On my right! On my right!
#76
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 2,011
Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 431 Post(s)
Liked 3,397 Times
in
983 Posts
That's a good thought, but I would have immediately understood the meaning of "On my right" had I seen others with him in my mirrow although I'm used to calling out and hearing "Rider up" in that situation . However, there were no other riders with him or behind him when this happened. That said, maybe he was schizophrenic and he thought he was was leading a pack. ;-)
__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
Last edited by SpeedofLite; 07-28-18 at 07:58 AM.
#77
don't try this at home.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,900
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 959 Post(s)
Liked 477 Times
in
334 Posts
Just don't say anything that includes "left" or "right". (Except cycle clubs, which know about "on your left").
On mups,
"Passing through"
or
"Good morning"
On mups,
"Passing through"
or
"Good morning"
#80
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,286
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1096 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Every time I shout "passing on the left!", the rider acts confused. Sometimes they even say "what?".
...
I'm kinda thinking that "passing on the left" is itself too complicated for most people who aren't really accustomed to sharing the bike lane with other riders. Maybe I should just simplify it. Maybe I should just yell "passing!". Ding ding.
...
I'm kinda thinking that "passing on the left" is itself too complicated for most people who aren't really accustomed to sharing the bike lane with other riders. Maybe I should just simplify it. Maybe I should just yell "passing!". Ding ding.
#81
☢
Yes. "On your left" is for the ski slopes - the only place where "on your right" would be reasonable. Ironically, on some broad park paths, where folks are randomly entering and crossing, "on your right" might seem reasonable in some situations, but it's often less helpful than a bell - people can tell which direction that's coming from just fine. That's not to say it doesn't sometimes startle them and make them squirrely anyhow.
Of course, as you say, nothing is 100% when dealing with humans, but I've found this method puts your pretty close. As long as your pings are consistent, you shouldn't startle anyone.
Also, kids are great since they can hear the bell from far away (also they're less likely to be distracted) and are the first to respond, warning their parents.
#82
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,585
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4696 Post(s)
Liked 1,512 Times
in
987 Posts
This is just plain wrong. Pedestrians walking at 3mph can and have caused bike and auto accidents, without themselves having even been touched.
#83
Senior Member
Have you ever had a person walking 3mph bump into you? Did you feel your life was in danger at the time? Pedestrians don't pose a threat to anyone.
#84
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,585
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4696 Post(s)
Liked 1,512 Times
in
987 Posts
How? I assume you're referring to a situation where the existence of a pedestrian in an unexpected place or movement pattern results in a driver losing control, or swerving to avoid them. Which means the driver was going way too fast to begin with; again, the fault of the driver.
.
.
#85
Senior Member
The 'way too fast' is the problem with what you're saying. The unexpected is just that, unexpected. A pedestrian walking out into a street between 2 parked cars, eg.. is a car going the 40mph speed limit (or a bike doing 20mph) on that road, going way too fast? A stranded motorist walking down a highway at night to get to the nearest gas station, are motorists going at highway speeds going too fast? A divided lane MUP, with Peds/Cyclist specific lanes, and ped does a sharp turn into the cyclist lane; what is the 'too fast' determination. These scenarios can easily lead to swerving-to-avoid vehicles (bikes or cars) that cause injury to themselves as cyclists/drivers, and potentially other drivers/peds in the vicinity from a chain-reaction of events.
#86
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,585
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4696 Post(s)
Liked 1,512 Times
in
987 Posts
If they're going too fast to stop if someone steps out from between cars, they're going too fast. Period. I don't accept the notion that it's ok to run people over just because a person didn't look before stepping out. You're the one in 3000 pounds of steel. It's your responsibility not to hit someone with it. If that means you have to go 25mph down city streets instead of 40 to not pose a danger to people who do silly things, so be it.
I've (embarrassingly) fallen over on my bike due to a failed clipout.. going about .5mph, and hurt my wrist. So there's no speed that guarantees non-injury to myself from an erratic pedestrian, since depending on when the pedestrian acts, you could have .1 second to react, or 1 second, or 10 seconds. It's getting worse too with cell phones. I've witnessed probably a half-dozen screeching brake hard stops where someone involved with whatever's on their phone has obliviously walked out into a intersection when it's on "Don't Cross" for them. It doesn't take a lot of to imagine that even though I haven't seen an injury result, that it does in fact occur unfortunately, and it's not because the driver was thinking that "hey it's ok to run that person over."
