Things your fellow commuters do that annoy you
01-05-15, 12:03 PM
#301
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Bell or verbal, using a "warning" as a demand to clear the road so one may maintain their speed or cadence is rude, using them as a request for clearance when others are blocking the way or as alerting others to ones presence isn't.
In Washington its required and often expected on MUTs when passing others.
In Washington its required and often expected on MUTs when passing others.
01-05-15, 02:01 PM
#302
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01-05-15, 05:01 PM
#303
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I agree peds have priority on the sidewalk, but not on a MUP. That sort of thinking is part of the problem. Peds need to share the MUP, which means staying to the side generally, and looking around before crossing, not acting like a zombie, and acting predictably. Also, not taking up the entire path as well as keeping dogs close by and under control. The mindset that bikes have to watch out for peds and peds have no responsibility is a dangerous one.
I agree cyclists have priority on the sidewalk, but not on a public roadway. That sort of thinking is part of the problem. Cyclists need to share the public roadway, which means staying to the side generally and.. ..not taking up the entire lane. The mindset that motor vehicle operators have to watch out for cyclists and cyclists have no responsibility is a dangerous one.
01-05-15, 05:26 PM
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As an aside, I was riding my normal 11 mile R/T "commute" today to the swimming pool for my daily exercise routine. Streets were icy and snow covered, temperature 7° F. I didn't see any other cyclists, no surprise as I seldom see them even when the weather is good. I was passed by perhaps 100 motorists on the commute, all were driving carefully due to the road conditions, some had to slow down to my speed to wait for a good moment/place to safely pass. Not a dang one blew his horn to announce his presence or that he was about to pass. I was glad that they didn't act like some obnoxious bicycling correctness tweesters forcing a close pass accompanied by yelling or other noise making.
01-05-15, 06:01 PM
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i've certainly been guilty of yelling (and i regret this). fwiw, i now prefer simple polite language: "i'm coming through" and "coming through" and tend to use phrases, such as, "heads up" only when i need to alert someone who is rapidly moving towards me in an oblivious manner. i also pass the vast, vast majority of walkers/runners silently and with plenty of space.
01-05-15, 06:50 PM
#307
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01-05-15, 07:03 PM
#308
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That pretty much describes my 7 year old. He's got a bell on his bike and his 7 year old fingers are just itching for any excuse to use it. I let him take the lead, and know any pedestrian within an 1/8 of a mile has been "alerted". 
01-05-15, 07:17 PM
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My experience is different. Never seen anybody get confused when I ring my bell. I've had pedestrians on MUPS and sidewalks thank me for using my bell.
01-05-15, 08:13 PM
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As an aside, I was riding my normal 11 mile R/T "commute" today to the swimming pool for my daily exercise routine. Streets were icy and snow covered, temperature 7° F. I didn't see any other cyclists, no surprise as I seldom see them even when the weather is good. I was passed by perhaps 100 motorists on the commute, all were driving carefully due to the road conditions, some had to slow down to my speed to wait for a good moment/place to safely pass. Not a dang one blew his horn to announce his presence or that he was about to pass. I was glad that they didn't act like some obnoxious bicycling correctness tweesters forcing a close pass accompanied by yelling or other noise making.
01-05-15, 08:47 PM
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Bell or verbal, using a "warning" as a demand to clear the road so one may maintain their speed or cadence is rude, using them as a request for clearance when others are blocking the way or as alerting others to ones presence isn't...
i've certainly been guilty of yelling (and i regret this). fwiw, i now prefer simple polite language: "i'm coming through" and "coming through" and tend to use phrases, such as, "heads up" only when i need to alert someone who is rapidly moving towards me in an oblivious manner. i also pass the vast, vast majority of walkers/runners silently and with plenty of space.
01-05-15, 09:11 PM
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Let's all just stay inside so as not to offend anyone. Some people might see you on your bike and feel bad about themselves, we wouldn't want that.
01-05-15, 09:31 PM
#313
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"Things your fellow commuters do that annoy you"
First and foremost is treating commuting like it's a sport. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't concentrate so much on tour de France type gear, and instead look at countries that have high rates of bicycle commuting. Get a comfortable bike, preferably dutch but about any really will do, and just go.
