General Cycling Discussion - Rude bicycle dudes--answer me this. . .

OK, 'fess up.

Why can't you guys AT LEAST tell me "Left!" or "On your left!" or even hello when you pass me? Damn, that drives me nuts--sometimes I am very startled by someone passing me especially when I am concentrating.

Hey, I may not look like a hard-core bicycle dude, but I am to the point where I can knock out 30+ miles a ride, my average speed is climbing and am going up hills faster at higher cadence. Maybe it's my cheapazoid Giant hybrid I am riding, maybe it's the fact that I look like a big yellow bumblebee perched on the saddle (I wear bike shorts and big yellow or orange t-shirts for visibility), maybe it's because I am not so fast. Maybe it's because I don't look like I ride regularly.

But maybe it's cuz there are a lot of guys who are jerks out there--and it's mostly guys, because I see very few, if any women riding in my area.

And it's not just me. My husband commutes 50 miles a day, three days a week, dark and light (but not in full rain--I tease him about being a wuss. . .) and he says that very few of the "hard core bicycle dudes" speak to him or announce their passing either. He gets even by passing them when they think they've left him in the dust.

Cough it up. And don't give me the lame excuse that you were working too hard to say anything.

i think its cause people dont give a crap, i could be wrong but i hear what ur saying, maybe get rid of the bumble bee suit and get a sign saying holla if u can read this, i dunno

well theres never anyone else riding when i ride, but if there are others, the only reason i wont call out would be the same reason i dont honk before i pass someone on the highway.

I know where your coming from, I always raise a hand to oncoming cyclists or say hello when I overtake. I generally get a positive response, but from time to time I get ignored or get stared at as if I am mad.

However it doesn't bother in the slightest. Don't get me wrong its nice when cyclists wave back or say hello, but if ignored its their lose.

I use my mirror and usually see obnoxious riders before they overtake me. I know before i got the helmet mirror I would be focused on what I was doing and it would scare the crap out of me if someone approaching shouted anything! And since I was so intent on what I was doing, I wouldn't comprehend what they were shouting anyways!

Are you sure they're "hard core bicycle dudes" and not just triathletes?

If I did a study I would bet there is a direct corrolation between the cost of the bike, clothes, and gear and how smug/rude/introverted the rider appears.

You could always try catching up to him really quick and ask "do you want me to pull for a while" to deflate his ego a bit (my favorite when atop my clunky flat bar hybrid).

I always swing real wide if possible before I pass. If the speed difference is too great by the time I would pass and get my hand up I would be a little ways away. I dont signal I think because it seems a little insulting to me to just wave a hand as I go by. If Im heading towards another rider I always wave, even if they are on the other side of the road.

Some people are rude, some are self-absorbed, some are so focused on what they are doing they fail to notice others. Rather than notice the cyclists you think are rude, notice the nice ones. I bet you find a lot more nice ones than rude ones.

This is a sport where "elitism" is a wide problem. Many good or even moderate riders get to the point they think they are above the crowd. Snobs to the bone.

I love it when I se other riders. Makes me feel good about being a biker. If I fail to say something I will make a hand or head gesture.

I agree...when I firsted started cycling, I thought it was proper to wave or at least acknowledge other riders. But I'm so tired of being ignored. Also I was riding up a hill the other day and all of a sudden a "hard core" rider is right next to me. Never said a word. Just passed and kept going. Scared the crap out of me.

I honestly try to acknowledge every cyclist on the road, but most of the time I'm too busy navigating our cratered roads.

I like to say greet people when I pass them. They usually respond. I called out as I passed (looking to see if Denver is reading this :) ) a senior citizen last weekend, and as soon as I had said "On your left", she cut the wheel right into the passing lane and ran me off the path and down into the grass. Somehow, I kept it up and made it back onto the path. I can understand when children, who are learning to ride, do this. But, adults? The courtesy rules of the trail are posted extremely often, and they are very easy to read.

I remember one guy who passed me in his hot-shot gear on his hot-shot Italian road bike, and was too good to reply to my friendly hello. Ooooooo... ignore ME, will ya... :irritated

So much for my "easy-day" ride :) He got skunked on a nice long climb as payback. Oh, to be 20 again... ;) (I should add that my old bike was equipped with fenders, front & rear racks, and TWO dynamo light systems... MAJOR ego damage going on there :D)

As for passing, I try to say "hello" but more importantly, I try to pull waaaay out to pass, situation permitting. Ditto for pedestrians. I'm not usually surprised by people overtaking me, thanks to my helmet mirror.

I think some of you forget that just because someone is on a bicycle they have the same mind set as you.

I too smile or give a nod of the head to on-coming traffic. I don't ride fast enough to ever have to say "on your left" so I don't worry about that one.

as for people passing me, I rarely ride where others ride and can pass.


but, as I mentioned at the top, not everyone knows all the etiquete(sp?).

