On Your Left - Humor
#26
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That works, too. I especially like that when there are kids involved, makes it clear I'm just making sure they know I'm there so we don't run into each other.
#27
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#29
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When I'm with my friend on her tandem, I'll yell loudly from further back and worry much less about the "feelings" of the pedestrian or other biker-- which is also where the bell can come in when needed. It's a different ballgame when I'm responsible for someone else's safety.
#30
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#31
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The secret to a safe and courteous interaction is to slow to a minimal speed disparity as you approach. That's what I do. If I see ear buds, I very slowly ease around them. If I don't see buds, I say in a conversational tone "I am easing around YOUR left." Then I ease around and say something polite when I do. Kids always get complimented on their bike and dogs are often told they are good doggies.
This action eliminates all the potential problems except the dog nipping at your heels...
#32
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Nice thing about a bell (well, my bell anyway) is I can ring it full strength from a hundred feet away, or I can ring it softly from close range if necessary. Much more range than my voice.
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#33
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That's a good point. My voice isn't the loudest... Maybe the pedestrians can hear me if I shout, but there's no way I want to spend my ride shouting at people. So I use a bell.
Nice thing about a bell (well, my bell anyway) is I can ring it full strength from a hundred feet away, or I can ring it softly from close range if necessary. Much more range than my voice.
Nice thing about a bell (well, my bell anyway) is I can ring it full strength from a hundred feet away, or I can ring it softly from close range if necessary. Much more range than my voice.
Yeah, I used to get into arguments about whether voice or bell is better, but then realized that really depends on your voice and where you ride. My main gripe with bells is I see too many confused pedestrians who can't figure out what to do when it rings as it's really conveying no information other than "I'm back here", but truth is that's probably true with voice a lot as people don't necessarily listen to the words and/or understand them.
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#34
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Yes, it definitely depends on your voice and volume you can get out. As well as the ambient sound levels. There is a part of the MUP that parallels a very busy 4 lane HWY and sounds reflecting off the bare embankments on either side where even conversation while walking or riding side by side is a problem.
As for volume, some have it some don't. I'm always surprised that no matter how long I've ridden and tired I may be that I can bellow out with the loudest. I too have learned to make it sound a little friendlier and try to say something nice or courteous as I get next to the persons I'm passing.
On the other hand, I've had cyclist pass me and they can barely gasp out much more than a whisper. All I can say for them is they need to work on that. Maybe read some Army pamphlet on giving marching drill commands or read up on using lungs properly for singing out like an opera singer.
Bells? The ones that sound like the little brass bicycle bell and make a tl'ing tl'ing sound are readily recognizable to me. However some cyclist have had electronic devices that make a odd sound like a horn or other type bell and they are hard for me to recognize that they are behind me or even on the road with me. I'm looking elsewhere for their origin.
Still for all those pedestrians that get confused and move where you don't want them to move or jump out of their skin, they almost always are new to the MUP. If this isn't their one time per year on the trail they usually figure it out after another time or two.
As for volume, some have it some don't. I'm always surprised that no matter how long I've ridden and tired I may be that I can bellow out with the loudest. I too have learned to make it sound a little friendlier and try to say something nice or courteous as I get next to the persons I'm passing.
On the other hand, I've had cyclist pass me and they can barely gasp out much more than a whisper. All I can say for them is they need to work on that. Maybe read some Army pamphlet on giving marching drill commands or read up on using lungs properly for singing out like an opera singer.
Bells? The ones that sound like the little brass bicycle bell and make a tl'ing tl'ing sound are readily recognizable to me. However some cyclist have had electronic devices that make a odd sound like a horn or other type bell and they are hard for me to recognize that they are behind me or even on the road with me. I'm looking elsewhere for their origin.
Still for all those pedestrians that get confused and move where you don't want them to move or jump out of their skin, they almost always are new to the MUP. If this isn't their one time per year on the trail they usually figure it out after another time or two.
Last edited by Iride01; 11-23-21 at 11:05 AM.
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#35
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Not from my experience. Some people are just so obvlious, they can't even hear it when you blast it right in front of them. Mind-boggling.
#37
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If I'm walking around and you blast me with that damn thing, I'd probably go out of my way not to let you pass. The only reason drivers get away with it is because they're encased in a heavy metal shell.
#38
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#39
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Doesn't mean I'll stop riding roads... but anyone that thinks they are "all the same" is clearly NOT paying attention.
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#40
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They were just walking around. One guy was standing in the middle of the bike lane.
#41
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If you blasted me with that thing, I wouldn't move either just out of spite. Ask nicely or even gruffly, I'll hop out swiftly, but you assault my ears like that, you can go to hell. I don't think I'm even close to being the only person who would react like that. I wouldn't use one of those on a path unless I wanted someone to remove my teeth.
