Passing
03-28-22, 11:08 AM
#26
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My experience on our crowded MUT to the beach is not to say "Passing on your left" as they always misunderstand and move left, which is exactly what I dont want, Now I just shout out loudly "Passing" and watch to see how they react.
03-28-22, 11:12 AM
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Uggh. Riding against traffic, even on the shoulder, seems like a very bad idea. I know it's illegal in my state.
(or perhaps the OP misdescribed the scenario? Not seeing how overtaking someone on their right puts you closer to traffic in a RHD country unless riding against traffic)
(or perhaps the OP misdescribed the scenario? Not seeing how overtaking someone on their right puts you closer to traffic in a RHD country unless riding against traffic)
This guy was kind of right in the middle of the shoulder. Not really a big deal but passing him on his right put me right at the edge of the travel lane of a highway with 70mph traffic. I generally try to announce myself and say something like "passing" just so the person knows I'm back there.
03-28-22, 11:15 AM
#28
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Uggh. Riding against traffic, even on the shoulder, seems like a very bad idea. I know it's illegal in my state.
(or perhaps the OP misdescribed the scenario? Not seeing how overtaking someone on their right puts you closer to traffic in a RHD country unless riding against traffic)
(or perhaps the OP misdescribed the scenario? Not seeing how overtaking someone on their right puts you closer to traffic in a RHD country unless riding against traffic)
03-28-22, 11:16 AM
#29
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03-28-22, 12:13 PM
#30
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If I have room to take the lane I might just pass. If there isn't a lot of room I throw out an "on your left".
Sometimes I say hi, sometimes I don't. Lot's of people I pass have ear buds in and I'm wasting my breath.
Sometimes I say hi, sometimes I don't. Lot's of people I pass have ear buds in and I'm wasting my breath.
03-28-22, 12:42 PM
#31
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It depends on the rider I'm coming up behind. I always yell out if they're kids because children are unpredictable. But If I can safely swing out and around another bicyclest by riding out into the other lane without issue, I do. But usually I yell "On your Left!" and wait for them to acknowledge me, usually they just move over to their right without saying anything. Then I'll give them a low five as I go by. Unfortunately, sometimes yelling out startles riders and they'll swerve unexpectedly. One time I came up behind someone and was clear over in the far lane from them when they decided to do a 'U' turn and turned right in front of me without checking over their shoulder for traffic; vehicular or biker. Still don't know how I missed her.
Yep, it is a bit confusing and would be helpful for VegasJen to add an approx location to their profile.
Sorry. I'll try to be more clear next time.
03-28-22, 05:40 PM
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03-28-22, 06:14 PM
#33
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He shouted "Say Left or Right!"
What the flaming heck? Who passes on the RIGHT? This is 'Murrika, ferchrissakes!
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03-28-22, 08:24 PM
#34
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In my experience, there is a significant fraction of MUP walkers who will go so far as to not just MOVE left, but actually PIVOT TO the left so they're facing you. Between the left movers and the left pivoters, it led me to stop trying to warn them verbally, and just employ a bell. That worked on nearly everyone. NEARLY. I was rolling up on a runner in the middle of the MUP lane, so I pinged him from a good distance. He didn't adjust. I pinged again. No change. Finally as I closed, and of course braked, I pinged the bell repeatedly.
He shouted "Say Left or Right!"
What the flaming heck? Who passes on the RIGHT? This is 'Murrika, ferchrissakes!
He shouted "Say Left or Right!"
What the flaming heck? Who passes on the RIGHT? This is 'Murrika, ferchrissakes!
Last edited by Steve B.; 03-28-22 at 08:37 PM.
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03-28-22, 08:50 PM
#36
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That almost happened to me on my first triathlon. I was coming up on this yahoo going up hill. I think he was talking to someone on the way back from the turn around point (we were still a couple miles away) and all of a sudden he began to turn right in front of me. It was an active road and I had to swerve out into a travel lane to avoid him. Fortunate no cars were coming at the time. Scared me poopless.
Guess I wasn't clear. Sorry about that. We were both riding with traffic (as we should have been). I passed his left, my right.
Indeed.
Approximately, Las Vegas.
Sorry. I'll try to be more clear next time.
