The "New" on your left?....
 

I have a dilemma for the community of BF to solve...

You see, in the rare occasion that I do pass someone, I usually say "On your left". I do this in what I consider a polite and non-degrading voice, but I feel like a complete d0uchee when I either voice my presence or pass silently. So with that said I feel like there is a better way (or more contemporary way) to go about this and want your opinions.

ps- If all your gonna say is HTFU or stop being smug, don't bother leaving a reply.

1. "On your left" ... or if you're in England or Australia it would be "On your right".

2. Bell.

"Thanks" and possibly a wave afterwards helps somewhat.

"Passing"

Why do we have to be so polite about it? It's a warning that serious injury may result if motion is directed to the left - not a greeting. I'm loud and firm - at least I'm a ****** that didn't mow you down trying to be polite while lacking volume.

I don't say anything until I'm next to the rider, then a simple "Hi" or "Good Morning", and on I go.

I say "good morning" or "hello" or, "how about this wind?"

"On your left" or "On your right" (depending which country you're in) IS polite and effective.

People hear my drivetrain long before I pass them.

I usually shout "SURPRISE" after I glide up next to them silently.

I just pass silently and try to get away from them as fast as possible. Startling them with a comment and having them swerve into me is not what I want.

That was the one nice thing about my old Target bike...

I usually just waive as I'm passing unless the person is riding erratically.

:lol:

+1 to the simple greeting, the majority of the time people just ignore me anyways, at least they look like the ****** now....

I usually just say "On your left" on the rare occasion I pass anyone. I have had people passing say "Good morning" while still behind me to let me know they are coming through.

Lol. I might have to go with that... or "OMG Lookout!!"

I never say anything, sometimes i say hi though depends if I'm doing an interval or hammering.

sur votre gauche

I had to use "Look Up!" twice today when people walked in front of me while... wait for it... texting... in mixed pedestrian/bike/car traffic. (UT campus, a shortcut on my commute with which I have a longstanding love/hate relationship.)

One of them was texting AND using headphones, while crossing the street.

I almost never say anything while passing people in the bike chaos that Austin has become lately. I just get out in front as quickly as possible and disappear.

I found 'on your left' confuses non-cyclists. Nowadays I use 'behind you' - people don't abruptly move to a side (usually keep their line or move to the right).

The other day I scared the crap out of some lady jogging, no point in saying anything. I just pointed to my ears after I passed...

+1. You never know how some newbie will react. Better to go into stealth mode.

People hear left and...well, they go left right into my path. I usually try to streak by where there's an out if they swerve. Usually everyone is Ipodding, so it seems kind of pointless to call anything out.

These are my top choices.

Last night we got passed by a dude with a little bell, and we stayed pretty much right behind him for the rest of the ride. I liked it, but I don't have a bell. So instead of saying "left" like I usually do, I started verbally saying "ding!" knowing that the people he just passed would catch my drift. The only problem was that I started laughing every time I needed to say it, so it came out as "hahahahahdiiiiinghahahaha" which made me sound like a crazy person.

So. I think I'm going to stick with "on your left", or when I ride with people "two/three/four on your left" so people know exactly how many bikes they can expect immediately behind me. The only thing you gotta watch out for are those who hear "on your left" and literally move to the left.

Oh, and when people make an obvious effort to get out of my way (move, pull their dog/child/husband in to the right side), I always say "thank you", even if I'm going 25mph and they're going .2mph.

^ I tried "BEEP BEEP" before. It actually worked better than "on your left" but I still like "good morning/afternoon as it just seems less demeaning.

"Preparing to crush your soul"