Cyclist Passing Etiquette
10-04-20, 09:44 AM
#126
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10-04-20, 10:16 AM
#127
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10-04-20, 02:45 PM
#128
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The whole disturbance of serenity thing, which I have some sympathy for. We'd all prefer to hear our own music, which we'd be playing ourselves if we wanted to hear any. It's only a momentary annoyance though, so no big deal. Go ahead and play it, but understand that you're always going to be annoying people with your perceived rudeness.
Cyclists playing political broadcasts are more irritating. Although objectively I realize that they're only thinking of themselves (especially given the typical nature of the broadcasts), there is always an emotional response presuming that they think other people (me) "need to hear it" and it's insulting.
Cyclists playing political broadcasts are more irritating. Although objectively I realize that they're only thinking of themselves (especially given the typical nature of the broadcasts), there is always an emotional response presuming that they think other people (me) "need to hear it" and it's insulting.
10-04-20, 04:39 PM
#129
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I'm guessing there are plenty of people who would bike less if they couldn't listen to music while doing it. Especially in light of the fact that you eventually wind up riding the same streets and trails that you've done tons of times. Personally, I have no problem with people playing their music even without an earpiece. For those that have to pass by them, or be passed, I mean how long are you even going to be near them anyway but a handful of seconds?
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10-04-20, 04:56 PM
#130
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I'm guessing there are plenty of people who would bike less if they couldn't listen to music while doing it. Especially in light of the fact that you eventually wind up riding the same streets and trails that you've done tons of times. Personally, I have no problem with people playing their music even without an earpiece. For those that have to pass by them, or be passed, I mean how long are you even going to be near them anyway but a handful of seconds?
I dislike it but then again we all need to share.
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10-05-20, 10:55 AM
#131
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I'm not really sure why some cyclists dislike external speakers (even when played at volumes that do not compromise safety). Perhaps Reflector Guy can shed some light on this "Puritanical" opinion. My working hypothesis is that some cyclists are just stuck in their ways and are pretty closed-minded to anything that does not conform to their rigid expectations of what other people are supposed to be doing (or not doing) on their bikes. Perhaps you should get a bell or a horn so you can properly announce. Via your own acknowledgement, my ability to hear you (or not) has more to do with you than my music. Don't blame me for your problem.
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10-05-20, 11:30 AM
#132
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Tourist on their first ride
I worked at a resort with a bike shop, with all sorts of rentals
They rent Roubaixs for the Ironman.
they rent a lot of “beach cruisers”
they don’t have bells on thier rentals.
Tourist ride on the sidewalk, ride on the crosswalk, don’t use the bike lane, etc.
Wearing a real Jersey on a real bike makes you a target to pass.
A young female training for the Lavaman, in her club length shorts can feel the eyes looking at her rear.
Hawaii is not Copenhagen. Covid has brought out an Army of Newbies.
They rent Roubaixs for the Ironman.
they rent a lot of “beach cruisers”
they don’t have bells on thier rentals.
Tourist ride on the sidewalk, ride on the crosswalk, don’t use the bike lane, etc.
Wearing a real Jersey on a real bike makes you a target to pass.
A young female training for the Lavaman, in her club length shorts can feel the eyes looking at her rear.
Hawaii is not Copenhagen. Covid has brought out an Army of Newbies.
10-05-20, 11:35 AM
#133
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Let me tell you, this is a REAL problem. Just last week my wife crashed due to a "silent" cyclist passing attempt. I was behind her and saw the whole thing happened -scary. And yes, I say attempt because he ran into my wife who was startled by his sudden presence and ended in a pile up of both of them. Later the cyclist jokingly said maybe I should send your wife the bill for my bike repair (new tire, carbon fiber water bottle) - of course I had to say, maybe you should learn to call out before passing cyclist. He was silent after that.
10-05-20, 11:38 AM
#134
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Let me tell you, this is a REAL problem. Just last week my wife crashed due to a "silent" cyclist passing attempt. I was behind her and saw the whole thing happened -scary. And yes, I say attempt because he ran into my wife who was startled by his sudden presence and ended in a pile up of both of them. Later the cyclist jokingly said maybe I should send your wife the bill for my bike repair (new tire, carbon fiber water bottle) - of course I had to say, maybe you should learn to call out before passing cyclist. He was silent after that.
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10-05-20, 12:17 PM
#137
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Let me tell you, this is a REAL problem. Just last week my wife crashed due to a "silent" cyclist passing attempt. I was behind her and saw the whole thing happened -scary. And yes, I say attempt because he ran into my wife who was startled by his sudden presence and ended in a pile up of both of them. Later the cyclist jokingly said maybe I should send your wife the bill for my bike repair (new tire, carbon fiber water bottle) - of course I had to say, maybe you should learn to call out before passing cyclist. He was silent after that.
Others have said it before and it bears truth in my neck of the woods: Saying "on your left" makes half the riders/walkers move left. Ringing a bell startles people and again you get a 50-50 chance that they'll move into your path. The safest thing is to wait until there's room to pass with a wide berth and a reasonable speed differential.
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10-05-20, 12:18 PM
#138
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I typically give a call out. However cyclists sometimes don't hear because of ambient road noise. For that reason, I always assume they did not hear and I only pass when I can do so with a wide berth. I've also come across a couple (not many) cyclists that had ear buds, which I think is not safe considering the importance of all senses when on the road.
