Etiquette
#55
Senior Member
As for a general consensus of the cycling community, I doubt that it exists, each cyclist feels they are going to do what the wish, no amount of talk or posts will change this aspect. Many here have already said that this has been hashed out here numerous times.
I am strictly a roadie, no MUP to ride here, I usually call out passing on your right or left as their position requires, pedestrians tend to dart back and forth for some reason. No bells here, I have a deep, loud voice when I wish to, it gets their attention quite well. If they have in ear buds, that is their problem they are responsible to be paying attention somehow. Horse back riders and carts are different thing all together.
I don't mind one way or another about being warned by someone passing me, if I am paying proper attention I pick up on another rider coming past, and even as they approach. If I didn't remain alert I would get mowed down in short order by a vehicle or some form of farm equipment.
Bill
I am strictly a roadie, no MUP to ride here, I usually call out passing on your right or left as their position requires, pedestrians tend to dart back and forth for some reason. No bells here, I have a deep, loud voice when I wish to, it gets their attention quite well. If they have in ear buds, that is their problem they are responsible to be paying attention somehow. Horse back riders and carts are different thing all together.
I don't mind one way or another about being warned by someone passing me, if I am paying proper attention I pick up on another rider coming past, and even as they approach. If I didn't remain alert I would get mowed down in short order by a vehicle or some form of farm equipment.
Bill
They certainly are. A few of my routes take me past horse farms and boarding stables. I find it best to dismount my bicycle and walk toward the horse and rider as soon as they are in sight. The rider usually does one of two things: 1 Thanks me for dismounting and says that the horse they are on is not particularly spooky and I could get back on my bike , or 2. Thanks me for dismounting and requests I stay off my bike until they are well past.
Horses can be skittish and thoroughbreds doubly so.
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#56
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Agreed, as a former owner of a thoroughbred gelding (my daughter's dressage mount) they truly can be skittish. The Quarterhorses and other breeds I see around our rural area never get frisky when I am riding by, thankfully. For these folks I always announce my approach when coming up from behind, in a clear, pleasant voice, so as not to spook the mount.
Even a bright colored jersey can set a horse off, my two orange Dutch national jerseys have gotten a saddle bred upset as it approached from the side trail as I rode by. Learned a lesson about that.
Bill
Even a bright colored jersey can set a horse off, my two orange Dutch national jerseys have gotten a saddle bred upset as it approached from the side trail as I rode by. Learned a lesson about that.
Bill
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#57
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As I mentioned before I announce well before I pass, and thank the person as I pass.
There are 2 reasons why:
H.
There are 2 reasons why:
- Courtesy -- I share the path with other cyclists, joggers, walkers, horseback riders, kids playing, etc. We all need to get along. I like to keep good relations with those who share the path with me.
- Safety -- Recently a woman was killed by a kid on bicycle while walking on a nearby path. This needs to be taken seriously.
H.
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Some MUP etiquette tips ... 
1) Ride predictably
2) Hold your line
3) Don't take up the entire MUP, leave room for others to pass
4) If you are going stop, get off the MUP, or move as far over to the side as possible, so that others can keep going
5) When you come to a road intersection, and there are some cyclists standing there astride their bicycles waiting for the traffic to clear so they can cross the intersection, don't shove to the front

1) Ride predictably
2) Hold your line
3) Don't take up the entire MUP, leave room for others to pass
4) If you are going stop, get off the MUP, or move as far over to the side as possible, so that others can keep going
5) When you come to a road intersection, and there are some cyclists standing there astride their bicycles waiting for the traffic to clear so they can cross the intersection, don't shove to the front
#59
Senior Member
They certainly are. A few of my routes take me past horse farms and boarding stables. I find it best to dismount my bicycle and walk toward the horse and rider as soon as they are in sight. The rider usually does one of two things: 1 Thanks me for dismounting and says that the horse they are on is not particularly spooky and I could get back on my bike , or 2. Thanks me for dismounting and requests I stay off my bike until they are well past.
Horses can be skittish and thoroughbreds doubly so.
Horses can be skittish and thoroughbreds doubly so.
The reason appears to be that bikes are relatively silent, and for one to suddenly appear in the horse's peripheral vision will make it react in either a fight or flight way... and that is not desirable for either the horse rider or cyclist.
The technique has worked well for me.
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If much else fails/I see they are buried in Beets or earbuds, I have a very loud horn noise I can make with my own throat or I can slow down and make sure they notice me first, or take a wide berth.
