Harassment: Life on the Street

I got off work at the hotel at 7:00 AM this morning. Since my house is only a quarter of a mile away, I frequently walk to and from work when the weather permits.

I was walking north on Broadway, and I had just passed Thompson Middle School, when I noticed a young woman with her hair in a ponytail on the other side of the street, walking south. A middle-aged man with a graying beard who was riding a motorcycle in the northbound lane also noticed the woman. He stopped, turning the motorcycle to point at the woman, and called out, "Hey, you want a ride?" I stopped walking and turned to watch.

The young woman said, "No thanks," and kept walking. (Subtext: "No thanks, I don't feel like being kidnapped and raped this morning.")

The guy on the motorcycle didn't feel like taking no for an answer. "Come on, I'll give you a ride."

The young woman said, "No thanks," and kept walking.

The guy on the motorcycle responded with, "Fuck you!" and turned to resume his journey.

I yelled "ASSHOLE!" at the guy on the motorcycle, but he ignored me and rode off.