Do you say "on your left" when passing a fellow cyclist on the left when you ride?
07-06-14, 06:23 PM
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Do you say "on your left" when passing a fellow cyclist on the left when you ride?
Hi All,
Did a couple of rides 'over the hill' this week and noticed the lack of a "on your left" or even a friendly "hello" when being passed by other riders. On the coast I almost always hear this when being passed and always say this when overtaking another rider. Not sure if this is just a SF Bay Area thing?
Cheers,
Marc
Did a couple of rides 'over the hill' this week and noticed the lack of a "on your left" or even a friendly "hello" when being passed by other riders. On the coast I almost always hear this when being passed and always say this when overtaking another rider. Not sure if this is just a SF Bay Area thing?
Cheers,
Marc
07-06-14, 06:25 PM
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just say *passing* and leave it at that. or "get out of my way!!! 
", like i heard a crazed old biker say to some woman and her kids the other day on the mup, really. 
", like i heard a crazed old biker say to some woman and her kids the other day on the mup, really.
Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 07-06-14 at 06:29 PM.
07-06-14, 06:26 PM
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I ride on country roads in central Indiana. Cows won't move, so it's a waste of time.
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07-06-14, 06:28 PM
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I pass, and when my front wheel is in front of theirs (about the point they notice) I say "Hi", "good morning", or some such and continue on my way.
Saying something when still behind seems to startle a lot of people. Nothing to be gained.
However for those that ride on paths with a mix of users: kids, dogs, runners etc, it might be good to give warning ahead of time.
Saying something when still behind seems to startle a lot of people. Nothing to be gained.
However for those that ride on paths with a mix of users: kids, dogs, runners etc, it might be good to give warning ahead of time.
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Last edited by Homebrew01; 07-06-14 at 06:31 PM.
07-06-14, 06:30 PM
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No. That is a good way to have them swerve and take you out.
As mentioned I will say hello or click my shifter AFTER I am part was past them but NEVER before.
As mentioned I will say hello or click my shifter AFTER I am part was past them but NEVER before.
07-06-14, 06:47 PM
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If I'm passing someone who looks like they've ridden before I'll give a low shout out "on your left". If it's some wingnut that's swerving all over the place, they get a more robust "on your left" and they get it when I'm still way behind them. I want to make sure if they freak out I have time to react.
07-06-14, 06:51 PM
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Only for wobblies, usually a more explicit warning after matching speeds behind them. So that I can see what they're doing first. If I can figure out that the wobbly is staying right for a few seconds I'll hurry on by without saying anything.
Fast looking roadies get the full tinkling bell. If cyclist looks like the type to challenge me on the pass, speeding up to prevent my passing (I really hate that), they get no warning. For everyone else just a ding. If it's a road with plenty of passing room, no warning.
Fast looking roadies get the full tinkling bell. If cyclist looks like the type to challenge me on the pass, speeding up to prevent my passing (I really hate that), they get no warning. For everyone else just a ding. If it's a road with plenty of passing room, no warning.
07-06-14, 06:55 PM
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I usually just pass without saying anything, giving the other cyclist as much room as practicable. However, if the cyclist I'm passing looks really squirrely, I'll yell something like "hello", really loud, about 25 yards back, giving the squirrel plenty of time to overreact and then straighten himself out for the pass.
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07-06-14, 07:03 PM
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On our MUP I typically say that, sometimes a basic greeting like "good morning". Late yesterday (Saturday after the 4th) just after passing through downtown (lots of bars of course) I came across a guy riding a hybrid who was swerving all over the trail, I politely said "on your left"...... He swerved a ton more, went to the right, and as I started passing him he swerved way left and was super close to me, I just accelerated quickly and left him behind. I guess you have to look out for all types of folks!
07-06-14, 07:07 PM
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A couple dings on the bell a little ways out and then give them lots of room as I warn them, "passing on your left." So far so good, it's the warning bell and room keeping things safe.
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07-06-14, 07:10 PM
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07-06-14, 07:14 PM
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If it's narrow I'll give a light ping on the bell to let them know someone is coming up behind them. Otherwise if it's a roadway with plenty of space I'll just give them a friendly greeting. "Nice day for a ride", "have a good one", or something. If I were to yell something it would be "stay right!" not "on your left", but a bell is more polite.
