Cyclist Passing Etiquette
#76
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Now that you mention it, that seems to happen more often than not. I'll be overtaking a jogger and I'm just about to start my pass but here comes either another jogger or a cyclist in the other direction, so we all pass pretty much almost at the same time. Then I won't see another soul for the next five miles....
#77
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Once I was putting away my bike after one of those big day rides where you pay money to a charity. I start walking to the HQ building and I hear, "there he is" as a woman was pointing me out to a policeman. Huh? Turns out I had passed her a few miles from the end, going completely into the other traffic lane, but didn't warn her. Cop waved me away and was trying to explain to the woman that I'd done nothing wrong; She of course (being a total noob to riding - probably did the 6 mile route) was incensed by not being warned even though I'd probably left her 10 feet of room.
They will not let up once they sink there fangled teeth into a perceived "problem"
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#80
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There can be a safety reason to give a signal before passing.
A rider passed me on the road about a year ago and nearly caused us to collide. I rode down a fairly steep hill, slowing because there was a car right in front of me and going slow and I was going to turn left soon anyway.
Just as I’m past one street and about to put my arm out for the left turn signal for my upcoming turn, a rider who hadn’t slowed down to observe the pace of the traffic flew past without prior notice. It was pure luck that I didn’t clobber him in the face with my turn signal or collide with him as I began to ease into my turn.
So also as a matter of safety, it’s good to make sure riders know you are behind them, because you can’t assume they will follow the straight route where turns are an option.
Otto
A rider passed me on the road about a year ago and nearly caused us to collide. I rode down a fairly steep hill, slowing because there was a car right in front of me and going slow and I was going to turn left soon anyway.
Just as I’m past one street and about to put my arm out for the left turn signal for my upcoming turn, a rider who hadn’t slowed down to observe the pace of the traffic flew past without prior notice. It was pure luck that I didn’t clobber him in the face with my turn signal or collide with him as I began to ease into my turn.
So also as a matter of safety, it’s good to make sure riders know you are behind them, because you can’t assume they will follow the straight route where turns are an option.
Otto
Devils advocate..
Maybe it was not luck at all. Maybe he/she was proactively watching you as they approached, assumed you looked relatively stable, saw you were slowing and knew your pace and had a very good idea of your immediate path and trajectory as they got closer. Being behind you and not knowing they were there, you did not notice he/she actually did slow down and had in their own mind a pretty good feel for the pace of upcoming traffic and the thought you may be turning because there is an intersection and ready to adjust if so. Easing into a turn which is a good assumption to make gives a lot of flexibility. If you did a sudden quick 90 or something abnormal for the situation and abrupt, maybe things would be different.
Last edited by u235; 09-30-20 at 03:31 PM.
#81
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Yes, I do think you're expecting too much. But lectures are fun. Plus, apparently, you hate getting passed.
As you can see everyone here has never done anything wrong when cycling, just like you. We always wave, always announce, always stop at the stop sign on empty roads when nobody is around, always signal every turn and stop when in traffic, always wax our chains and never-ever-EVAH throw our SiS Gels into the bushes like we're Alaphilippe attacking on the last climb.
There's two measures when it comes to cycling with others (cars, pedestrians, cyclists and those dreaded roadies with their drop bars, lycra, carbon and other snobbery) and those two measures is all there will ever be.
1. First Measure: Not Hit.
2. Second Measure: Hit.
Number two is bad. Number one is what happens to the vast majority of cyclists. We don't get hit. Close pass? Irrelevant. Don't hit. Period. A cyclist passed within one foot? I don't see the problem. But I'm not scared.
If you're scared, pull your mask on tight....tighter....and go back inside on Zwift. That way you don't have to worry about the lumpenproletariat roadies passing without a personal greeting, written invitation, and signed non compete clause filled out prior to any engagement with you as you're crushing the downhills at 35mph.
No worries though you can still get your lecture fix because when you're inside and some Asian dude passes you on the Alpe du Zwift at 8.7w/kg you can come on here and still post great "well I never!" threads so everyone can understand (finally) about how egregious weight doping is.
As you can see everyone here has never done anything wrong when cycling, just like you. We always wave, always announce, always stop at the stop sign on empty roads when nobody is around, always signal every turn and stop when in traffic, always wax our chains and never-ever-EVAH throw our SiS Gels into the bushes like we're Alaphilippe attacking on the last climb.
There's two measures when it comes to cycling with others (cars, pedestrians, cyclists and those dreaded roadies with their drop bars, lycra, carbon and other snobbery) and those two measures is all there will ever be.
