What do we mean by "On your left!"
08-05-14, 08:03 AM
#27
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I generally only use "On your left" when going down an MUP and someone is either walking in the middle of the path or being unpredictable. I used to use a bell (I had a incredibell road bell which went on my STI levers), but after breaking two of them putting my bike against a wall, I'm back to yelling. The bell generally works better as far as swerving into your path is concerned, generally when people hear a loudish noise behind them they move out of the way of the noise rather than directly in the path of it.
Otherwise I just slow and pass them with as much room as possible. No reason to startle people if they don't need to do anything. Though, that may be because I like my long walks where I zone out and don't appreciate being startled out of it for no reason (mainly by dogs in people's back yards!).
Otherwise I just slow and pass them with as much room as possible. No reason to startle people if they don't need to do anything. Though, that may be because I like my long walks where I zone out and don't appreciate being startled out of it for no reason (mainly by dogs in people's back yards!).
08-05-14, 08:18 AM
#28
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When I say it passing a bike it means I was braking and didn't want to move my hand to the bell, or forgot to warn them further back.
When I hear it at cruising around speed it's almost always in a quiet, polite tone and I take it to mean "you were weaving a bit there".
When I'm riding with my wife and hear it barked out, it seems to mean "get out of my way" and sometimes "warning, I intend to do something stupid."
BTW, "on your right" almost always means that a clueless newb is approaching. In my experience.
When I hear it at cruising around speed it's almost always in a quiet, polite tone and I take it to mean "you were weaving a bit there".
When I'm riding with my wife and hear it barked out, it seems to mean "get out of my way" and sometimes "warning, I intend to do something stupid."
BTW, "on your right" almost always means that a clueless newb is approaching. In my experience.
Last edited by wphamilton; 08-05-14 at 08:22 AM.
08-05-14, 08:27 AM
#29
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I stopped yelling that out as it just creates a more confused reaction. Just make room and go on by.
08-05-14, 08:48 AM
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I wonder if there shud be a general MUP speed limit. meaning if you avrg over 10mph use the road ... and leave the paved trail for the scatterbrains and tricycles?
08-05-14, 08:49 AM
#31
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This thread exemplifies the problem with "on your left". It can confuse people and get the opposite of the intended result. It also may foster an incorrect belief that the rider being passed has some duty to get out of the way of the rider passing.
If you're passing someone, it's your obligation to do it safely. If you're relying on the rider you're passing to "hold their line" because you said "on your left" you're passing them too closely.
Passing slower riders, I typically say hello, or goodmorning, just to avoid startling them. It keeps them from being Po'd, it doesn't imply any required action by them, and I just assume they will make the stupidist move possible, and oass in a manner to avoid them if they do.
If you're passing someone, it's your obligation to do it safely. If you're relying on the rider you're passing to "hold their line" because you said "on your left" you're passing them too closely.
Passing slower riders, I typically say hello, or goodmorning, just to avoid startling them. It keeps them from being Po'd, it doesn't imply any required action by them, and I just assume they will make the stupidist move possible, and oass in a manner to avoid them if they do.
08-05-14, 09:24 AM
#32
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I ride on a MUP a lot and I never see the "jump left" reaction when I say it. Sometimes I get a "thanks". Once at a stop, I met a walker who was ranting about cyclists who DON'T call it out. And I think I found some similar posts on a local forum. So at least SOME people appreciate it.
If a majority of cyclists do it, a typical walker is going to figure out what it means in the first couple of minutes of walking, so I don't buy the "dumb walker hears 'left' and jumps left!" story...
Another thing is you don't really have to yell, because they don't hear the wind noise you do.
If a majority of cyclists do it, a typical walker is going to figure out what it means in the first couple of minutes of walking, so I don't buy the "dumb walker hears 'left' and jumps left!" story...
Another thing is you don't really have to yell, because they don't hear the wind noise you do.
08-05-14, 09:31 AM
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Walkers have the right of way and cyclists should always slow down when passing. It's nice when walkers keep to the right side of the trail, but frequently you have 2 or 3 friends walking together taking up the whole path. It's annoying but that's too bad, just be polite and safe when passing. Give walkers the same kind of courtesy and respect you expect a motorist to give you on the road.
