Ok.. so i almost got killed thrice today because of stupid walkers/skaters w/ headphones or ipods. I usually click my brake lever when passing, but this obviously doesnt work. I tried yelling on your left but this is only efefctive if their music isnt up too loud and always risks the chance that they will move left. any usggestions short of a air horn???
Interestingly, I stopped twice for water today and was accosted by walkers i passed on two occassions. One yelled at me for yelling and scaring them...the other for not yelling "on your left" I tried to explain to the second one that yellign that usually results in people moving to their left and doesnt work with people with headphones. She responded that bikes shouldnt be on the trail because they are too dangerous and that people liek to walk and listen to music. I told her that i like to drink beer and rid ebut that doesnt make it safe. Long story short (too late i know) i flipped her off and then took off.
lilHinault
08-10-05, 07:31 PM
Just get a freakin' bell, ok? Everyone knows it's a bike coming when they hear a bell, and they'll move to the right faster than Jerry Falwell.
skanking biker
08-10-05, 08:11 PM
I was more venting from the experience than asking a serious question
But thanks for your timely and friendly response :)
jhota
08-10-05, 08:13 PM
i love obliviots. they freak out so easily...
my favorite one was a few months ago:
a friend of mine and i were riding on a local MUP, just kind of loafing along. ahead of us, we saw a moron lying down on the path, spreadeagle, with the top of his head toward us.
i was in front, and rang my bell. no response. called out "hello!" no response. slowed and rode off the edge of the path around him. at which point the moron freaked - he had been listening to headphones and soaking up rays. after i passed him (and saw he was o.k.), he lay back down in the path!
my buddy was about 1/8 mile back and saw all this. instead of riding off the path or stopping, he bunny hopped the moron's outstretched arm! not what i would have done (i wouldn't have trusted the idiot not to flail me off my bike - plus the liability would be mine if dumb*** got injured), but funny as hell...
at our water break, we decided that he must have been drunk or stoned. but when we went back the other way (the MUP being an out-and-back ride), at least he'd moved off the path...
tormenting stupid people is fun.
zonatandem
08-10-05, 08:14 PM
Get off the multi-use paths!
A bicycle is a vehicle and as such has all the rights to the road.
Ganesha
08-10-05, 08:18 PM
Any one else notice if they go out for a morning ride on the trails (say 5-6 am) everyone out there (runners, rollerbladers... etc) knows which side they belong on and how to behave. Just a few hours later you have people who are all over the place.
skanking biker
08-10-05, 08:30 PM
exactomundo!
rs_woods
08-10-05, 08:41 PM
If I'm on the sidewalk or bike path (that has clearly labeled pedestrian and bike lanes) and one or three people are taking up the entire pavement, I just swerve into the grass and pull back in when I get past them. Sometimes they are facing me, talking to each other, see me coming and still refuse to move. It's just the way some people are.
I remember once there was a girl walking down the small part of my route that required me to take the sidewalk (road isn't even an option here, don't even try it) and she was kind've moving between the right and left sides of the sidewalk. I creeped up on her left and tried to pass but she didn't hear my bike (she wasnt wearing headphones either) and when I quietly said "Excuse me" she screamed at the top of her lungs, which hurt MY ears (I was wearing headphones). It was a pretty memorable moment.
Guest
08-10-05, 08:44 PM
Get the air zounds horn. It could scare the bejesus out of any fool wearing headphones and blaring music.
Koffee
Dchiefransom
08-10-05, 09:02 PM
Soooooo, let's see. The drivers want us off the road and on the sidewalks and paths, and the walkers want us off the sidewalks and paths.
jhota
08-10-05, 10:11 PM
Get off the multi-use paths!
A bicycle is a vehicle and as such has all the rights to the road.
and we also have the right to use designated trails and paths. i like riding my local trails. it's scenic. they're nearby and easily accessed. i don't use them to get anywhere. i use them for recreation. plus, i wouldn't get to scare morons lying in road - they'd already be pancakes by the time i got there...
dee-vee
08-10-05, 10:49 PM
I get this on the MUP here too. Not so many people with headphones but allot of people walking 3 wide taking up the whole path or kids swearving around so much im afraid to pass them.
chrisgerne
08-10-05, 10:51 PM
i have one of those air zounds bike horns that koffee was talking about.
Even cars stay out of the way.
Raiyn
08-10-05, 10:59 PM
Just whack them with a rolled up newspaper until they learn.
CB HI
08-11-05, 02:14 AM
Soooooo, let's see. The drivers want us off the road and on the sidewalks and paths, and the walkers want us off the sidewalks and paths.
