Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy (Post 14312393)

Ah, but just how far is the OP suppose to go in preventing a crash? Should the OP place themselves in danger in order to prevent the faster cyclist from impacting with the pedestrians? I'm sure that like many of us here that you have encountered pedestrians who can best be described as "iPod zombies." And that nothing short of a gun/cannon blast is going to penetrate their music.

Originally Posted by Camilo (Post 14316876)

Good grief, it's been said several times: he simply uses the hand signal for slowing/stopping. Does nobody know or use this signal any more? Is it really a new concept to some riders? You slow down in bike traffic, you use the slow down/stop hand signal. Maybe we need to review the fact that you should signal your turns too?

Or are you assuming that the following cyclist is too much of a clueless idiot to respond properly to that signal? If so why is that assumption made? I make no such assumption. Just as when I use my brake lights on my car, I expect the following cars to slow down to avoid a crash. Don't you?

I have no idea why anyone would make this assumption. OP didn't. He simply stated that IF the trailing cyclist kept going at the fast rate of speed, it would cause a problem. Solution: USE THE FRIGGIN' HAND SIGNAL TO TELL HIM TO SLOW DOWN.

This really is not an uncertain or difficult situation. I have no idea why an experienced cyclist would even be uncertain or have to ask how to deal with it or label this situation as the subject line does.

Originally Posted by gcottay (Post 14327682)

Some drivers have a similar attitude about sharing the road with cyclists.

Originally Posted by Rollfast (Post 14339650)

Their music isn't THAT loud and if you just walk up to them and they'll sense you then look and get the I'm stupid if I didn't notice you look.

Carry on and say Sorry about that then SPLIT. All people function like that to a good degree, chagrin takes hold or they startle and mildly curse you. They're finished at that point.

Originally Posted by 009jim (Post 14306281)

Situation:- I am on the MUP coming home from work.
Path is about wide enough for 8 ft wide I'd guess.
Outbound, there is a pedestrian ahead walking about 3 mph at the far left.
I'm also outbound coming up behind the pedestrian and keeping left speed about 10 mph.
I'm planning my safe diversion around the pedestrian - normally a simple thing.
There is another pedestrian inbound. All three of us will be side to side coincidentally - still no problem, because both pedestrians are keeping left and I can fit in the middle.

Suddenly I see the light of another cyclist behind me. He is obviously doing 20 mph. His speed is such that if he keeps going we will all (the 4 of us) be side-by-side on the path at the same spot. We could just fit, but it is dark and there is a risk of one person just moving off there line a little which would result in an accident.

What is recommended behavior?
We can assume pedestrians probably won't move (one of them has no idea there are 2 cyclists behind her).
So it is basically up to the cyclists to observe some sort of courtesy/ rule.
Should the front rider (me) slow down, so the faster rider can hopefully not plow up my date but swerve around and keep going?
Or, should the fast rider, slow down, he can see all 4 people?

Originally Posted by Digital_Cowboy (Post 14344243)

You think so? I encountered one today who even when I hit my brakes and my discs screamed they didn't even flinch. I also encountered a salmon who was listening to his "iPod" and at a level that apparently blocked out outside noise. As I rung my bell in an attempt to get his attention and it didn't even register.

I think that you just might be surprised at just how loud some people are listening to their iPods.