On a related note, I think all cyclists should have mirrors - they make riding much, much safer on both MUPs and roads.
On a related note, I think all cyclists should have mirrors - they make riding much, much safer on both MUPs and roads.
08-05-14, 09:41 AM
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Walkers have the right of way and cyclists should always slow down when passing. It's nice when walkers keep to the right side of the trail, but frequently you have 2 or 3 friends walking together taking up the whole path. It's annoying but that's too bad, just be polite and safe when passing. Give walkers the same kind of courtesy and respect you expect a motorist to give you on the road.
On a related note, I think all cyclists should have mirrors - they make riding much, much safer on both MUPs and roads.
On a related note, I think all cyclists should have mirrors - they make riding much, much safer on both MUPs and roads.
08-05-14, 09:47 AM
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Let's face it, you're riding at 10+mph, huffing and puffing, the Doppler effect is in effect, no one can understand what the hell you're yelling anyway. Just grunt really loudly like Bigfoot passing a kidney stone and then react to whatever they do.
08-05-14, 09:57 AM
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I only say "on your left" to other riders that ride like they know what it means, otherwise you end up startling people thus creating more havoc than keeping quiet.
for anyone else I either
1. Move as far away from them as possible and pass them as quick as possible. Then I look over and give them "hello" as pass.
2. Ring my bell giving them enough space and time to compose themselves and pick a side. Then I do step #1
this is worth every penny, when approaching "traffic" this bell is loud enough to give people enough to time to clear the path.
Spurcycle Black Bell. More potent and more streamlined. Just better.
Several riders usually jump into my draft and stay there just so that I can clear the way for them.
for anyone else I either
1. Move as far away from them as possible and pass them as quick as possible. Then I look over and give them "hello" as pass.
2. Ring my bell giving them enough space and time to compose themselves and pick a side. Then I do step #1
this is worth every penny, when approaching "traffic" this bell is loud enough to give people enough to time to clear the path.
Spurcycle Black Bell. More potent and more streamlined. Just better.
Several riders usually jump into my draft and stay there just so that I can clear the way for them.
08-05-14, 10:00 AM
#37
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Speaking about dogs on the MUP, how about the folks who walk their dog on a retractable leash with the lock off? What good does that do? You have a dog in front of you that seems like it is under control, except it can roam over a 25 ft radius and put a rope across your path right at the level of your head tube.
08-05-14, 11:25 AM
#38
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I always thought it was Cat6 speak for "i'm droping the hamer and I'm gonna crush your dreams" 
08-05-14, 11:53 AM
#39
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I only say "on your left" to other riders that ride like they know what it means, otherwise you end up startling people thus creating more havoc than keeping quiet.
for anyone else I either
1. Move as far away from them as possible and pass them as quick as possible. Then I look over and give them "hello" as pass.
2. Ring my bell giving them enough space and time to compose themselves and pick a side. Then I do step #1
this is worth every penny, when approaching "traffic" this bell is loud enough to give people enough to time to clear the path.
Spurcycle Black Bell. More potent and more streamlined. Just better.
Several riders usually jump into my draft and stay there just so that I can clear the way for them.
for anyone else I either
1. Move as far away from them as possible and pass them as quick as possible. Then I look over and give them "hello" as pass.
2. Ring my bell giving them enough space and time to compose themselves and pick a side. Then I do step #1
this is worth every penny, when approaching "traffic" this bell is loud enough to give people enough to time to clear the path.
Spurcycle Black Bell. More potent and more streamlined. Just better.
Several riders usually jump into my draft and stay there just so that I can clear the way for them.
Don't you have one of those $50 bells? If I spent that much on a bell, I'd be ringing it every chance I got.
Edit: missed the link...Since you have one of those $50 bells, I'd be ringing it every chance I got.
08-05-14, 11:57 AM
#40
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I encountered this on Saturday. She was all over the place and slowing down all the time thinking the dog was about to do its business. However she was incredible hot wearing a tank and short shorts, so it countered all the stupid stuff she did.
