A rant: If you're passing me, please let me know!

[aicabsolut]

Really? HP is 2 lanes wide (one way). It's not a bike trail. There's usually a very safe passing distance to be had where you shouldn't need advance notice. It's also so crowded that if I would never shut up if I had to call out to every person I passed. Also, everyone knows that on Thursday nights, there is a huge peloton speeding around and sprinting every lap, making it more crowded than usual. Ride as you would on any road and keep an ear out for others.

[ny biker]

Ride as you would on any road and keep an ear out for others.

One of the big reasons I stopped riding on Beach Dr was because too many cyclists were passing me with only a couple of inches of clearance and they never ever warned they were passing. And I never ever heard them coming or knew they were there until I saw them next to me. Keeping an ear out is not enough to hear some bikes coming up from behind.

[owlice]

Really? HP is 2 lanes wide (one way). It's not a bike trail. There's usually a very safe passing distance to be had where you shouldn't need advance notice. It's also so crowded that if I would never shut up if I had to call out to every person I passed. Also, everyone knows that on Thursday nights, there is a huge peloton speeding around and sprinting every lap, making it more crowded than usual. Ride as you would on any road and keep an ear out for others.

"Everyone" knows?! No, everyone does NOT know. Sorry. The huge peloton speeding around is NOT exempt from showing common biking courtesy, despite what most of them seem to think. Sure, Hains Point is two lanes, and there usually is a very safe passing distance to be had, but some people -- some of whom are passing me -- don't use the "very safe passing distance" and are happy to get within three or four inches of me, maybe because they are riding many-across and there isn't an empty lane next to them.

I ride in crowded areas sometimes, and call out "bike passing on your left" and/or use my bell as often as necessary, even continuously if that's what it takes.

That Hains Point is NOT a bike trail, but is used not only by cars, but bikes, walkers, skaters, runners, and parents taking a stroll with their kids in a stroller, is all the MORE reason why someone passing should call or ring out. And if cars are blocking the road -- trying to park -- I think the "huge peloton speeding around" should act like traffic and STOP rather than weave around the car.

If bikes want to be treated as traffic, bikes need to act like traffic!

[pumpkinpony]

It might help your comfort level if you got a mirror... Not that that excuses the inconsiderate cyclists - I don't like people passing close by without telling me either, but at least with a mirror I know they are coming.

[malkin]

Three little words that mean so much...I don't know why it's so hard to say.

[OakLeaf]

Audible signal to pass is the law in some states (including Ohio). In motorized vehicles most people ignore it except on one-lane roads. When I mentioned this being the law, someone here thought it was "nonsensical." I don't think so at all. I agree that it's common courtesy regardless. If there's a peloton, no, every rider doesn't have to call out, but the point rider should say it's a peloton. If I'm point in a small paceline, I'll usually call out in advance, and then when I'm beside the person, I'll tell them how many riders behind me.

[bikerHen]

I'm all about calling out too. But on the flip side, when we were riding the Seattle to Portland ride last year with 10,000 other riders it got a little annoying after the first few thousand "on your left". We decided on just saying "passing" and then only to the riders who didn't look very alert. bikerHen

[Tri Girl]

*raising hand* I'm a clod. I rarely call out when passing- and I never call out to runners on the trails. Most of them have headphones and don't hear anyway. I used to call out to bikers but after having had two very rude people snip at me- I stopped. I always pass with at least 3 feet or more and go WAY around someone when passing. Hardly any other person calls out here. I can count on one hand how many times someone has called out to me when passing in the last year. Maybe some places it's more common than others.

[malkin]

I remember the "audible signal" from cars that honk as they pass in Europe.

[Eden]

If bikes want to be treated as traffic, bikes need to act like traffic!

Well.... cars don't honk at one another when they pass.....

I don't know the area in question, so I don't know the particular situation, but as it is a road and not a MUP, I'm more inclined to agree with aicabsolut. I don't call out to cyclists when I am passing them on the road, just as I don't want to be honked at by cars. Then again I don't buzz them either. I give them the 3 feet or more that should be given by a car.

While some states may have an "audible signal" law, others have a prohibition.... its actually illegal to honk at cyclists for no good reason (ie an actual dangerous situation that requires use of a horn) in this state. I prefer it that way. For the most part I can hear cars unless it is very, very noisy. I know full well they are there. When they let out an ear piercing honk right off my side, it just makes me jump and that's not good.

[Selkie]

.... Then again I don't buzz them either. I give them the 3 feet or more that should be given by a car.

This is excellent, Eden.

