I've been lurching the forums for some years, after about two years of being pretty active. I thought it might be worth getting back into the commuter community, since I've been riding my bike for almost a year into work now. Even though it's an e-bike, I believe I am still part of the commuter community, so why not act like it

Over the past 11 months I've noticed that there is quite some hostile behavior against full time commuters. Especially when you're riding an e-bike into work, you're often perceived as lazy by certain fellow road users. I've been taking a closer look at what I've been dealing with and concluded that we're basically talking about underage guys, say 16 to around 20 years old. I've heard a certain guy offending me right behind me at the traffic lights, telling other road users how lazy I am as I'm on an e-bike. He's been trying to get under my skin for months and is basically begging for my foot up his... well, you know where this is going. He's really annoying the crap out of me, but since I'm not really into getting into trouble for abusing a minor (yes, that's everyone below 21 here), I'm trying to keep my cool.

Another situation I ran into, or ran into me, is a fellow cyclist that, as I was passing him on the left, suddenly swerved from the right to the left and actually drove his bike right into mine. I nearly fell and he kept on riding, on the car lane as he swerved out of the bike lane through a stretch of grass and onto the car lane. I got back on the bike and as I'm on an e-bike I was a bit quicker than he was, I started driving next to him (on the bike lane as I should obviously) and trying to get his attention. Nothing at all... He kept looking forward and I'm still suspecting him from ramming me intentionally.

Apparently as an e-bike rider I'm perceived as lazy. I started wearing my earbuds and listening to podcasts (I know a few great ones for those interested ) to block out the remarks from fellow road users a bit. Though it still bothers me. Why do people not just accept that I'm on a different bike as they are? I have my reasons not to be on a regular Dutch bike, or a granny bike, or a road bike or whatever else bike. I'm me, you are you, accept it. Even though I would love to ride a road bike again (which I sold for my reasons), it's just not an option for me right now. Maybe in the future, who knows...

So I'm wondering, do any of you deal with this kind of harassment while on the bike to work or back? Or am I alone in this and am I just really unfortunate?

Don't think you're alone. Everyone hearing that sort of carry-on (and reading this) should back you up 100%. I'd have no problem confronting someone if they harassed me like that; and I'd have no problem supporting anyone who confronted someone doing that. I'd also have no problem asking someone to support me while I confronted someone harassing me like that in public.

And do it on camera - record everything: either a body camera, or a helmet camera, or a hand-held smartphone, or bike-mounted camera.

I've chatted (excitedly) with anyone I've met with an e-bike. They love them - lets them commute across Dublin in all weather, in all traffic; lets them participate in sportives that their knees can't handle anymore. Simply, it lets them ride a bike when they otherwise would have to drive a car or a golf cart. E-bikes are awesome, and I hope they'll take over urban traffic to eliminate cars completely, and let me enjoy cycling well beyond when I'd otherwise have to stop.

I'm certain a lot of people feel the same way - so NO YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

I'd second the suggestion for getting a camera, perhaps a highly visible one. I've not run into this myself but I live in Minnesota where everyone is "minnesota nice".

The only place I'd give someone crap for an e-bike is if they showed up for an fast organized ride with one. I mean if you're going to jump into a competition...now you're cheating.

For everything else it's rediculous. It's always better to get outside and moving than to just sit around, and sometimes the distance you need to travel is a little longer than you want to go strictly under your own power. Most people can't just move to be closer to work...

I've seen nothing like that in my locale. People debate about the merits of e-bikes, but it's good-natured. I've even been asked why I don't ride an e-bike.

One of my tactics for getting rid of somebody is just to slow down. It's counter intuitive, but remarkably effective. My theory is that very few people actually care enough about harassing someone, to put up with matching a really slow pace.

Also, if you're riding slowly in the right lane, and they match your speed, then they're the ones who get yelled at for blocking traffic.

Thought I'd chime in and say your fine, just ignore them. There's a certain segment of men that are just like that, most likely others at your job have commented on how cool you are to be commuting like that. This will enrage this demographic - "Fing Punks" - so that they must talk as much trash as possible.

Don't confront them, that's what they want. They'll never directly talk to you, I promise. They have no sense of shame, and are huge hypocrites.

A saying I once heard - "People that are uninteresting talk about others"

Sincerely, a guy that's worked in manufacturing and construction, that deals with this all the time

Ride your ride and ignore the haters.

