Advocacy & Safety - Obese walkers, 3 abreast, wrong side of road

On the way back from a ride this evening, 3 big gals were walking on the right side of the road 3 abreast forcing the wife and I to veer into oncoming traffic. We went around them fairly slowly and I was afraid to say "on your left" for fear that one of them would have stepped to the left.

As we went around them they apparrently said to my wife that "Bikers need to say excuse me"! We kept riding. Any thoughts on how to handle this other than creeping up to them and blasting them with a marine air horn?

Make some noise before you get too close so you don't startle them and to give them time to move over for you. Clicking a brake lever, a bike bell, or just shouting "bike" works well. A good rule to follow is to never pass anything at more than a few mph speed differential. Common courtesy is to say thanks as you go buy.

I would have said "Excuse me!". It seems to work for both English and Spanish speakers. As you stated, "On your left" often produces the wrong reaction.

Ever think of installing a cow catcher?

http://www.locomotivegeneral.com/generalparts/images/CowCatcher.jpg

"Since you can't even walk on the correct side of the road, I was afraid that saying anything might cause you to ignorantly step in front of us."

Boom, boom, boom, wobble, wobble, wobble.......

I would have tried screaming about the end of the earth as the sun has been blocked, as loud as possible.

Or,

'Carrier +3 dead ahead, rudder amidships - all ahead full' line.

The main thing is to avoid getting trapped by their gravitational field, which might be considerable with 3 planetoids in conjunction - you might have to blast past them, and apply full power just before you achieve apogee.

- Wil

The main thing is to avoid getting trapped by their gravitational field, which might be considerable with 3 planetoids in conjunction - you might have to blast past them, and apply full power just before you achieve apogee.

- Wil


Would that be the patented Roadrunner thrust manuever?

next time yell "hey! free pizza over on the other side of the road!!" and you'll have a clear run :P

I thought if you get trapped by their gravitational field, it will slingshot you in time warp. (they did this with the klingon ship circling the sun!)

This reminds me, I got to get one of those bells.

At least they were out walking.

"Hey, there's free chocolate over there!"

"Mmm...free chocolate! Cannot...resist..."

Ok, kind of mean...

You should have politly said "Excuse me, but is this the spot they're building that new Gym?"
That would have moved them quicker than the line in a All You Can Eat Buffet!

If I don't think "on your left" would work, I usually go "beep beep beep beep beep." Then, I say "coming through" or "thanks." Works for me.

Early days of the multi use trails i'd run into that problem a lot.
The worst part was when i'd shout 'left' like 20 feet back and noone would nod or anything, then i'd politly say 'scuse me' with no response. If i tried to squeeze by i got snyde remarks.
What to do what to do?
If you shout louder you sound p1ssed off
If you shout closer you scare the hell out of people...
(And my number 1 pet peeve is the snyde remark behind your back like you can't hear...)

So...
I resolved, to be the best mostest polite rider i can.
If and when someone snydes me...
I'll stop (politely) and pull over and discuss the same issues. It's amazing how well the threat of rational discussion stops the snyde casual remark.

Only done it a few times, to groups of 5 people taking up the whole trail, ignoreing any attempt at passing etc... I've unclipped and pulled up to almost touching them and just asked if there was a problem. I've explained that we both have rights to the road and there's no reason to yell at me, if you didn't hear me shout left i'm sorry but i'd appreciate a better attitude and there's no reason to be juvinile, if you have a reasonable complaint i'll wait while you call the cops otherwise have a nice day. Oh, and share the path, i do.

"Bikers need to say excuse me"!

"Fatasses [or "walkers," if you're feeling polite] need to stay on the right side of the road!"

Get a bicycle bell. Under no circumstances get an ice cream truck bell!

Hate is fun. Weren't we just whining about cyclists being a minority.

You need an Airzounds for punitive use. Get right behind them and blast away! Of course you'd have to be careful of the sound bouncing back at you off of the wall of flesh. :D

"Fatasses [or "walkers," if you're feeling polite] need to stay on the right side of the road!"

They were on the right side, according to the OP's story. Or did you mean "correct" side?

Hate is fun. Weren't we just whining about cyclists being a minority.