07-06-14, 07:15 PM
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07-06-14, 07:30 PM
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I ring a bell twice rapidly when about 30 ft. back, and then again at 10 ft., then one more right before I pull alongside the rider's back wheel; this gives a preparatory notification followed by other shorter notifications so that the rider being passed can tell my closing rate and on what side I will be passing them.
I also will let my freehub click for a second as well.
I also will let my freehub click for a second as well.
Last edited by lyrictenor1; 07-06-14 at 08:12 PM.
07-06-14, 07:38 PM
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Hi All,
Did a couple of rides 'over the hill' this week and noticed the lack of a "on your left" or even a friendly "hello" when being passed by other riders. On the coast I almost always hear this when being passed and always say this when overtaking another rider. Not sure if this is just a SF Bay Area thing?
Cheers,
Marc
Did a couple of rides 'over the hill' this week and noticed the lack of a "on your left" or even a friendly "hello" when being passed by other riders. On the coast I almost always hear this when being passed and always say this when overtaking another rider. Not sure if this is just a SF Bay Area thing?
Cheers,
Marc
So I personally don't say "on your left" unless I have to.
07-06-14, 08:11 PM
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I leave it at "passing," if anything - that seems to have the desired effects of a) letting them know that I'm there and b) making them hold their line (IME, a lot of inexperienced riders [and those are the ones we're most concerned with] stop pedaling altogether, while straightening their line, when they hear that). If someone's not paying attention/thinking and they hear "left," no matter what it's preceded with, they may be confused and take it as direction (and move in that direction) rather than simple notification.
07-06-14, 08:16 PM
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I leave it at "passing," if anything - that seems to have the desired effects of a) letting them know that I'm there and b) making them hold their line (IME, a lot of inexperienced riders [and those are the ones we're most concerned with] stop pedaling altogether, while straightening their line, when they hear that). If someone's not paying attention/thinking and they hear "left," no matter what it's preceded with, they may be confused and take it as direction (and move in that direction) rather than simple notification.
07-06-14, 08:47 PM
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Usually give two warnings, fairly loud "bike back" give them a second or two to acknowledge, then repeat if necessary.
I find calling out on your left causes more pedestrians and even bicyclists to get confused and do anything but move to the right.
07-06-14, 08:53 PM
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I don't say anything other than hello. As I approach from behind, I'll ding my bell.
07-06-14, 09:11 PM
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Half the time I say, "on your left" but realized if I say it in a "nice" voice people can't hear me, and when I use my big boy voice it sounds like I'm barking at people. A couple weeks ago I came up on this guy and said, "on your left", passed him, and then he pops up next to me and told me, "If I was an inexperienced biker and I heard you say 'left' I would have swerved to the left right into you, next time say 'on your left'".
From what I can recall all the times I've been passed I was able to hear the bike behind me and I would just hold my line while taking a quick look behind me, and then just move a bit over to my right to let them pass. IMO if someone is riding fast enough to pass you their bike is going to make enough noise for you to know they're there. Unless you're deaf, just don't be an oblivious bone head and ride as if you're the only person on the trail. You were born with two ears for a reason, be vigilant and aware.
From what I can recall all the times I've been passed I was able to hear the bike behind me and I would just hold my line while taking a quick look behind me, and then just move a bit over to my right to let them pass. IMO if someone is riding fast enough to pass you their bike is going to make enough noise for you to know they're there. Unless you're deaf, just don't be an oblivious bone head and ride as if you're the only person on the trail. You were born with two ears for a reason, be vigilant and aware.
07-06-14, 09:15 PM
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In Thailand, the cars drive on the left side of the road, and so do cyclist. So, when passing another cyclist, we say "on your right" - but in Thai of course.
It gets interesting when I go back to the States every year, and have to drive my car and ride by bicycle on the right side.
Mark
It gets interesting when I go back to the States every year, and have to drive my car and ride by bicycle on the right side.
Mark
07-06-14, 09:17 PM
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I'll say "on your left" or "passing" to anyone (walkers, joggers, cyclists) that takes up both lanes of the trail otherwise I usually just pass them if all is well