Fifty Plus (50+) - Please Let Me Know You're Going to Pass Me!

I don't mind when another cyclist passes me. Really! Until I came to this forum, I had no idea passing inflicted such feelings of annoyance and humiliation on those being passed. I figure, so what? I'm not racing, and even if I were, I'd be in a race with myself, not someone else.

But often when I am passed (most of my riding is in the city) people pass close. Even when it is on a bike path in the middle of a green space, with no other cars around, they pass so close, I can feel breeze on my left shoulder, and **-worse, that is the only sensory input I get. No "On your left", no "ringy-ding-ding" of the bell. Or even just "good morning" (or afternoon, as the case may be.)

Here's the gist: I don't ride a perfectly straight line. One of these days, just as someone is breezing past me, I just might happen to wobble a bit, or be starting to correct my steering to avoid a pothole, or whatever. And I will hit the passer (or, more correctly, he or she will hit me) and we will both go down.

I need, ideally, a little bit of road room - and above all, I NEED A WARNING. PLEASE! This is the 50+ forum, we all know that injuries take longer to heal than they used to. A damaged bike is annoying, a damaged body is something else. One can be replaced, the other, not so easily. My sister is still recovering from an incident exactly like this one when she was 'clipped' by a fellow cyclist. Both went down - he inquired after her wellbeing, she answered 'okay' (she really wasn't, she walked home) and he meanwhile simply re-boarded and sped away.

I suppose I should be posting this on one of the 'regular' forums, since most of the time, it's a young testosterone that is the culprit - but the guy yesterday was well past the young stage (he'll doubtless argue the testosterone part, but I digress..)

So, enjoy your biking. But remember, I have ears - unencumbered by ear buds by the way - and if you just let me know, I'll be sure to try and keep out of your way. But you gotta give me some help! A little room would be nice, too....

Learn to hold your line.

"Hold your line" as you go by is fine, too.

I will try to do my part. But seriously, I am not a perfect individual. (I say as much to the motorists who pass too close, as well.)

I don't mind when another cyclist passes me. Really! Until I came to this forum, I had no idea passing inflicted such feelings of annoyance and humiliation on those being passed. I figure, so what? I'm not racing, and even if I were, I'd be in a race with myself, not someone else.

But often when I am passed (most of my riding is in the city) people pass close. Even when it is on a bike path in the middle of a green space, with no other cars around, they pass so close, I can feel breeze on my left shoulder, and **-worse, that is the only sensory input I get. No "On your left", no "ringy-ding-ding" of the bell. Or even just "good morning" (or afternoon, as the case may be.)

Here's the gist: I don't ride a perfectly straight line. One of these days, just as someone is breezing past me, I just might happen to wobble a bit, or be starting to correct my steering to avoid a pothole, or whatever. And I will hit the passer (or, more correctly, he or she will hit me) and we will both go down.

I need, ideally, a little bit of road room - and above all, I NEED A WARNING. PLEASE! This is the 50+ forum, we all know that injuries take longer to heal than they used to. A damaged bike is annoying, a damaged body is something else. One can be replaced, the other, not so easily. My sister is still recovering from an incident exactly like this one when she was 'clipped' by a fellow cyclist. Both went down - he inquired after her wellbeing, she answered 'okay' (she really wasn't, she walked home) and he meanwhile simply re-boarded and sped away.

I suppose I should be posting this on one of the 'regular' forums, since most of the time, it's a young testosterone that is the culprit - but the guy yesterday was well past the young stage (he'll doubtless argue the testosterone part, but I digress..)

So, enjoy your biking. But remember, I have ears - unencumbered by ear buds by the way - and if you just let me know, I'll be sure to try and keep out of your way. But you gotta give me some help! A little room would be nice, too....

Buy a bike mirror, and then monitor what is behind you, just look about once every 30 seconds or so, saves you the frustration and keeps you safer.

Wear a mirror. I feel as naked on a bike without a mirror as I would in a car. This way you can keep track of the space around you. I can't believe everyone doesn't follow this common sense procedure.

Buy a bike mirror, and then monitor what is behind you, just look about once every 30 seconds or so, saves you the frustration and keeps you safer.

Looks like we're on the same wavelength, you being the quicker typist!

I ride a lot on back roads and I often take a few other riders out and we are a social group. Not much traffic about on our back roads and we keep an ear and eye open for cars.

