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I Can't Pass on the Right?

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I Can't Pass on the Right?

Old 05-03-12, 09:05 AM
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I Can't Pass on the Right?

Not trolling. Serious question.

I have been riding for a while and never gave any though to whether I passed on the right or left. I was all conditional, both were ok and no announcements were needed. This is esp true if we are talking about intense rides or training races.

I have read, in several threads over the last few days, of people complaining about riders passing on the right.

Can someone please explain this to me. Is it a regional thing? Has it come about because of some traffic laws or some other outside reason?

Esplain please.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:09 AM
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Passing on the left is more expected, but pass wherever you like as long as you don't hinder anyone.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:11 AM
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I see no problem with it. I think a lot of newer riders are bothered by it.

If you aren't allowed to pass on the right I'm going to enter some races and stay on the left the entire time.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:14 AM
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If I am cycling down the road in Australia, and you're planning to pass me ... pass me on the right.

If I'm cycling down the road in Canada, and you're planning to pass me ... pass me on the left.

If we're just cycling down the road, act like a vehicle of the road ... that's what I expect. Otherwise, I may accidentally nudge you into the ditch.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:18 AM
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For some recreational/club riders, passing on the right seriiously upsets them, passing unannounced seriously upsets them, and God forbid you pass them on the right unannounced.

I think that the people it upsets are not very good bike handlers, and get scared by things not going exactly as they anticipate.


I got seriously chastised on a group ride, when I passed a guy on the right unannounced going up a bridge. There was a lane wide shoulder, and the guy was on the left of the shoulder, and I gave him a solid 4 feet of room, to make sure I didn't get in his comfort zone.

After they got done yelling at me, their point was "How do I know not to move right into you if I don't know you're there"?

Ignoring the fact that they do have eyes, and need to watch what they're doing, there's no way he could have hit me if he tried.
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Last edited by merlinextraligh; 05-03-12 at 09:23 AM.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:23 AM
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If I have the option of safely passing someone on the right or left, I'll go left. But I have no hesitation whatsoever passing on the right.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:24 AM
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intuitively I expect a pass on the left when JRA. I change my line to avoid glass, gravel, manhole covers, guttering, bumps and potholes. but I won't stray left without checking my shoulder because a car could/should be there. so the best place to pass me is on my left. but in reality, I rarely see anyone unless it's a riding partner whom I expect to see.

I'm sure racers are fine with either side because it happens to them, and you're in extremely close proximity with other bikes all the time. most non-racers probably wouldn't enjoy being in a mass of bikes constantly shifting and sliding against each other like a school of fish.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:25 AM
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Nvm

Last edited by Karcas; 05-03-12 at 10:31 AM. Reason: Irrelevant - OP didn't specify group rides
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Old 05-03-12, 09:25 AM
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I don't think it's the smartest thing to do if there is an equally safe option to pass on the left, even if that means you need to deviate more from your line to make the pass on the left. It's always the responsibility of the passer to make a safe pass.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Machka
If I am cycling down the road in Australia, and you're planning to pass me ... pass me on the right.
Ok. We don't all drive on the right. Got me.

Originally Posted by Machka
If I'm cycling down the road in Canada, and you're planning to pass me ... pass me on the left.
Ok. Please explain why.

Originally Posted by Machka
If we're just cycling down the road, act like a vehicle of the road ... that's what I expect. Otherwise, I may accidentally nudge you into the ditch.
You might find it much harder to nudge me that you think. I'm pretty used to contact on the bike. But that's a pissing match for another day.

Smilie face.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:29 AM
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And I couldn't care less if someone passes me on the right or left.
Either side pisses me off equally.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Right Said Fred
I don't think it's the smartest thing to do if there is an equally safe option to pass on the left, even if that means you need to deviate more from your line to make the pass on the left. It's always the responsibility of the passer to make a safe pass.
OK. That's a problem I see. Lateral movement of any kind increases risk so it just doesn't make sense to me to pass on the left if it means I need to change my line.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Bob Dopolina
Ok. Please explain why.
I think I just did explain this in my first reply (which you probably didn't see before posting). More detail:

For me passing on the left (countries with left-side drive cars) is because I will change my line from the white line to the edge of the shoulder (if there's a good shoulder) because of debris, but I won't move further left without looking back for a car.

Therefore if someone goes left around me it's going to be safe. Whereas if they go right, they might be going somewhere I was planning to go if I see glass or a manhole cover ahead.

I'm not that fast but anecdotally the 3 times I've encountered other roadies in the past month I have been the one passing and I always pass left unless impossible. I announce 'on your left' if there isn't much room, but I just quietly go past if there is at least 3 feet.