Oh Sure I had Walkmen in my younger daze, but I could only afford one set of AAs at a time, one C-90 and it's toast.
Oh Sure I had Walkmen in my younger daze, but I could only afford one set of AAs at a time, one C-90 and it's toast.
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Last edited by Homebrew01; 12-03-16 at 05:34 PM.
#64
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I am 53 years old nursing a shoulder replacement surgery from last week. It's my sixth major joint surgery. I really don't feel like I can afford to crash at all, let alone when there is a high speed differential. I don't crash like I used to. I slow down.
#65
Its all about the cruise
Lol to me a MUP is like a ski trail. You definitely need to be aware of whats behind you and in front of you lol. At all times.. And Saturdays are not a good day to go on a MUP lol ...
A road generally goes in both directions with a split down the middle with dedicated sides and cyclists ride with traffic so as long as they stay where they should their likelyhood of "Passing" is uneventful .
Obviously what this thread does show is a completely different approach exists in each case
A road generally goes in both directions with a split down the middle with dedicated sides and cyclists ride with traffic so as long as they stay where they should their likelyhood of "Passing" is uneventful .
Obviously what this thread does show is a completely different approach exists in each case
#66
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calling out on trails
Our local regional park district has signs telling cyclists to call out when passing walkers on the trails. I ring my bell or call out when passing, but it bothers me to see walkers jumping to the right as if hit with an electric shock when I ring the bell. For that reason, when people move out of the way, I say "Thank You!" when I go past.
It does bother me a little to be passed by other cyclists, especially if they pass close to me and are travelling fast. I don't always maintain a disciplined, straight line on country roads and have sometimes realized that a passing cyclist came close to hitting me.
It does bother me a little to be passed by other cyclists, especially if they pass close to me and are travelling fast. I don't always maintain a disciplined, straight line on country roads and have sometimes realized that a passing cyclist came close to hitting me.
#67
Senior Member
Regarding horses, never forget that they are 1000+ pound animals. Animals that have a fight-or-flight instinct when surprised. If you 'ambush' them, they may regard you as a predator and nothing the owner/rider can do will control them. They may bolt and run, or they may rear up or kick. But if they're allowed enough time to associate a strange sight with a human voice, they'll usually accept it. Give them the time to make that association.
#68
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I am firmly in the camp of announcing my approach, and expect the same of others.
#70
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It depends... my local MUP trail is paved and has a yellow dividing line down the middle. When other users follow the line and stay on the right side it's no issue passing them. When other MUP trail users blatantly walk/ride on the right side of the trail I usually pass them as close as possible, if my shoulder touches their that's preferable, although doesn't always happen. As for passing speed, if they're on the right side of the yellow line I pass at whatever speed I was already going, however, if they're on the left side of the yellow line I make sure to be going at the very least 20 mph when I pass them.
#71
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I also prefer (but don't demand) the same.
It's about courtesy. And if there's plenty of space and little to no risk, I don't see the infraction of not doing so. Just provide sufficient space, pass at a modest rate of speed, then I get on with the ride.
JMO
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A lot of this depends what we're riding on.
This is our Cycleway.
If everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing, and is in their correct lanes, and looks like they know what they're doing, I'll just pass either without comment or maybe a "hi".
However, if people are taking up both lanes or weaving and wobbling about and looking like they're not sure what they're doing, I'll announce that I'm coming.
This is our Cycleway.
If everyone is doing what they are supposed to be doing, and is in their correct lanes, and looks like they know what they're doing, I'll just pass either without comment or maybe a "hi".
However, if people are taking up both lanes or weaving and wobbling about and looking like they're not sure what they're doing, I'll announce that I'm coming.

#73
Senior Member
What is the general consensus in the cycling community? There is no general concensus on ANYTHING in the cycling community... ESPECIALLY on bikeforums.
When you pass someone on your bike do you let them know before you do so? With a bell or verbally? I verbally let people know when I am passing them.
Do you expect others to let you know when they are passing? I prefer it but do not expect it.
Does it annoy you when you are passed without warning or do you not care? I do not care. I usually know when they are coming.
When you pass someone on your bike do you let them know before you do so? With a bell or verbally? I verbally let people know when I am passing them.
Do you expect others to let you know when they are passing? I prefer it but do not expect it.
Does it annoy you when you are passed without warning or do you not care? I do not care. I usually know when they are coming.
#74
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#75
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