"on your left" we all know means someone is passing on the left so move to the right or hold your line. but to someone who doesn't know this (and why would they, if they ride alone and aren't part of the cycling world?) might take it to mean ,"go to your left".
or they may have only heard, "...left" and turned left as a result.

remember, you don't need anything to get and ride a bike. so ANYONE can ride one.

I agree with the post that says to look for the positive riders and ignore the as$es. those kinds of jerks are everywhere not just in bike riding.

There is a relation between the type of bike and attire and whether someone will say hello to you. I ride road bikes only and am only ever greeted by other roadies, whilst hybrids and MTBers, never really seem to look up or go out of their way to say hello to me. Anyway, I don't really get upset by it, more upset when you say hello and they don't respond, but there's nothing you can do about people like that, ces la vie.

I wave or nod to oncoming cyclists, mostly other roadies, and I very rarely say anything as I ride past another cyclist. Only time I say anything is when I'm after a chat, or we're going about the same pace. If I'm straining and can barely talk, I'm not going to say hello, it's too hard to ride, let alone let words out of your mouth! Oh, and here, we're on the right down here ;)

When I'm driving in the country, I'll pass a cyclist, and I do this mainly to touring cyclists, I'll pass them, honk a cheery honk and wave. This mostly gets a response and nearly alwas gets a response from our pannier packed buddies.

I always wait for a good (safe) time to pass and then give a friendly nod of recognition. And of course, a polite "on the left" if they don't appear to see me approaching.

PNJ - Your sig says a lot for how short it is. :D

I am sure some joggers have perceived me as a rude member of the lycra set, but they need to hear my side of the story. (For the record, I jog the cumulative equivalent of a marathon a week.) When there is a wide sidewalk, they are simply not supposed to be running three abreast in the bike lane on a busy 45mph street.

Cyclist education is a genuine challenge, as evidenced by the number of casual cyclists who do not understand the etiquette which allows us to coexist safely and effectively in a tight space.

I say hello to cyclists / folks approaching me and I now ring my (newly procured) bell at them. Most people seem to get the idea. However, if there ends up being too many that don't get with the program I've got my eye on an Air Zound.

I always nod or smile at oncoming riders and a on your left when no headphones are used.To bad here in the long beach/lakewood area others dont.Heck when a couple of riders are coming towards me and ride side by side and are over the divided line coming towards me do you think they can let up to pull back over on there side,nope.I almost always go as far over to the right as i can.When i ride,most do do anything.I do a lot of ^&&%$# under my breath.

I wave at oncoming riders when I can be bothered (and I generally try to answer a wave with a wave). Having said that, if I'm riding home from a 220km ride into a monster headwind, I mightn't feel like waving, so unless one is forthcoming from the other side, I mightn't bother.

Re: passing. I have been both the passer and the passee on many occasions. When I'm the passer I generally wait until I get the opportunity and run wide of them on the right (the left for those in the US). I don't bother shouting at them because I'd prefer not to see people do that to me. I might say a quick "G'day" or ride with them for a while if our speed is compatible, but otherwise I'll just be on my way quietly.

This is interesting cause when I do get behind someone I usually try to get their attention and let them know before I pass that I am there, too often I come up on cyclists riding two a breast on our two lane bike paths. I come up, slow, announce like "behind ya." Then the pass and an "on your left." Often times all that gets me is nothing. I'm not heard, I'm ignored or I'm treated like I'm a bike snob.
Sorry, it does work both ways.

Some people are just jerks and/or are too absorbed in what they are doing to acknowledge anyone else on the road.
I used to ride motorcycles. You can tell someone who has rode a long time. He or she always waves. I do the same thing on my road bike when I meet some one on the road. I always wave. When I pass someone I always let them know I am passing them with a "on your left" or whatever. Its just common courtesy.
Therer are alot of putzes out there, but thats life. Too bad.

Jim

I give a brief wave as an acknowledgment of riders coming toward me, I usually get a reply but not always, it doesn't bother me though. My waves are very brief so there is always the possibility they didn't see it.
When approaching another rider I don't say anything as this could startle them, so I sit back a few metres until safe to pass, give a wide berth, say hello and keep riding.
If we are going a similar pace I might have a chat for a few minutes, if they are receptive, and then go separate ways.
I mainly ride in the country so riders are few and far. If I lived in the city I probably wouldn't bother waving as there are too many bikes.

BTW, Since I started racing I don't bother trying to catch someone ahead or drop someone I have passed. Someone going slow is not necessarily a slow rider, they are probably have a recovery ride or training ride. There are no laws saying you can't use your race (expensive) bike for those days.


CHEERS.