"Personality goes a long way".
(Jules to Vincent, regarding the acceptability of dogs vs. pigs, Pulp Fiction )

Sometimes "fat" and "nasty" go together, and sometimes they don't. In this case it seems to me that they do. I don't verbally lash out at others without cause. These persons did. What side of the street they were walking on is meaningless to me. That they sought to correct anothers' behavior as though they were entitled to do so speaks volumes.

Funny, how some of you are the ones who complain about how rude cars are to you, but you can't wait to be rude to some large people out walking for exercise.

The original post doesn't even make any sense. You and your wife had to 'veer into oncoming traffic,' but you were afraid to say 'on your left' because you thought one of the walkers might just take it into her head to move to the left, right in front of an oncoming car? You said they were obese, not brain damaged.

Yes, they should have been on the other side of the road, but you should have let them know you were approaching, and I don't see what their weight has to do with any of it.

Funny, how some of you are the ones who complain about how rude cars are to you, but you can't wait to be rude to some large people out walking for exercise.

Or being rude to "some of you" complaining? :rolleyes: The OP's complaint was quite valid, plus I think the idea of pointing out the obesity was to show how much of an obstruction was posed. Me? I'm happy to see the plumper among us out there getting exercise, but would rather they weren't stupid about it.

After so many excuse me, excuse me, excuse me on the bike path.. then I yell HELLO! Is any body home? Sometimes "hello" grabs their attention. When that doesn't work, I used my ever so loud police whistle. I blow it continuously as if my butt was on fire. Even after all of that, sometimes he/she wants to be a d--k about it as if to say, I’m not moving and I dare ya to "hit me" Well, I’m up for a challenge any day. The final straw…as I'm moving towards them still a good distance away, I say out loud....are you going to MOVE or do you want me to do it for you? Within sec’s, I guess they imagine their a$$ flying through the air. HA HA

The original post doesn't even make any sense. You and your wife had to 'veer into oncoming traffic,' but you were afraid to say 'on your left' because you thought one of the walkers might just take it into her head to move to the left, right in front of an oncoming car? ... and I don't see what their weight has to do with any of it.

...and I also find it a little funny that a guy who calls himself boozergut is making an issue over someones weight.

I also don't quite get the situation leading to the complaint. Is it that all 3 people were walking on the street taking up the entire lane, so they were impeding any traffic that came along? If so, it must have been a very quiet street traffic wise, and you must have seen them from a distance, so what would be the problem in going around them? I find it hard to believe traffic is dead on one side of the street and busy on the other.

This situation sounds more like a MUP and that's one of the reasons why I stay away from them.

I find this to be a mean spirited thread.

The point isn't that three walkers blocked the path, but that three OBESE walkers blocked your path.

Yeah, unattentive walkers of all sizes block my path too. You just have to slow down and get around them.

Some posters have previously complained about the obese drivers wolfing down a handful of fries. Now they are trying to walk off some weight and we nail them for that too?

Face it, obese people are the new "smokers" as a class of people to be shunned.

No. I'm not obese but I have friends that are. They aren't gluttons. They're trying to get their weight off but it's extremely difficult for them.

Just be glad you have a nice trim frame.

Yeah, it hardly seems to be a safety or advocacy issue. 3 people walking down the middle of a road and a bike can't get by? Doesn't seem right. Obese? Who cares? Looks like an excuse to spread a little abuse to make someone feel better about themself.

Funny, how some of you are the ones who complain about how rude cars are to you, but you can't wait to be rude to some large people out walking for exercise.

How do you knoooooooow they're walking for exercise? They were probably walking looking for pick-a-nick baskets, you know, Yogi Bear's routine patrol for food in all its forms involved a bit of walking through the park.....

I tend to just burn past them.. I have no reason to warn them if the sidewalk I happen to be on is typically about 8ft wide.

I've been a walker, a runner, a cyclist, both solo and with a group, on the right side, on the wrong side . . . the tricky thing is when I'm catching up with friends on a walk, I've been that person not paying attention to traffic because I am focusing on the person I am talking to. I've also been the cyclist, thinking 'shoot, shoot, shoot' because I have to slow way down to prevent something bad from happening (on-coming traffic). I know the walker is the most vulnerable of all of us. They are the ones the traffic doesn't see, they are the ones the cyclists startle because, walkers hear a 'woosh' . . . very vulnerable feeling like someone has snuck up on us . . . sort of primal reaction in self-protection.

