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Do you talk to other riders on your commute?

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Do you talk to other riders on your commute?

Old 05-05-15, 10:29 AM
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Do you talk to other riders on your commute?

For years I just rode back and forth to work, pretty much ignoring other commuters, even at stop signs and red lights.

For the last year I've been actively engaging other riders at stops, and even along the way. If they don't seem interested I'll stop with a 'have a nice day.' But more often than not folks are interested in chatting while riding.

And bike commuters can be interesting people! Found out one guy raced for 30 years and was a racer of note around here. Another guy pointed me to some interesting 'long cuts' home.

Anyway, just wondering if you chat to your fellow commuters and if you've learned anything from them. If not, might be worth a try - commuting can be a lonely business otherwise. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the peace and quiet as well depending on the day, just nice to shake things up on occasion.
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Old 05-05-15, 11:32 AM
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Me, mostly I don't. I usually have earbuds in and am listening to a podcast, so it's annoying to me if somebody tries to talk to me. Maybe that makes me a jerk. Usually when I roll up on another commuter at a stoplight I preemptively (or politely?) stop my player and pull an earbud out in case they try to talk their mouth hole at me. But mostly I pull up behind, not alongside, so not much conversation.
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Old 05-05-15, 11:53 AM
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If they can keep up, sure....

- Andy
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Old 05-05-15, 11:53 AM
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I have come across 1 person who was going the same direction and pace as me once. We talked for a mile or so then parted ways. If I do happen to see someone else we are usually not going the same pace at all.
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Old 05-05-15, 01:26 PM
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Ah yes, I've seen a guy like you. I don't know his name (because I can't catch-up or keep-up to him) so I've nicknamed him the Terminator because he just never stops.

It's a goal of mine to chat with the guy, because at that point I'll have to be super fit.

Originally Posted by TransitBiker
If they can keep up, sure....

- Andy
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Old 05-05-15, 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by HumanPower
For years I just rode back and forth to work, pretty much ignoring other commuters, even at stop signs and red lights.

For the last year I've been actively engaging other riders at stops, and even along the way. If they don't seem interested I'll stop with a 'have a nice day.' But more often than not folks are interested in chatting while riding.

And bike commuters can be interesting people! Found out one guy raced for 30 years and was a racer of note around here. Another guy pointed me to some interesting 'long cuts' home.

Anyway, just wondering if you chat to your fellow commuters and if you've learned anything from them. If not, might be worth a try - commuting can be a lonely business otherwise. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy the peace and quiet as well depending on the day, just nice to shake things up on occasion.
I meet new people all the time and occasionally run into the same people again.
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Old 05-05-15, 01:52 PM
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I've chatted before with people while riding, usually on the MUP. However, it happens rarely since if I pass someone I'm usually not willing to go at their pace and if they pass me then it's a race... Once in a while though I've chatted with someone and it has been pleasant.
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Old 05-05-15, 01:55 PM
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There are no other riders on my commute. Closest I come is that once or twice a year, a motorcyclist will stop me and ask how to get to Hell. That means they took a wrong turn a few miles back and need to head north and west a bit. I'm used to the question now.
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Old 05-05-15, 02:15 PM
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Sometimes at a stop. Usually I will say good morning/afternoon.
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Old 05-05-15, 03:29 PM
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Pretty rare. I'll give a nod or a wave to commuters going in the opposite direction. About 80 percent of the time I don't even see another commuter going in the same direction as I am... we're just that spread out on my 7ish mile commute.
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Old 05-05-15, 03:52 PM
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Rarely. Sometimes they ask me about my bike, why the fat hubs (Nexus IGH & dynamo hub).
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Old 05-05-15, 04:03 PM
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Too much traffic, bike lanes meant for single file equals not much chance of talking. Waiting at the lights sometimes.
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Old 05-05-15, 04:28 PM
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We don't talk, per se, but usually non-verbal cues are exchanged to signal the start/end of a cat 6.
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Old 05-05-15, 04:37 PM
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Only if I know them, usually.
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Old 05-05-15, 04:57 PM
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I would converse if anyone who kept pace was willing. So far it's only been one cyclist with a coinciding schedule who had the breath and was willing to spend it.

I'm not often stationary, but enjoy trading quips when I find myself stopped next to someone.
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Old 05-05-15, 04:59 PM
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Talk to anybody and everybody whenever I can without going out of the way. I feel that as a society we are losing the art of interactions that make us a society. I always try to have a smile and a nice word for everyone, you never no, you might be that persons only positive interaction that day.
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Old 05-05-15, 05:26 PM
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I'll usually offer a howdy or good morning/afternoon/evening at stops, which sometimes leads to chitchat about bikes, routes, or the weather before the light changes.
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Old 05-05-15, 05:34 PM
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If I tried to talk to or greet every cyclist on my commute it would take me forever to get to work and I would creep out or annoy many dozens of people.
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Old 05-05-15, 05:37 PM
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today, for the first time in I don't know how long. The guy thought I was his riding partner catching up behind him - wife, I reckon - because he started kvetching about a couple of guys the other day going too fast and totally out of control. Not looking behind him, just started talking. I just cheerfully agreed as I rolled by, saying we see a lot of that out here. That was all we had time for though.

I do tell everyone "good morning" some days. It catches on, and you'll start to hear it up and down the path.
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Old 05-05-15, 05:49 PM
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I am the strong silent type, a man of few words. I don't talk a lot and most times I wait for the other person to start a conversation.
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Old 05-05-15, 08:27 PM
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I see so few riders on my route that I'll happily speed up or slow down for the opportunity talk for as long as our routes coincide. Sadly, it only happens a few times a year.
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Old 05-05-15, 10:49 PM
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Nope, unless they initiate the conversation.
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Old 05-06-15, 08:34 AM
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I'll chat when and while somebody's riding near me going in the same direction. Chatted on and off with one guy last year for a few miles, usually just "hello" going through our 3 block downtonw.
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Old 05-06-15, 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
There are no other riders on my commute. Closest I come is that once or twice a year, a motorcyclist will stop me and ask how to get to Hell. That means they took a wrong turn a few miles back and need to head north and west a bit. I'm used to the question now..
I believe he is referring to Hell, MI, a small town near Chelsea, MI.
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Old 05-06-15, 08:59 AM
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I really don't see many other bicycle commuters on my route. The ones I do see are usually on the sidewalk (I ride on the road). Sometimes a fixed gear teenager, sometimes an Hispanic on a BSO mountain bike . . . overall very rare to have a conversation opportunity.

However, part of my commute is on the Los Angeles Metro and I have talked with several other cyclists while we were on the train. Most don't want to talk (ear buds in), but some do. One Asian guy I used to talk to fairly often on the Metro but haven't seen him for quite a while.

Rarely a non-cyclist on the train will strike up a conversation, and that's cool too. Big picture though . . . not much.

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