Mark

I don't know which would be more shocking and unexpected to me...another rider passing me and giving a courtesy call or just seeing another rider at all. All in all I'd say I come across other cyclists about once a year...but I've never been passed. GIven the numbers, this isn't that impressive a claim, is it?
I did come across the area's first recumbent rider last year. When I first spotted him approaching from a distance I thought the heat was getting to me because it appeared to be a guy riding a cow or something. There were the usual thumbs up and atta boys in passing, nothing rude. Oh yes, and that quick glance that tells the other rider that you are quietly assessing their componentry.:D

You can't win either way. I have startled the crap out of people by hollering (or even saying) 'on your left.'

So - do I startle them and have them possible veer into my path - or go past with plenty of room to spare on the left?

How about this --- in your car you don't signal that you are passing on the left (or right in UK style driving perspective). You expect that people will be paying enough attention to see you coming - or know that you are back there.

Maybe a counter to the original post is that you should start paying more attention to what is around and behind you - rather than 'concentrating' so hard on what you are doing. Perhaps thats a little bit of devils advocate.....but I think I have a point. You are getting so startled because you don't know the person is back there -- throw a mirror on those bars and you won't be startled so often.

I always wave to oncoming traffic, but **occassionally** I get tired of being ignored, or not heard when I call 'On your Left' so if I have a lot of room and excess speed, I will pass on the left without saying anything. I would only do it on a flat, straightaway, not on turns or hills (LOL - like I could pass someone on the hill).

The Devil in RG

Heck, when someone yell's "on the left" at me, often I can barely hear it with the wind noise and, as some have mentioned, it can be as startling as being passed. Whether I say anything or not depends on the situation. If I can give them a wide berth, I do so and may not say anything. If that is not the case, I do say something.

As for people not being "friendly", it doesn't bother me at all. I try to give a nod to onoming bikers. I typically don't if going the same direction since they have to turn their head to make eye contact.

I use a mirror that attaches to my glasses. It works pretty well once I figured out how to best position it. It lets me anticipate anything catching up to me instead of wondering. Since I look through the glasses to see the mirror, things are not a blur - which they are when I turn my head to look behind me.

Bob

I realise "on your left/right" is the accepted cycling term when passing, but when it comes to shared paths, we are dealing with pedestrians and inexperienced cyclists, and things do go awry.

On our major cycleway arterial in Hobart, I've taken to calling "Passing on your right" to both peds and riders. The word "passing" is an immediate indication of my action, and called/shouted loudly enough, will get the attention of anyone and an immediate reaction. They may take a few more seconds to sort out the lefty-righty issues, though, in which case I'm feathering the brakes.

I have found bells are next to useless in may shared path situations and almost always on the road, but we are legally required to have one fitted. The ping gets absorbed by ambient sounds and cannot be heard inside a vehicle. Reaction from drivers tells me my voice can penetrate to the interior of a car, though.

FWIW

R

but we are legally required to have one fitted.
Bells and reflectors are legally required but the chances of getting a ticket for not having them is virtually zero. I find bells to be useless, it is much better to yell out.

CHEERS.
Mark

I thought bells were only required on the shared paths.

Originally posted by Chris L
I thought bells were only required on the shared paths.

The Australian Road Rules specify a warning device fitted to the bike. This could be a bell or one of those things like a squeaky duck toy (and even a squeaky duck toy would probably qualify!!!) There is no differentiation between road and path under the ARRs.

As to the original discussion, if I am a zone for speed and effort, I probably won't wave. If I am in one of those awful day/week moods, then definitely not. If I am on a leisurely ride, you may get a wave, but more usually a nod of the head. If I am touring outside the city limits, definitely a wave.

In 1997, when I rode from Perth (after living there for two years) to Adelaide on the way home to Hobart, I lost count of the number of waves I got from passing vehicles. Most of them were tourists or retired people, but quite a few country types. Of course, the response became habit-forming. After getting off the ferry to Tasmania, though, things were b-l-e-a-k. I was waving at cars as they went past, and nary a reaction. Had a lot to do with the economic and political climate at the time.

R

a senior citizen last weekend, and as soon as I had said "On your left", she cut the wheel right into the passing lane and ran me off the path and down into the grass.

She may have not meant to do this...she might have just gotten flustered. I am a relatively new biker, riding only about a year and a half. The first time a fast biker shouted something to me, I just stopped.......not a smart move.

I tend to agree with most the posts here...I ride a lot around the river in Perth and on the various cycleways and almost without exception the 'hard-core' guys...or the ones wearing the pro cycling gear are absolute bastards. On more that one occasion I have seen them fly along the cyclepath on the Perth, South Perth and Burswood foreshores within inches of elderly people and kids and not care...even let out abuse. Be warned...if one of you hit one of those kids I will have you!. A bicycle at 40km/h can kill people. They seem to think all the paths and roads of the world are theirs and no-one else has a right to be there.

