Yes, thank you. That's true too. After reading all the comments here I think I wont feel so bad when someone dont let me know they are passing me. For me right now it feels better when they let me know and I honestly got irritated a couple of times because they passed me so fast and so close they scared me, and I thought about the possible danger, but I see the points all of you are making and they are very valid. Thanks

Yes, thanks agaim, it makes me feel better reading this and I'm sure I'll be less freaked out and trust more

:) ... and hold your line. :)


BTW - now and then there are humorous lists of "you know you're a cyclist when ... " statements ...

One of them that usually pops up is:

You know you're a cyclist when ... you mutter "hold your line" under your breath to other shoppers in the grocery store who are meandering down the aisles aimlessly with their shopping trolleys. :D

I have often wondered how a command word became a word for having people do the exact opposite.

"mumble mumble LEFT!" is, as you have mentioned, a good way to insure all but the most avid trail users will jump directly in front of the passing cyclist. Sure, there are some who have immersed their minds, and reactions, in trail conventions; but they are not the ones who are meandering down the centre of the path.

I find it more productive to just say, "passing," from about 5-10 meters back as I approach.

BTW, as a faster cyclist myself, I'm always fully prepared to shove a wobbly cyclist over should he/she veer into me while passing. It's better than colliding.

BTW, it's better to just shout "MOVE OVER", then see which way they go......

paved trails are so busy this time of year. we prefer them in the fall and spring. this weekend we saw a guy on a wheelchair mounted to a motorized skate board screaming right down the middle of the trail, he musta been going 20mph!

It's better just to yell out "Bike" and let them decide. Some move over to the left, some to the right and some split right down the middle.

When passing I'll mostly just pass unless there is a person with children. Then I'll slow quite a bit and just say "Passing" for a warning. Too much information requires processing. Everyone holds their course with minimal information. If several people are walking abreast and have to squeeze over I'll say "Thanks".

I live in Wisconsin. I tend to warn "on your left" anytime I am passing people and only in the case of either extremely small children or pokemon go players for whom this is their first excursion in the outdoors, most trailgoers here know what it means, and squeeze right a little more (especially if it is two people walking, or people with dogs).

If there is a small child, or dog with unaware owner, or pokemongo player on the trail, I will slow down and be vocal (give dog owner time to control the dog).

The other thing I do is if I'm riding with anyone, sometimes a group, or just one other person... I will say "ON YOUR LEFT"... and then "there are two of us" (or four of us... or whatever) as I pass by the person, usually holding out my hand with the number of bikers in my group.

Usually on my local MUP everyone is riding solo, unless its saturday morning (and I dont ride the mup on weekends), but one day there was a couple riding together and coming up behind me. I really appreciated that he let me know there would be two people passing me...the second person zipping by could really make you jump when you arent expecting it lol We were coming around a turn and I couldnt see the second one in my mirror at that moment.

Our MUP runs along a two lane hwy that is bordered with nice SFH's. Many of which have dogs and use the MUP to walk them. All but one person have actually stopped and roped in their dogs tight until i and others pass. Iv only been riding again since last summer, but so far everyone i come across in the area seems really nice and easy going with things.

All my Bicycles have bells on them ,, when I come up behind someone walking,
I'm always ready to stop.

it is not uncommon to have them only hear "Left" and Move that way ..

with a Bell they turn around and Look, usually.

There isn't any avoidance command that is 100% effective. Most in my area understand the "on your left" and typically hold their line.

I ride early am 95% of the time, I don't recall ever seeing any kids on the MUP.

I always try to click the brake levers or make some other noise. I don't like hollering at them because most of the time they just jump as if shot.

But lately I have been warning with " Coming up Behind You " And I try to do this far enough behind them to see what they are going to do.

Dude...you made me laugh so hard. Like literally, nothing in my mouth, but if there was, it would be all over my computer screen.