1. First Measure: Not Hit.
2. Second Measure: Hit.
Number two is bad. Number one is what happens to the vast majority of cyclists. We don't get hit. Close pass? Irrelevant. Don't hit. Period. A cyclist passed within one foot? I don't see the problem. But I'm not scared.
If you're scared, pull your mask on tight....tighter....and go back inside on Zwift. That way you don't have to worry about the lumpenproletariat roadies passing without a personal greeting, written invitation, and signed non compete clause filled out prior to any engagement with you as you're crushing the downhills at 35mph.
No worries though you can still get your lecture fix because when you're inside and some Asian dude passes you on the Alpe du Zwift at 8.7w/kg you can come on here and still post great "well I never!" threads so everyone can understand (finally) about how egregious weight doping is.
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#82
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Oh....might have to edit my post then.
And my response probably shouldn't make sense, it's mostly rambling little crackles of half witted thoughts running through my pee brained skull.
Hmmmm.....quick question though; do you actually get upset when someone passes you?
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#83
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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?
#84
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Devils advocate..
Maybe it was not luck at all. Maybe he/she was proactively watching you as they approached, assumed you looked relatively stable, saw you were slowing and knew your pace and had a very good idea of your immediate path and trajectory as they got closer. Being behind you and not knowing they were there, you did not notice he/she actually did slow down and had in their own mind a pretty good feel for the pace of upcoming traffic and the thought you may be turning because there is an intersection and ready to adjust if so. Easing into a turn which is a good assumption to make gives a lot of flexibility. If you did a sudden quick 90 or something abnormal for the situation and abrupt, maybe things would be different.
Maybe it was not luck at all. Maybe he/she was proactively watching you as they approached, assumed you looked relatively stable, saw you were slowing and knew your pace and had a very good idea of your immediate path and trajectory as they got closer. Being behind you and not knowing they were there, you did not notice he/she actually did slow down and had in their own mind a pretty good feel for the pace of upcoming traffic and the thought you may be turning because there is an intersection and ready to adjust if so. Easing into a turn which is a good assumption to make gives a lot of flexibility. If you did a sudden quick 90 or something abnormal for the situation and abrupt, maybe things would be different.
This was an unnecessary and seriously risky move on his part. Luckily no harm done. I know them when I see them... I’ve made my share though I really trying to avoid them. 😊
Otto
Last edited by ofajen; 09-30-20 at 09:19 PM.
#85
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Wait are you saying that the original post was SERIOUS?
Oh....might have to edit my post then.
And my response probably shouldn't make sense, it's mostly rambling little crackles of half witted thoughts running through my pee brained skull.
Hmmmm.....quick question though; do you actually get upset when someone passes you?
Oh....might have to edit my post then.
And my response probably shouldn't make sense, it's mostly rambling little crackles of half witted thoughts running through my pee brained skull.
Hmmmm.....quick question though; do you actually get upset when someone passes you?
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#86
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In my area there are not as many riders wearing ear buds as you would expect. However, I do encounter folks with ear buds on a daily basis. It's an unncecessary risk in my opinion and makes riding more dangerous for eveyone. I do travel with a portable bluetooth speaker because I find it hard to be on a multi-hour ride without music. I know an "external" speaker is a big no-no to some cyclists because of the added weight combined with the fact that some cyclists find it bothersome. But if I'm riding near another cyclist I try to be considerate by turning the music down. Sometimes I turn it off entirely until there is some distance between us.
#87
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In my area there are not as many riders wearing ear buds as you would expect. However, I do encounter folks with ear buds on a daily basis. It's an unncecessary risk in my opinion and makes riding more dangerous for eveyone. I do travel with a portable bluetooth speaker because I find it hard to be on a multi-hour ride without music. I know an "external" speaker is a big no-no to some cyclists because of the added weight combined with the fact that some cyclists find it bothersome. But if I'm riding near another cyclist I try to be considerate by turning the music down. Sometimes I turn it off entirely until there is some distance between us.
#88
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In my area there are not as many riders wearing ear buds as you would expect. However, I do encounter folks with ear buds on a daily basis. It's an unncecessary risk in my opinion and makes riding more dangerous for eveyone. I do travel with a portable bluetooth speaker because I find it hard to be on a multi-hour ride without music. I know an "external" speaker is a big no-no to some cyclists because of the added weight combined with the fact that some cyclists find it bothersome. But if I'm riding near another cyclist I try to be considerate by turning the music down. Sometimes I turn it off entirely until there is some distance between us.
