Commuting - I startled an old lady today

On my commute home, I arrived at the section of my ride where I customarily take the lane before going over a narrow bridge. I moved to the left-hand lane and began pedaling with traffic, which was moving pretty slow due to rush hour craziness. Then, from a side street on my right, an old lady turned right and began heading the same direction as me. She had plenty of room to turn, but I was afraid she was going to drift left into my lane, so as I got up to her driver's window, I yelled "HEY!" at the top of my lungs and waved.

I only meant to catch her attention, but I must've scared her something fierce. She visibily jumped, and looked at me wide-eyed, trying to figure out what was going on. I waved again and went on my way, feeling bad about the whole thing. I suppose it's better to err on the side of caution and make sure people see me, but I still felt a little guilty for scaring the bejeezus out of that poor old lady. :roflmao:

You sir, are a very bad man. :lol:

Years ago in the early days of my commuting, my route took me past this brick rancher with a huge picture window. One snowy morning, the 70-something resident was standing at the window with nothing at all over her Answer To Everything and all else besides. Just watching the snow.

I saw her, and she saw me, and I saw that she saw that I saw, so what the hell do you do? So, I smiled, waved like we were old friends, looked away, and went on. Betcha' she checks the road before walking to the window in the all-together now.

The other day I was ridding on the sidewalk and a 80 something lady was in front of me so I said hello. She jumped and looked around so fast that I thought that she was going to fall over. then she lough and as I passed her slowly as not to hit her and spanked my butt... LOL

I enjoy scaring people on walks. Not always old folks, but people in general.
You never get the same remark twice.
Flyin by somone on the rear wheel is my favorite. I once had a guy stop me laughing saying "its not everyday you get a tire of a bicycle fly by two feet away from your face"

A couple of years ago my wife and I were riding on a sidewalk. I was in front, about 50ft ahead of my wife. Came up behind an old lady walking, rang my bell loudly and went around her left. I noticed her jump, startled as I went by. My wife, seeing this, rings her bell LOUDLY several times, then goes around the lady. Then we hear her yell "You outta put a bell on those things!" Whadda ya gonna do?

A couple of years ago my wife and I were riding on a sidewalk. I was in front, about 50ft ahead of my wife. Came up behind an old lady walking, rang my bell loudly and went around her left. I noticed her jump, startled as I went by. My wife, seeing this, rings her bell LOUDLY several times, then goes around the lady. Then we hear her yell "You outta put a bell on those things!" Whadda ya gonna do?

I've had similar on a MUP. A pedestrian walking the other way who saw it happen said "he rang it abut 10 times you deaf old bat".

Numerous times I've come to a track stand next to a meandering pedestrian only to have them double take in surprise that I've "snuck up" on them. Too many people are lucky that I'm not a car.

Funny how the same forum has cyclists bragging about scaring pedestrians on sidewalks and cyclists complaining of being scared by cagers on the road...

And meanwhile, on auto forums: "I enjoy scaring cyclists when driving. Not just old cyclists, any cyclists. My favourite is to buzz them with maybe 5 inch clearance. The look on their faces is priceless!"

I enjoy scaring people on walks. Not always old folks, but people in general.
You never get the same remark twice.
Flyin by somone on the rear wheel is my favorite. I once had a guy stop me laughing saying "its not everyday you get a tire of a bicycle fly by two feet away from your face"

In what way is this a good thing?

...She had plenty of room to turn, but I was afraid she was going to drift left into my lane, so as I got up to her driver's window, I yelled "HEY!" at the top of my lungs and waved.

I only meant to catch her attention, but I must've scared her something fierce. ...
Were you pumped up on adrenaline at the time?

The reason I ask is that I've accidentally scared people when trying to communicate with them immediately after a dicey situation. I make it a point not to yell and I try to be composed even if I've gone over the back of someone's car after they turned in on me.

However, my wife says that I can be very intense even if I am quiet and move slowly. Perhaps a similar dynamic was going on in your case.

Were you pumped up on adrenaline at the time?You know, I probably was. The part of my commute I'm describing is the most difficult part, from a traffic perspective. I am still a little uneasy about taking the lane, so I was probably a little agitated about the upcoming intersection.

Riding in a fixed gear on quiet rural roads, sometimes you encounter a couple of neighbours walking two abreast with their dogs on a long leash. That is fine for me ... as long as I can creep up to them and say "Mind the leash for a second, please?" I get them every time :D

In what way is this a good thing?

Na, I just enjoy startling folk. I scare drivers aswell, when they dont see me, I enjoy jumping out infront of them. Perhaps a death with, but flock it.

uh huh :rolleyes:

I enjoy scaring people on walks. Not always old folks, but people in general.
You never get the same remark twice.
Flyin by somone on the rear wheel is my favorite. I once had a guy stop me laughing saying "its not everyday you get a tire of a bicycle fly by two feet away from your face"

you're a jackass

Litercola also runs sprints down an insanely busy MUP. Troll comes to mind.

Na, I just enjoy startling folk. I scare drivers aswell, when they dont see me, I enjoy jumping out infront of them. Perhaps a death with, but flock it.

Thanks for all of the bad rep that I will have to cop because of your bulk rate stupidity.

Yay for bulk rate stupidity.
I'll sometimes startle people a bit by coming up on their left at a stoplight because I'm pulling left and we have a left turning lane at this one intersection.

Almost got hit at a four way stop last weekend. It was my turn, so I went. A young girl pulls up perpendicular to my travel, barely TAPS the brakes looking only straight ahead, then guns it through the intersection. I was going pretty fast, so I sat back and locked both wheels, stopping barely a scant foot from her car door.

I shouted SH*T so loud that I had trouble speaking or turning my neck (no joke) for three days. I've never made that loud a sound before. The driver turned and looked absolutely TERRIFIED. It was the least I could do to pay her back for almost killing me. Didn't get her plate though, happened too fast.

Funny how the same forum has cyclists bragging about scaring pedestrians on sidewalks and cyclists complaining of being scared by cagers on the road...

And meanwhile, on auto forums: "I enjoy scaring cyclists when driving. Not just old cyclists, any cyclists. My favourite is to buzz them with maybe 5 inch clearance. The look on their faces is priceless!"

I couldn't agree more. I have no interest in scaring anyone--it is childish and irresponsible. Enjoy your life--but don't ruin others. Peace.