I don't really see other cyclists on my road bike. If I do take a bike path like once a week, it's to go from one exit to another for a loop on the back roads...and that portion of the trail is usually empty...except for a few groundhogs...They don't jump though, so I would imagine it much like hitting a big tree root or speed bump. Worst thing you can do is hit the brakes when you run over a groundhog. Because when you land, your tires will lock up. I've never hit one, but I've hit non-painted speed bumps at 20+ mph before...and that sucks...bad.

My cross bike and 29er have such knobby tires that they hear me from like 40 yards back...There's a really nice 22 mile paved trail near here, I went to it once...too many people on it for me.

Just curious, is "The Law that cyclists give an audible warning before overtaking other people on a bike path" EVER enforced, anywhere? Enforced by whom?

As a faster cyclist on my MUPs myself, I follow the laws regarding operation of vehicles, and only overtake others when it is safe for all involved. If I have to be prepared to shove someone over, I am certainly not doing that.



To the OP, now that I have bells on a couple bikes, I have realized they work FAR better. For the bikes that don't have them (I put them right next to the left brake hood, so I can ring them on the hoods, they are gradually getting added as bartape gets swapped out) I prefer "Coming up behind you". The longer phrase tends to give people more time to realize I am talking to them, and as others have mentioned people act in different manners when they hear directions. I also use judgement in regards to whom I alert, if it is a single biker or runner holding a steady line without traffic they themselves are navigating, I generally just pass them as far to the side as I can. If it is a bigger group or a couple different users meeting at the same point I'd also get to them, or someone wiggling all over the trail, or if they have pets or kids, I generally give a warning.

I wonder why some people continue to use a so-called safety warning ("On Your left") knowing that the results of such "warnings" are often unpredictable at best and likely to provoke an unwanted/unsafe reaction.

Like most laws regarding bikes, probably rarely if ever.

Because 95% of the people react just fine and appreciate the warning, it is just that 5% that don't that we hear about.

That's a bit rude. And if you're being rude, you may as well shout "STAY", which arguably could eliminate some of the wobbling into your direct path.

I find that "on your left" is most useful on group rides or cycling events where pretty much everyone understands and expects it. Casual riders on MUPs and streets often aren't acquainted with the cycling rules and jargon and may be confused by "on your left". If I can give them a wide berth, I usually just let them know I'm there so they don't swerve into me. In crowded or narrow areas, I'll sometimes say something like "excuse me, I'll be passing on your left" if the other rider doesn't appear to be experienced. Whenever things could get sketchy, I slow way down and pass with caution. The few extra seconds it adds to my ride are well worth it if they avoid a collision with a pedestrian or other cyclist.

Likely only enforced in the aftermath of a collision resulting in damages or injury where there are witnesses to your failure to warn the person you were overtaking.

Maybe because a lot of bike paths (or local laws, apparently) require "some type of audible warning" -- like I've said, I prefer careful observation and the element of surprise when passing people on bike paths.

I think "On your left" is better than "ZOOP ZOOP" but I'd be willing to bet it would work and also qualify as an audible warning. Does the law state how soon before passing you must give audible warning. Because if you do it right as your whizzing by, you could yell out "ZOOP ZOOP" as you fly by...therefore you'd be safe and in accordance with the law as well.

While you should always strive to ride as predictably and safely as possible, understand that it's the responsibility of the person doing the passing to do so safely as well. Don't just assume you're the guilty one if something unfortunate ever happens.

Lately, (my morning ride reminded me of this) I call out "PASSING, hold your line". Seems to work and most people move to the right a little.

Please let me assure you. Accidents will happen. Cycling is a wonderful sport (and can be reliable basic transportation as well). But accidents and injuries is part of the fun.... as in ALL sports. Accept the idea that bumps, burses, and a little lost blood is all just part of the fun. Enjoy yourself.... but be careful and aware of your surroundings. I like to think that the little scares while cycling... is just a reminder of how great it is to be alive.

I am sure you're a fine cyclist! Glad to hear (read) you aren't trying to scare anyone into safer cycling practices.