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MoreQuiet 8d · day 12

Cyclist finds bike streamers reduce aggressive driving behavior

A Boston cyclist reports that adding streamers to handlebars dramatically improves driver courtesy on city streets.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 11d ago5 pieces110 likes & upvotes14 comments Mastodon

What to know

  • A simple visual modification—streamers on bike handlebars—reportedly causes drivers to behave more courteously toward cyclists.
  • The original post gained 246 upvotes and 44 comments, suggesting the tactic resonates with the cycling community.
  • At least one other user expressed immediate interest in adopting the same safety measure.
most voices

Bike streamers are an effective, simple way to improve driver behavior and cycling safety.

  • “putting little streamers on my bike handlebars has made drivers approximately a million times less asshole”

    swachter@toot.boston · Mastodon ↗

swachter Boston cyclist

Cyclist finds bike streamers reduce aggressive driving behavior
toot.boston

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump posts

Peak 1 piece in 3h at Sep 11, 11 PM; 5 pieces over 12 days (5 posts) Sep 11, 11 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 12, 2 AM — quietSep 12, 5 AM — quietSep 12, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 12, 11 AM — quietSep 12, 2 PM — quietSep 12, 5 PM — quietSep 12, 8 PM — quietSep 12, 11 PM — quietSep 13, 2 AM — quietSep 13, 5 AM — quietSep 13, 8 AM — quietSep 13, 11 AM — quietSep 13, 2 PM — quietSep 13, 5 PM — quietSep 13, 8 PM — quietSep 13, 11 PM — quietSep 14, 2 AM — quietSep 14, 5 AM — quietSep 14, 8 AM — quietSep 14, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 14, 2 PM — quietSep 14, 5 PM — quietSep 14, 8 PM — quietSep 14, 11 PM — quietSep 15, 2 AM — quietSep 15, 5 AM — quietSep 15, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 15, 11 AM — quietSep 15, 2 PM — quietSep 15, 5 PM — quietSep 15, 8 PM — quietSep 15, 11 PM — quietSep 16, 2 AM — quietSep 16, 5 AM — quietSep 16, 8 AM — quietSep 16, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 5 PM — quietSep 16, 8 PM — quietSep 16, 11 PM — quietSep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 5 AM — quietSep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 11 AM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 5 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 11 PM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 5 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 11 AM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 11 PM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 11 AM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 11 PM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quiet 1–2
Sep 12Sep 13Sep 14Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 8:53 AM ET
  1. 2

    User expresses interest in trying the tactic

    Another Mastodon user replied to the original post indicating they would try using streamers on their own bike.

    “Worth a try!”
    — Armadillosoft@mastodon.social
    • lcamtuf

      RE: https:// toot.boston/@swachter/11725610 8254631753 I assume the average driver is thinking "I'm terrified, there's no way to know what else this person might do"

      lcamtufMastodon9d ago16▲view on Mastodon ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 4 posts in this stretch
    • GhostOnTheHalfShell@masto.ai

      RE: https:// toot.boston/@swachter/11725610 8254631753 @ notjustbikes And we were all focused on bike paths

      GhostOnTheHalfShell@masto.aiMastodon8d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    • meganhadley@urbanists.social

      RE: https:// toot.boston/@swachter/11725610 8254631753 I'm gonna do this

      meganhadley@urbanists.socialMastodon7d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  2. 1

    Cyclist reports streamers reduce aggressive driving

    A Boston cyclist posted that adding streamers to bike handlebars has made drivers significantly more courteous, waiting patiently on hills, allowing left turns, and providing passing space.

    “putting little streamers on my bike handlebars has made drivers approximately a million times less asshole…”
    — swachter@toot.boston
    • swachter@toot.boston

      I am so 100% serious about this: putting little streamers on my bike handlebars has made drivers approximately a million times less asshole. They wait behind me when I’m going up a hill. They let me turn left. They give me space when passing. It’s genuinely bonkers how much nicer it’s made my experience of urban cycling. # bikeTooter

      swachter@toot.bostonMastodon12d ago94▲view on Mastodon ↗

What people are saying 1 voices from 1 site · best of 5 · verbatim