Cyclist Passing Etiquette
10-06-20, 01:58 PM
#176
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[QUOTE=VernMoto;21731293]
I was fortunate to have a short day that day, so I had time to sit and enjoy it.
A few years ago, during one of my tours out west, I stopped on a 27 mile stretch of unpaved road. I could hear no man made sounds. Not even airplanes. Only the sound of birds and insects and the grasses rustling in the breeze. It was magical. I sat in silence in the dirt for 30 min. taking it all in.
That is my kind of ride.
That is my kind of ride.
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10-06-20, 04:26 PM
#177
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Here's the deal with the headphones, it presupposes that you will maintain your line perfectly predictably. The other person should still announce and make a safe pass. Safe meaning with ample space, not in a corner, not on a blind, not with oncoming. However, the headphone person is assuming they won't encounter an obstacle. If they encounter a pine cone or piece of gravel, they might not have heard the announcement and swerve wide into the passer.
Whereas without headphones, the person being passed would know to brake hard instead of swerving hard.
But, you still have to announce. I give the bell a ring, then say "passing!". Double tap the bell like the German "flash to pass" courtesy beam settings on a car.
Whereas without headphones, the person being passed would know to brake hard instead of swerving hard.
But, you still have to announce. I give the bell a ring, then say "passing!". Double tap the bell like the German "flash to pass" courtesy beam settings on a car.
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10-06-20, 04:43 PM
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10-06-20, 04:58 PM
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10-06-20, 05:48 PM
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10-06-20, 06:08 PM
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10-06-20, 08:54 PM
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10-07-20, 08:10 PM
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I find that saying "on your left" makes people turn to their left and run right into you. I usually yell out "Passing" and that seems to be more universal.
I ride a very wide trail that is "almost" exclusively for bikers, but there are some parts where people can walk along the paved trail. Sometimes people are in groups and walking side by side with their friends. They do not leave an inch for you to pass, and when you say "on your left" they ignore me. I found that in some cases it was because they did not speak english. In others cases they just do not care and you have to slow way down and wait for them to "fee like it" before they finally let you by. My bell is loud, so I know they hear it, and they here me. I say "PASSING!" in a strong no-nonsense powerful vocalization (not mean or angry) to be the most effective.
I ride a very wide trail that is "almost" exclusively for bikers, but there are some parts where people can walk along the paved trail. Sometimes people are in groups and walking side by side with their friends. They do not leave an inch for you to pass, and when you say "on your left" they ignore me. I found that in some cases it was because they did not speak english. In others cases they just do not care and you have to slow way down and wait for them to "fee like it" before they finally let you by. My bell is loud, so I know they hear it, and they here me. I say "PASSING!" in a strong no-nonsense powerful vocalization (not mean or angry) to be the most effective.
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10-08-20, 08:36 AM
#184
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And for all you nature lovers (me included)... how do you think the wildlife around you enjoys your bicycle noises? My guess is that wildlife prefers my music over the sound of my 54-tooth star ratchet. Humans are such odd animals. Have a nice day.
10-08-20, 12:29 PM
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Ah, so non-human cycling sounds are OK, but human sounds are not. That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever!
And for all you nature lovers (me included)... how do you think the wildlife around you enjoys your bicycle noises? My guess is that wildlife prefers my music over the sound of my 54-tooth star ratchet. Humans are such odd animals. Have a nice day.
And for all you nature lovers (me included)... how do you think the wildlife around you enjoys your bicycle noises? My guess is that wildlife prefers my music over the sound of my 54-tooth star ratchet. Humans are such odd animals. Have a nice day.
You have options for listening to music that don't inflict that music on others, so your desire to listen to music isn't being impacted. Just your desire for others to listen to it as well.
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10-08-20, 12:41 PM
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10-08-20, 01:02 PM
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10-08-20, 01:04 PM
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10-08-20, 01:30 PM
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10-08-20, 01:31 PM
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10-09-20, 08:34 AM
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The vast majority of cyclists and pedestrians know the routine and very much appreciate a signal, preferably as far in advance as can be heard, so I start ringing the bell at a distance and the regulars signal confirmation as soon as they have heard it. No surprises there.
