kickstart

How about politely alerting people of your intentions when called for, and refrain from "yelling" commands at those you don't approve of?

Milton Keynes

I've never experienced it on a public road much, but if I do come up behind another rider I'll probably just ring my bell as a courtesy.

rumrunn6

reminds me when a full kit roady overtakes me a little bit after I passed him & he says: "on no, I'm not gonna be passed by a hybrid, that's a hybrid, right?" as he looks at my front shocks. I said nothing. a little while later I passed him again for good & I still said nothing. dude just ride your bike

adamhenry

I'll announce my presence when it seems appropriate. I nearly got burned for not doing it one day when a guy that appeared safe to pass suddenly decided to pull off on a wide spot on the left side of the path just when I was up to his rear wheel.

rgconner

Thanks for "advice", since you know the situation so well.

It is duly noted.

bcpriess

"I'll announce my presence when it seems appropriate. I nearly got burned for not doing it one day when a guy that appeared safe to pass suddenly decided to pull off on a wide spot on the left side of the path just when I was up to his rear wheel."

That is why I always say "on your left". And I don't care if it annoys anyone. One bit. I don't want to crash when someone I'm passing makes a sudden, unannounced change in direction.

OldTryGuy

I RING MY BELL and if the person seems a bit uneasy I also say "passing on your left."

mtb_addict 

I hate when people yell.
I'm not deaf...they don't need to yell.

I don't usually ride in a group...but when I pass people I assume the person will swerve during my pass...so I have extra space on my left side and make sure not car is passing me. Defensive riding like. Not going to assume he's not going to swerve just because he knows you're passing.

NYMXer

I've passed other cyclist on a public road and announced my presence and intent to pass if conditions or their body language made me feel uneasy. Note that I said "announced" and not YELLED... there is a difference.
Better safe than sorry and getting "spooked" is never a good feeling, so etiquette and safety are more important than possibly hurting someones pride.

jefnvk

You might not be, but I have no idea if you are deaf, wearing headphones, or just plain oblivious to everything around you. If I feel the need to announce I am passing, I'm going to make sure you hear.

That said, I try to announce a ways back, so if need be I have an opportunity to do it a second time. I live in a small lake town, where nice days generally have quite a few cyclists out, not all moving all that fast or predictably.

biketampa

+1

For every person who doesn't like the announced "on your left" there's at least one other person who expects it. Somebody else is annoyed by a bike bell. Other times a person announces too loudly. There is no winning.

Leebo

Did you see him in your mirror? Seems like the other rider was being kind. And Courteous. I will sometimes ring my bike bell for the very few riders I do pass. Or maybe that would ruin their day. Bummers. Silence? Just wear earplugs. Problem solved. Yikes.

linberl

I have a mirror but I don't use it on MUPs; it's for traffic. I do appreciate someone calling out or ringing a bell when they pass. There are often road pavement issues, squirrels, etc., which can cause me to swerve. If I don't know you're there, we might both be sorry. Sometimes there is less than 2 feet between me and the passing bike and being startled sucks. I also ding my bell when passing people and say "thank you" when they move over. Most people appreciate it.

Tombaatar

that was you?

kickstart

So you also expect to post on BF about going from one extreme of yelling at others to the other extreme of doing nothing at all, and not be subject to differing opinions?

KenR

I prefer it when someone going faster than me says On Your Left as soon as possible. I think it's quite appropriate. There are times that I may not be looking in my rear view mirror or am paying attention to something else ahead of me and need the wake up call. As far as me passing someone, I try to gauge the situation but generally call out to make sure.

mapeiboy

Let's see here OP was in a rural area with very little traffic and yet the other rider felt the need to shout " to your left " . He could not pass OP far to the left and just move on ? . I would yell back at him " what is your problem . " .

boozergut

'I usually follow up my "on your left" with a "good morning" and a smile. Subsequently if someone becomes irritated at this, they have then passed the a$$hat test.

jefnvk

You want me to ride near the center line of a road, so as to not startle you or interrupt your solitude?

If they have ceased whatever behavior caused me to say something to them in the first place, I follow it up with a quick "Thanks!" while passing. I'd say the amount of times they've responded with their own positive response outweighs the amount of times they were mad about 20-1.

mapeiboy

If no cars from either side is it really that much to ask of you to do ?

kickstart

I don't know if I'd translate it that way, but its because I will naturally pass with wide enough of a berth to make an announcement unnecessary whenever conditions allow. I figure if the space, and opportunity presents itself, why not use it.

Chuck Naill

If you are on a trail or narrow path then I can understand saying something if you feel it's really that necessary. It's needless on wide roads with cars.


I would think it a better practice to acknowledge fellow cyclists with a friendly greeting or wave which seems to be infrequent.

FBinNY 

I agree that there's no NEED to announce ones presence on a road, since a cyclist there should expect passing traffic. However, there's equally no need to be miffed if someone does.

Around here, a decent number of drivers will announce their presence with a quick beep,beep from well back. In fact the county bus system's drivers are instructed to do that as a matter of policy. I don't care if they do just as I don't care if they don't, but the truth is that a bit of added info never hurts and might help.

IMO- life would be better for everyone, if only people would thicken their skins a bit.

scott967

I was climbing up our "pineapple hill" yesterday. The shoulder is fairly wide and I was passed on the right by a moped. Kind of startled me, yes. But there is a lot of wind and traffic noise and if I couldn't hear his moped I doubt he could yell "on your right" loud enough to make a difference.

scott s.
.

canklecat

I'm gonna get a soundboard app that plays this when I'm approaching...

...this when I'm passing...

...and this when I've passed.