Tailgated by other cyclist!!

[RolliePollie]

The bike trail in Sacramento served me extremely well this Spring as I was learning how to ride from scratch. It's so nice and flat down there...so different than my local roads. But now that it's getting busier down there, I'm trying to stay away. Far too many obstacles. Last time I rode the trail, I nearly hit a lady who turned left in front of me. And I got cussed out by a guy who was right on my back wheel when I had to brake because a lady on a razor scooter swerved in front of me and sent me into oncoming bike traffic. Then there are those paceline groups going super fast who scare me half to death.

What does everyone think about getting "dinged" on the trail by a bicycle bell? My friend and I were riding the bike trail on a weekday and it was completely deserted. We were riding along next to each other at about 15 mph...the lane was plenty wide for both of us to stay completely on our side. All of a sudden, this guy comes up behind us and starting dinging us like crazy. Then he flies around us on the left while continuing to ding and cuts in front of us wayyyy too close. There was no one coming the other direction so he had plenty of room to pass. I thought it was very rude. Other folks we encountered generally said, "hi there...nice day today" or "how ya doin'?".

My local MUT is only 3 miles long and 90% of the pedestrians walk ON the pavement and will NOT move. I say "passing on your left" and they stop dead in their tracks and turn to look...and they're still in my way! But once again, in early Spring it was a great place for me to start out. Now I'm more afraid of that trail than any of our local roads!

[Lise]

What does everyone think about getting "dinged" on the trail by a bicycle bell?

I recently got a bell for my bicycle, when I saw that people responded more quickly and favorably to my BF's bell than to my "on your left!" When I use my bell, I am calmer than when I'm yelling. The bell is a constant volume. With my voice, I'm never sure how loudly to yell, and I find myself tense and angry if I've yelled that I'm passing and people don't respond.

Sounds like the guy who passed you was pretty hepped up on adrenaline, and his bell-use just reflected that!

So far, I'm in favor of the bell over the voice. I've started saying, "I'm passing you!", as a lot of people seem baffled by "on your left". It's hard to know when to say the "OYL"--when faster riders pass me, it often seems like they're nearly upon me before they say anything, and then I want to jump. If they started dinging from a few more feet back, I'd know they were coming.

[crazycanuck]

I absolutely hate being Ding Ding Dinged at I feel as if i'm around kindergarten kids or something.URGH.

If i'm going to pass you, i'll say "On your right" or "Rider" and if you still don't hear me..well a few expletives will be in order.

Just move out of my way. Can you tell I don't like slow cyclists, families on bikes etc..

This is why i mountain bike!

In addition, I don't use the cycle paths on the weekend as i know there will be families out there and I don't have the patience.

C

[Zen]

In summary, common sense is not always common.

[tangentgirl]

Arghhhhhh, the so-called bike paths by the beach here may as well be MUTs. We've got one nice bike path, clearly labeled BIKES ONLY. We've got an even nicer parallel walking/running/skateboarding/ogling/dogwalking path right above it. Why, I ask you, are there still people walking around aimlessly on the BIKE path? I really want to flatten them. May as well ride with the cars.

[7rider]

In summary, common sense is not always common.

Neither is common courtesy.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Seems pretty obvious to me that "bike paths" that are frequently used by joggers, baby carriages, roller bladers, dog walkers, families with small children, scooters, fitness walkers, and beginner cyclists are just NOT places where an experienced cyclist would want to ride at a reasonable speed anyhow.

Why do we keep acting surprised and angry when people don't behave in such a way that is geared towards cyclists? It's just not going to happen, ...just as car drivers are not going to do the right thing all the time either. It's up to us to ride in such a way as to avoid hazardous encounters. That might mean riding extremely slowly, avoiding such multi-use paths during crowded hours, or even avoiding them altogether.

[Tuckervill]

I don't mind being DINGed at, as long as you don't do it for the first time 3 feet behind me. The other day a guy in full kit and at full tilt on the MUT didn't say on your left until he was right at my back tire. Of course, I didn't hear him coming at all because he was coming so fast, and I jumped out of my skin.

