jimmuller 

I don't usually ride with groups so I'm only vaguely familiar with the practice of calling out the presence of an approaching car. But sometimes I'm in or see a situation where another cyclist will call out "Car left" (or right or back). In one recent case I heard "Car up" where the car was obviously uphill.

The case I never know how to handle is when a car is approaching from the side and you (or I or anyone) calls out to someone coming toward you. "Car left" could mean your left or my left. This happens often enough where the Minuteman Bikeway crosses roads.

Is there a convention? My usually reaction is to point and say "Car that way" but that requires visual connection too. Just plain "Car" would be unambiguous in the sense that it is carries no ambiguous information by carrying none at all.

What do you do in such cases? What does anyone do?

Just curious. I keep thinking about this every time it comes up while I'm riding, which really isn't so often. But often enough.

Spoonrobot 

If there's a cyclist coming towards you, point at the thing you want them to be aware of. Calling out often causes confusion and can make a non-situation into a hazardous one.

IME/IMO of course.

iab

Car up - An oncoming car. Potential for trouble if there is a car back.

Car back - A car coming up from behind. If you are side by side, go single file.

Car left - A car coming from the left at an interchange

Car right - A car coming from the right at an interchange

Retoocs

Car middle - the pack just swarm around a car

Wildwood

There are no rules.
I point to road hazards those behind me may not see.
I call 'car back' if the group is not already single file.
That's all. Usually.

gaucho777 

+1 to iab.

Although, my daughter hates when I call out "Car back!" She says it sounds like I'm yelling at her and that "Car back!" doesn't even make sense as a sentence. So to her I say, "There is a car coming behind you," or "Watch out for the car on the right."

When I'm not in a group with other like-minded cyclists, the thing I find myself yelling most often is a simple, "Heads up!" Works with drivers, pedestrians, dog walkers, and the random non-cyclist person who happens to be on a bike. "Heads Up!" is a quick, strong statement there is danger and you should stop or at least slow down, look around, and figure out what's about to happen.

USAZorro

For the sake of amusement, I suggest posting this in the Advocacy and Safety Forum.

jimmuller 

Uh, I'll stick with the congenial C&V, thank you!

Of course most of this is obvious. I was just curious about the case of calling to someone coming toward you, something which doesn't happen often on roads but does every so often where the MM crosses roads. In those cases if I call out at all I also point. But I don't see many other cyclists doing that.

Otis

Left is your left, right is your right, back is behind you. Do not wave like like a crazy person, just point to broken glass, pot-holes, and stray mufflers. That's doing your best, and is all that is needed.

1989Pre

I have never heard of calling to a rider travelling in the opposite direction. The club I ride with is assiduous about calling car back, tractor up, runner up, etc, but I have never heard of that which you speak of. I think you are right: Just go with "car" if you wish to send an alert.

Rollfast

Car up and down would mean you are traveling to Spacely Sprockets.

Bikerider007

It's different among groups here. C groups there are lots of signs and verbal, its almost like a class unless it's the same riders, but a lot is still pointed out. B depends on the group and familiarity of riders, and the issue. Typically some pointing with a few verbals. A you are pretty much on your own and you also get dropped or left behind for a flat other reasons. B will not usually drop but will split and meet at check points if fast riders are present.

Car back is common and you just need to drop in slow or speed up, others usually accommodate. Car up is typically when it's a large group on single lane road, one each way, bridges etc where riders take up the whole lane. Same thing. Should get over.

Hand down and open palm is slowing.

Hand down and fist is stopping.

Point to hazards on each side.

Hand out and with palm open and rocking it side to side (like slippery/unsure) is gravel or glass hazard.

Hand down and flat forward and back but straight (like a robot arm hanging going back and forth) means a crack or something parallel to your tire that can be a hazard.

Brushing hand inward toward bike means scoot over as something is sticking into road, may be a branch or going around a car parked on the curb.

Tap your thigh on the side you want passed on, if pulling and want to be relieved.

There are some others but those are main in my area. A lot of these are also yelled out in C groups.

Drillium Dude 

Seconded

DD

Wildwood

Meet George Jetson, his boy Elroy,
Jane - his wife, daughter Judy....

corrado33

How far away do you point out hazards? 2 feet either side of your tire? If you're in a group that's a single paceline?

qcpmsame 

When we ride in groups the various call outs are reviewed before starting out, clarification avoids causing confusion during the rides, and potential issues get resolved. Seen too many groups get confused if the person calling out a hazard uses a term that if unfamiliar for the situation.

I'll have to agree with @jimmuller about discussing this one in C&V, even though it was suggested to watch for grins and giggles in the A&S. I can see a street fight beginning and then ending in a closed thread and some hurt feelings. Besides, I'd never see the topic if it got caged up in there.

Bill

Bikerider007

I would say about that, not really a rule more common sense. Slower groups don't usually use a Paceline or properly anyway, but it's really up to the rider, group experience or potential hazard.

SJX426 

I was following a cyclist the other day, well that happens every day, and all of a sudden they patted there right butt cheek. What the heck is that? They then passed an object, another bike, pedestrian, whatever. Is that I sign to scoot over?

The Golden Boy 

I just do a "Wilhelm Scream"

The Golden Boy 

"My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard."

SJX426 

How did you know the cyclist was female?! Anyway, I passed...... both.

ecnewell 

This applies perfectly to all situations. Also gets pedestrians to jump out of the way.

jimmuller 

Plenty of entertainment here, I see. No need to go elsewhere.

I phrased my original question the way I did in order to keep the discussion focused, seein' as how we all ride in very different circumstances. (Paceline? Whazat?) Obviously there are few occasions to call out to another cyclist coming towards you. I was specifically thinking about the dozen or so places where roads cross the Minuteman Bikeway., an admittedly an unusual situation. Some of those roads aren't especially wide, and with trail itself being narrower than a road a cyclist crossing from the other direction is in a nearly face-to-face position with you. With limited lines of sight up and down the road you sometimes have to slow more than you'd like. So a call of "Clear" is often answered with "Thank you" from riders coming or going.

"Clear" is unambiguous. So is "front", "back", "left", "right" to a rider going the same direction as you. "Up" or "down" is unambiguous when a hill is unambiguous. I've heard all sorts of calls, and even more lack of them. (I heard what I heard and I heard what I didn't hear, if you take my meanin'.) So I figured I raise the question.

plonz 

Car (insert direction) is easy. We need to gain consensus on the proper method for communicating when you're done with your pull, want the group to come around and to which side...