maallyn

Folks;

I am here in Bellingham, and one of my pet peeves are those who insist on passing me on the right if they want to go faster then me.

Please, please, kindly pass me on the LEFT, not the Right, unless, of course, I have stopped in the left lane to make a left turn.

My mirror is on the left side of my helmet so I can look out for car and I expect bicyclists to pass me on the left as well. Since my mirror is on the left side of my helmet, I have a blind spot on my right rear. All others whom I see have mirrors also have them on the left side of the helmet and would have the same blind spot on their right rear.

As far as I know, it is illegal in this state to pass on the right unless the vehicle being passed is making a left turn lane. Well bicycles are vehicles and they should do the same.

Because of this, those of you passing me on my right (and often without giving any warning or bell) put themselves as well as myself in a very precarious dangerous position, especially in traffic.

Again, please kindly pass me on the left, not the right; and we shall all be safer and happier.

Truly,

Mark Allyn
Bellingham, Washington

DrIsotope

I don't remember much of Driver's Ed class-- it was a very long time ago-- but I do remember "never pass on the right."

If I'm ever in Washington state, you'll have no worries of me passing on the right. It is simply something I never do. Even when the joggers are two-wide smack in the middle of the bike lane. <shakes fist>

woodway

Legal to pass on the right in Washington State under certain conditions:

https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.115

I never pass cyclists on the right, unless of course they are blocking me from passing on the left. I'll call out and if they don't move over I'll give an "on your right" and slide on by.

base2 

I have a hard time beliving this would be a problem unless you, yourself are riding far enough to the left that passing on the right is the safest option.

I'll bet you,( whether you realize it or not) aren't the fastest rider & you are riding up the middle. Sort of the bike trail equivalent of a left-lane camper.

Shift your lane position about 2 or 3 feet to the right so you are in keeping with the "all users keep right" rule, and they'll have no choice but to go around properly.

Mr. 66

Fine! I'll pass on the left but I'm not going to be nice about it.

wphamilton

Are you "taking the lane" and the other cyclists on the shoulder or bike lane?

Even with motor vehicle law, it's fine and allowed to "pass on the right" if both vehicles are in straight, through-lanes, so if that is the case you can't expect another cyclist to leave his lane of travel to follow you in your lane, wait for an opening and then swing out another lane just to get around. If you're both riding in the same lane (from the bicycle perspective) and he's squeezing by on the right, then you surely have grounds for complaint. It's not clear from OP which is the situation.

calamarichris

Thank you for saying what we're all thinking.
So far, without exception, the same people who shout at me for passing them on the right are the same ones riding FLAP and are apparently slowed by the colossal chips on their shoulders.
If you don't leave me enough room to pass you safely on the left, I'm just going to throw back my best Nelson Muntz impression when you whine about me passing you safely on the right.

maallyn

Folks:

Thank you. I did not make the situation clear.

I was right to the center of the lane (not riding center) and there was room between myself and the left hand side of the lane.

The person squeezed past me on the right without saying anything and missing me by inches.

Thanks to you, I will continue to watch to make sure that there is passing room on my left if I am indeed the slowest.

By the way, when that guy zipped past me on the right, I was going at traffic speed (same as the cars). He zipped past the car in front of me leaving only inches between himself and the right hand mirror of the car in front of me.

Mark Allyn

calamarichris

Thanks for the explanation Mark, and sorry for presuming. And thank you for being considerate. Making an effort at consideration costs so little and pays back so much. Exponentially, potentially. Whenever I see someone clearly being considerate, it warms my heart reminds me to redouble my efforts to do so.