Things your fellow commuters do that annoy you
#226
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#228
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Kinda, but not really.
The people one will encounter while boating are going to be a fairly narrow spectrum who will likely have some clue and awareness, while a MUT will be shared with people representing the entire human comedy and some non humans as well, some of whom will be entirely clueless and unaware.
The people one will encounter while boating are going to be a fairly narrow spectrum who will likely have some clue and awareness, while a MUT will be shared with people representing the entire human comedy and some non humans as well, some of whom will be entirely clueless and unaware.
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Kinda, but not really.
The people one will encounter while boating are going to be a fairly narrow spectrum who will likely have some clue and awareness, while a MUT will be shared with people representing the entire human comedy and some non humans as well, some of whom will be entirely clueless and unaware.
The people one will encounter while boating are going to be a fairly narrow spectrum who will likely have some clue and awareness, while a MUT will be shared with people representing the entire human comedy and some non humans as well, some of whom will be entirely clueless and unaware.
#230
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#231
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It's not random words someone just decides to shout that they expect everyone to know.
If two sailboats are approaching each other, one on a starboard tack, and the other on a port tack, the boat on the starboard tack has the right of way. Yelling "starboard" to the boat on the port tack lets them know that the boat on the starboard tack is there and they are claiming that right of way (sometimes sails obscure visibility).
A beginning sailor may not know what that means and the starboard tack boat is not released from any obligation to avoid a collision, but etiquette says that the boat on the port tack should be the one to get out of the way. The fact that right of way rules are often confusing does not excuse somebody from learning them. You can get away with it in areas with few boats, but if you want to sail in crowded areas, you need to know the rules.
As a sailor, cyclist, runner, driver, even as a pedestrian, it is in everyone's best interest in busy areas to follow conventions. Allowances need to be made for people who haven't learned those conventions yet but regular users should know them.
So if I'm on a MUP, I will say "on your left" loud enough to be heard before passing. I will wait to make sure that the person I'm passing doesn't move into my path, then I will pass.
If two sailboats are approaching each other, one on a starboard tack, and the other on a port tack, the boat on the starboard tack has the right of way. Yelling "starboard" to the boat on the port tack lets them know that the boat on the starboard tack is there and they are claiming that right of way (sometimes sails obscure visibility).
A beginning sailor may not know what that means and the starboard tack boat is not released from any obligation to avoid a collision, but etiquette says that the boat on the port tack should be the one to get out of the way. The fact that right of way rules are often confusing does not excuse somebody from learning them. You can get away with it in areas with few boats, but if you want to sail in crowded areas, you need to know the rules.
As a sailor, cyclist, runner, driver, even as a pedestrian, it is in everyone's best interest in busy areas to follow conventions. Allowances need to be made for people who haven't learned those conventions yet but regular users should know them.
So if I'm on a MUP, I will say "on your left" loud enough to be heard before passing. I will wait to make sure that the person I'm passing doesn't move into my path, then I will pass.
#232
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The problem with yelling on your left is that the person you're yelling at doesn't have time to hear, understand and react appropriately unless you're going very slowly in which case there's no need to yell. If you're passing quickly there's also no need to say anything provided you give enough space. Obviously a dog or a horse is going to need more space than a cyclist riding a straight line.
#234
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Yelling "Kiai" has a very powerful effect and will get you through and over anything.
#236
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This morning: two riders going the opposite direction from me, riding next to each other and chatting. A car approaches behind them and is 'forced' into the oncoming lane in which I am travelling. I'm in the center of the lane I am travelling in because the property I'm riding past has their sprinklers on full force and it's spraying half way into the lane I'm in. So the car beeps their horn for the other riders to move over. One of the riders yells at me for "hogging the lane" and not yielding to the car. yay.
#237
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Kinda, but not really.
The people one will encounter while boating are going to be a fairly narrow spectrum who will likely have some clue and awareness, while a MUT will be shared with people representing the entire human comedy and some non humans as well, some of whom will be entirely clueless and unaware.
The people one will encounter while boating are going to be a fairly narrow spectrum who will likely have some clue and awareness, while a MUT will be shared with people representing the entire human comedy and some non humans as well, some of whom will be entirely clueless and unaware.