And they are the same people, just different times of the day.
andygates
08-11-05, 05:26 AM
Multi-use paths are gonna always have obliviots on 'em. They're not expecting traffic. Get a bell, or a horn, or ride on the roads. Or pull big noisy skids. :)
oboeguy
08-11-05, 07:04 AM
After trying a fellow folder-rider's AirZounds while chillin' in Bryant Park, I'm all set to pick one up. It should provide endless entertainment throughout most parts of my commute, and get me some harmelss satisfaction. :) I've pretty much given-up on headphoners hearing any other sorts of communication.
I like that story above where the poster's buddy bunny-hopped that nutjob's arm. Priceless! Oh, and I agree about the early morning users of MUPs and the like having a more of a clue than the later-day users. So true.
I-Like-To-Bike
08-11-05, 07:06 AM
And they are the same people, just different times of the day.
You sure of that? My crystal ball did not reveal this bromide.
zebano
08-11-05, 07:57 AM
You boys just don't know how to yell do ya? The problem is they usually just turn around, or move left...
primaryreality
08-11-05, 08:19 AM
Get off the multi-use paths!
A bicycle is a vehicle and as such has all the rights to the road.
Get off the path? I don't think so . . . my local bike path is thirty beautiful car-free miles winding along the American River, and it's a lovely break from the roads I'm on every day while commuting and otherwise leading my car-free life. Many days, I incorporate a six-mile chunk of the trail into the middle of my commute just because I love being out there; it improves my day.
It's also an MUP, but it's also clearly posted--painted right on the path itself, where no one can claim to not be able to see it--"Joggers and walkers use left shoulder."
And there IS a nice shoulder, plenty of room for walking. But most walkers still walk right in the middle of the trail, two and three abreast, facing the wrong direction, and many of them feel no compunction to get out of the way of oncoming bicycles.
However, I've stopped stressing over this or even being irritated by it a long time ago--it's not worth the energy, because there's a new crop of idiots and scofflaws and just plain selfish and inconsiderate people daily.
I just carefully make my way around them and go on my way.
Little Darwin
08-11-05, 08:52 AM
A few comments:
I had a family respond to my "on your left" by promptly moving to the left last week. But, at least they moved. :)
Also, I have been considering an Air Zounds for when I am on the road (I use a bell for pedestrians)... when it is fully pumped up, how many toots can you get at the loudest volume? Has anyone rigged up anything to avoid using one of your water bottle cages? Has anyone seen good alternatives? I would think that someone could make a pretty nice horn that uses CO2 cartridges...
Finally, I do think it is a shame when cyclists tell us to get off multi-purpose trails... If we were all racers intent on always training, I might agree, as the higher speeds makes the presence of pedestrians especially dangerous. However, if riding at a leisurely pace a path wide enough for safe passing is ideal for both walking and hiking. Sure, its not perfect, but neither is the road.
I have ridden portions of the 26 mile Lehigh Gorge Trail several times, and I have discovered that the 2 mile either side of each trail head are the only places there are pedestrians (most are within 1 mile), which works well for me, as I have a little warm-up and cool-down zone (or for the central access point, just a chance to ride more casually, but it is pretty lightly used compared to the two ends) Even if the 2 miles either side of all three trail heads were jammed, that still leaves 18 miles of cycle friendly path.
Also, going in the morning (8:00 start) I see very few others on the trail until I am almost done with my ride. For the first 30 minutes on one ride I saw more deer than people. :)
Laika
08-11-05, 09:04 AM
I think I've posted tis before, but where this makes me most upset is on the west Street path here in NYC... there's a path running parallel to west street, marked w/a double yellow and white shoulder lines, just like... well, just like a miniature street, and it's intended for and clearly marked ads being for use by bikes and rollerbladers.. And then there's a beautiful, wide pedestrian path right by the river. So where do runners run and pedestrians ped? On the bike path! Which wouldn't bother me so much if I didn't wish I could ride on the path right next to the river, 10 yards further away from exhaust and 10 yards closer to the cool river.
The Brooklyn Bridge, well, that's a whole other story.
Bikepacker67
08-11-05, 09:27 AM
Q: How to pass obliviot walkers w/ i pods
How about clamping one of these on a front rack?
http://www.jbodenmann.com/american/cowcatcher.jpg
trackhub
08-11-05, 10:25 AM
I've been using a whistle for the past several years. They're inexpensive and quite effective. Use it with plenty of "lead time". This is to say give them a quick blast or two from a distance of fifty feet. This gives them plenty of time to move. I gave up saying "on your left". It just seems to cause confusion, as others have already noted.
