calling out when you're passing

[Brandy]

The scariest unknowns seem to be kids and people with earbuds/headphones. When I'm coming up behind a big group, a kid, or someone who seems uncertain, I slow WAY down, approach with caution, and try to gently warn them away (sucks to slow down, but I'd rather be safe than take someone else or myself out)!

I had this experience on the path today. There was a woman jogging and her young son (probably 7-8 years old) was riding about a hundred feet ahead of her with earbuds on. He was weaving all over the place, taking up both sides of the path and I slowed enough to have to unclip when passing him. Right before I passed him he was also fiddling with something and dropped part of whatever it was, so I pointed that out to him. Thankfully as I passed him, his mom caught up and seemed to be directing him to take his earbuds off.

On another note, since I've taken up riding, my oldest son has become a much safer rider on the paths. He's learned to stay to the right and not weave around and also to stop slamming on the brakes to make skid marks They also now know that they NEVER just walk out into the path without making sure that they have an all clear from me.

Also on my ride this morning there was a toddler, all alone walking around in the middle of the path. The mom was in an RV parked in the parking lot and it didn't seem that she gave her daughter's safety out there a second thought.

[pooks]

The first few times I (walking a path with a friend) heard a cyclist call "On your left," I thought they were telling me to "Move left." A lot of times "Left" is the only word you hear in that situation. So first, remember that many walkers don't know the lingo, and may not even hear everything you said. That's what makes "On your left," so problematical.

Why would three people walk abreast? Because three friends are walking together and having a conversation, and haven't had to deal enough with cyclists to realize there's a prob. It usually takes care of itself once they get passed a couple of times and realize what's going on.

I know this isn't a very popular point of view on a cyclists' board, but three walkers have just as much right to walk abreast as a cyclist has to ride. Annoying? Heck yeah.

But up until a few months ago, I didn't understand why the cyclists at White Rock Lake in Dallas ride in the road instead of on the trail which (supposedly) is for that purpose. I mean, I figured it was easier for them but I had no idea of the safety issues.

I think all parks with bike/walking trails should have signs posted that explain such things as "On your left!" and proper etiquette. Most people just don't know the rules, and don't know the safety issues involved.

[Brandy]

Why would three people walk abreast? Because three friends are walking together and having a conversation, and haven't had to deal enough with cyclists to realize there's a prob. It usually takes care of itself once they get passed a couple of times and realize what's going on.

I know this isn't a very popular point of view on a cyclists' board, but three walkers have just as much right to walk abreast as a cyclist has to ride. Annoying? Heck yeah.

I know why they do it, but when they're taking up both sides of the path and there's no room to pass them, it's rude and disrespectful to all of the other people who are out there using it. On the beach path where I ride, cyclists, rollerbladers and runners are very common, so it's not like they would be surprised to see us there.

Editing to say that when the path is wide in certain parts, it is not as big of an issue. There are certain sections that narrow and that's where it is frustrating.

[pooks]

I agree that if it's a busy path, common sense and a desire not to be rude should stop them from doing it. If they're constantly having people come up behind them, you would think they'd adjust.

[light_sabe_r]

I ring my bell, call out, whatever it takes

I had one lady on my VERY FIRST ride on my own home from work coming in the other direction reading a book. Who hurtled abuse at me because I rang my bell seperate times at 20, 10 and 5 metres, I'd slowed down to about 8K because she wouldn't look up not budge. To warn her of my approach in the other direction. I was PASSING her on the grass anyway, BUT it was the fact she REFUSED to move at all that REALLY bothered me, and the abuse. Maybe she was deaf. Maybe the fact I was on a bike bothered her I dunno but I'm still annoyed to this day.

Since then my brakes have made so much noise I haven't had to say anything ^_^ (Gonna do some maintenence today)

[pooks]

Stephen King got run over by a truck while he was walking and reading a book. Talk about "I'll see your headphones and raise ya one!"

[Selkie]

I know why they do it, but when they're taking up both sides of the path and there's no room to pass them, it's rude and disrespectful to all of the other people who are out there using it. On the beach path where I ride, cyclists, rollerbladers and runners are very common, so it's not like they would be surprised to see us there.

Editing to say that when the path is wide in certain parts, it is not as big of an issue. There are certain sections that narrow and that's where it is frustrating.