Guess I wasn't clear. Sorry about that. We were both riding with traffic (as we should have been). I passed his left, my right.
Indeed.
Approximately, Las Vegas.
Sorry. I'll try to be more clear next time.
03-28-22, 09:04 PM
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I generally go with a "Good morning/afternoon/evening" a second before pulling up beside them, just to avoid startling them while still alerting them to my presence in case they were about to shift lanes or turn or something.
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03-28-22, 09:21 PM
#38
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03-28-22, 09:28 PM
#39
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They usually hear my music and glance over their shoulder as I approach. My favorite is when they start singing along. I'll also shout out a "on your left", "howdy", "morning", or "hidey ho", as I go by.
03-28-22, 09:33 PM
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03-28-22, 09:37 PM
#42
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Interesting. I avoid stuff like that only because I can't afford a bunch of cool, expensive toys. I'm always thinking about replacement costs if I wipe out and have to replace something. My little MP3 player costs all of $30. That's about all I can afford to throw away.
03-28-22, 09:40 PM
#43
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‘Passing on your left’ if I can’t swing wide around them.
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03-29-22, 03:41 AM
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Recently blurted out, "Oh my gawd!" while passing a squirrely rider. It got them to giraffe neck back quickly. Then they had that look of, "omg, why would someone say that?" on there face.
Effective.... It's as if I used a profanity or something.
Effective.... It's as if I used a profanity or something.
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03-29-22, 08:39 AM
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"ON YOUR LEFT" for bikes and walkers who I often get a "thank you" from.
03-29-22, 09:22 AM
#47
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The point I was trying to get across is that your question really doesn't make too much sense.
In the situation you describe, I don't see why you (or anybody) would do anything other than make some sort of announcement when passing.
It probably doesn't matter too much what you say. The primary thing you are doing is letting the person know you are there and are intending to pass. Keep in mind that you might need to announce twice (people might hear you but not get what you are saying the first time).
(I generally flush after I go. Do any of you do similar?)
If you come up on a slower cyclist, do you alert them before you pass? Just curious.
Out on the main highway, the shoulder is a designated bike lane but I live in a small town and there are only a few of us who ride seriously. I'm not involved in any groups so it's unusual to come across another rider at the same time. But yesterday I was out on one of my longer rides and about 6-7 miles outside of town I came up behind a gentleman going a little slower than I was. Since we don't often run into other riders, a lot of times we get kind of comfortable with taking whatever space we want. This guy was kind of right in the middle of the shoulder. Not really a big deal but passing him on his right put me right at the edge of the travel lane of a highway with 70mph traffic. I generally try to announce myself and say something like "passing" just so the person knows I'm back there.
Do any of you do similar? What do you say?
Out on the main highway, the shoulder is a designated bike lane but I live in a small town and there are only a few of us who ride seriously. I'm not involved in any groups so it's unusual to come across another rider at the same time. But yesterday I was out on one of my longer rides and about 6-7 miles outside of town I came up behind a gentleman going a little slower than I was. Since we don't often run into other riders, a lot of times we get kind of comfortable with taking whatever space we want. This guy was kind of right in the middle of the shoulder. Not really a big deal but passing him on his right put me right at the edge of the travel lane of a highway with 70mph traffic. I generally try to announce myself and say something like "passing" just so the person knows I'm back there.
Do any of you do similar? What do you say?
It probably doesn't matter too much what you say. The primary thing you are doing is letting the person know you are there and are intending to pass. Keep in mind that you might need to announce twice (people might hear you but not get what you are saying the first time).
(I generally flush after I go. Do any of you do similar?)
Last edited by njkayaker; 03-29-22 at 09:31 AM.
03-29-22, 12:05 PM
#48
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Interesting. I avoid stuff like that only because I can't afford a bunch of cool, expensive toys. I'm always thinking about replacement costs if I wipe out and have to replace something. My little MP3 player costs all of $30. That's about all I can afford to throw away.
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03-29-22, 05:23 PM
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I only alert other experienced cyclists because they don't get passed often 
. The casuals or other types get spooked, so I just gently pass beside them and share a hello as I go by.
. The casuals or other types get spooked, so I just gently pass beside them and share a hello as I go by.