#89
Senior Member
If they're going too fast to stop if someone steps out from between cars, they're going too fast. Period. I don't accept the notion that it's ok to run people over just because a person didn't look before stepping out. You're the one in 3000 pounds of steel. It's your responsibility not to hit someone with it. If that means you have to go 25mph down city streets instead of 40 to not pose a danger to people who do silly things, so be it.
#90
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 156
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I ran into this today. Children will happily turn to cross a MUP when they hear a bell. Unless the pedestrian is a fairly fit jogger I ring the bell on approach and slow to about 8 MPH. I'd rather be on a road than a MUP.
#91
serious cyclist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 21,147
Bikes: S1, R2, P2
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9334 Post(s)
Liked 3,679 Times
in
2,026 Posts
#92
serious cyclist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 21,147
Bikes: S1, R2, P2
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9334 Post(s)
Liked 3,679 Times
in
2,026 Posts
If they're going too fast to stop if someone steps out from between cars, they're going too fast. Period. I don't accept the notion that it's ok to run people over just because a person didn't look before stepping out. You're the one in 3000 pounds of steel. It's your responsibility not to hit someone with it. If that means you have to go 25mph down city streets instead of 40 to not pose a danger to people who do silly things, so be it.
#94
Senior Member
I was on an MUP this morning, not one mile into a fifty mile ride, just barely warming up at 12ish mph. Up ahead was an old lady, 65ish, walking alone, being a model pedestrian holding a straight line on the rightmost edge of the path. Nobody else on the path at the time. Path was about 7-8 feet wide.
Thinking nothing of it I rolled past (again, puttering around 12 mph) on the leftmost edge of the path giving her a huge berth. All of a sudden I hear "You need to say 'On your left!'" to which I replied over my shoulder "You were fine" (meaning she was being a model ped that I didn't need to yell out at). Suddenly, "You're an ass!"
OK, hold up, you old bag. Stopped, turned around and went back to her and told her that was uncalled for. Blah blah, explained there was zero reason to yell out at her especially considering how many morons jump to their left when you say that and that she was just fine and I gave her max berth and was barely even cruising. She then was like "It's not polite not to say it everytime just like it wasn't polite to call you an ass." Yea, you must call a LOT of people asses then, right?
Yelling it out is something I do often - when actually warranted.
Thinking nothing of it I rolled past (again, puttering around 12 mph) on the leftmost edge of the path giving her a huge berth. All of a sudden I hear "You need to say 'On your left!'" to which I replied over my shoulder "You were fine" (meaning she was being a model ped that I didn't need to yell out at). Suddenly, "You're an ass!"
OK, hold up, you old bag. Stopped, turned around and went back to her and told her that was uncalled for. Blah blah, explained there was zero reason to yell out at her especially considering how many morons jump to their left when you say that and that she was just fine and I gave her max berth and was barely even cruising. She then was like "It's not polite not to say it everytime just like it wasn't polite to call you an ass." Yea, you must call a LOT of people asses then, right?
Yelling it out is something I do often - when actually warranted.
#95
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,644 Times
in
6,053 Posts
Reflectors are required on pedals by law in many states, too. How many people use them? A lot of us buy expensive pedals that don't even have a spot to put them.
#98
☢
And speed limits differ to. But horns, lights, signal and the like are pretty much standard across the union. And guess what, even if you find a state where its not mandated, its still a good idea. Never argue regarding the laws, you'll always lose.
#99
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times
in
734 Posts
This raises a good point. There are cycling protocols. Most people on the MUPs don't know them and don't care to know them. That's never going to change.
#100
☢
I've no problem with that. Just letting them know that their lack of compliance could cost them in the event of an accident.
Reflectors are required on pedals by law in many states, too. How many people use them? A lot of us buy expensive pedals that don't even have a spot to put them.
That's the paradox, LBS only have to comply with the laws upon selling the bike.
.
The blessing and the curse of walking: it allow you to be next to oblivious to everything around you.
Reflectors are required on pedals by law in many states, too. How many people use them? A lot of us buy expensive pedals that don't even have a spot to put them.
.
The blessing and the curse of walking: it allow you to be next to oblivious to everything around you.