wheel racer”
Wielrenner = “wheel racer” and is only used for serious-ish recreational and competitive cyclists.
How about “Healthier”…?
How about “Healthier”…?
How about “Wheelies”
How about “Wheelies”
Eco-commuters?
Eco-commuters?
Planet-Saver ?
Planet-Saver ?
Pedelestrians.
Pedelestrians.
I really wish Sarah Storey
I really wish Sarah Storey all the best, and I’m fine with talking about people on bikes, not cyclists.
But this idea that we must have different terms for people riding to the shops, and anyone wearing cycling clothes to ride a road bike, is wrong and unhelpful on so many levels. It falls into the trap of trying to appease the bastards attacking anyone on two wheels.
Even Storey’s quote in the article appears to be saying: cycle commuter = good, wearing cycling clothes = bad/you are a yob. Most of the people making this argument are deflecting hatred, saying, ‘look at him, in lycra, you want to be having a go at him, not me – he’s the evil one.’
I can’t understand why Storey would possibly be making this argument. She is a racing cyclist, for Christ’s sake, and she even has her own team. I’m wondering whether she is the right person to be Cycling Champion for Sheffield.
HarrogateSpa wrote:
This. Swapping “cyclists” for “people on bikes” makes sense because (even if the latter is just the definition of the former), it emphasises the similarities between road users rather than differences.
I don’t know how “wielrenner” is actually used, but it appears to refer to a competitive racing cyclist, as opposed to cyclists using the public road for either recreational or transport reasons – not sure if in practice it’s used in the Netherlands to refer to ‘weekend warriors’ and club riders too.
But if SS is suggesting we adopt different words to distinguish between utility and recreational cyclists on the roads, then that goes in the opposite direction, serving only to create more division and imply that one of these groups is less human than the other. Both of those groups currently come in for undeserved hostility on the roads, and simply giving them different names won’t help in my view. The Netherlands isn’t cycling friendly simply because it has two different words for cyclist, it’s because it recognises that cyclists are people on bikes.
It’s like hiring jenson
It’s like hiring jenson button to promote carpooling
Nodders.
Nodders.
Love you for trying Sarah.
Love you for trying Sarah.
But the sorry fact in this country is that the bigger your vehicle is and the more power you have, the more important you are. Only having 2 wheels and pedals makes you derisible. I can assure you that motorcycles (I used to ride those too) face exaxtly the same prejudice – the only difference was that we were leather clad yobs. Even in a small car you face similar threats from bigger stuff. Its about attitudes and these, sadly, seem to be engrained in our society from as far back in history as you care to look. Until we see each other as humans I hold out little hope of improvement.
alg wrote:
It’s been an arms race for years – big estates, chelsea tractors, monstrous SUVs, T5 campers, and now pickups (trucks in American parlance). I’m either driving my partner’s KA or our Mondeo estate (I’m quite possibly the least gammony Mondeo Man ever) and it is very noticeable how other drivers treat you differently. Routinely get cut up/pulled out on/tailgated in the KA, rarely happens in the Mondeo even though I’m doing the same journey at the same speed.
Society thrives on “othering” people which I’m sure she’s acutely aware of as both a cyclist and someone with a disability – I think starting with person as per the Australian study is the why to go. Need to try and humanise people rather than seeing an Audi driver or BMW driver.
kil0ran wrote:
I drive regularly for work in various pool cars and you bang on about being treated differently as regards what you drive, it is something I have experience when I had to do the same journey within an hour or so, between a 17 plate Seat Alhambra (7 seat mpv) and then in a mustard colour 10 year old fiat panda. I got treated with respect in the Seat but like dirt in the fiat. This is not isolated event as I regularly experience this effect!
This is why cycling on the road is so bad, because be it a 70 year old grandmother to a 17 year old they are all making value judgments based on there subconscious view of who’s the boss and who is staff, that’s why if you get cross, shout back at them when they do the stupid they become very aggressive ( the car is empowering and makes even little people feel big). Sort this mindset out and you sort the problem, but I believe we are a long way from solving the problem!
60kg lean keen climbing
Yup, although I think it’s more about money than status, which is why I’ve got mates spunking £800 a month on car lease payments (I mean, pay off the mortgage quicker and drive a shitbox FFS)
My Mondeo cost me £450 outright with half a tank of fuel. Every panel is dented or scratched but it’s mechanically completely sound and having a car you don’t care about is really liberating. Don’t care where I leave it, quite happy to stick it in the hedge, don’t maintain it beyond what it needs to be legal/pass MOT, etc. Plus it will lug 3 bikes on a towbar carrier (which cost more than the car).
kil0ran wrote:
you are right about money, but money and status I believe are married together. Look at it like this, last year I got pulled out on from the left this wrote my bike off. The bike was a £300 Triban 3 with a better wheelset and a few upgrades so about £450 ish in total. The police were involved but he asked at first if he could pay me for the bike direct. When I showed him the cost of a replacement he then pretty much cried fraud and claimed that I needed to prove that that’s what he owed. I then got 3 options and he just got more defensive. In the end I had to go through his insurance by putting a claim against him. This became a right battle as he was adamant that A. He did not do that much damage and B. Bikes don’t cost that much. My point is that most people do not see or know the value of our bikes (some cost more than there cars). So they place higher cost and status to there cars. Any way it’s all a bit hopeless as most are not interested in trying to change there mindset and government is not with us so it’s so we just have to keep peddling and keep smiling!!!
kil0ran wrote:
Many, many years ago now, I needed a car to get me to and from a summer job on the other side of Edinburgh. I’d tried cycling the route but it was 13 miles and up some of the steepest routes in the city, with a hard labouring job at the end of it. Anyway, I bought an old Ford Granada from a friend of a friend.
It guzzled fuel and engine oil, but it stopped and steered ok and had a few months left on its MOT. The exhaust needed replacing and as it was the V6, that was going to cost more than the car had cost me to buy, so I bought it knowing that I could sell it to a scrappy and still get a decent amount of money for the sought after V6 motor.
Driving it was a revelation. people wold see a young guy in a large, bashed up car with a powerful (for the time) motor. They gave me plenty of room.
The Victorian/Edwardian word
The Victorian/Edwardian word was “Wheelman” – and even back then it was used as a derogatory term. A hang over from the penny farthing days when the bike was basically a wheel, and were sold solely on the capability of that wheel.
I keep reading the bit where
I keep reading the bit where riding two up is equated to having a passenger in a car for a chat and I can’t stop laughing
Nick T wrote:
Pretty much every motorist I’ve spoken to seems to think its reasonable to drive in a car on their own, but that even a sole cyclist is somehow using too much road-space.
brooksby wrote:
It is reasonable to drive in a car on your own. It’s also reasonable to ride 2 up -because it’s stated as such in the Highway Code. Nonsense about having a chat as a human right or whatever only distracts from the task of educating people about the shared use of roads as well as the benefits of more cyclists leading to less cars leading to less traffic
Love you, Sarah … but it’s
Love you, Sarah … but it’s not those joyous, fragile, “bags of bone, muscle, water, and (in my case
) old man’s fat” who happen to be riding a bike who need renaming. We’re just humans 
. On a bike? For those few moments – whatever other transport we choose that day?
However … we could think of renaming the fat-arsed, entitled, entirely ignorant, lazy, totally protected, utterly selfish bastards, in precarious charge of a tonne (or more) of fast moving metal, juggling their social media life and their “driving”?
Sadly, my one thought fails the sweary filters
.
Don’t rename me. Rename the ….s.
Actually … call the See-You-Next-Tuesdays out for what they are.