I do slow if there's a curve, narrow clearance, and so on. Even if I'm training hard, I will interrupt what I'm doing to make sure I pass safely. Hitting some training goal is not worth a collision and it never will be.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
After they got done yelling at me, their point was "How do I know not to move right into you if I don't know you're there"?
Because a competent cyclist holds his line and doesn't move over until after making sure the way is clear.


This makes me laugh because we do large group social rides (50 or more) and riders hitting each other and/or going down are very rare. We got some press in the local paper and a lot of newbs are showing up and somehow they manage to not spontaneously combust.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by ColinL
I'm sure racers are fine with either side because it happens to them, and you're in extremely close proximity with other bikes all the time. most non-racers probably wouldn't enjoy being in a mass of bikes constantly shifting and sliding against each other like a school of fish.
Originally Posted by Right Said Fred
I don't think it's the smartest thing to do if there is an equally safe option to pass on the left, even if that means you need to deviate more from your line to make the pass on the left.
I think it comes down to comfort levels. People that race and do fast training rides are comfortable with people moving up on either side, and riding very close together.

Whereas some others that have not had that experience can be freaked out by someone being too close when they're 3 feet away.

Originally Posted by Right Said Fred
It's always the responsibility of the passer to make a safe pass.
No doubt, but the people that get upset on group rides because you pass unnanounced on the right can't wrap their heads around the fact that someone could pass on the right, and have sufficient bike handling skills to avoid an accident no matter how boneheaded a manuever, the rider getting passed might decide to make.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:35 AM
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I have passed and been passed on the left and right. Neither one bothers me. The only time I've seen people complain about passing on the right is on BF. I tend to pass on the left most of the time, but if there's a slow rider on the left and slow rider in front of me and lots of space to the right, I'm going right.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by merlinextraligh
For some recreational/club riders, passing on the right seriiously upsets them, passing unannounced seriously upsets them, and God forbid you pass them on the right unannounced.
I say pass where it makes sense. In areas where people drive on the right, this will usually be on the left but there will be many exceptions depending on the specific conditions.

I don't pay much attention to people who get their knickers in a twist when riders don't conform to very specific behavior expectations. For example, if there are hundreds (or even thousands) of riders, it's ludicrous to expect people to call out every pass because it's happening constantly.

But it is good policy to cut more berth on group rides to cyclists of unknown ability as some of them are pretty skittery.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:41 AM
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Always left for me, unless someone is intent on staying on the left because of distraction (dog, cell phone, idiocy). It is shocking how many people move left when you say on your left. It might be easier to say 'freeze, punk.'
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Old 05-03-12, 09:41 AM
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I think I need to clarify a bit.

If I approach a random rider on the road I will pass on the left. I don't know why but I just will. It just seems safer to me. Maybe, as Macha said, it's a vehicular thing.

If I am riding with a group of riders I will pass as the wind dictates. It's this second situation that I'm really talking about. If I was riding in a group and got yelled at for passing on the right I'd be surprised.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:43 AM
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Originally Posted by banerjek
But it is good policy to cut more berth on group rides to cyclists of unknown ability as some of them are pretty skittery.
No doubt. Large group ride (Century, charity ride etc.) or just a regular group ride with people I din't know, I'm going to assume that any of them is going to something completely idiotic at any given occassion, and ride accordingly.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:44 AM
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I believe this issue is part of "riding predictably"
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Old 05-03-12, 09:44 AM
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Where I ride the shoulders are tight and most people pass on the left. I personally don't care if you pass me on the left or the right, just a little heads up/warning is all I ask.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:45 AM
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I pass on the left when I can but go right as needed.

However.... how many times have you said "Coming right!" and the person initially goes right until they process what you said and go left? I think people's instincts are that they react quickly and go the way we in the states normally go.

When I pass on the right I announce my intentions a bit early to give them time to react. If they move to the right just because they have that in their head then I change course and go to the left. Most people on the bike paths are friendly and want to do the right thing but just doesn't work out... no bad intentions on their part.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Bob Dopolina
If I am riding with a group of riders I will pass as the wind dictates. It's this second situation that I'm really talking about. If I was riding in a group and got yelled at for passing on the right I'd be surprised.
Anyone who gets bothered in that situation should probably not be riding in a group and/or is insane.
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Old 05-03-12, 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Bob Dopolina
I think I need to clarify a bit.

If I approach a random rider on the road I will pass on the left. I don't know why but I just will. It just seems safer to me. Maybe, as Macha said, it's a vehicular thing.

If I am riding with a group of riders I will pass as the wind dictates. It's this second situation that I'm really talking about. If I was riding in a group and got yelled at for passing on the right I'd be surprised.
Agreed. Coming across random riders on the road is a different situation than a group ride.

In most states in the U.S. you may even have a legal obligation to pass on the left. I wouldn't pass a random rider on the right, unless there was reason for it, and then I'd talk to them.
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