#89
Senior Member
this past summer I encounter a crash when I was walking around the park. A cyclist was riding his bike on the walk path in the park with a speaker and music on, I had no clue which direction the music was coming from so I just walked to my left and they cyclists went to my right and ended up coming off the curbed and crashed into the parked cars. He was gashed up and scraped entire right side of his body. All his friends were saying that’s what he gets for listening to music on the speakers and not paying attention. I never heard a word which direction he was going bc all I can hear was music.
Last edited by u235; 10-01-20 at 12:27 PM.
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I have a bell now, but I used to usually say "on your left" when passing.
I had a guy pass me the other day who said "on my right" when passing. I objected. That formulation doesn't help!
I had a guy pass me the other day who said "on my right" when passing. I objected. That formulation doesn't help!
#91
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Some bicyclists are simply inconsiderate idiots.
I was going along a road where the road splits and the right hand lane becomes another road and is a right hand turn lane only. The layout oft he two roads is like a very shallow 'sideways Y' with the leg of the Y continuing as a s single lane.. I had gone across the '>' of the Y and went to move to my right and very nearly got hit by a bicyclist on a high end bike and dressed in cycling gear. He passed me very narrowly missing me. Passing on the right on that single lane road is illegal but it didn't stop or even slow him down. Had I moved further right or moved right faster we would have collided.
Cheers
I was going along a road where the road splits and the right hand lane becomes another road and is a right hand turn lane only. The layout oft he two roads is like a very shallow 'sideways Y' with the leg of the Y continuing as a s single lane.. I had gone across the '>' of the Y and went to move to my right and very nearly got hit by a bicyclist on a high end bike and dressed in cycling gear. He passed me very narrowly missing me. Passing on the right on that single lane road is illegal but it didn't stop or even slow him down. Had I moved further right or moved right faster we would have collided.
Cheers
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Some bicyclists are simply inconsiderate idiots.
I was going along a road where the road splits and the right hand lane becomes another road and is a right hand turn lane only. The layout oft he two roads is like a very shallow 'sideways Y' with the leg of the Y continuing as a s single lane.. I had gone across the '>' of the Y and went to move to my right and very nearly got hit by a bicyclist on a high end bike and dressed in cycling gear. He passed me very narrowly missing me. Passing on the right on that single lane road is illegal but it didn't stop or even slow him down. Had I moved further right or moved right faster we would have collided.
Cheers
I was going along a road where the road splits and the right hand lane becomes another road and is a right hand turn lane only. The layout oft he two roads is like a very shallow 'sideways Y' with the leg of the Y continuing as a s single lane.. I had gone across the '>' of the Y and went to move to my right and very nearly got hit by a bicyclist on a high end bike and dressed in cycling gear. He passed me very narrowly missing me. Passing on the right on that single lane road is illegal but it didn't stop or even slow him down. Had I moved further right or moved right faster we would have collided.
Cheers
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#93
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to me it did. I didn’t know If it was coming from a car from the parking lot or what and reason why I move towards the grass and forced the cyclist to ride towards the parking lot where he crashed. If I would of known he was behind me I would of given him some room to my left.
#94
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#95
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On parts of the paved W&OD trail in northern VA there is a second parallel gravel/dirt bridal trail. The distance from the main trail varies from out of sight beyond the brush and over the hill and other times really close right next to the paved trail. I often take that path less traveled instead of the pavement and you have to be really careful because you could be passing people on the paved trail to their right. Realizing the potential risk of doing the opposite of what people expect, when possible I usually get back on the paved trail, pass them on the left and sweep back over off the paved and back into the gravel even though in theory I could stay to the right off the paved section and have a straight shot past.
Last edited by u235; 10-02-20 at 06:48 PM.
#97
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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?
If they pass you without doing all those things you do, that means they think you're a good cyclist and they trust your bicycle handling skills.
If they were were to ring their bell or provide a verbal warning, that's an indication they don't quite trust you.
Don't complain.
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#98
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The real irony here is that in a thread complaining about people who don't announce their intent to pass, it took nearly a hundred posts before the OP told us the rest of the story: He has a speaker on his bike playing music.
Maybe try leaving the music off next time and see if magically there are now a whole lot more people calling out before they pass.
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#99
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At the moment, the frenetic squirrels are a big concern here. So many, so active and so random. I really don’t want them dashing to and fro and ending up in my front wheel. That would be a mess for all involved, I reckon. Hard to anticipate, though. Sometimes they dart across at the very last moment.
Otto
Otto