By the same token, on that same lake if I were to yell "starboard" while approaching a boat that's on a port tack, half of the sailors in my sailing club wouldn't know what I meant. They would probably assume I mean "look out" and would act accordingly but things rarely get to that point. It's a round lake with no motorized traffic and generally plenty of room to maneuver. So courtesy and common sense are enough to deal with most situations. But there are parts of the world where I wouldn't sail in without knowing right of way rules thoroughly. Narrow, busy channels or harbor entrances for example. Especially if there are bigger boats involved.
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This morning: two riders going the opposite direction from me, riding next to each other and chatting. A car approaches behind them and is 'forced' into the oncoming lane in which I am travelling. I'm in the center of the lane I am travelling in because the property I'm riding past has their sprinklers on full force and it's spraying half way into the lane I'm in. So the car beeps their horn for the other riders to move over. One of the riders yells at me for "hogging the lane" and not yielding to the car. yay.
Last edited by wolfchild; 01-03-15 at 10:09 AM.
#239
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And they aren't going to learn the jargon if they never hear it. So I think it's just as important to say "on your left" when you suspect the person you're passing won't know what you mean. Just be extra careful.
I am considering getting a bell though just because I think that's probably more universal than "on your left".
IMHO "hello" should be reserved for greeting people and not used as an announcement of intent to pass.
#240
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I've heard some cyclists on MUPS yelling, "coming through !!! "... It sounds like they have an extremely inflated sense of self-importance.
#241
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I just announce "bike back" on the MUP here and that is usually enough of a heads up to pedestrians. If I pass another cyclist, I will get behind them and then say "I am going to pass you on your left" and I wait for a response.
Also what is a "fred"?
Also what is a "fred"?
#243
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+1
And they aren't going to learn the jargon if they never hear it. So I think it's just as important to say "on your left" when you suspect the person you're passing won't know what you mean. Just be extra careful.
I am considering getting a bell though just because I think that's probably more universal than "on your left".
IMHO "hello" should be reserved for greeting people and not used as an announcement of intent to pass.
And they aren't going to learn the jargon if they never hear it. So I think it's just as important to say "on your left" when you suspect the person you're passing won't know what you mean. Just be extra careful.
I am considering getting a bell though just because I think that's probably more universal than "on your left".
IMHO "hello" should be reserved for greeting people and not used as an announcement of intent to pass.
#244
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Just as some self described savvy bicyclists cluelessly credit strangers for understanding (or even giving a dang) about group/club cycling customs and "basic jargon." And better yet, get annoyed when others including bicyclists and pedestrians do not respond "correctly" to warnings/commands shouted in bicycle club speak.
Last edited by I-Like-To-Bike; 01-03-15 at 11:39 AM.
#245
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Just as some self described savvy bicyclists cluelessly credit strangers for understanding (or even giving a dang) about group/club cycling customs and "basic jargon." And better yet, get annoyed when others including bicyclists and pedestrians do not respond "correctly" to commands shouted in bicycle club speak.
#246
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That's exactly how I learned what it meant; it got yelled at me enough times for me to piece together that "on your left" means someone is overtaking you and you should create space on the left instead of swerving left. I have a bell on my regular commuter but not on my weekend carbon bike (bells weigh too much goddammit!)
#247
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I'd recommend you try it.
#248
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And they aren't going to learn the jargon if they never hear it. So I think it's just as important to say "on your left" when you suspect the person you're passing won't know what you mean. Just be extra careful.
I am considering getting a bell though just because I think that's probably more universal than "on your left".
I am considering getting a bell though just because I think that's probably more universal than "on your left".
If you say "On your left" at a normal speaking cadence, it takes time for them to recognize that it's human speech, then that it's directed at them, and they start recognizing the content right about "left."
Many will then do exactly as you ask, and step to their left.
If you want to use "on your left" instead of a bell, you'll have much better results if you stretch out the "on" into two or three syllables, so the pedestrian has time to begin speech recognition before you get to the important part. But you should still expect some significant fraction to step to the left when they hear "left." Assuming, of course, that they speak English... commuting through the International District in Seattle, English is not the native tongue of many people I pass.
All in all, I find a bell much more reliable.
#249
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Ya mean teaching newcomers/visitors in this country the basic jargon of this country isn't the right thing to do when cycling in the park? Who wudda thunk it?
#250
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What are you suggesting? OYL doesn't work on a small percentage of riders (newcomers/visitors), therefore it shouldn't be used at all?