A bell probably won't be effective, as most people with music devices have the volume cranked up. Yelling may work on a trail, but in an urban setting, it's just background noise along with everything else.
You can get an inexpensive plastic whistle at sporting goods stores, and places like REI.
Cyclist's use of a whistle may not be legal in your state, so check it out.
2manybikes
08-11-05, 10:38 AM
Just whack them with a rolled up newspaper until they learn.
:lol:
Hit them right on the nose. Look them in the eyes with a mean look and say
" Bad Pedestrian! Bad Pedestrian!"
Aahzz
08-11-05, 10:43 AM
It's amazing how much so many posters in this thread sound exactly like motorists talking about cyclists....
wheezl
08-11-05, 10:47 AM
Ok.. so i almost got killed thrice today because of stupid walkers/skaters w/ headphones or ipods. I usually click my brake lever when passing, but this obviously doesnt work. I tried yelling on your left but this is only efefctive if their music isnt up too loud and always risks the chance that they will move left. any usggestions short of a air horn???
Interestingly, I stopped twice for water today and was accosted by walkers i passed on two occassions. One yelled at me for yelling and scaring them...the other for not yelling "on your left" I tried to explain to the second one that yellign that usually results in people moving to their left and doesnt work with people with headphones. She responded that bikes shouldnt be on the trail because they are too dangerous and that people liek to walk and listen to music. I told her that i like to drink beer and rid ebut that doesnt make it safe. Long story short (too late i know) i flipped her off and then took off.
I usually unclip and kick them right in the ribs. If you do it well they go down like a sack of potatoes. When they protest I point to my ears and yell "I Can't Hear You!, My Music is too loud!!". Then I offer to buy them a beer and we head off to the bar to talk about "Peak Oil"
Seriously, Mixed Use Trails are dangerous. And even with a "proper" Bike Path people walk where they shouldn't and are oblivious to danger of any kind. Oddly they don't get angry at drivers when they are nearly killed in a cross walk. When you are on a bike you are exposed and they feel more able to be agressive towards you, just as drivers are more agressive towards cyclists than they are to other drivers. There really is a ton of awful primate psychology that goes into this. Basically I just give them as wide a berth as possible, and when I can't I make sure my elbow is protecting me in case they move quickly. Oh yeah and slow down. Other than that, just hope they die a glorious death in the name of the empire at some undetermined point in the future. ;)
DaveTaylor
08-11-05, 10:51 AM
"Obliviot"........ROFL :D :D , new to me. I know most of these replies are tongue-in-cheek, but, my method is to ring my bell, if its an obliviot, I will slow down and pass "it" on the grass giving them a wide berth just in case they do wake up, and then I just get on with my life. Any other reaction just raises your own blood pressure and spoils the ride. Maybe another way to say it is to treat them like really messy roadkill :rolleyes: .
wheezl
08-11-05, 10:54 AM
Any one else notice if they go out for a morning ride on the trails (say 5-6 am) everyone out there (runners, rollerbladers... etc) knows which side they belong on and how to behave. Just a few hours later you have people who are all over the place.
Nope, I never see 5-6 am unless I am still at the party :)
...or heading down to the docks with a few hundres pounds of gear...
wheezl
08-11-05, 11:07 AM
I think I've posted tis before, but where this makes me most upset is on the west Street path here in NYC... there's a path running parallel to west street, marked w/a double yellow and white shoulder lines, just like... well, just like a miniature street, and it's intended for and clearly marked ads being for use by bikes and rollerbladers.. And then there's a beautiful, wide pedestrian path right by the river. So where do runners run and pedestrians ped? On the bike path! Which wouldn't bother me so much if I didn't wish I could ride on the path right next to the river, 10 yards further away from exhaust and 10 yards closer to the cool river.
The Brooklyn Bridge, well, that's a whole other story.
Don't forget Central Park. every time I see a runner properly going clockwise on the inside lane I want to give them a medal. Of course getting the cars out would solve the problem... until the peds decided to use the whole road.
genec
08-11-05, 11:36 AM
Get off the multi-use paths!
A bicycle is a vehicle and as such has all the rights to the road.