But it is one of my bugbears when a cyclist come up behind us and passes fast and close. Perhaps if we were on a MUP then they would call out to give us warning but they never do on the roads. Now even if I am doing a respectable speed on a road with traffic and I am keeping a tight line to the kerb- they still pass close and without warning. That is a worry as I might have to move out a foot or so to miss some debris or pothole or manhole cover.

So I am with moth54. If you want to pass me- then give me warning. It is not only courtious- it is safer for you and me.

I also always have a pleasant sounding "polite" bell on my bike so as not to surprise any bikers or pedestrians I intend to pass, throwing out a quick "thank you" as I do so.

I agree with you - folks shold give some sort of warning when passing. Often, when they pass without warning, I shout out "On your left" which startles them a bit.

On the other hand, BE SURE TO USE HAND SIGNALS. I signal every turn, stop, etc., etc. I have had several times when that signalling saved my A$$. Also, yes, ride in a straight line and learn to do that.

Several local jurisdictions post signs that state, "Give audible warning when passing" or something similar, on MUPS.

Buy a bike mirror, and then monitor what is behind you, just look about once every 30 seconds or so, saves you the frustration and keeps you safer.

I second that advise. I wouldn't want to ride without my mirror, on the road or on the path. I don't know how busy it is where you ride, but I ride one 5 mile path frequently that is very busy and if the fast riders (and I'm not one of them) were to warn everybody they were passing they would be horse and everybody else would be annoyed by the noise. And bells would be worse.

I'm a slow rider and get passed all the time so I just got into the habit of checking the mirror to know what's coming up behind me the same as when I'm driving. And I've never had a car say "on your left" before they passed close to me.

I have a mirror and hold my line but I still agree with Moth. I have frequently started to move left for one reason or another and then seen a fast moving roadie blowing up without a peep. I have always caught the movement in time but it is still very irritating. And the assumption that the other riders should "learn to hold your line" by the fast riders is just plain stupid. Many people don't and can't. The overtaking rider will be injured just as badly as the one he hits. Fat lot of good his righteousness will do him.

"Hold your line" as you go by is fine, too.

I will try to do my part. But seriously, I am not a perfect individual. (I say as much to the motorists who pass too close, as well.)

it IS the responsibility of the passer to pass safely...and many state vehicle codes require some audible warning - but when it all comes down to it, you are responsible for your own safety. ;)

Learn to hold your line.

No! I am riding for my pleasure, I may wander, I may stop, I may decide to stick my leg out to stretch..whatever. The faster rider assumes all responsibility for the overtaking and should give adequate warning when executing a pass.

Mike

Here's the gist: I don't ride a perfectly straight line. One of these days, just as someone is breezing past me, I just might happen to wobble a bit, or be starting to correct my steering to avoid a pothole, or whatever. And I will hit the passer (or, more correctly, he or she will hit me) and we will both go down.

Thank you for your candor. This issue comes up fairly regularly on our cycle club's web forum, and there's (at least) one guy who's always insisting that announcing your presence when passing is stupid. I'm going to point him to this thread next time, because apparently he doesn't believe it when members of his own club say they'd appreciate the warning.

I may wander, I may stop, I may decide to stick my leg out to stretch..whatever. The faster rider assumes all responsibility for the overtaking and should give adequate warning when executing a pass.

^^^This

Learn to hold your line.
Yeah hold your line, through broken glass, potholes, gravel, sticks, plastic bottles, cups, road kill, mufflers, dog poop, and trash of every varity.
It's common courtesy to give a warning when your about to pass, or are on a strangers wheel. But like all other common courtesies, not so common any more.

The problem only intensifies at dusk & nightfall, unfortunately for those of us who enjoy riding at such times. I live in a very congested, bike-active community..... there are more bikes on the roads around here at any given time than there are cars. I'm outfitted with a strong flashing rear light & a blinking blue front facing light in addition to my headlight & valve cover lights..... I'm seen coming & going. I'm flabbergasted & angered by the number of cyclists riding sans any of this equipment, in addition to their lacking a bell or mirror. These are, of course, the riders (almost invariably the young & "indestructible") who zip along at breakneck speeds, coming out of the shadows at the last moment to pass, my mirror affording me less allowance, at such times, than during the daylight hours. What are these people thinking?!