10-05-20, 12:26 PM
#139
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I'm sorry, but if you need music, use ONE earbud. I don't want to hear your music. Yesterday I was twice passed by motorcycles with minimal mufflers AND playing music at a volume they could hear over their noisy pipes. It's just inconsiderate.
I know I'm an old fart for wondering why everyone has to carry their own music with them at all times, but seriously.
I know I'm an old fart for wondering why everyone has to carry their own music with them at all times, but seriously.
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10-05-20, 12:27 PM
#140
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Personally, on the rare occasion I'm on a mixed use path, I announce depending on the individual. If someone is "holding their line" I'll pass widely to the left. If people are crowding the center of the path or being erratic I'll announce. My opinion is that there's not enough placed on slower users to maintain situational awareness, if you're on a path expect at all times you'll be passed, have your head on a swivel and don't do anything without looking. Announcing should frankly be unnecessary, after all if we're driving we don't need cars honking to tell us they are passing us.
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10-05-20, 12:30 PM
#141
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Someone went somewhere they weren't expected to be. Given that the person passing had a good view of your wife all the way up until passing, and your wife only saw them at the last minute, I know where i'd place my bet.
Others have said it before and it bears truth in my neck of the woods: Saying "on your left" makes half the riders/walkers move left. Ringing a bell startles people and again you get a 50-50 chance that they'll move into your path. The safest thing is to wait until there's room to pass with a wide berth and a reasonable speed differential.
Others have said it before and it bears truth in my neck of the woods: Saying "on your left" makes half the riders/walkers move left. Ringing a bell startles people and again you get a 50-50 chance that they'll move into your path. The safest thing is to wait until there's room to pass with a wide berth and a reasonable speed differential.
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"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
"Everybody's gotta be somewhere." - Eccles
"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
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10-05-20, 12:30 PM
#142
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10-05-20, 12:46 PM
#143
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I have a small USB speaker. It is on 99% of the time I am riding solo (which is 99.9% of my ride time). The only time it is not on is questionable winding narrow country roads where I feel hearing cars coming up behind me is safer. Can't say they'd sound different when they are about to hit me but gives me piece of mind. 
My routine weekday rides are all rural, in the last year on those routes, I've seen maybe 3 other people on a bike total and not a single walker/jogger/runner or dog on a leash. The cows don't seem to mind the music.
My routine weekday rides are all rural, in the last year on those routes, I've seen maybe 3 other people on a bike total and not a single walker/jogger/runner or dog on a leash. The cows don't seem to mind the music.
Last edited by u235; 10-05-20 at 12:52 PM.
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10-05-20, 02:36 PM
#144
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Here in No Calif there are 2 problems. One: is that many of the cyclists are homeless folks. They mostly ride facing traffic. If you approach them on a signed bike lane they expect you to pull out into traffic to make way for them. Two: there is a significant increase in recent cyclists. They don't have a clue. On a separate walking/bike trail they brush by with no warning. It's a very narrow 8' paved abandoned RR. They stop on the trail and block their lane. They'll pass a cyclist in the same space as approaching pedestrians and expect the ped to jump out of their way. There is an embarrassing senior group of riders that have a loud horn. They come up from behind pedestrians and expect them to jump off onto the sloped gravel bank as they blow by with the horn blaring. It could be worse.
10-05-20, 02:37 PM
#145
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Lack of etiquette-
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?
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10-05-20, 02:40 PM
#146
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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?
I don't say anything to every person i pass...and often if you do, you startle pedetrians, who trun around right into yoru path.
10-05-20, 04:46 PM
#147
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Nobody ever did it in the cities I biked before until I moved to Chicago, and even here I thought it was like a hipster thing because only guys with tattoos, beanies and fixies would do it.
But I like it
But I like it
10-05-20, 04:52 PM
#148
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I think whether or not you should say something depends on a lot on the situation, and many just don't call for saying anything. Often "on your left" or ringing a bell can be really startling. ...
...I don't say anything to every person i pass...and often if you do, you startle pedetrians, who trun around right into yoru path.
...I don't say anything to every person i pass...and often if you do, you startle pedetrians, who trun around right into yoru path.
10-05-20, 04:58 PM
#149
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There's no irony here. Whether I have an external speaker or not has nothing to do with passing protocol / etiquette. If you call out your intention to pass at a normal volume and I don't hear you, that's on me. If you decide to not announce because I have music playing at a moderate volume or you just can't announce because you have an issue with your voice, that's on you. Perhaps you should get a bell or a horn so you can properly announce. Via your own acknowledgement, my ability to hear you (or not) has more to do with you than my music. Don't blame me for your problem.
I'm not really sure why some cyclists dislike external speakers (even when played at volumes that do not compromise safety). Perhaps Reflector Guy can shed some light on this "Puritanical" opinion. My working hypothesis is that some cyclists are just stuck in their ways and are pretty closed-minded to anything that does not conform to their rigid expectations of what other people are supposed to be doing (or not doing) on their bikes.
I'm not really sure why some cyclists dislike external speakers (even when played at volumes that do not compromise safety). Perhaps Reflector Guy can shed some light on this "Puritanical" opinion. My working hypothesis is that some cyclists are just stuck in their ways and are pretty closed-minded to anything that does not conform to their rigid expectations of what other people are supposed to be doing (or not doing) on their bikes.
10-05-20, 05:02 PM
#150
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I commonly sing out loud while I ride. Never had a single passing problem when doing that.
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