If you're going to warn people, make some noise way back so they're not startled. I try to whistle a little tune about 20 yards away (our trails are not very crowded) so they at least know someone is back there and approaching. Then people don't startle when you get closer.

Karen

[Jo-n-NY]

Lisa, you are so right.

I have not ridden a favorite bike path of mine for two years because all the reasons listed above. When creating a route for the ROS that I organized I needed to use a small portion of the path that connected two towns. I never knew there was a one mile developement road that ran parallel with the beginning of the path, which is the part of the path that is used the most by walkers, etc. At the end of this road there is another entrance to the path.

Well last weekend, I decided to ride to the path from my house as I always did years ago but took the road bypassing the beginning of the path then instead of getting off the path that I would have for the ROS I continued on and had a very enjoyable ride that took me into the park I did it again the next day. I had it set in my head I was not going to be riding as fast as I do on the road, but going 15mph was working out just fine for me. Yes, I came across parents with a child riding and so I slowed up, let them know I was passing, told the kid that they were doing really good and went on my way. Other than that, there were not any of the walkers, baby strollers etc that are in the beginning of the path.

All in all this gave me an enjoyable 25 mile ride and is another alternative when I don't feel like really pushing it. I am on main/back roads getting and coming home from the path so the ride is like the best of both worlds.

~ JoAnn

[Jenn]

Seems pretty obvious to me that "bike paths" that are frequently used by joggers, baby carriages, roller bladers, dog walkers, families with small children, scooters, fitness walkers, and beginner cyclists are just NOT places where an experienced cyclist would want to ride at a reasonable speed anyhow.

Why do we keep acting surprised and angry when people don't behave in such a way that is geared towards cyclists? It's just not going to happen, ...just as car drivers are not going to do the right thing all the time either. It's up to us to ride in such a way as to avoid hazardous encounters. That might mean riding extremely slowly, avoiding such multi-use paths during crowded hours, or even avoiding them altogether.

Well, I'm sure, by your standards my husband and I are not "experienced" cyclist . I'm going to keep going back to my MAIN point in my post of the DRUNK half naked guy trying to run ME off the path, or the so called "experienced" riders all "decked" out running twice as fast as us, talking to eachother and almost hitting us head on!!! What is the deal, do people just read a post and pick it apart. As I stated before, DH and I did not go that fast with traffic, we put NOBODY in harms way, WE are responsible cyclist. When it was open and we had a good clear headway, YEA, we opened up and HAULED BUTT. HMM did I say we ran 22 the whole way running people over, throwing them off the path somewhere and didn't realize it???
The point is, if you are goin to be on a BIKE PATH, respect the people on it and be courteous.

[RolliePollie]

Seems pretty obvious to me that "bike paths" that are frequently used by joggers, baby carriages, roller bladers, dog walkers, families with small children, scooters, fitness walkers, and beginner cyclists are just NOT places where an experienced cyclist would want to ride at a reasonable speed anyhow.

Why do we keep acting surprised and angry when people don't behave in such a way that is geared towards cyclists? It's just not going to happen, ...just as car drivers are not going to do the right thing all the time either. It's up to us to ride in such a way as to avoid hazardous encounters. That might mean riding extremely slowly, avoiding such multi-use paths during crowded hours, or even avoiding them altogether.

Good point, Lisa! I guess we all just like to moan & groan, vent, whine, share our frustration, etc., etc.! You can't expect people to act like you think they should act, do what you think they should do, or even think at all. I know I have done some really stupid things while riding on the trail AND on the road, and other people have undoubtedly vented about ME! And we can all choose where we ride and don't ride. That's why I'm going to steer clear of the trails as much as possible this summer.

But I still think MUT users (cyclists too!) need to be more aware of others. We can always hope for a perfect world, right?

Venting is just fun