GlennR

But what if you hurt someone else? Do you also accept the the liability?

I-Like-To-Bike

? How did you arrive at that conclusion?

indyfabz

Ignorance of the law is my guess.

jay4usc

as mentioned above I had encountered an accident when I was out walking. I had no clue where the music was coming from (parking lot to my right or behind me) I moved to one side and the cyclist ended up hitting the parked cars in the parking lot. If I would of known he was behind me I would of moved to the other side to give him room. The music could of been coming a moving car and reason why I moved to my left towards the grass. Just the fact I couldn’t determine which direction the music was coming from really makes it dangerous for pedestrians and other cyclists.

Cyclist0100

I gurantee that my DT Swiss 54-tooth star ratchet is much louder than my music. Is that also inconsiderate?

^This is simply ridiculous and makes no sense whatsoever.

^This is also ridiculous and makes no sense.

genejockey 

It's a sound that goes with cycling, so, no. Unless you intentionally sneak up on people and then buzz it from 1 foot off their wheel....

GlennR

If you're distracted and cause an accident you can be held liable for damages.

I bet you can find a lawyer to argue that in court.

VernMoto

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.

VernMoto

I hear you. I mean, I would hear you...LOL I am out enjoying the air and the ambiance of my surroundings. Some riders using head phones (Even noise canceling) look as though they are in the GYM on a stationary bike.

sweeks

I tell myself that they're too deeply anaerobic to respond.

I-Like-To-Bike

Sounds more like a person who is so clueless that he can't determine what to do if he hears music coming from an unknown source, may be a danger to himself, as well as pedestrians and cyclists.

jay4usc

Im not clueless bc I’m not the one who crashed and got injured, it’s the idiot Cyclist with his music on. go ahead and play your music one day when you crash you will remember your quote.

dazz100

Hi
I commute on an express way. There is no room to pass wide.
I just call "coming through" and then "good morning" or "good evening".
If they jump on my wheel I am fine with that.
If someone passes me, I will usually try and get on their wheel.
No one objects to that here because at the times I ride, there are only commuters.

Dazz

gios

Riding on the road, I give a greeting and a wave as I pass. Got the same the other morning and even with my take-a-look it was a nice surprise.

indyfabz

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.

Reflector Guy

Oh, I see now. The whole world makes no sense. Why didn't you say so earlier?

ThreadedSpoke

Southern NH here.... 75% of cyclists are dicks about it. I once mocked someone who overtook me very (very) close by saying "On your left???" when he was about 12=15 feet ahead.... the dick flipped ME the bird. Right, I'm the @SSH#lo.

GlennR

Too funny.

2wheelwreck

Pointless to complain but just another example of bad behaviour. They should ride on a track if they don’t want to think about others. Ride in public place and be aware they are not the only person using it.
Just part of the increasingly obvious lack of everyday etiquette seen over many years.
Or
Ignorance / stupidity.
They were never taught to play nice with others. Blame their parents. They were raised by ignorant (they just didn't know better) people.
Or
They are too low on brain cells to do things right. They have been told but forget - can't walk and chew gum.
Or
Believe it is a sign of weakness to participate in social consideration.
Predators consider eye contact as a challenge. Looking away "you blinked first" is an admission of submission - a loser's behaviour.
Not giving a signal because you assume (Uh Oh! There's THAT word) that there’s no need is lazy/weak/not smart. You have no idea what's in the mind of the person you are about to pass. Not signalling puts both of you completely unnecessarily at risk. That it probably won’t help is not an excuse.
I wonder how many “ there’s no need” riders are also drivers that don’t signal properly. Signalling a turn just before you do it is useless. Signalling during the turn is worse than useless.

u235

Says who? That statement doesn't make any sense. There are times I can't even hear a car coming up behind because of the wind blowing in my face or times when cars are passing I can't hear anything else or riding on a MUP anywhere near a road cars are are going 35mph+. Am I the only one that has that problem? I'd sure hope silence is not required to be a safe cyclist or be blamed. If you can hear a person ringing a bell or saying on your left you may hear their music and know someone is approaching as well. Maybe I'll play music on my speaker that has lyrics "On your left, on your left" or has a cowbell or car horn mixed in. How would grumpy cyclists treat that? As music and totally unsafe and potentially deadly or as a really cool constant safe reminder? On the flip side, if I do an unexpected lane change or swing over on a MUP and get in the path of someone approaching from behind. I shouldn't have done that, music, background noise, riding on gravel, blasting zone, 20 mph head winds, construction area, rapid flowing river, next to a highway, complete silence or not. Is using sight and looking not a generally accepted option for someone riding a bike? I'd certainly hope most people are looking, I certainly do not cross intersections without looking.

Icansee

Etiquette seems to be wasted on the experienced and considerate.

I have a bell the is loud enough and with a tone that is audible at a good enough distance to not be a surprise. Usually pedestrians and other cyclists say thanks or wave. I know I do too.

Recently I had a bright spark pass me on the right as I was initiating a right turn. That was too close and I confess I lost my composure.

burnthesheep

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.

Ghazmh

7 pages I’m impressed. I typically don’t speak up when passing on the open road but often give a friendly wave. The way I see it cars, trucks and everything in between from noisy to silent don’t announce when they’re passing. It’s expected that someone or something will pass you on the road. On an MUP I’ll ding my bell.

bbbean 

Yeah, thanks so much for determining what I will get to listen to on my ride. I'm sure your taste in music is much better than mine. I love the thump thump cars, too.

VernMoto

[QUOTE=indyfabz;21730456]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.