08-05-14, 12:13 PM
#43
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I have ridden in "training zones" areas and you general don't have to say anything. I have passed guys down hill at full speed inches apart without anyone looking too concerned.
It is the novices that scare the crap out of me... and for them a loud bell is needed. I ring it several times when I am like 20-30ft from them to get their attention. This is enough time for them to get startled and then hold a line for a couple of seconds while I pass.
08-05-14, 12:16 PM
#44
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Would be hard for me to do since all there is beside the path I ride is a mountain on one side and a river on the other. I may also only see 3 people in 30 miles of riding so I certainly hope I'm not limited to 10 mph.
08-05-14, 12:49 PM
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08-05-14, 02:35 PM
#46
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I've stopped calling it out to "no cyclists", you know, the casual bike ride on A1A in South Florida. I can't tell you how many of those idiots think "on your left" means for them to merge left.
08-05-14, 03:15 PM
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This thread exemplifies the problem with "on your left". It can confuse people and get the opposite of the intended result. It also may foster an incorrect belief that the rider being passed has some duty to get out of the way of the rider passing.
If you're passing someone, it's your obligation to do it safely. If you're relying on the rider you're passing to "hold their line" because you said "on your left" you're passing them too closely.
Passing slower riders, I typically say hello, or goodmorning, just to avoid startling them. It keeps them from being Po'd, it doesn't imply any required action by them, and I just assume they will make the stupidist move possible, and oass in a manner to avoid them if they do.
If you're passing someone, it's your obligation to do it safely. If you're relying on the rider you're passing to "hold their line" because you said "on your left" you're passing them too closely.
Passing slower riders, I typically say hello, or goodmorning, just to avoid startling them. It keeps them from being Po'd, it doesn't imply any required action by them, and I just assume they will make the stupidist move possible, and oass in a manner to avoid them if they do.
08-05-14, 03:41 PM
#49
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I appreciate the husbands that put their arms around their confused panicked wives and pull them to the side 
not to be sexist, just what I have experienced
not to be sexist, just what I have experienced
08-05-14, 03:50 PM
#50
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On MUP in San Jose area last night, riding down a hill on the somewhat narrow part of the trail....a guy walking in my direction, with headphones on, completely oblivious, for some reason turns his back to me and bends over to tie his shoe in the middle of the narrow path when I am maybe 15 feet away. That was a real winner....
I do have one of those wild, crazy, ****zy dogs who chases EVERYTHING...so I actually really appreciate it is someone yells out they are approaching to pass (or rings their bell) as I am walking on a MUP as I know to make sure I tug my dog close in to not dart in the direction of the bike. I do NOT like it when I am on a sidewalk though...blowing by pedestrians on a sidewalk is inappropriate- I don't ride on sidewalks unless I absolutely have to and then it is a walking pace. My poor dog nearly got run over on a sidewalk by a tool on a bike blowing by us and not announcing he was coming up from behind....and there was a bike lane in the road right next to the sidewalk (and it wasn't a very busy street and this was an adult not a kid, so no excuse). If I wasn't so afraid for my dog and scrambling to get him out of the way fast, I wish I would have reacted faster and kicked his bike over....
I do have one of those wild, crazy, ****zy dogs who chases EVERYTHING...so I actually really appreciate it is someone yells out they are approaching to pass (or rings their bell) as I am walking on a MUP as I know to make sure I tug my dog close in to not dart in the direction of the bike. I do NOT like it when I am on a sidewalk though...blowing by pedestrians on a sidewalk is inappropriate- I don't ride on sidewalks unless I absolutely have to and then it is a walking pace. My poor dog nearly got run over on a sidewalk by a tool on a bike blowing by us and not announcing he was coming up from behind....and there was a bike lane in the road right next to the sidewalk (and it wasn't a very busy street and this was an adult not a kid, so no excuse). If I wasn't so afraid for my dog and scrambling to get him out of the way fast, I wish I would have reacted faster and kicked his bike over....
