Passing other cyclists on roads/paths
#76
Stand and Deliver
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 3,340
Bikes: Cannondale R1000, Giant TCR Advanced, Giant TCR Advanced SL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
There's a guy that I ride with on occasion that has a bell and it is very effective. Not sure why, but the bell makes me chuckle.
#77
Portland Fred
Any time I pass a car, I call out on the side I'm passing. It can be a pain if I'm going past a line of cars stuck in traffic but I'm sure it makes everyone safer. When I'm driving, I just honk the horn. You have to be diligent if the lines of traffic aren't moving the same speed.
I'm not sure what the problem with some drivers is -- a lot of people here seem to like to give the finger...
I'm not sure what the problem with some drivers is -- a lot of people here seem to like to give the finger...
#78
Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 1
Bikes: Douglas Fusion, K2 1k
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've found a bell works great if done in advance. People often glance back and see you coming, then stay right. As far as verbal, it should stay as "on your left". Changing it up makes it harder to educate those not knowing what that means. After they're used to it the just move right automatically. But not everyone is out there all the time. It's the once in a blue moon types that are more of a risk. Everybody has a right to be out there. Be respectful, safe, and slow down as needed-usually no issues that way.
#79
Banned.
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 275
Bikes: 2013 Specialized Roubaix SL4 Expert Compact
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
1 Post
This morning was a great example of azzholes and why I said earlier I judge them. I commuted in this morning and made it to the bike path just before 6am. It's usually pretty empty at that time except for the people who comply with the rules, this path actually has several signs that ask all users to stay to the right, and lot's of it has a line down the middle.
Just up ahead I see two guys jogging side by side. They were taking up the whole path. There was another oncoming cyclist so it was very obvious they could see him. They didn't bother to move at all and the cyclist rode just onto the grass to get around.
I didn't bother announcing myself as I'm sure they would have impeded my passing even more.
Some people are just jerks.
Just up ahead I see two guys jogging side by side. They were taking up the whole path. There was another oncoming cyclist so it was very obvious they could see him. They didn't bother to move at all and the cyclist rode just onto the grass to get around.
I didn't bother announcing myself as I'm sure they would have impeded my passing even more.
Some people are just jerks.
#80
Serious Cyclist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: RVA
Posts: 9,308
Bikes: Emonda SL6
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5721 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times
in
99 Posts
The only time I've ever gotten any pushback from passing without warning by another cyclist is when passing a large group of riders at once. There's a route I ride regularly with minimal traffic and generally minimal riders, but once or twice a week I'll come across a group ride of 10-15 riders. I believe all but a handful of then generally have helmet mirrors, so I'll say "On your left!" when passing the last rider in line (with at least 5 feet of clearance) and then just give a finger wave as I pass the rest of them . One of the guys in the back will shout that someone is passing, so honestly I don't know what else they want me to do, but at least one of them always wobbles, makes a surprised exclamation, and shouts at me as I pass. I think they're just shaky group riders in general so any variables scare them. Oh well.
#81
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Posts: 2,318
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The only time I've ever gotten any pushback from passing without warning by another cyclist is when passing a large group of riders at once. There's a route I ride regularly with minimal traffic and generally minimal riders, but once or twice a week I'll come across a group ride of 10-15 riders. I believe all but a handful of then generally have helmet mirrors, so I'll say "On your left!" when passing the last rider in line (with at least 5 feet of clearance) and then just give a finger wave as I pass the rest of them . One of the guys in the back will shout that someone is passing, so honestly I don't know what else they want me to do, but at least one of them always wobbles, makes a surprised exclamation, and shouts at me as I pass. I think they're just shaky group riders in general so any variables scare them. Oh well.
There's no earthly reason to announce a pass with 5' of space. Maybe, in a fairly long paceline, the last rider should say "I'm last, we're clear" or something like that every few riders or so. And FWIW, unless you are deaf or have ear buds in, you can hear the wheel noise from a paceline well before they pass you.
#82
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 364
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
It depends on the situation. If I'm descending fast downhill at 25+, I don't pass, even if there's room. Too much can go wrong. I also don't want to scare the other rider. If it's uphill at a slow speed and I know it'll take me a few seconds to pass, I'll just say "on your left", somewhat quietly so I don't startle the rider. If we're moving on the straights at a decent clip, and there's a lot of clearance, I'll just go wide left, 3 or 4', and not say anything. If there's too much traffic to do that then I'll go with the standard, "on your left", when I'm 5' back and wait for a acknowledgement before making my move.
#83
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 364
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
On my mountain bike it also depends on the situation of course. On singletrack, if I need to pass a bike, hiker, horse, whatever, I'll say, "Can I pass when you find a safe spot?" If it's a fire road or wide path I'll say, "passing on your left". On downhills I try not to pass. If it's a long downhill, I'll just stop and wait.