The dangerous situation is those pedestrians using earbuds (or worse, over-the-ear headphones) who can’t hear either the bell or my voice (until maybe the very last second). In that case, I signal but I slow and pass them assuming they don’t know I’m there. It’s no big deal, just another chance to stand up and accelerate back to speed.
On the topic of self-noise, like external speakers, it’s not my thing, but I really haven’t notice that creating that many issues around here. Not many people do it. But it does mean the bell won’t be enough and I have to yell to get people’s attention.
Otto
Last edited by ofajen; 10-09-20 at 08:40 AM.
10-09-20, 08:55 AM
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Likewise here. I ride a lot on trails where, by rule, cyclists must “sound signal and slow while passing”. Bell or voice, make your choice.
The vast majority of cyclists and pedestrians know the routine and very much appreciate a signal, preferably as far in advance as can be heard, so I start ringing the bell at a distance and the regulars signal confirmation as soon as they have heard it. No surprises there.
The dangerous situation is those pedestrians using earbuds (or worse, over-the-ear headphones) who can’t hear either the bell or my voice (until maybe the very last second). In that case, I signal but I slow and pass them assuming they don’t know I’m there. It’s no big deal, just another chance to stand up and accelerate back to speed.
On the topic of self-noise, like external speakers, it’s not my thing, but I really haven’t notice that creating that many issues around here. Not many people do it. But it does mean the bell won’t be enough and I have to yell to get people’s attention.
Otto
The vast majority of cyclists and pedestrians know the routine and very much appreciate a signal, preferably as far in advance as can be heard, so I start ringing the bell at a distance and the regulars signal confirmation as soon as they have heard it. No surprises there.
The dangerous situation is those pedestrians using earbuds (or worse, over-the-ear headphones) who can’t hear either the bell or my voice (until maybe the very last second). In that case, I signal but I slow and pass them assuming they don’t know I’m there. It’s no big deal, just another chance to stand up and accelerate back to speed.
On the topic of self-noise, like external speakers, it’s not my thing, but I really haven’t notice that creating that many issues around here. Not many people do it. But it does mean the bell won’t be enough and I have to yell to get people’s attention.
Otto
I do think "on your left" is confusing as it lacks a verb, worse still is just yelling "left".
Pedestrians seem to like "passing on your left". It's short and clear. I have often been thanked for saying it.
I don't care about external speakers and find the whole argument against them silly. I may have encountered someone on a bike with loud enough speakers to be heard from outside their immediate area once or twice in the past few decades, but it's nothing like the oppressive volumes I hear coming off of motorcycles and cars on a regular basis. Also, this isn't the boom box era where pedestrians regularly walked around with speakers you could hear blocks away. I hated that. it often made waiting for a bus absolute torture.
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10-09-20, 09:03 AM
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10-09-20, 09:13 AM
#194
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I do think my strategy is based on having a relatively loud voice so I can get the full sentence out audibly before passing.
10-09-20, 05:27 PM
#195
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As a brand new rider, I've been thinking about this. There's a mountain trail I'm sure I'll want to try, but am afraid what happens if I'm going too slow on a narrow downhill trail. It feels like I'm the one being rude blocking more experienced riders from their thrill for speed
Should newbies just stay off the steeper mountain trails? Will experienced riders have patience with timid riders? I think as an experienced rider, I'd be a little put off having to blow my speed rush in the middle of my favorite downhill part waiting on a newbie
Should newbies just stay off the steeper mountain trails? Will experienced riders have patience with timid riders? I think as an experienced rider, I'd be a little put off having to blow my speed rush in the middle of my favorite downhill part waiting on a newbie
10-09-20, 05:34 PM
#196
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As a brand new rider, I've been thinking about this. There's a mountain trail I'm sure I'll want to try, but am afraid what happens if I'm going too slow on a narrow downhill trail. It feels like I'm the one being rude blocking more experienced riders from their thrill for speed
Should newbies just stay off the steeper mountain trails? Will experienced riders have patience with timid riders? I think as an experienced rider, I'd be a little put off having to blow my speed rush in the middle of my favorite downhill part waiting on a newbie
Should newbies just stay off the steeper mountain trails? Will experienced riders have patience with timid riders? I think as an experienced rider, I'd be a little put off having to blow my speed rush in the middle of my favorite downhill part waiting on a newbie
While I would share your reticence, if everyone thought that way, there would be no "experienced riders". I say you do you and work with the situation that comes and things will almost always work themselves out. Accidents will happen at times between experienced riders as well. Just watch any cycling race among professionals for proof.