First and foremost is treating commuting like it's a sport. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't concentrate so much on tour de France type gear, and instead look at countries that have high rates of bicycle commuting. Get a comfortable bike, preferably dutch but about any really will do, and just go.
01-05-15, 10:41 PM
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"Things your fellow commuters do that annoy you"
First and foremost is treating commuting like it's a sport. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't concentrate so much on tour de France type gear, and instead look at countries that have high rates of bicycle commuting. Get a comfortable bike, preferably dutch but about any really will do, and just go.
First and foremost is treating commuting like it's a sport. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't concentrate so much on tour de France type gear, and instead look at countries that have high rates of bicycle commuting. Get a comfortable bike, preferably dutch but about any really will do, and just go.
No offense, but I have no interest in commuting on a Dutch bike. I might feel differently if I lived in the Netherlands and had a 2 mile flat commute. If they work well for other people on other commutes, that's awesome. Some people might even really like Dutch bikes on their 10 mile hilly commutes.
We don't all enjoy the same things in the same degree and that's why it's good to have choices.
Last edited by tjspiel; 01-05-15 at 10:51 PM.
01-05-15, 11:02 PM
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"Things your fellow commuters do that annoy you"
First and foremost is treating commuting like it's a sport. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't concentrate so much on tour de France type gear, and instead look at countries that have high rates of bicycle commuting. Get a comfortable bike, preferably dutch but about any really will do, and just go.
First and foremost is treating commuting like it's a sport. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't concentrate so much on tour de France type gear, and instead look at countries that have high rates of bicycle commuting. Get a comfortable bike, preferably dutch but about any really will do, and just go.
01-05-15, 11:54 PM
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Why do you assume people on sportier bikes aren't comfortable and that their owners aren't enjoying the ride, or at least getting something out of it that they value? It sounds like something a minivan owner might think about a sports car. In fact, if you really want to relax, just don't ride at all and take a bus.
No offense, but I have no interest in commuting on a Dutch bike. I might feel differently if I lived in the Netherlands and had a 2 mile flat commute. If they work well for other people on other commutes, that's awesome. Some people might even really like Dutch bikes on their 10 mile hilly commutes.
We don't all enjoy the same things in the same degree and that's why it's good to have choices.
No offense, but I have no interest in commuting on a Dutch bike. I might feel differently if I lived in the Netherlands and had a 2 mile flat commute. If they work well for other people on other commutes, that's awesome. Some people might even really like Dutch bikes on their 10 mile hilly commutes.
We don't all enjoy the same things in the same degree and that's why it's good to have choices.
01-06-15, 12:23 AM
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"Things your fellow commuters do that annoy you"
First and foremost is treating commuting like it's a sport. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't concentrate so much on tour de France type gear, and instead look at countries that have high rates of bicycle commuting. Get a comfortable bike, preferably dutch but about any really will do, and just go.
First and foremost is treating commuting like it's a sport. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't concentrate so much on tour de France type gear, and instead look at countries that have high rates of bicycle commuting. Get a comfortable bike, preferably dutch but about any really will do, and just go.
i've rented a modern aluminum-frame bike in amsterdam multiple times...and no one gave me any grief.
01-06-15, 02:02 AM
#318
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This is the proper use of a bell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7oGk-ozhKI
Portlandia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3nMnr8ZirI
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Last edited by 905; 01-06-15 at 02:44 AM. Reason: His Eminence has clearly been influenced by xkcd.
01-06-15, 04:15 AM
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Thanks for posting those, I needed a laugh.
Ah, Rule #1.
Do you have a sacred Etch A Sketch too? Speaking of which, here's another message from on high, which I assume is apropos to the most recent discussion. Rule #5 would seem to be the applicable one here. His Eminence must be growing restive:
Ah, Rule #1.
