Bobd20011

A question from a new commuter. I have a rather long ride to work (15 miles each way) and I go under an overpass or two that have fairly sharp turns which prevent me from seeing if someone is coming. I have been calling out "on your left" as I approach one of these turns.

My question:

Do you all call out every time you come upon a blind corner? If you do, what do you say? Or, should I just get a really loud horn and just lay on it as I go around the corners? OR, should I just shut up and pray that I don't hit anyone?

Kevrob

Make sure you have good lighting on both ends of your bike and have it turned on as you enter the underpasses. Not only will you be able to see the roadbed better, other drivers will see you sooner. + ∞ on a good horn. I use an AirZound.

I'm assuming that those blind corners are unavoidable.

Kevin

Bobd20011

The blind corners are unavoidable, but I am on a bike path. My concern is that I am going to round one of the corners and hit another bicyclist or a petestrian. I like the light idea, but it will not do much during the daytime.

DataJunkie

Slow down or find a way to avoid those sections. Yelling is not going to do much good with headphones. A horn will just piss everyone off IMHO.

bhop

Slow down and go around the corner at a speed that'll allow you to stop or evade if anything or anyone is there, would be the smart thing to do.

noisebeam

There is a MUP near by house I sometimes use, it has a blind 90 deg corner as well. I slow to walking speed at corner as cyclist & walkers coming from other direction can be on either side of path and may not be slow enough to stop when they first see me unless I am already near stopped.

annc

Assume that there's an obstacle right around the corner where you can't see and ride at a speed that will allow to enough time to react.

noisebeam

Even if you can see others you can't be sure they will keep a predictable line:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6XWBzYqe1A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g***QF-3h8M

mikeybikes

Since its a MUP, slow down.

noisebeam

If it will make the situation safer (for example don't assume just because you are slower that the guy coming the other way is) then holler. I usually say 'heads up'

neilfein

You can also ask the town if they'll install wide-angle mirrors.

savethekudzu

In lieu of wide-angle mirrors, consider yourself the faster, more dangerous vehicle.
Behave the way you would want a motorist to behave if approaching the same turn in a situation where you might be the defenseless unknown.

Yeah. Slow down and yield for safety.

noisebeam

The blind corners I reverenced had wide angle mirrors when new. They were gone vandalized in the first two weeks. I don't see the point in replacing unless with a new design on top of un-climbable/bendable 20ft pole

jeffpoulin

I too would slow way down. It's a commute not a race, and if you want a workout, then you can be happy that re-accelerating is good exercise.

Vatn

Over here, the bell is the only way to say "I'm a bike, and I'm coming your way!" A horn, or yelling, or whistling, will just confuse people. A louder horn will certainly not make people think "bike!" Not quickly enough, anyway.

Slow way down...

MMACH 5

There is part of a bike path that is like that, here, (one semi-blind curve followed by two blind curves). I slow down a bit and whistle REALLY loudly, as I approach.

Be sure to stay to the right, as you'll have more time to react to someone traveling the same direction as you, than to an oncoming obstacle.

AndrewP

Shout "Coming Through!", but also ease off the speed

barturtle

I figure you should do the exact same thing we want motorists to do: Slow The Heck Down!

If you can't see around a corner, slow down enough to allow yourself time to react to any potential situation.

Quel

I slow down and ring my bell a bunch of times.

Bobd20011

Thanks for the comments. I took those turns much much slower yesterday evening, and I felt much safer. AND, I now know what a MUP is. I have so much to learn, but I am enjoying the commute more and more each day.

Caspar_s

Blah.

Go hardcore - full face helmet and body armor!

ItsJustMe

As with any other roadway, it's your responsibility to reduce your speed to where you're able to stop before hitting anything that could reasonably be expected to be found around the corner. Faster than that is "too fast for conditions".

You may still get whacked by some other idiot coming the other way at high speed, but there's nothing you can do about that. Going slow yourself will give him more time to react though.