Yes, in a perfect, polite world, people would announce a pass and give plenty of room. The fact of the matter is, though, not everyone does. You can't control the racer boys who want to fly by you an inch away; all you can control is yourself. So.... get a mirror, hold your line, and desensitize yourself to close passes. Complaining about them on BF will not make them stop. The best we can offer is advice for taking control of the situation.

Learn to hold your line.

...or ride faster :lol:


Seriously, when I pass someone on a bike path it's over in a split second. If there are children or older ones (or visibly newbs out for a recreational ride) I'll nicely say "on your left". But that doesnt always work so I try to make the passing ordeal as quick as possible.

No! I am riding for my pleasure, I may wander, I may stop, I may decide to stick my leg out to stretch..whatever. The faster rider assumes all responsibility for the overtaking and should give adequate warning when executing a pass.

MikeThere's nothing wrong with the way you ride.

If I noticed you wandering a little, I would assume yelling something from behind might make you move one way or the other and I'd rather you just stayed as steady as possible. If there's a headwind and reasonable speed difference it's unlikely you'd hear any instructions from behind.

As far as worrying about having to swerve for a pothole or debris, the overtaking rider has as good a view of the road ahead as you and should notice any potential obstacles.

If I pass someone I always say "on your left sir", or "on your left mame". Seems like common courtesy to me. Plus it protects me from catching a snot rocket or a wet lugee!! :thumb:

"Hold your line". But you want me to warn you about that pothole I'm about to hit while holding my line? I'm avoiding the pothole. You do what you need to do. :)
I give people a wide berth when passing and I look for problems in front of them that could cause them to swerve toward me. Just because I'm passing I don't expect someone to "hold their line". When over-taking someone YOU have the responsibility for making that is a safe event. Read the "skier's code" some time. Much of it applies to bike riding. Those passing another have the responsibility to make sure that is done safely. End of subject.
If you are so insecure that someone passing you causes you problems....... GROW UP! You are probably the same person that speeds up on the highway as I'm passing. Stop it already! That's only slightly better than the person that is going to pass you and then slows down and never makes the pass. Sheesh people, learn how to drive!

Skier's code:

Always stay in control, and be able to stop or avoid other people or objects.
People ahead of you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
You must not stop where you obstruct a trail, or are not visible from above.
Whenever starting downhill or merging into a trail, look uphill and yield to others.
Always use devices to help prevent runaway equipment.
Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
Prior to using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.

If I pass someone I always say "on your left sir", or "on your left mame". Seems like common courtesy to me. Plus it protects me from catching a snot rocket or a wet lugee!! :thumb:You just generated a glimpse of a 70yr old woman on a big upright leaning over and launching one. Thanx for the grin and the warning....I'd not thought about that particular danger. :lol:

No! I am riding for my pleasure, I may wander, I may stop, I may decide to stick my leg out to stretch..whatever. The faster rider assumes all responsibility for the overtaking and should give adequate warning when executing a pass.

Mike

Is this how you drive for pleasure too? :eek:

If there are other users on the same venue, you need to be as considerate as you expect them to be.

I give people a wide berth when passing and I look for problems in front of them that could cause them to swerve toward me. Just because I'm passing I don't expect someone to "hold their line". When over-taking someone YOU have the responsibility for making that is a safe event. Read the "skier's code" some time. Much of it applies to bike riding.+1 If a rider swerves left to avoid a pothole or something and a passer crashes into him, it is the passer's fault - period! Of course that doesn't lessen the injuries. Alert them or not, but give wide berth and be alert.

You just generated a glimpse of a 70yr old woman on a big upright leaning over and launching one. Thanx for the grin and the warning....I'd not thought about that particular danger. :lol:

Errr . . . what's so special about 70 year old women?

My wife is almost 73, doesn't ride a "big" upright, and does not launch one. Neither do any other 70+ year-old women that we ride with.

We get "put down" by others often enough. Why are we putting ourselves down?

When I pass, bikes or pedestrans, I always holler "on your right or on your left". And I would appreciate if others do the same. Just like the OP stated, sometimes I am not in a straight line. If I am to be passed, let me know with some kind of signal. Other than that, the worst could happen. I veer to the same way the passer is passing. The would be bad for all concerned, and should not have to happen.

I might get me a T Shirt with the sign on it, LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU PASS.. IMO, on those thin bike trails that is important too.

