A VERY common situation here - big shoulder, easily big enough for 4-5 cyclists side-by side, very safe and clear of debris, on a popular route (foothill expressway in Palo alto/los altos).

Significantly slower rider hugging the left white line. There's absolutely no room to pass on the left without swinging into fast moving traffic. As is, this road is sufficiently trafficked that after 9AM, there's pretty much a regular stream of cars going from 30-55 mph on it. Since there are stoplights, you'll often get a whole row of them, like a minute long of them if you timed them to pass. When there are no cars, it's not an issue -just swing into traffic. However, there is significant car traffic on this road and it's often quite busy,esp in afternoon.

I used to pass these folks on the far right, but am tired of the comments I get from a few of them, who mutter loudly "it's DANGEROUS to pass on the right!" I actually agree with them, but where the heck am I supposed to go when you're 5mph slower than me and there's a column of cars in the way?


The other alternative is to get stuck behind them waiting for that column to pass. I did this the past weekend as well to a few riders and a few of them got annoyed that I was back there, and after realizing it didn't make any move to yield to the right, and gave me the silent dirty look when I finally did go by (on the left) while I happily waved, said "howdy!" and they just glared back.


What would you do on such a road? There are sufficient numbers of cyclists that someone riding at about 20mph on average on the wknd will typically pass no less than 10-15 riders over a 12 mile stretch so it's very common.

sounds like an accident waiting to happen. everyone should agree to NOT ride 4-5 abreast in order to leave a left side passing area so that the passer doesn't have to enter the travel lane. I guess i would suggest treat it like a MUP and shout on your left! and wait for them to move right giving you room.

Normally I yell out on your left or passing on your left and they usually move to the right.

If you have 3+ feet of room (or whatever it would take for you to feel safe assuming they can't hold their line) just pass on the right. If they say anything ignore em, or tell em to eat a bag of *****. Your choice.

Why is it "dangerous" to pass someone on the right if there's room? Does it have to do with the rotation of the Earth? How about in England?

So pass 'em on the right, and if they yell at you, yell back, "Grow a brain and move your ass over!"

Slow riders hugging the White Line happens a lot on the section of PCH from the SART to the Pier. I normally yell "On Your Left" to pass but sometimes they don't hear me. Since PCH can be dangerous, I either slow down and or wait until the rider acknowledges me.

Ding your bell a couple times ... they should move over.

say on ur left

if they dont move, pass on the right and ignore anything they do/say

Not saying I am fast, I think I just ride later than most of the hardcore dudes, so I usually pass most everyone I see fast enough that they don't even have time to say anything... I am on Danville/Alamo/San Ramon/Dublin blvd a LOT, and I usually just pass on the left, cars or not, but most cars in that area know how to drive around cyclists as that is pretty much a roadie playground.

In your situation, I'd say either a loud "On yer left!" or just pass on the right and tell them to move over if that scares them.

Riders who get their knickers in a twist because someone passed them on the right when they were riding especially slowly and far left are likely to be neither observant nor steady. Passing them on the right could surprise them and cause them to swerve right into you so you want to avoid that.

I don't run into this particular situation often, but when I find myself stuck, I call "on your wheel." This will either cause them to make space for you or at least be aware that you're passing.

I don't understand why anybody would want to hug the white line if there's that much room - makes no sense.

It sounds like a little bell would do you some good. I don't think what you're doing on the right is necessarily dangerous but as banerjek wrote, you'd hate to startle them and have them swerve into you.

Stealthy pass on right.

Well, the cyclist is free to pedal wherever he likes, and passing on the right is generally illegal. In most places.

So I guess you're supposed to just wait for a break in traffic.

Practically, however, I agree with the others here. Ring your bell, shout at them or something, and if they don't move pass 'em on the right. If they say something, stick your frame pump in their spokes.

Depends man... I encounter stuff like this all the time. Some times the bike lanes just full of gravel etc and we're all on the line, sometimes it's the fun time rider weaving all over as they learn to hold a line.. those ones I can usually spot and hang way back waiting for an opening in the actual road lanes and pass there as a vehicle.. if they hold a straight line and won't move right when I call passing, all bets are off and I'll do whatever I feel is safe/appropriate for the situation including passing on the right, I've only had one instance where the guy gave me attitude and with him.. reason wasn't gonna work. Do what you have to and treat them as obstacles rather then people if they aren't gonna work with you (that doesn't mean pass on the right unannounced.)

I'd just pass on the right and move on with life. I've found my voice doesn't seem to compete with that kind of traffic noise so yelling "on your left" is meaningless. If they're startled, maybe they'll figure things out. And if they don't, I'll pass them on the right next time too.

Did you really say, "Howdy?" If so, that is certainly the reason for the glare. A simple, "Morning," or, "Afternoon," works well here. Even when I rode in the Houston area, I didn't hear a single, "Howdy."


I actually got passed by a group Sunday morning. I didn't even hear them until they were on top of me, and one guy passed to my right, I have no idea how because there was hardly any room. I can certainly say that I didn't say, "Howdy," nor, "morning," to him.
The frustrating part for me was that right after passing me, the entire group slowed down (to about 15 mph), and I ended up passing them all (I was going about 18). About 2-3 miles later, the lead guys passed me again, then again slowed down. I managed to get out of the group and re-pass them. I have no idea why they would do that.

They probably just wanted to give you a cool story you could tell on the internets.

+1 and if they whine, I just give 'em a Nelson Muntz.


If you ding your bell, they might move over. But sometimes they don't. And sometimes they start wavering either out of anxiety or out of malice toward anyone faster than they are, which makes it impossible to get around them safely.
The ones who whine at you after you've passed on the right are the latter sort and their opinions don't matter anyway.

How would you know in advance that they're easily startled? Startle them with an AirZound before you pass and see what happens?

And if you pass on the left they could move left and knock you into traffic.

Earplugs. Sounds like you've been doing too many triathlons. If the shoulder is as wide as you say it is and they're on the line, it's safe to pass on the right. Go a little faster and you won't have to listen to them *****ing.

Am I the only one enjoying the irony of a cyclist complaining about having to wait to pass slower moving traffic?

You should move up closer to the PNW hippies. I hear "Howdy" all the time and use it myself.

People give a lot of clues as to what kind of rider they are by how they respond to things in their environment, their technique, their gear, physical condition, etc. If in doubt, assume they're clueless.

This occurred to me, but boneheadedness is a much bigger factor in provoking motorists than being slow. If people are paying attention and working with those around them, they'll make friends even if they're holding people up. Ride (or drive) like no one else is there, and people act very differently.

People in cars and on bikes sometimes do stupid and/or dangerous things. Do what you need to do to stay safe. If that means passing on the right so be it.

What is obvious to me is that you are confused on the meaning of at least one of these two words.

OT, but damn, OP - you start a lot of threads.