I know that, which helps my cycling. I say "biker on your left" I slow wayyyyy down though because sometimes they jump because I've startled them, sometimes their dog jumps, you never know. I see it as a courtesy. If they jump, I say 'sorry, didn't mean to startle you.' They always say, 'no, no . . . thank you.' I usually say, 'have a good day.'

Lots of good people out there, some not so polite, some just don't know any better because it's a new situation, but I also think people learn by seeing good examples.

Sandy

Yell early, yell often. Yell loud if needed. Prepare for the wrong reaction, allow time for the wrong reaction. If you feel like it get right behind them and scream. They need to follow the rules too.

Just one word, don't waste time with other information. Don't try to tell them what side, it does not typically work. Just one word.......

"Passing"

If they complain, or are totally in shock, tell them the law requires them to walk on the other side facing traffic so that they are NOT SURPRISED by passing traffic (bikes).

Then this situation they created by NOT FOLLOWING the rules will not be repeated.

Set a good example by following the rules too. Don't make any comments about the size or fitness of them, stick to the subject of walking on the wrong side.

Actually, I find it absolutely hilarious how many people are offended because the term fat, tubby, lard ass, jumbo are being used in this term to define obese individuals.

Why do I find this funny?

Because I was a lazy, fat assed smoker who treated those people who were fit like ****. I wasn't alone, as a matter fact, I was not even in the minority. I fought like a mother ****er to go from 300 down to my 170 lbs. and you know what, in general, I've found that most of the people I was accustom to making fun of you with are just as capable of losing the weight, and the coveted title of gutus maximus.

I quit smoking.
I quit eating like a pig.
I started riding.
I started running.

Oddly, I didn't see anybody making fun of them for walking, the joke is that they're LARGE, OBESE individuals making up their own rules when clearly, they're not holding any license to exercise anymoreso than the OP who merely was saying they put him and his wife in danger.


Stop chastizing and start realizing that everybody gets to sit in the barrel every now and then.

the joke is that they're LARGE, OBESE individuals making up their own rules when clearly, they're not holding any license to exercise anymoreso than the OP who merely was saying they put him and his wife in danger.

Actually, from the OP it's not clear that they were putting him and his wife in danger and what is the definition or the relevance of mentioning their obesity? By what measuring stick and criteria is the obesity relevant? Someone named boozergut might have a gut. One gut to one might be acceptable, to another it's a gut that's representative of an out of shape body. Boozergut posted he, himself is 6 feet and 245. He's also made 7 postings since joining in July. Is this meant as just a troll? Do you have to be below 10% body fat to say anyone more than that is fat? Is the measuring stick over what the American Dietetic Association recommendation that men have 15-18% body fat and women have 20-25% body fat? That may be the recomondation, but I'll bet the majority of people are closer to to 25-30% body fat. My brother was at 16% body fat and was very fit and he had a heart attack when I have other family members over 30% body fat and they lived long, healthy lives. The usual case in heart attacks is that body fat and cholesterol levels are in the normal range. Give it a break. Show a little maturity. People are not perfect. We all have our issues. I'd rather read a post that is intellegent from a fat person than bigotry from a fit person. The obese individuals are not the issue here. The issue is walkers (suposedly) in the way of cyclists.

Do we really want everyone to look like scary, skinny-ass Tyler Hamilton (no matter how - fit - he may - or may not - be?)

On any size person, I like to use a bell. The sound is almost universally recognized and, I think, more polite sounding than yelling. Start with a ring far enough back that you don't scare them, and if they don't respond keep ringing until they do. Pass them slowly and if the encounter goes well, at least say "thanks". I like to add something like "nice day for a walk, eh?", or something. If you feel strongly enough that they are risking you or themselves, stop and talk with them. Maybe they are ignorant of the law, and/or the reasons behind it. If you get a bad reaction, leave. No sweat. I know if you are out training or just really into the ride it can be a pain to have to slow down or even stop, but really, so what?