Yeah yeah... but sometimes NOT dodging 3000 pound objects is more fun. And who knows, the view might be far better.
chroot
08-11-05, 02:42 PM
I recently came upon three older folks, each tugging on a worthless lap dog, stretched across an entire multiple-use path. They were going my direction, and I saw them a good distance ahead. I watched two runners leave the asphalt just to squeeze past them, and knew I was in for trouble. I bellowed "on your left" well in advance, and the two right-most old-timers did the textbook swivel-around-to-see-who-said-it maneuver, but then amicably moved to the right a second later. The woman on the far left, however, couldn't care less. She might have moved three inches to the right, but trailed her hairball yap dog's leash.
I shifted down to the low chainring, was on the brakes, and came up within five feet of her. I said "on your left!" again. Rather than actually moving to the right, she threw up her hand to shush me. She then proceeded to slowly drift to the right, taking literally 10-15 seconds to reel in her pea-brained little mutt. I had already unclipped, and was preparing to put the foot down and push myself around her like I was on a skateboard.
As I finally passed, I said "Thaaaaank you. Please don't take up the whole path, there are other people who would like to use it, too." They disappointed me by not responding in any way.
- Warren
I-Like-To-Bike
08-11-05, 03:23 PM
I recently came upon three older folks, each tugging on a worthless lap dog, stretched across an entire multiple-use path. They were going my direction, and I saw them a good distance ahead. I watched two runners leave the asphalt just to squeeze past them, and knew I was in for trouble. I bellowed "on your left" well in advance,
Do you really expect older folk to respond in a positive manner to strangers who "bellow" cryptic bike-speak jargon at them? Get a bicycle bell if you really expect results on a multi purpose trail/path. Stick with bike-speak if you prefer to be self righteously obtuse to others.
Bikepacker67
08-11-05, 03:27 PM
I agree... he shouldn't have used "cryptic bike-speak".
He should have shouted:
"Move Your Ass!"
wheezl
08-11-05, 03:53 PM
Do you really expect older folk to respond in a positive manner to strangers who "bellow" cryptic bike-speak jargon at them? Get a bicycle bell if you really expect results on a multi purpose trail/path. Stick with bike-speak if you prefer to be self righteously obtuse to others.
It's not even really "bike-speak". It does not matter if it was a bell or a voice. It all comes down to the fact that two groups are trying to use an common resource for purposes that occasionally come into conflict. Since folks are then competing for resources... go figure, there is a conflict. They were taking the whole damn lane, who gives two sits if they were old. By the same token sometimes folks on bikes really do go to fast and buzz people. I know I do sometimes. People will be idiots anywhere and using any mode of transportation provided to them.
The situation is caused by the MUP, so you can choose to get into a fight on the MUP or on the street. The day they make an enforced bike only lane/path we'll be *****ing about the "other" cyclists that don't ride right... OH WAIT. We already do.
Kyle90
08-11-05, 04:00 PM
Just..pass them?
CrimsonEclipse
08-11-05, 04:03 PM
You can simply mount a carbine or uzi to your handlebars with a pivot. Be sure to practice
reloading with both hands off the bars. Fire a few warning shots into the crowd, tracers help
alot. If nobody notices, off a few of them, the rest will scatter. Bunny hop over the corpses
and continue.
Don't try this in Miami, Detroit, NY or LA.
Also try the rolled newspaper....but remember to use a firm "NO!" each time.
Either that or you can slow down and go around.
CE
Roody
08-11-05, 04:09 PM
Get off the path? I don't think so . . . my local bike path is thirty beautiful car-free miles winding along the American River, and it's a lovely break from the roads I'm on every day while commuting and otherwise leading my car-free life. Many days, I incorporate a six-mile chunk of the trail into the middle of my commute just because I love being out there; it improves my day.
It's also an MUP, but it's also clearly posted--painted right on the path itself, where no one can claim to not be able to see it--"Joggers and walkers use left shoulder."
And there IS a nice shoulder, plenty of room for walking. But most walkers still walk right in the middle of the trail, two and three abreast, facing the wrong direction, and many of them feel no compunction to get out of the way of oncoming bicycles.
However, I've stopped stressing over this or even being irritated by it a long time ago--it's not worth the energy, because there's a new crop of idiots and scofflaws and just plain selfish and inconsiderate people daily.
I just carefully make my way around them and go on my way.Same here--different path, same story. If I'm in a hurry, I take the streets. I like the Rivertrail for a scenic route and a respite from the traffic. I noticed on our Rivertrail that serious runners abound during the lunch hour, and they are able to co-exist with me. Serious cyclists are there from 5:00 PM til dusk, so that's a fun time to ride. Early morning I wouldn't know because that's when I sleep. During the winter I have the whole trail to myself and I can go as fast as I want.