Bop Bop

I do most of my riding along a multi-use path. Just as the name implies I pass other cyclists, walkers, jogger, etc. As I pass them I say to each "Good Morning" some return the greeting others do not know your alive! What is the big deal to return a simple greeting? I'm not stopping to have a conversation with them or ask them about their personal live, just a simple "Good Morning".

Hell, is there some kind of law against returning a greeting? Have we become so self absorbed that we can not return a persons kindness? Am I only person who does this? Do others also experience the samething?

cryptid01

Yep. I ride mostly in the woods, but I've witnessed the same thing.
I always try to make eye contact and say "hi" and "thanks" when they yield trail. I kind of assume it's part of my responsibility as a cyclist to maintain good PR. I've formulated a few theories as to why good vibes are not returned, to wit:

-They're scared of or intimidated by me (people are paranoid)
-They feel like the outdoor experience belongs to them, and I'm infringing on their enjoyment (people are selfish)
-They're like the roadie in my neighborhood who waves when I'm on my road bike but not when I'm on my mountain bike (people are a$$holes).

I will never stop trying to be a nice guy, but I don't get disappointed any more if people don't return the gesture. And there are lots of nice folks out there who *do* smile and greet, which makes it worthwhile.

BillyBob

It is not just on the trail. At work, I walk by visitors in the hallway and say "hello". I would say about 50% of people will not respond.

Personally, I blame Bill Clinton. <-- Just Joking.

Maelstrom 

I gotta say if I have my music on my ears I don't respond. It is my zen moment and that is how I totally relax, to myself. Sorry, it might seem rude but I like it. When I am riding I always make eye contact anyways...unless you have a dog then I watch that unleashed beast until I am past it

At work and stuff, I love saying hi. Its really depressing to be sad at work all day.

qmsdc15

I'm not a friendly guy but I act friendly to strangers and acquaintances as I pass them. It seems to make life easier when people are smiling and nodding at me. So I nod and smile. The good vibes energize me much more than the energy spent waving, so it makes me faster and more in the zone.

Its just an act though, superficial if not downright phoney. So I understand why some people don't wave back. They are rude, pompous jerks, yes, but so am I once you get to know me!

Dave Moulton

Some people just take exercise way too seriously; it’s like, “Don’t distract me I’m concentrating on my workout.” And God forbid anyone should crack a joke.

When I rode road races in England, guys would always be cracking jokes in the pack. I was in one race when a horse threw its rider and ended up in the middle of pack. One rider quipped, “Let him lead out in the gallop.” (The ‘gallop’ is the slang for the finishing sprint.)

I rode a few races here when I first arrived but the fun atmosphere was gone, and I missed it.

Bop Bop

And, I thought I was the only one. Yes, it is true people can and do get into the Zone, but to be honest I would be happy just for a nod or some sign of recoginition. When I pass a person going in the same direction I always say "On Your Left, Please!" As I pass them I say "Thank you, Good Morning!". My friends who are teaching me about riding have stressed the importance of being nice to people and drivers. I do my best, but it does bother me when someone does not respond. Maybe I'm expecting too much, maybe I'm expecting people to think like me or maybe I'm just making more out of something than I should. Do not know, but I'll keep on doing it, with the hope more and more people will respond.

Diggy18

On the other hand,

If I am somewhere riding where I am really out for a workout, then it IS too much trouble to return a greeting. It takes concentration to exercise properly.

Also, sometimes when I'm out just for a bike-stroll, I want to get lost in my thoughts, to try to be "alone in the woods" even though there are lots of strangers around. So in those cases sometimes I also don't say hi.

Then of course there are lots of other times when I do smile to everybody that goes by. (But if it's a busy trail, that gets to be a pain, too - hehehe I'm too lazy to smile.)

qmsdc15

Well BeBop, there's guys like diggy18 out there and he makes sense. If you are totally wasted by your efforts or too into your day dreams, sometimes it is hard just to lift your hand from the bars or even the corners of your mouth. You have to realize everybody doesn't act friendly. It's OK!

Don't worry about it. If you recognize someone that you know doesn't wave back, please don't bother them any more. And if he notices you for the first time when he needs a pump or a tube, smile, wave and keep on riding!

cryptid01

I guess that question got answered.

Bop Bop

GMDSC15,

Never really thought about it like, but it does make sense.

Thanks.

Maelstrom 

I have to say, not matter how zoned out I am I always stop for a downed rider...thats just bad karma to not stop

TechJD

Who knows what some think lol
but some just take time
others will never return the greeting
just be yourself and if they cant accept it then they arent worth your time to start with

Bop Bop

I agree, I always ask a rider off to the side if they are ok, I'd want one to do it for me. Hell, I even asked a woman sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the bus this morning if she was ok. To me it's just the right thing to do.