I used to be a fat couch potato. Then I was a fat walker. Now I am a (fairly) thin cyclist. I probably got in your way then, now I could smoke your ass.

Not everybody has yet attained your perfect state of fitness. Show them the same kndness, courtesy and respect that you would expect.

I'm kindof upset that cyclists have this a-hole attitude demonstrated by many on this thread.

My apparently missed point isn't that I'm perfect, far from it...my point was that most people have been all over the spectrum of 'weight' as far as fat/normal/thin go at one point or another, and that everybody gets picked on occassionally, it doesn't make it right or wrong - it just means its not the most important thing to get focused on.

The proper answer apparently was:

Get off your bike and walk around them so as not to upset the delicate sensativity of the situation, especially if your concerned they might walk into you as you ride by. Beyond that, get a bell, as clearly that is the normal answer.

I think my ultimately solution is just not to have a sense of humor on these boards, I'll be just another robot who throws out precise, logical, mathematically accurate answers designed to be as politically correct as possible.

I have resigned myself to slowing down or stopping if I must to let them pass. I usually say "Nice day for a stroll yeah" or something encouraging. Good karma is always worth the extra effort I figure.

Yep, good karma is always a worthy effort.

I generally call out 'rider back' with enough time/distance to deal with any idiocy that they may display.

After that, their attitude drives the my reposnses.

I think my ultimately solution is just not to have a sense of humor on these boards,


The unintentional humor may be that, at first it may be funny that the pot is calling the kettle black but really, it's just sad that someone has to bring up an irrelevant point to make himself feel better about himself. I would think someone who has or has had a similar problem, could emphasize and show a little compassion. The piling on with all the fat jokes by others missing the irony of the OP just shows a bunch of juvenile behavior by half-wits.

[raises hand]

Definitely a half-wit here.

[smells pit]

and stinky too!

What's funny about this post is that if the walkers were cyclists and the cyclists were motorists we'd all be in a tizzy about why the motorists couldn't just wait until it was safe to pass. The OP sounded just like a motorist talking about the life and death danger of passing a slow cyclist. Get over it and wait until it's safe to pass and who the F cares if they're fat, you should have called out a polite, "on your left."

. . . just don't ride on multi-use paths . . . find them more dangerous than the road.

don't make fun of fat people that excercise. at least they are doing something about the problem.

. . . just don't ride on multi-use paths . . . find them more dangerous than the road.Excellent point. I have read statistics that support this idea. The best place to train on a bike is probably the open road. You can usually ride faster, with fewer slowdowns on the road than you can on these MUPs.

I might add, if you're not yet comfortable riding on the road, there are times of the day when MUPs are less likely to be clogged with walkers in all their sizes and shapes. Around here, runners predominate in the early morning and at lunch time. Walkers and their even more obstructive kin, the inline skaters, rule in the afternoon if the weather is to their liking. Us cyclists are out in force in the evening.

I find this to be a mean spirited thread.

The point isn't that three walkers blocked the path, but that three OBESE walkers blocked your path.

Yeah, unattentive walkers of all sizes block my path too. You just have to slow down and get around them.

Some posters have previously complained about the obese drivers wolfing down a handful of fries. Now they are trying to walk off some weight and we nail them for that too?

Face it, obese people are the new "smokers" as a class of people to be shunned.

No. I'm not obese but I have friends that are. They aren't gluttons. They're trying to get their weight off but it's extremely difficult for them.

Just be glad you have a nice trim frame.


+1

everybody just loves to talk about fat people. i expect 6 more pages on this issue, STAT!

The best place to train on a bike is probably the open road. You can usually ride faster, with fewer slowdowns on the road than you can on these MUPs.

But this is the question that I asked. Is what he is talking about a MUP?

He states,


gals were walking on the right side of the road 3 abreast forcing the wife and I to veer into oncoming traffic

road, and traffic doesn't speak to a MUP, but it sounds like that it is what it is.

I stay off them for just this problem.

They were on the right side, according to the OP's story. Or did you mean "correct" side?

"Correct" side, although come to think of it, what were they doing in the road in the first place?