exime

I'll admit I'm a bit of a dick but whether or not I'm a dick for the topic at hand is a matter of discussion.

So this was on a MUP. I'm a big fan of MUPs because we have a 100 mile long trail where I live and I get to do strava segments and avoid cars with great scenery.

I have a personal rule for "On your left." If you're holding your line and single file, I figure that we don't have to yell at each other every time we pass because we understand the rules of the MUP and that people will pass you and you should always be expecting it. If you're doubled/tripled up and either blocking the lane or the passing area is small, or any other dangerous situation, then of course I yell "On your left!"

So there were 2 mountain/urban male riders riding single file and thought, good I don't have to yell this time for my fellow MUP abiders who are so graciously riding single file. Sure enough, 10 feet past them and I hear a "On your left, DICK!" Wow. Seriously?

I get passed all the time by cyclists and I rarely get an "On your left". I figure because I hold my line and stay to one side so they figure they don't have to, which I'm fine with.

One lady walker did even out my day by giving me a huge thumbs up and a "nice light" when I was passing her so that was nice.

So, am I really a dick? Do I really have to yell it at every singe person? Is every other person I pass foaming at the mouth as I pass but just doesn't say anything?

f4rrest

No.

They should have mirrors.

PepeM

Good idea for a thread.

texaspandj

They were right, but so were you.

FBinNY 

You might be, but not because of this. If you pass with plenty of room there's no beef.

Heathpack 

Hahaha, cycling is full of behavior police. It's so over-the-top that it's really quite funny, when you think about it.

Don't sweat it.

tclune

Our local MUP posts the trail etiquette at parking lots and online:

If your MUP has such a thing, it is appropriate to follow the expected behavior. If not, you are free to do what you find reasonable -- and expect those who have a different view to share their wisdom with you.

chip1

Where do you live that has a 100 mile MUP?

rpenmanparker 

I sure hope OP's given name is Richard.

TimothyH

There is a 96 mile long paved trail from suburban Atlanta to Anniston, Alabama.Closer to Atlanta where it is more crowded one would have to say "on your left" literally hundreds of times on a single ride. It just doesn't work and is one of the reasons why I don't ride it closer to the City.


-Tim-

tarwheel 

I use a bell when riding on the MUPs and usually ring it when passing, but not always. However, I wouldn't consider your behavior dickish as long as you passed with plenty of room.

FrenchFit 

Common courtesy, simply say 'on left'. You don't know if the person on your right is thinking about swerving left to avoid a pothole or debris. I've been silently passed on the road by inches and have been tempted to "stretch" my left arm. I appreciate the other rider probably respects my line and assumes I am predictable, but it does not come across as any shared respect, it comes across as dickish.

t595

Nah you aren't a dick but maybe just a little insensitive. Calling you a dick was a little over reactive on their part. Clear your throat, cough or just say "left" as you come up and you should be covered without all of the extra words.

Herbie53

Strava segments on a MUP.

TimothyH

A 100 mile long MUP is not a typical urban path.

The Silver Comet Trail from Altanta to Alabama goes through some extremely remote and rural areas. There are literally dozens of segments on this trail.


-Tim-

exime

Wisconsin

GlennR

Move on... it won't be the last time you're called a dick.

BTW, the MUP near me has a 15mph speed limit. So I avoid it when I know there will be traffic.

Also i've come to realize that I need to be 100% responsible for kids, dogs, geese and others riding casually. If I see a kid/dog, i call out and ASSume that they will go in front of me. So I SLOW DOWN and make sure everyone is safe.

The "M" in MUP means multi. There will be walkers, roller skaters, skateboarders, dog, tricycle and moms with strollers. If you're doing 15mph, or faster, you have take responsibility that no one gets hurt.

wphamilton

Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I suspect that people like that are acting out from their feelings of inadequacy. It's bad enough that you pass them at all, but worse when you don't "respect" them enough to acknowledge them on the way by.

You weren't the dick in this situation.

Marcus_Ti

MUPs basically are free-for-alls for all sorts of law breakers.

Couple co-irkers I on occasion have to deal with have 49cc assisted-bikes (I call them mopeds)...and are proud of their antics rodding down the MUP that says "NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES". The detail of the law of which is anything with an engine smaller than 50cc is not "motorized".


I typically don't bother with "on your left" because honestly almost no one ever hears it. 80% of the time their earbuds are cranked so loud I can hear them 20ft+ away. 15% of the time calling "on your left" causes the intended target to leap to their left into oncoming traffic. IOW 95% of the time "on your left" produces an undesired result....Because humans are just short of being too self absorbed or stupid to get food into their mouth.

kbarch

Hard to say. Mostly depends on how close you were, but your relative speed compared to those you passed and other traffic could make a difference, too. If your relative speed was low, "good morning, how you doin'?" might have been more appropriate. If high, then maybe you should have just yelled "Strava!" Sounds like they were "serious" cyclists, so I'm sure they would have understood.

But seriously, if they were well to the right and you passed them on the left half of the path - i.e., in the oncoming traffic lane - with much more than an arms length between you, it wouldn't have been appropriate to say anything - you wouldn't want them to skooch over needlessly if there was plenty of room. On the other hand, if you were both to the right of the centerline (painted or imaginary), then yes, you should have said something. Like, if you're on a normal road, say, you probably don't need to say "on your left" to folks riding on the shoulder if you're taking the middle of the traffic lane to pass them, but you definitely should alert them if you pass them while staying on the shoulder or on the line yourself.

By the way, I was taught to say "passing!" A person's ears are extremely accurate judges of which way something is coming from - telling a person "right" or "left" can only confuse them.

Mr IGH

Did he wave? Maybe he had disc brakes?

jordanair45

I never say on your left, I just pass. But, I smoke them so hard they don't have the time to say shyte to me. Upgrade your tires and gruppo newbie..

Maelochs

No problem ... next time you pass that guy do as he asks and shout out, "On your left, Dick!"

kbarch

Well, you should stick around some time. I'm sure they have wonderful things to say about your two-wheeled prowess.

exime

So many really good answers here I can't even respond to them all so thanks. Some really funny ones too.

But no our MUP doesn't have a speed limit and I've also seen a Vespa using it as his personal 'suburb expressway' with his groceries once. Not cool!