10-09-20, 05:48 PM
#197
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10-11-20, 04:14 PM
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I don't get passed by other cyclists too often, but the past few times it's happened the person passing me has given no verbal warning (i.e. "on your left"), no ring of the bell (if they had one), and when they passed they were about a foot away from me. Extremely rude in my opinion, and to top it off they couldn't even stay in front of me after they passed.
What's up with the lack of etiquette from other cyclists? Do they just not know any better? Do they think that I'm "less" of a cyclist because they're on a road bike with drop bars and I'm not, therefore etiquette does not matter?
When passing any cyclist these are three basic rules that I follow:
1. Ring my bell or provide a verbal warning (i.e. "on your left") as I approach.
2. When I pass the other rider I try to give them 3ft. We are still in the midst of a pandemic, so if I'm not constrained by traffic there's no reason to "crowd" another rider.
3. If I pass another rider I make sure to stay out front and keep on going.
I'm not sure why other humans on bikes don't show similar consideration, but many don't. Is anyone else experiencing a similar dynamic? Does anyone think I'm expecting too much in the way of etiquette from my fellow cyclists?
What's up with the lack of etiquette from other cyclists? Do they just not know any better? Do they think that I'm "less" of a cyclist because they're on a road bike with drop bars and I'm not, therefore etiquette does not matter?
When passing any cyclist these are three basic rules that I follow:
1. Ring my bell or provide a verbal warning (i.e. "on your left") as I approach.
2. When I pass the other rider I try to give them 3ft. We are still in the midst of a pandemic, so if I'm not constrained by traffic there's no reason to "crowd" another rider.
3. If I pass another rider I make sure to stay out front and keep on going.
I'm not sure why other humans on bikes don't show similar consideration, but many don't. Is anyone else experiencing a similar dynamic? Does anyone think I'm expecting too much in the way of etiquette from my fellow cyclists?
We’re dealing with an airborne virus that stays airborne for a while. Talking to strangers is discouraged, shouting at them is just a no-no, even if it is from behind.
I now take a deep breath, hold it, and sprint out near the yellow line and give a friendly hand wave just as I have the other rider at about 4:00-5:00 to me. That’s seldom more than five feet distance, but it’s something.
10-13-20, 07:28 AM
#199
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I was riding just yesterday, had a rider get right up on me and then say on your left; about made me jump out of my skin. He was on an e-bike which I am seeing a parabolic increase in number on the road. I don't ride MUPs but some of the residential mountain roads I ride are used by walkers in a similar way to MUPs and the roads are not that much wider. I ride these residential roads only going uphill, so going slow and usually announce biker back from a good distance, most often to people walking dogs. I personally like bells; don't have one but plan on giving one a try. When I was near the top of the mountain yesterday, I got passed by another e-bike and the rider apologized for cheating (his words not mine). I wonder how many issues there are going to be with inexperience riders on e-bikes especially on MUPs; hopefully this doesn't end up causing much more animosity towards cyclists, too much as it is; chalk that up to worrying about things I have no control over.
Last edited by DeceptivelySlow; 10-13-20 at 09:01 AM.
10-13-20, 07:42 AM
#200
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This thread. Grumpy old men that disagree with others that do not think and do exactly like them. Framed under the guise of mentor, safety, and well being. All that is missing here is the use of blinky lights on a MUP!
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