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Could there be something alien and unnatural about cycling that triggers a visceral response in our brains resulting in fear, anger, and aggression? In New Zea

Could there be something alien and unnatural about cycling that triggers a visceral response in our brains resulting in fear, anger, and aggression? In New Zealand and Australia there is a bird called the Magpie. During their nesting season in the spring, they sometimes get very aggressive towards cyclists. It's not unusual for them to swoop down and hit at you from behind with their claws. There are even cases of cyclists being killed by Magpies after being knocked off their bikes. But in my experience, if a Magpie is swooping you, the best way to make it stop is to get off your bike! As soon as the bird sees you on your feet and pushing your bike, they will calm down and back off. I've also heard of bulls in farmer's fields behaving the same way - aggressive towards someone on a bike, but calming down when you're pushing it. Could human brains be similar, especially for those not used to seeing cyclists so often?

TomSwirly 5y ago
> Could there be something alien and unnatural about cycling that triggers a visceral response in our brains resulting in fear, anger, and aggression? I have to say that in a long life, I've heard a lot of arguments by drivers against bikes, but never one as extreme as this one! "Bikes are alien and unnatural and trigger fear, anger and aggression [and therefore it's perfectly natural that drivers try to deliberately kill cyclists as in this article]" > especially for those not used to seeing cyclists so often? 90% of Australians live in cities, where they see cyclists every single day.
tokai 5y ago
Lots a animals become agitated by humans in contraptions that they haven't experienced a lot. I once talked with a wheelchair-bound man that told me that it is very common for dogs to bark at people in wheelchairs if the dog hasn't see that before. Most animals and especially wild animals are just neophobic, including humans.
- nicbou 5y ago
  Yep. Stray dogs hate my motorcycle.
Earw0rm 5y ago
Interesting thought. I wonder if the combination of forward posture, slim aspect ratio and fluid, fast movement is triggering some bit of neural wiring adapted to look out for big cats. Do the magpies particularly go for roadies?
- tokai 5y ago
  Only piece of quantitative evidence I can find shows that pedestrians are much more likely to be attacked than cyclists. https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/pdf/WR01108 https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/pdf/WR01108
- flyinghamster 5y ago
  Short-wheelbase recumbents and tadpole trikes, with cranks out in front, present their own issues with animals. Horses in particular are very likely to spook when they see an oncoming recumbent. Combine fast movement with a pair of legs flailing in front and Mister Ed is going to think "wolf" or "mountain lion" instead of "goofy human on wheels."
adrianN 5y ago
Maybe there is something alien and unnatural about driving that makes people more aggressive in general. Road rage is definitely not limited to targeting cyclists. It's just much deadlier if you attack a cyclist with your vehicle than if you do it to a driver.
watwut 5y ago
> Could there be something alien and unnatural about cycling that triggers a visceral response in our brains resulting in fear, anger, and aggression? Probably not, given that there are many places in the world where cyclists are not met with aggression.

TomSwirly 5y ago

> Could there be something alien and unnatural about cycling that triggers a visceral response in our brains resulting in fear, anger, and aggression? I have to say that in a long life, I've heard a lot of arguments by drivers against bikes, but never one as extreme as this one! "Bikes are alien and unnatural and trigger fear, anger and aggression [and therefore it's perfectly natural that drivers try to deliberately kill cyclists as in this article]" > especially for those not used to seeing cyclists so often? 90% of Australians live in cities, where they see cyclists every single day.

tokai 5y ago

Lots a animals become agitated by humans in contraptions that they haven't experienced a lot. I once talked with a wheelchair-bound man that told me that it is very common for dogs to bark at people in wheelchairs if the dog hasn't see that before. Most animals and especially wild animals are just neophobic, including humans.

nicbou 5y ago
Yep. Stray dogs hate my motorcycle.

Earw0rm 5y ago

Interesting thought. I wonder if the combination of forward posture, slim aspect ratio and fluid, fast movement is triggering some bit of neural wiring adapted to look out for big cats. Do the magpies particularly go for roadies?

tokai 5y ago
Only piece of quantitative evidence I can find shows that pedestrians are much more likely to be attacked than cyclists. https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/pdf/WR01108 https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/pdf/WR01108
flyinghamster 5y ago
Short-wheelbase recumbents and tadpole trikes, with cranks out in front, present their own issues with animals. Horses in particular are very likely to spook when they see an oncoming recumbent. Combine fast movement with a pair of legs flailing in front and Mister Ed is going to think "wolf" or "mountain lion" instead of "goofy human on wheels."

adrianN 5y ago

Maybe there is something alien and unnatural about driving that makes people more aggressive in general. Road rage is definitely not limited to targeting cyclists. It's just much deadlier if you attack a cyclist with your vehicle than if you do it to a driver.

watwut 5y ago

> Could there be something alien and unnatural about cycling that triggers a visceral response in our brains resulting in fear, anger, and aggression? Probably not, given that there are many places in the world where cyclists are not met with aggression.