#84
Portland Fred
We have some of those around here. I call them group ride Nazis. They also tend to call out "car up!!!" when there's a car approaching on a straight stretch of road, and "car back!!!" every 3 seconds when they're riding along a busy street with a steady stream of cars coming. As well as point at every possible thing in the road that isn't clean, smooth pavement.
Any approach based on everyone else changing their behavior (in this case issuing a warning) is delusional. I cut plenty of space when passing other cyclists though because you never know what they'll do. Or more accurately, you know that every once in a long while, one that doesn't realize you're there will swerve right as you reach them so you need to be ready for that.
#85
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 726
Bikes: Waterford R33, 2019 Infinito, Gunnar Roadie, 1999 Colnago Tecnos, '04 Cannondale Optimo 800 & '51 Rudge Sports, Colnago Tecnos, Tom Kellogg Merlin..
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 55 Post(s)
Liked 140 Times
in
41 Posts
Do this or the option I use on MUPs and the road. Loudly and clearly shout BIKE BACK.
You should also consider your speed and conditions when verbally notifying others. There is a lot of noise out there competing for our hearing.
#87
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,517
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
3 Posts
The only time I've ever gotten any pushback from passing without warning by another cyclist is when passing a large group of riders at once. There's a route I ride regularly with minimal traffic and generally minimal riders, but once or twice a week I'll come across a group ride of 10-15 riders. I believe all but a handful of then generally have helmet mirrors, so I'll say "On your left!" when passing the last rider in line (with at least 5 feet of clearance) and then just give a finger wave as I pass the rest of them . One of the guys in the back will shout that someone is passing, so honestly I don't know what else they want me to do, but at least one of them always wobbles, makes a surprised exclamation, and shouts at me as I pass. I think they're just shaky group riders in general so any variables scare them. Oh well.
#88
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Central Coast, California
Posts: 613
Bikes: Niner RLT 9 4 Star, Kona Splice, Nashbar Carbon road bike
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 49 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I personally just slow down and give as much space as possible when passing another rider. I don't waste my breath with the yelling "on your left" bs.
#89
cowboy, steel horse, etc
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The hot spot.
Posts: 44,804
Bikes: everywhere
Mentioned: 71 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12637 Post(s)
Liked 7,529 Times
in
3,990 Posts
#90
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281
Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
When passing other strong cyclists I'll pull alongside and say hello, if they are social we might ride together for a bit. If they are so slow that I'm blowing by them, I say "on yer left" and ride on by giving a safe amount of room. If they are riding cruisers on a MUP, I give ample warning and thank them(for not crashing into me).
#91
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 314
Bikes: early 80's steel 12speed, CAAD10-3 2013
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The assumption is that if you call out "on your left" the person actually hears that and not some garbled noise because of the wind. Any one looking back to the left will tend to move left slightly too so don't be surprised if they move to the left as they look back to see what that hell that noise they thought they heard was.
I treat it as I did when downhill skiing, the person in front has the right of way and you need to assume the responsibility not to run into them. Calling out "on your left (or right depending on the country") may not help much though if it is a long line of riders indicating that there is a group might be helpful if the first in the group as he/she is beside the overtaken rider tells them that
I treat it as I did when downhill skiing, the person in front has the right of way and you need to assume the responsibility not to run into them. Calling out "on your left (or right depending on the country") may not help much though if it is a long line of riders indicating that there is a group might be helpful if the first in the group as he/she is beside the overtaken rider tells them that
#92
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 8,128
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1871 Post(s)
Liked 689 Times
in
467 Posts
I can't believe how many times I've read the word 'bell' in this thread. The 41 isn't what it used to be..
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
#93
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: SoCal
Posts: 6,517
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 276 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
3 Posts
My favorite thing I've noticed lately is I will pass younger guys on single speed/fixie because they are going slower than my cruising speed. They apparently see that as a challenge to their manhood and pedal like hell to pass me and I wait for them to gas out and then pass them hard and never see them again for the rest of my ride
#95
Senior Member
I was waiting at a light and got buzzed on the right by a slower cyclist I had passed earlier. He is lucky I did not veer to the right; no verbal anything. He must have thought he was being cool but may not have thought that if he was laying sprawled out on the road. The most dangerous riders are the ones who don't ride enough to have good sense of road safety. I would hazard a guess that they account for a large percentage of bike accidents.
#96
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 196
Bikes: 2013 Cannondale CAAD10; 1987 Cannondale R400/600; 1997 Specialized Rockhopper Homemade Hybrid
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
"Passing on your left." Easy.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Jarrett2
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
66
10-07-13 05:18 PM