[Crankin]

A lot of my weekday riding is done on 2 roads that are extremely popular with cyclists and are somewhat busy. Some of you might characterize these roads as 2 lane "country roads," but they are major cut through streets for the suburban communities around here. Some of the cyclists are commuters, some are racers, some are serious recreational cyclists, and some are just out for a ride with the family, or are tourists (this route is on a map of popular bike rides in historic areas).
I always call out when passing people slower than me. I also often say hi to them, or "have a nice ride." About half of the riders passing me call out; these are usually the serious roadies/racers. What I dislike are the ones who say "on your left" when they are already right next to, or already passing me, not coming up on me. I usually can hear someone approaching me, but often, I kind of "jump" when another rider comes up on me, without warning. Usually, I ignore it, but sometimes, if I'm feeling cranky, I might say "Have a nice day," to them, in a kind of sarcastic voice. I know it's silly, but it makes me feel temporarily good.
I dislike riding on MUPs, and we don't have many here, either. When I have ridden on a path, I call out to every single person and vary what I say according to whether it's a kid, a slower rider, or a jogger/walker. But, it takes a lot of energy. The way I see it, it's like being an ambassador for polite cycling. If I am riding on a path, it's not for "training," and I'd like others to see that roadies aren't all spandex clad yahoos.

[OakLeaf]

I'd like others to see that roadies aren't all spandex clad yahoos.

Also that spandex-clad roadies aren't all yahoos.

[polly4711]

Totally agree!!! I just the the MS 150 from Houston to Austin with 13,500 riders. It was so great to hear people constantly communicating saying "on your left" which just became "left" by the end of the ride. But many people said "Riders on your left" when a group of people were coming by so that you knew not to come over to follow that first person.

I also must say that I had a guy brush shoulders with me and it completely freaked me out becuase he was that close. I saw him later that day get chewed out by the Ride Marshall because of his riding style.

[Skierchickie]

I live in what most of you would consider an extremely rural area (one of those areas where 80% of drivers think bikes shouldn't be on the road). I'll encounter a biker that I need to pass about once every two years, if that. I'll be passed by another biker, well, maybe not that often. I'll see bikers riding toward me maybe once per ride, on my longer rides.

My passing experience is mainly from cross country skiing. I find that while training, if I yell out, the person I'm passing is just as likely to fall over as anything. So I try to cough or clear my throat at some point as I'm approaching, in the hope that they'll hear it and look back (or at least become aware of my presence). I don't just pass people without them knowing I'm there, unless they don't hear me and are skiing side-by-side with someone and talking, or wearing ear buds, and I'd have to scream to be heard. I try to be patient and pass once they know I'm there. I always figure yelling "on your left", like in a race, is just going to make me look like a jerk.

I find that while biking, anyone who passes me is going to startle me, because it's so rare. So just don't pass close - I'd rather not hear a voice right behind me, out of the blue. I would think that would be the bigger problem - the buzzing. Just give me space, and then smile and say "Hi - nice day, huh?". I remember the last time I passed two bikers on one of my rides. I could see them for a while, and was reeling them in steadily. It was windy enough to make it difficult to hear. Just before I was in range, the guy looked back, and I assumed he saw me. His wife was 3 or 4 bike lengths ahead, but I figured he would let her know (because, it would be silly not to, right?). So I cautiously passed, saying "Hi" as I passed him. Then I caught her (I was still over toward the center line), and she said "Eek!" and nearly went in the ditch. Apparently hubby neglected to mention it, and she was JUST far enough ahead to not hear our exchange. I'm always torn between the "If I call out I'll scare them" and "If I call out they'll know I'm there" choice. I think she'd have bobbled either way.

Personally, I've always thought that on a road/path that was always busy with bikers / runners/ etc, a person would always try to behave as though there were ALWAYS people passing them, and ALWAYS be prepared for them. Anything else would end in disaster. So it actually surprises me that this is a problem (not the problem of people shaving by too close - those people shouldn't be there). I'm sure this is just because I don't ride those places. I do remember taking our bikes to Mackinaw Island years ago, and being pissed off by all the oblivious bikers weaving all over the place, though, so I'm not sure why I thought that. I think that in a busy situation (or any, really) the thing is to hold your line, and behave predictably. If it's busy - expect people to be passing you. Look behind you before making any lateral maneuvers.

Maybe ski racing for the last 30+ years has taught me to be aware of what is going on around me. Sometimes I do races where there are different events or waves, and the fastest people who started behind me will be charging up fast, at some point. I do everything in my power to avoid impeding their progress (yeah - like I want to be the one who caused the lead pack to get shuffled!). One person could have a big impact on the outcome. So I try to check behind me at strategic places.

Just another point of view (probably invalid due to my level of experience with these situations). Ahhh - the rural life! I love it!