sjmartin

Do you say "on your left" (or a similar variation) as you are passing someone?

I'm curious to see how many people actually do this.

What are your reasons for or against this?

Velo Gator

Depends on the situation.

Adrianinkc

Yes, I learned a lesson when I was passing someone and he decide to do a U-turn right into me.

climber7

i do. if you don't say anything and they can't hear you coming for some reason, they can be pretty freaked out when you whiz by unexpectedly. bad for them, but also makes it more likely they'll lose balance and swerve into you or something.

Jed19

It depends. I observe the rider from way back. If he/she is all over the place, my antenna goes way up, and I am yelling "on your left" from way back. If the rider is basically a disciplined rider, as in riding a straight line, then no need.

surreycrv 

If you do say it, say it loud & clear enough for them to hear you. Too many people mumble. Then it's worse than nothing at all.

Bachman

I started doing this, but each and every time I get no response whatsoever. I can't yell very loud in the first place, so maybe they just can't hear me above the road noise. I'm considering getting a bell instead.

Sherblock

Yes, but lemme tell you, over here it seems that "on your left" means "let's sharply go to the right". Annoying as all hell.

sjvidaver

Today someone passing me yelled "Right" while on a path that was very crowded with cyclists and pedestrians.

I had no clue if this guy was telling me to go right, or if he was passing on the left.

sjmartin

I've seen a lot of people who don't understand the concept or are new to riding actually pull to the left making it an even more dangerous situation.

WonderMonkey

I voted "yes". However I've noticed that at times the person reacts trying to get out of the way (when they don't have to) and it makes it worse for them. So.... if things are close I say it plenty early and slow way down. If there is a ton of room I'll sometimes go as wide as I can and just go by. If people are enjoying their outing and are two across I'll say it early and almost 100% they adjust and I can get by. Most people are great. The ones that aren't usually form our opinions.

flaco

Seems like at least half of the solo cyclists have earbuds in anyway, so there's no point.

WonderMonkey

Also when I go by I make sure I give a clear "Thanks!".

rat fink

Me too, but if I see someone who looks oblivious and I've got room, I'll whip around them before they notice me, and then say "On your left" as more of a formality. Most people who are clueless are likely to make sudden movements that I can't react to. I'd rather be the one in control of the situation. Call me a dick if you want, but I have never had a collision or caused someone to wreck.

shopgirl

I try to, but I don't always. Depends- If they're weaving all over the trail, or maybe if there's more than one and they're riding side by side, or if I have to pass someone really closely, I'll say it. But say the other rider is a roadie cruising along, holding their line, and wearing headphones? I don't bother- I figure they're going slow enough that they expect people to pass them, and they won't hear me anyway.

nkfrench

Depends. On my bike club rides, I will say "on your left" particularly if we're trying to stay in a narrowish bike lane. They know what that means.

When passing strangers on the MUP, I gave up with "passing on your left" - even if the other person knows English, is more than 8 years old and doesn't have earbuds in, they usually just stop, turn around and get into my path. I get much better results yelling "Good Morning" or "Howdy". It sounds non-confrontational.

There are some laws on the book that cyclists are supposed to give an audible signal before passing.

Chris(NJ)

nope. only in the trails, not on the road.

rjones28 

Yeah, I think so. Not a lot of people around here, so it's been a while since it's come up.

orcanova

I don't, because "on your left" has too high of a confusion rate. I say "passing!" in a sing-song tone.

hhnngg1

If I don't anticipate that they'll see me, I'll definitely say it before I pass. Most of the time, no, though.

I did a triathlon last year with a 40k loop bike course, and with all the noobz on the course, some of which were on mountain bikes and other nonspeedy bikes, I think I was constantly yelling 'on your left' to get all the folks who were drifting into my lane out of the way, which worked for the most part.

DXchulo

In my experience it does more harm than good. People tend to get startled and/or drift to the left. Just give plenty of space when you pass and nobody has anything to worry about.

sjmartin

That is my philosophy.

Squirrelli

On the track we are encouraged to say "stick" or "stay" when you're about to pass a rider in the sprinter's lane but otherwise, like every have said, people just get confused on the road.

freighttraininguphill

I just saw someone else's ride video where the rider tried yelling "on your left!" twice, but the rider he was about to pass swerved right into him. The crash happens at 5:20.

From the video's description: "The other bloke in the collision was fine, he just continued up Fiddler's Elbow and said as he turned off "I thought you said right"."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oks6epeC-sE

CFXMarauder

Always from 30-40 yards back..If they appear to be a disciplined rider I'll give a "on your left" ..If its some wobbly muppet I just let out some loud noise to let them know im coming..