When pedestrians are blocking your ability to pass on their left...
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kk4df
... do you pass on their right? If so, do you call out "on your right" well ahead?
Or do you call out "on your left" as normal, but well ahead of time, expecting they will move over to let you pass?
This morning, three joggers pulled out of a road in front of me, two girls and one guy. It was just after 5 AM in a quiet neighborhood. The two girls moved into the left lane, and the guy was about dead center of the road. I elected to pass on their right. Partly to not shout out with the neighbors sleeping and partly not to confuse the joggers who might think they heard "on your left", I did not call out "on your right." But the guy decides at the last minute to move quick right, and we almost collided. He might have seen my light coming from behind.
What is the safe, correct, neighborly manner in this situation? Pass on their right and call out loud in advance "on your right", or "on your left" soon enough for them to move over? Both call out loud in a quiet neighborhood. Or do I just need to slow down and creep up so I can call out quietly when I get closer? Suggestions anyone?
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
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they were in the road? How can three of them block an entire road?
kk4df
they were in the road? How can three of them block an entire road?
Two were in the left lane, and one just right of centerline. They were only blocking the left and center, soI thought I would pass quietly on the right. The sudden hard right move by the guy in the middle was the surprise.
kk4df
Small, quiet thumb bell.
A one-ding situation. ;)
Maybe you're right. It's just hard to put an extraneous stuff on my lightweight carbon bike. But this may be necessary. Until then, I'll be waking the neighbors.
Pepper Grinder
A bell is like all of two ounces. Just skip a sip or two of water and you've more than made up for the weight.
flipped4bikes
One ringy-dingy, two ringy-dingy...
Works like a charm!
kk4df
One ringy-dingy, two ringy-dingy...
Works like a charm!
You've convinced me. I'll try it. lol
John E
You can even get an aluminum Campagnolo bell. :)
edzo
I stop, and put my foot in their balls
john bono
You can even get an aluminum Campagnolo bell. :)
I not buying a bell until they make them out of CF, or better yet, Ti.
TRaffic Jammer
make em dance!!!! :lol:
Scot_Gore
I don't have a bell and just call out "HEADS UP" or "hello" depending on risk factors in play.
NoNaYet
In the situation you describe I would have called on your left, and gone wide. On a MUP I call left or right depending on their position, or if they are blocking the whole path I say left or right and see which way they jump.
Wrong way peds or riders get the air zound - works really well.
genec
You can even get an aluminum Campagnolo bell. :)
Where? A little bling never hurt. :D
eubi
PASSING!
Be sure to say this about 50-30 feet back.
Only 10 feet back, and they usually can't react in time.
Works for me.
San Rensho
I say nothing. If I have room, I just pass. More often than not, saying anything makes the person in front, whether ped or cyclist, do something squirrely and unpredictable. I just approach cautiously, giving myself a way out in case they decide to race across the road for no apparent at the last minute. If they get spooked when I pass them, too bad, so sad.
The only time I signal or say anything is when they are being complete idiots and completely blocking the road.
ignominious
Depends on what they are doing. Something like running, texting, talking on the phone, walking a dog, being drunk, that impinges on their likelihood of walking in a straight line is rewarded with a series of single dings as I approach until they acknowledge my presence or obviously clear a path. Otherwise, I ride by silently as a reminder that not all traffic can be heard coming up behind you.
As for quiet neighbourhoods, you'd have to be pretty noisy to disturb anyone. Provided you don't go above a public speaking volume then you shouldn't annoy anyone.
rule
"Is it all right if I go by on your left?"
"Thank you much."
Ziemas
If a simple 'excuse me' doesn't work a 'yo!' always does. People move to the right automatically on a road.
mikepoole
Small, quiet thumb bell.
A one-ding situation. ;)
rant
It should be this way. Although on one road in my neighborhood (Belmont Blvd), the bike lanes have markings invisible to all but joggers that say "JOG HERE. NEVER MIND THE BIKE LANE MARKINGS. JOG HERE". What should be a one-ding situation then becomes "Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding! DING!DING! GET OUT OF THE BIKE LANE PLEASE!" as you check your mirror/turn your head to see if you have enough time to signal and make a lane change into the wide lane, otherwise crashing into miffed joggers, injuring self and toddler on back of bike. Yes, there is a perfectly good sidewalk available.
/rant
I'm trying not to give in to the dark side by getting an Airzounds.
tehdely
I yell BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP. Tends to work :0
Yes, there is a perfectly good sidewalk available.
I think their knees would disagree. Sidewalk pavement is hellish for jogging. Do you like when drivers tell you there's a perfectly good sidewalk for you to ride on?
Note that pedestrians in the roadway itself (joggers, etc) are supposed to move against traffic (unlike cyclists), so really there should be no problem clearly communicating to them that they need to get out of the way. Unfortunately, it seems that this particular group could be considered "dumbasses".
mikepoole
I yell BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP. Tends to work :0
I think their knees would disagree. Sidewalk pavement is hellish for jogging. Do you like when drivers tell you there's a perfectly good sidewalk for you to ride on?
Note that pedestrians in the roadway itself (joggers, etc) are supposed to move against traffic (unlike cyclists), so really there should be no problem clearly communicating to them that they need to get out of the way. Unfortunately, it seems that this particular group could be considered "dumbasses".
I'm quite familiar with sidewalk concrete vs. asphalt paving; my knees are so screwed I can only run on trails- no pavement at all unless I'm planning on running only three miles and then walking in pain for three days.
Yes they are supposed to run against traffic. But, perhaps, since they are already running in the thoroughfare they figure "What the hell, why _not_ run with the traffic where I can't see!"- so, yes, dumbasses they are. Unfortunately, they are still in the bike lane. Along with the wrong-way cyclists.
Fortunately, no one tells me to ride on the sidewalk, bike lane or no bike lane. Not sure why, but something's working right.
ken cummings
5:00 AM ? As in still fully dark? Even cars do not pull out in front of my 50 watt halogen light. On the rare times I ride in the dark where joggers or peds will be they get out of my way in plenty of time. Even when their backs are towards me. Try getting better lights.
Carusoswi
One solution always works to avoid accidents. Just slow down to their pace, then, you can communicate your intentions, and, before you know it, you'll be on your way safely.
Motorists should also learn about just slowing down. I don't get that seemingly ever present reflex that dictates the only way around an obstacle is to speed up - no knocking the OP, just ranting in general.
When I'm not certain what to do around pedestrians, I always slow down - it's just safest and is really no big inconvenience to me.
Happy riding.
Caruso
invisiblehand
You can even get an aluminum Campagnolo bell. :)
I will wait for the carbon fiber version ... (staccato) dink ... dink.
Mr. Underbridge
Yell loud, clearly, and early. I'd have given a lunful of 'passing on your RIGHT!!!!!' causing them to at least turn around and do something. Once they see me I'll react to whatever they do.