I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, I appreciate a warning when being passed by another cyclist. Yet, I don't expect cars or other motor vehicles to do this. Given I have a fairly significant hearing loss, I know it's not an issue of hearing one and not the other when no warning is given. I do wear a mirror and will continue to do so for the same reason I have a rear view mirror in my car. I think it's my responsibility to know who or what is in front, behind and next to me when on the roads. My primary thought is that if I'm overtaken by anyone and am surprised, it means I haven't been paying enough attention. Yet, I go back to my first thought.... I appreciate a warning when being passed by another cyclist.

Yes, in a perfect, polite world, people would announce a pass and give plenty of room. The fact of the matter is, though, not everyone does. You can't control the racer boys who want to fly by you an inch away; all you can control is yourself. So.... get a mirror, hold your line, and desensitize yourself to close passes. Complaining about them on BF will not make them stop. The best we can offer is advice for taking control of the situation.

^^^ This!

What should happen - everyone holds their line, everyone announces a pass, everyone is happy. What does happen - people weave, ignore their surroundings, fly past other riders without saying a word and people get pi$$ed.

You have to worry about what you can control to keep you safe. And you have to let what you can't control roll off your back and not ruin your day.

Become a squirrel. Ride like you are totally out of control and you will be given all the room and warnings that you want.

Become a squirrel. Ride like you are totally out of control and you will be given all the room and warnings that you want.
+1 Or, if you are being buzzed by faster riders and they are in "your space" when passing... Grab your water bottle and squirt as they fly by. :)

I find that when people say "on your left," they are often so close that it really startles me and it causes me to swerve a little. I would rather have them make some noise as they approach. I say "passing" most of the time, but my preferred approach is to pass so far to the left that they couldn't hit me if they tried. Cyclists should really either get a mirror or practice looking over their shoulder while holding a line. When a rider that hasn't practiced looks over their left shoulder, they go left. And saying "on your left" almost always gets a look for some reason.

No! I am riding for my pleasure, I may wander, I may stop, I may decide to stick my leg out to stretch..whatever. The faster rider assumes all responsibility for the overtaking and should give adequate warning when executing a pass.

Mike
In the state I am currently residing in (OR), a vehicle being passed may not take any action to impede being passed. Veering into the path of an overtaking cyclist would put you legally at fault.

In places with very few cyclists, which covers almost all of America today, it is easy enough to call out passing. However, as the number of cyclists increases it gets kind of ridiculous. I have been in places where if I called out for every bike I passed my throat would be raw within minutes. Because of the speed differential, many bells are all but inaudible from the distance I would be required to ding them and who wants to hear airzounds on the bike paths? Cyclists really need to learn to hold their lines and pay attention for overtaking traffic. That doesn't remove the responsibility for those doing the passing to do so safely, but it doesn't make any more sense to expect audible warnings from overtaking cyclists (beyond the usually audible noise of their tires on the road) than it does to expect passing motorists to honk their horns prior to overtaking.

Of course, if our bike paths were built to a proper width, there would be much more room to pass.

Not announcing is demonstrably dangerous to both people.

Not announcing is demonstrably dangerous to both people.

As is the unpredictable response many riders have to said announcement.

I would say announce "On your left" but be careful

If you overtake somebody at 3-4 times their speed,it doesn't matter what you yell,your not going to be able to react in time.

I live in a smaller town, rural area, we don't even have mups. When ever I overtake another rider on the road I time my pass so I can go out into the other lane to pass. That way I don't have to worry about swervy riders and they don't have to worry about being buzzed. Doesn't slow me down a bit.

I live in a smaller town, rural area, we don't even have mups. When ever I overtake another rider on the road I time my pass so I can go out into the other lane to pass. That way I don't have to worry about swervy riders and they don't have to worry about being buzzed. Doesn't slow me down a bit.

This approach works no matter where you are, it's just harder to find an open space when there is a lot of traffic. I generally do this, and give a "Good morning" as I go past.

Fun thread. I usually say on your left. I've had say some thanks and totally scare the crap out of others. I don't get bothered when someone doesn't give an on your left. If they do I say thanks.

I try to be aware of what is coming up behind me, but sometimes I miss something, especially when stealth riders zoom by very closely. I try to let riders know when I am overtaking them, but don't always do it. When possible, I leave plenty of room for riders I am passing to wander toward my path. I take full responsibility for my own safety when riding. I expect others to do the same, but I don't rely on it.