Chris L

Personally I think common courtesy is just about dead in contemporary society these days. It's not just exercise, it's everywhere. I used to initiate greetings, but the responses were so rare that I just don't bother anymore. I'm quite happy to return a greeting (assuming I see it), but I'm rarely in that situation.

I will, however, stop and assist a downed rider at any time. It doesn't really have anything to do with hoping they'll help me one day, it's just because I perceive it to be the right thing to do.

Bop Bop

Chris,

I agree! I see it all over the place. Words like please, thank you and your welcome are hardly used. So many people seem to be in their own worlds.

A member of my staff about my age mid 50's recently told me she enjoys working with me because I say Good Morning to her everyday. I see the samething at work, people come in and walk right by you as if you don't exist. These are not just anyone, or someone you see every once and a while. These are people I see everyday, work with, etc.

And yes, you are correct stopping for a rider who maybe in trouble is the right thing to do.

Retro Grouch 

So your glass is half empty, isn't it? It sounds to me like you aren't fully enjoying the return greetings that you do recieve because you're too busy focusing on the ones that you don't. If that's the case, you might want to consider lightening up a little.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'd like to think that I acknowlege everyone I pass when I'm riding but it really isn't true. Sometimes I'm so lost in my own thoughts that I just return a barely perceptable nod or maybe even nothing at all. One of the things that I like best about bicycling is the freedom that it allows me to lose myself that way.

shokhead

Are you watching where your going or daydreaming? A nod or finger lift is fine,anything is fine. At work most walk with there heads down and i'm not much on saying anything but ALWAYS get eye contact and smile. Thats hard when they dont look at me. Well at my last meeting it seems people are having a problem with me not saying anything or talking to them. The fact that i get my work done and service them quickly isnt good enough.I was told i need to be more cheerful. Lets see,i might be having 2 bags of trash in each hand going out to the trash bins and on my way to clean up some vomit and check on a bathroom as i'm on my lunch half hour which is my time and only one chance to have lunch and they call me on the walkie-talkie to go to a room and replace a bulb and go to the far side of the school to unlock a gate.When i get to my walkie-talkie and out of breath say,ok,i'll get a call from the VP saying,that wasnt very cheerfull on the walkie-talkie. I'm always being told how much the teachers hate me because i dont stand around and talk to them. Lets see,i get a call,i have ants in mt room. I spray inside and out,clean up the dead ants and tell the teacher,thats about all i can do. She goes to the principal and says,dan said he cant do anything for the ants. She says why did i say that,i tell here what i did and she tells me,do more and dont say you cant do something. People.

Bop Bop

Retro,

While I may not have mentioned those who do repond, I am appreciate of it. And yes as I stated earlier maybe I am making to much out of it. The point I have been trying to get across, is what is the big deal about taking a moment out to acknowledge another person. Is it really that big a deal, I guess for some it is.

Being new to the sport and riding with people who are like me, I just thought more people would be like that. I guess I was mistaken.

Shokhead,

I am watching where I'm going, I normally try saying "Good Morning" about three or four feet before I meet someone face on and as I get ready to pass a person going in my direction.

From what I remember of my school days, a long time ago, sounds like things have not changed.

AMartin56

My girlfriend and I recently went for a ride at one of the more popular hike and bike trails here in Austin, Tx: Town Lake. The place was crowded due to the beautiful weather (10-15 degrees cooler than we normally get this time of year) and it was my first experience (being new to cycling) with a crowded trail.

Now the signs say 'Bikes should yield to pedestrians' and I'm totally down with that (They are more manueverable but I'm going faster so it's my job to make sure I pass safely) but sometimes to just don't get it when people refuse to budge even an inch to save me from having to ride right on the edge of the trail. I try not to buzz by people and while I understand the lack of awareness of walkers in my lane that have their back to me (I normally like to switch gears or make some other noise behind them if I don't actually shout out some sort of warning) but I really dislike it when people coming towards me 2-3 abreast in what is supposed to a two lane trail refuse to even consider a slight change in their formation that would make things easier for me.

With all the dirty looks I rec'd on my first outing I might as well be rude and start yelling 'Leash your dog!","Watch your children please" or "Two way traffic" for all the credit I get for trying to be courteous and receiving nothing in return. As I cyclist I don't own the road, but they don't either! My bike (like most I assume) balances much better while rolling a decent clip than it does at slow speeds and I imagine one of these days I'm going to get crowded by a walker or jogger while coming to an almost complete stop a a corner or tight section and end up in their lap!

Kathleen

I use to say "passing on the left" but now I say "Good Morning" and they usually move over and I get a positive response. There are times I'm so SOB I'm unable to talk thus I'm unable to respond and it makes me feel bad that they may have a negative thought. Believe me, life is too short for negative thoughts.