I don't engage with those who taunt, there's all sorts of crazy out there that I don't want to mess with. I run a helmet cam and have shut down a bully by pointing at my camera. A couple of times I have added "You're on video." I take solace is realizing that if someone is that rude or belligerent, they probably have or are heading towards a very unpleasant life of their own making.

As far as listening to podcasts, that's what I do, but just one ear, curbside.

Thanks for the replies guys, greatly appreciated!

I'm trying to ignore most remarks towards me, as it's their opinion and that's none of my business. Though, sometimes there's an occasional annoying kid that gets under my skin. I've been able to refrain from getting into a discussion with him so far, even though in my mind I've kicked him into the canal next to the bike path around let's say.... a dozen times

Riding an e-bike is my best option at this moment. I switched from another company to this one as it would be a great improvement for me. As I can get there within an hour by bike, I didn't get a car and I have no public transport card or anything. My bike is my only way of transport so it's pretty precious. Even though the company I switched to was the better choice, it didn't have a shower even though the lesser choice did. I have always been using my road bike (Giant OCR) for transport which I totally loved. Though after a home renovation I got back problems and I got me a fitness hybrid (Merida Speeder 200) which was a bit more upright and was better for my back. But since my new employer didn't have a shower I switched to an e-bike so I wouldn't be too sweaty riding into work. What I have learned is that I reach the same speeds on my e-bike as I did on my road bike, but at less effort. So I ride in a lot less sweaty so I don't have to shower. Though if my employer ever gets a shower..... I'm in the market for a road bike!

So basically, I decided to get an e-bike because it's the more tactical choice.

I listen to a few great podcasts which I learn a lot from and I'm definitely not giving those up. Most of the time I wear both earbuds, but I ride a secluded bike path mostly instead of the actual public road. When necessary I unplug my roadside bud for safety.

From your story, it is very possible that the road cyclist didn't see you and didn't try to ram you on purpose. Did you let him know in advance you were passing him?

I always yell "on your left" before passing a cyclist.

There is a phrase used here about department store bikes, a "Bike Shaped Object", and we can say the same about e-bikes. They are a "Bike shaped motor vehicle". Are we really doing the same activity if I'm putting out 200 watts with my legs and you are putting out 200 watts with a motor, while your legs just spin freely?

^^ There's one of them right now!
You might have problems in NY, but in CA, class 1 ebikes are considered bicycles, and all ebikes are not considered motor vehicles with respect to registration, insurance.....and that is the law.
You can put out 200 watts, and a class 1 ebike will match it with another 200 watts. 1.Get Over It 2.Educate yourself

Dude, that really sucks. I'm sorry but there are A-holes in every community, and you found one in ours.

Don't know how much it helps, but he is in the wrong, and hopefully you can learn to ignore him.

My perspective on ebikes (and BSOs) is, I am grateful that in my situation in life (healthy enough, and with a short enough commute, to push a non-e-bike, affluent enough to own a nice bike) I don't ride either one. But if someday I have to, that will be fine. And other people that do, that's great! Better that they're on some kind of bike than in a car.

And how does that justify verbal abuse and (alleged) assault?

I'm not a huge fan of e-bikes on rail trails (they are always going 20+mph.. for that matter, I'm not a fan of roadies going 20mph on rail trails) and even then I think that insulting someone on an e-bike just shows how much of sad case the abuser is. Yes, you really are doing the same activity - you are getting from point A to point B.

I've run into a e-bikes on my hour long commute. I think it is a great idea. Defeats the purpose of what I am trying to accomplish but I certainly don't expect others to have the same priorities as me. Silly that someone would care.

IMO, the terms "abusive", "aggressive" or "hostile" behavior, "offend me" and "harassment" are terms sometimes relied on by snowflakes to justify an oversensitive sense of victim-hood.

Grow a pair and ignore silly chatter from adolescents that isn't even addressed to you.

We usually don't do that when there's more than enough space to pass. Which there was. I was actually right beside him when he swerved.

It's pedal support, so I have to pedal at a lower resistance. So yes, it's the same activity.

I'm not talking to him anymore, I tried to explain but he wasn't open for reasoning with.

I've changed my route slightly so I can avoid most of the youth. Though when I enter the city I work in I need to use the same path as them. Not too happy about it, but otherwise that would give me another 10km to ride around quarter of the city.

I get your point. Since English isn't my native language sometimes it's hard for me to find the right words, and some words may result in understating or overstating the situation. In this case, abusive is an overstatement, but it does annoy the **** out of me.

Absolutely! I'm not pro or anti e-bike. It's just a means of transport. As soon as the company decides to build a shower though, I'm swapping it for a road bike again.