Do you have a sacred Etch A Sketch too? Speaking of which, here's another message from on high, which I assume is apropos to the most recent discussion. Rule #5 would seem to be the applicable one here. His Eminence must be growing restive:
The Rules compiled by the Velominati have influenced many. They took the cycling world by storm and eventually became a book; if it was adapted to a movie, it would have to star Charlton Heston, if he's still alive [...googling...] ok, Tom Hanks, who doesn't have the desired gravitas but does have experience in film treatments of Dan Brown novels.
The Rules are decidedly old school. You can't just write your own: an authority figure is required to impart them with the necessary stature, as prophets of all persuasions have realized over the years.
The Rules are decidedly old school. You can't just write your own: an authority figure is required to impart them with the necessary stature, as prophets of all persuasions have realized over the years.
I have a golden rule of cycling, “Do unto the peds, as you would have the cagers do unto you.”...
The ability of a cyclist to do damage is intermediate between that of a ped and a cager, but a cyclists’s own safety demands that he/she be the most attentive of the three, and assume the others are jerks.
The ability of a cyclist to do damage is intermediate between that of a ped and a cager, but a cyclists’s own safety demands that he/she be the most attentive of the three, and assume the others are jerks.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 01-06-15 at 06:03 AM.
01-06-15, 06:12 AM
#320
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I agree with this. One thing that annoys me is people telling me to commute on a specific kind of bike, or get this fender, or why don't you have a bike you can put fenders and a rack on.... leave me alone. I ride what I ride because that is what I want to ride. If I want to set a personal record from light to light for my entire commute, let me do that. You may be out for your casual commute, and I will more than likely pass you, because while it is fun and relaxing for me, it is also a great form of exercise. Part of my commute is just letting it all out and opening it up when I can. I enjoy keeping up with traffic when possible, and passing a car in the lane...that is one of the highlights of my ride.
01-06-15, 06:42 AM
#321
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This thread is reminding me of my middle school days (yes, the 70's) when we would ride into a crowd shouting "no brakes!"
01-06-15, 07:22 AM
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"Things your fellow commuters do that annoy you"
First and foremost is treating commuting like it's a sport. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't concentrate so much on tour de France type gear, and instead look at countries that have high rates of bicycle commuting. Get a comfortable bike, preferably dutch but about any really will do, and just go.
First and foremost is treating commuting like it's a sport. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't concentrate so much on tour de France type gear, and instead look at countries that have high rates of bicycle commuting. Get a comfortable bike, preferably dutch but about any really will do, and just go.
And yes, that bike IS comfortable.
Why would you assume it isn't?
01-06-15, 07:49 AM
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I normally sound off loudly enough to any pedestrian I'm coming up on; 1) if they are moving in less than a straight line and might ease over on me, or if they are in the middle of the path/trail, 2) just to let them know I'm passing because before I started doing that, I noticed how it startled some, especially the older walkers/joggers. Now, on the other hand, if they have their ears crammed full of ear buds/headsets, then if they don't hear me, then if I see them jump as I pass, then so be it.
01-06-15, 08:09 AM
#324
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Sure, anything is possible under unusual circumstances.
As an aside, I was riding my normal 11 mile R/T "commute" today to the swimming pool for my daily exercise routine. Streets were icy and snow covered, temperature 7° F. I didn't see any other cyclists, no surprise as I seldom see them even when the weather is good. I was passed by perhaps 100 motorists on the commute, all were driving carefully due to the road conditions, some had to slow down to my speed to wait for a good moment/place to safely pass. Not a dang one blew his horn to announce his presence or that he was about to pass. I was glad that they didn't act like some obnoxious bicycling correctness tweesters forcing a close pass accompanied by yelling or other noise making.
As an aside, I was riding my normal 11 mile R/T "commute" today to the swimming pool for my daily exercise routine. Streets were icy and snow covered, temperature 7° F. I didn't see any other cyclists, no surprise as I seldom see them even when the weather is good. I was passed by perhaps 100 motorists on the commute, all were driving carefully due to the road conditions, some had to slow down to my speed to wait for a good moment/place to safely pass. Not a dang one blew his horn to announce his presence or that he was about to pass. I was glad that they didn't act like some obnoxious bicycling correctness tweesters forcing a close pass accompanied by yelling or other noise making.
01-06-15, 08:29 AM
#325
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