Delicate situation - suggestions please...........
06-08-12, 07:11 PM
#51
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The only one you can count on is yourself. The only safe thing to do is to expect the others to do the wrong thing. You can control your bike, nothing else. Give everyone enough space to move the wrong way. Don't get close to anyone.
06-11-12, 05:10 AM
#52
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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.
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.
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06-11-12, 11:55 PM
#53
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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.
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.
Hell, I don't think too many motorists would even bother signal that they're slowing or stopping if their brake lights weren't hardwired to their brake pedals.
And I agree that the OP should have done everything that they reasonably can to avoid a crash. But is the OP responsible for the actions of another person? That is what some members appear to be suggesting. That the OP is/was responsible for the actions of the second cyclist.
As an example of how few people truly understand the hand signals. Today as I was riding home from the VA I signaled a right hand turn. And the cyclist on the other side of the road waved to me. Apparently thinking that I was waving at him.
Last edited by Digital_Cowboy; 06-12-12 at 12:08 AM.
06-12-12, 12:11 AM
#54
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Sadly, this is very true. I had a conversation with a city employee today (Monday) who was under the impression that cyclists "have" to remain on the side of the road and even when we're going through an intersection with dedicated left/right turn lanes and a through turn lane that we're still required to ride on the side of the road.
06-12-12, 12:22 AM
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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.
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.
I think that you just might be surprised at just how loud some people are listening to their iPods.
06-13-12, 02:11 AM
#56
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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?
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?
06-18-12, 04:47 AM
#57
What happened?
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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.
I think that you just might be surprised at just how loud some people are listening to their iPods.
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