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

[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!