Brandy, I agree with you. I don't think that anyone has the right to create unsafe conditions on a multiuse trail. Walking/jogging/cycling three abreast usually makes it unsafe and/or difficult to pass. It's rude, selfish, and it shows lack of courtesy. There are signs all over the trail that say "keep to your right" and "be courteous." Also, I've encountered two women with doublewide baby carriages who always insists on walking next to each other, leaving a very very narrow space to pass (even if you're coming the opposite way, they won't budge). It's always an unpleasant thrill to encounter them on down curves. I've politely let them know that when they walk like that, it's hard to get around them. They looked at me---completely blank expressions on their faces---and ignored me. I expect that one day, they will make one of the men, flying at top speed and not warning that he's passing, wipe out.
I've found politeness goes a long way---warning and then thanking people every time I pass has earned me "respect" with the other regulars on the trail. I think that a lot of the dorkuses simply mean no harm so I try to remind myself that. There are those who are a##es and I've had to open a can of verbal WA on a few people when they were rude to me and/or deliberately ignored my warning, creating an unsafe condition.

[RoadRaven]

Some of you say quite a lot and I can only assume you are travelling at a slowish speed.

Mostly when I have used cycling paths they have been relatively clear of others, and of course being smooth concrete they are a very fast surface. So without trying it is easy to cruise along at 30kph or more.

The time between getting within hearing distance and actually passing walkers is not enough for several words... which is why I rely on "bike behind"... then at the very least "bike" gets out.

Even when cycling with my mother, and us travelling along at 15-18kph, we are upon walkers mighty quickly.

It also has harder consonants then starting a phrase with something like "on your..." and in my opinion/experience, the more explosive nature of the word "bike" helps the sound/warning to carry more effectively...

[Tuckervill]

The two women with double wide baby strollers would soon encounter me tieing my shoes with my bike crossways in the path, listening blithely to my own thoughts while they pushed their limos in the dirt to get around me. I might even take a rest across the path, laying my bike ever so gently across to close off any gaps. If I was feeling particularly confrontational, I might do this at the edge of a bridge. Then I would wait patiently for them protest.

No, I'm not vindictive. I just like getting my point across.

There are two ladies who let their two little ****zy dogs off leash when they walk the ballpark loop. After the third time of narrowly avoiding the little sausages, I called animal control. I hope they got tickets. They shouldn't treat their dogs that way. I wouldn't want to hurt the dogs, but it would be hard to avoid them if they wandered into my path.

Karen

[salsabike]

I have a bell on my road bike and we also have one on the tandem. We usually try that first.

If it's another cyclist, I will say "On your left." If it's a walker, I will say, "Passing on your left" and then "thank you". If it's a kid, I am very careful and say something like, "Hi there. I am going to pass you on your left, so just stay right where you are; you're doing great." On the parts of the trail where there are lots of families with kids, I go slower. Kids are just learning these rules and I sure don't expect them to understand "On your left." I do expect users to understand they need to stay on their side/half of the trail and don't mind telling them that when necessary. But I try to be polite.

Many walkers and families on the Burke-Gilman and Sammamish River Trails here complain about rude cyclists. That bothers me. They are multi-use trails. They need to feel safe there too. It shouldn't be much trouble for us to be polite to them.

[Lise]

After the third time of narrowly avoiding the little sausages, I called animal control. Karen

SNAUSAGES? Not dachshunds?!? They should get tickets for dachshund endangerment! Ahem. I mean cyclist endangerment, of course.

I call "on your left", or sometimes, "I am PASSING on your LEFT!" When they don't move over, sometimes I'll yell it again, followed by, "Please move over to your right!" Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. When they do, I say "thank you". If it's another cyclist whom I'm passing, but doesn't need to move over, I just say, "on your left", and pass. It's just not worth riding on the busy path most of the time.

The moms with their double wide strollers have an awful lot of confidence in the strollers' ability to protect their children. I could see an awful accident with bikers and babies hurt.

[Brandy]

I think all parks with bike/walking trails should have signs posted that explain such things as "On your left!" and proper etiquette. Most people just don't know the rules, and don't know the safety issues involved.

I think that's a great idea!

[colby]

I think all parks with bike/walking trails should have signs posted that explain such things as "On your left!" and proper etiquette. Most people just don't know the rules, and don't know the safety issues involved.

That's a really good idea. Some of the parks have bulletin boards where you could post signs, maybe even as a "concerned citizen" we could start posting information.

If trails were made wider, maybe it would be less of an issue... heck, we have 6 lane freeways, why not trailways?

[kjay]

Glad to hear someone else doesn't have a whole lot of patience when it comes to people not paying attention. I always slow down when approaching walkers, etc, but one day, a tiny tot was ambling out into the bike path and I rang my bell, called out, yelled out, hollering "on your left." The mom made no move to rein in the kid, so I yelled at her and she said, "Well, he's too young to know his left side," to which I responded, "if he's too young, he should be on a leash." Nasty but it really irked me.

Now, I have an air horn, and people move "right quick."

[tulip]

"if he's too young, he should be on a leash."

Awesome! I'll remember that one (mind if I use it?)