I am riding 200 odd km's per week and without exception slow down when pedestrians are around and give courtesy rings on the bell 20metres or so before passing people. You don't have to wave at everything that moves but at least show people some respect. It is the peacocks out there giving all cyclists a bad name. Lift you game boys.

I will give a shout if I'm passing in a cramped space - like in a bike lane during rush hour - but if there's an entire lane open I'll just pass. My reasoning is that more often than not someone will yell at me and I'll be startled, so I try not to yell at other people unless I have to. I'll also yell if it's really cramped on the bicycle paths...

More often than not I'll slow down for a few cars to pass and then take a gap in traffic to pass.

what happens to me a lot is that I ride over a bridge, and sometimes people walk right in the middle instead of on the side so that there is enough room for me to get by, and they are wearing headphones, and then when I approach them from behind, they get angry, I tell them to share the roadways, and they hate that.:beer:

yeah, just yeturday, i was riding down my street on the left side, just like they taut us to in school, an some guy wearing spandexs on a ten speed yells at me somethin about 'your on the rong side *******', and real nasty like, too. i give him the bird

Originally posted by L Lortami
yells at me somethin about 'your on the rong side *******',

Well you were.:)

Arg...it happened again yesterday. Riding the same route as last time, cruising along at about 20 mph and next thing I know, this guy is right up next to me, passes, and barely clears my front tire before he cut back over. If I would have teetered to my left we would have bumped shoulders. Now what is up with that ? No cars were coming either way so there was no excuse for him coming up on me so close and cutting over so soon. I'm not the type that rides in the road, in fact I ride as far from the road as possible. My speed was good. Yes, this route is popular with cyclist, but does that excuse his behavior ? I was so angry, that my ride was ruined.

Thats the kind of rider i'm talking about.There's plenty of those around here.

Originally posted by KevinG
Well you were.:)

in what country is the left the wrong side?

Originally posted by L Lortami
yeah, just yeturday, i was riding down my street on the left side, just like they taut us to in school, an some guy wearing spandexs on a ten speed yells at me somethin about 'your on the rong side *******', and real nasty like, too.
They taught you wrong in school. A bicyclist should operate his bicycle just like a motorist. You ride on the right hand side of the road. You walk on the left side facing oncoming traffic.

BTW: That may have been me that yelled. Only I try to sound like I'm offering friendly advice. Hard to sound friendly when you're yelling.

Originally posted by pnj
in what country is the left the wrong side?

See RonH's post above.:D

I just walked my bike for 3 miles with a flat and i passed i dont know how many riders.Not one fricken rider asked me if i was all right or anything.A bunch of dicks around here i'm telling you.

Originally posted by shokhead
I just walked my bike for 3 miles with a flat and i passed i dont know how many riders.Not one fricken rider asked me if i was all right or anything.A bunch of dicks around here i'm telling you.

Well, that just wasn't very polite of those riders. I'm a loner when it comes to riding and tend to stay on less-ridden roadways. But I always stop and offer help when I see a broken down rider.

That's just empathy: YOU'D want someone to stop and offer help when you're broken down and need help.

In all fairness, though, let me ask you this: have you always stopped and offered aid to every broken down rider you've seen?

Hi All,
I noticed a change in the way riders related to me when I got the serious looking bike attire and got faster.
Sometimes I sound off before passing and slow a bit to say hello or sometimes I pull way out in the lane at least 6 feet from them and blow by.

I have never passed a broken down cyclists on either side of the road without stopping to ask if they need help. I carry 2 tubes and a patch kit and extra co2 cyclinders in case.
But once they are up and running they are fair game.

Ride Safe....Dudley

I ALWAYS ask if your ok or do you need anything,ALWAYS.

I usually slow down if I see someone with a flat, but if it looks like they've got it under control and know what they're doing, then I'll just go on. I got a flat a couple of days ago and my SO and I got it fixed (well he did most of it, if I did it it would take ten hours). No one stopped because they could obviously see we were working on it, and I wasn't offended. They did look at us sort of sympathetically.

Originally posted by shokhead
I ALWAYS ask if your ok or do you need anything,ALWAYS.

When I see someone stopped, I do the same thing. It generates a lot of good will.

Unless I'm blasting down a big descent, I'll always slow down and ask if everything is under control. Unless, of course, there are already a group of riders stopped that appear to be be helping out. It doesn't bother me if I'm working on fixing the problem (usually it's just a flat) and folks pass me by.

But if your walking your bike with a flat on the bike path on a busy sat morning around 730 and 65 outside,wouldnt you think ONE rider would say something.I would say at least 20-30 riders went past me and a few walkers and a skater or two.It was really nice this morning.I was on the path for at least 2 miles.I tried to co2 pump and ride but it went flat in 30 seconds and no more co2.I found out its good for a full pump up and a quarter.I'll carry 2 now.