Fun thread. I usually say on your left. I've had say some thanks and totally scare the crap out of others. I don't get bothered when someone doesn't give an on your left. If they do I say thanks.

If one gets all flustered and wobbly because someone passes them, with or without a warning, perhaps cycling isn't their piece of pie.



mmm...pie

Btw announcing on your left doesn't mean there is necessarily room for you on the left. Try a few days on Ragbrai for this experience.

I'm that jerk.

When I'm going 23 mph and you're going 11 mph, it really doesn't much matter if I tell you that I'm passing; I'll be by before you can react constructively.

Any more, unless our speeds are very close, I seldom tell people that I'm passing. I don't know how many times I've said "on your left" only to startle / confuse the slower cyclist, causing them to swerve.

It may be disconcerting to have that other cyclist fly by unannounced, but believe me he doesn't want to crash any more than you do. Chances are that if he's that fast, he probably has the bike handling skills to deal with your less than perfect line.

For goodness sake though, be sure to glance behind before you, "...wander,...stop,...stick (your) leg out to stretch," make a U-turn or any other unexpected move. You do that and I'll try to give you an extra foot of space when I pass.

I have a mirror and hold my line but I still agree with Moth. I have frequently started to move left for one reason or another and then seen a fast moving roadie blowing up without a peep. I have always caught the movement in time but it is still very irritating. And the assumption that the other riders should "learn to hold your line" by the fast riders is just plain stupid. Many people don't and can't. The overtaking rider will be injured just as badly as the one he hits. Fat lot of good his righteousness will do him.

The problem with "learn to hold your line", is that there are a many reasons not to, for example broken pavement, puddles, pot holes, debris on the road, the old geezer on a bicycle going the wrong way, meat pylons (sometimes furry, sometimes not). When you need to move, check the mirror, signal your intentions, check the mirror again, then move out of line. Always, always have a plan B, this is one of the reasons I ride 1m from the side of the road, if the person passing gives me another 1m, then I have 2m of leeway. Mostly the fast moving roadies that pass too close, have the firm belief that if they give you proper distance it slows down their ride time by a whole .01 seconds which is completely unacceptable. Funny thing is if they hit you, they are going down, and their plastic bike will probably end up in pieces, and that is going to slow them down quite a bit.




If you need to move left for some reason, whether there is someone behind you or not, signal that your moving left, the rider in behind should see your signal and move further left to pass. It's exactly the same as when driving a car, if you need to move left signal, if there is no time to signal, then slow down so that you can.

When I started riding a few months back, I was nervous anytime someone passed with announcing. Now that I have been riding for about 5 months I can hear them before they pass. Not sure if it is tire noise, or what makes the slight whirring sound as they approach, but it does get louder with speed. I may not be saying this in a few years, both of my parents are in their 80's and hard of hearing, so I am sure to follow their genetic footsteps.

I called out "on your left" as I moved to pass a cyclist on today's ride. I could tell it startled him, and then...I crushed his soul and I LIKED it.

When I started riding a few months back, I was nervous anytime someone passed with announcing. Now that I have been riding for about 5 months I can hear them before they pass. Not sure if it is tire noise, or what makes the slight whirring sound as they approach, but it does get louder with speed. I may not be saying this in a few years, both of my parents are in their 80's and hard of hearing, so I am sure to follow their genetic footsteps.

Heck. most of the folks bicycling around here wear ear phones of some sort. They couldn't hear a wheel, and barely hear a bell.

Heck. most of the folks bicycling around here were ear phones of some sort. They couldn't hear a wheel, and barely hear a bell.

Not to evoke the wrath of the Anti-iPodists, but either the cyclists you speak of must be listening to their music at an excessively high volume or I have the hearing of a Noctuid Moth. I can always hear the whirr of an approaching cyclist and if they speak to me as they pass, I can hear what they've said.

Not to evoke the wrath of the Anti-iPodists, but either the cyclists you speak of must be listening to their music at an excessively high volume or I have the hearing of a Noctuid Moth. I can always hear the whirr of an approaching cyclist and if they speak to me as they pass, I can hear what they've said.

Well, when I ring my very loud bell and there is no response, and then I yell, "Passing" just behind them, and finally get some sort of response, I figure they could not hear me - and these are the folks wearing the ear pieces, not the other folks. So, I don't know about your situation, but I know what happens around here. Maybe its the altitude??? :p