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Must have slipped by the editor. One would think there would be at least five pages devoted to the origins of ‘On your left’ followed by a few more pages devoted to how ‘on the left side’ became associated with ‘evil’.
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#43
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Riding on trails just slows me down too much, not that I'm a speed demon, but with over 30-years of cycling, I simply don't want to pedal at below 15-mph and that's what I had to do on the trails in the DC area. There are some trails, such as the W &OD Trail, that goes out towards Purcellville, Va that is a very nice trail, but the bulk of other trails I've been on just suck.
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#44
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I ride mostly on deserted rural roads and the startle factor is hard to overcome. There's plenty of room to pass another rider, but you want to announce your presence because you'll really startle them if you don't. But a voice from behind startles as well. Unless you do it from so far back that you have to yell to be heard. Which ends up feeling rather silly.
#45
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That's funny, because I also ride at least a 100-miles per week, but rarely ride on trails; however, of the times I have ridden on the trails, I hated it. You'd think someone that rides "thousands of miles...every year" would be perfectly fine on the roads. I live in the "most dangerous" State and City for cyclists, as some have said and I feel perfectly safe on the roads, mostly because I'm a very defensive cyclist.
Riding on trails just slows me down too much, not that I'm a speed demon, but with over 30-years of cycling, I simply don't want to pedal at below 15-mph and that's what I had to do on the trails in the DC area. There are some trails, such as the W &OD Trail, that goes out towards Purcellville, Va that is a very nice trail, but the bulk of other trails I've been on just suck.
Riding on trails just slows me down too much, not that I'm a speed demon, but with over 30-years of cycling, I simply don't want to pedal at below 15-mph and that's what I had to do on the trails in the DC area. There are some trails, such as the W &OD Trail, that goes out towards Purcellville, Va that is a very nice trail, but the bulk of other trails I've been on just suck.
1/3 on paved MUP. On both, I'm typically cruising at or above 20 mph. I'm perfectly fine on the roads and apparently better on the paths than you are or I just have a lot better paths available to me than you do.
I just rode on the Mt. Vernon trail in VA last year. If you had to keep it under 15 mph, you lack skill.
Look, there's absolutely no objective criteria by which road riding is safer than riding on paths. You stated otherwise. You may "feel" perfectly safe on the road, but that's clearly a delusion. No one is perfectly safe, and no matter how "defensive" you are, you cannot react fast enough if a driver goes full stupid. I'm confident in my road riding skills and do at least as much of it as you do, but your complaints about paths have absolutely nothing to do with comparative safety.
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#46
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That's funny, because I also ride at least a 100-miles per week, but rarely ride on trails; however, of the times I have ridden on the trails, I hated it. You'd think someone that rides "thousands of miles...every year" would be perfectly fine on the roads. I live in the "most dangerous" State and City for cyclists, as some have said and I feel perfectly safe on the roads, mostly because I'm a very defensive cyclist.
Riding on trails just slows me down too much, not that I'm a speed demon, but with over 30-years of cycling, I simply don't want to pedal at below 15-mph and that's what I had to do on the trails in the DC area. There are some trails, such as the W &OD Trail, that goes out towards Purcellville, Va that is a very nice trail, but the bulk of other trails I've been on just suck..
Riding on trails just slows me down too much, not that I'm a speed demon, but with over 30-years of cycling, I simply don't want to pedal at below 15-mph and that's what I had to do on the trails in the DC area. There are some trails, such as the W &OD Trail, that goes out towards Purcellville, Va that is a very nice trail, but the bulk of other trails I've been on just suck..
Cheers
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#48
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What happened to the OP?
It's ironic that the guy whose objective is to close down the A&S section by poo-pooing everyone's post has an active thread in it that's two pages long.
It's ironic that the guy whose objective is to close down the A&S section by poo-pooing everyone's post has an active thread in it that's two pages long.
#49
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I ride mostly on deserted rural roads and the startle factor is hard to overcome. There's plenty of room to pass another rider, but you want to announce your presence because you'll really startle them if you don't. But a voice from behind startles as well. Unless you do it from so far back that you have to yell to be heard. Which ends up feeling rather silly.
Or I could just try this one, too. No, I don't think I'll change it to "naked woman"-- much more interesting the other way.
Really, though, I could pick anything that sounds somewhat interesting enough to make people look. "Zombies!", for example, could work. ("Free beer coming!" could backfire, though.)
#50
Senior Member
Yeah, yell Naked Woman. They''ll just stop and turn around. I would.
Now if I was on my bike I would ride away fast..........
Now if I was on my bike I would ride away fast..........