What ever happened to "on your left"

[emily_in_nc]

I have an Air Zound on my bike but would never use it on a ped, unless it were a matter of life or death. I save it for dogs (rarely) and crazy drivers (don't use it as often as I should!)

I was riding on a MUT yesterday and started getting close to a woman walking her dog. She had NO idea I was coming up behind her. She was on the left of the MUT, dog was on the right, sniffing the grass. They were meandering along slowly. I was ever-so-slightly annoyed initially, hoping she'd get over before I had to tell her I was there, but decided that being very nice was by far the best approach. So, as I got closer to her, I said in a friendly voice "Hello! Bike coming up behind." She looked, moved right, flashed a huge smile, and said "thanks for the warning!" in a friendly way. I passed, saying "Thanks! Have a great day!"; she replied "You too!" It ended on a very upbeat note that left me in good spirits. Sometimes, I just have to remember to slow down and take a different attitude towards the encounter. By handling it in a positive manner, sure, I lost some speed, but I also lost my annoyance and came out of it feeling all warm and fuzzy.

I also like to think that I left a positive "cyclist experience" on the woman, who had probably had some that were less so (haven't we all, as pedestrians?)

Totally agree on the iPod peds, though. Very frustrating! It's not even worth trying to be nice as they normally can't hear you anyway.

[Velocivixen]

Emily, exactly. Although I sometimes get peeved at dog walkers, stroller pushers, folks not attending to their toddlers, etc., etc. I always smile or at least have a "smile in my voice" so I will have left them with a positive experience with a biker. I have also noticed that when I'm a pedestrian I am much more aware of how I'm moving/walking in regard to potential cyclists coming up behind me. I think it's important to be a good steward.

[jessmarimba]

I came upon a group of elderly people meandering down a trail once when I was mountain biking, walking 2-3 abreast and looking at the ground. Fortunately I was "pootling" along myself, as we say, and the route was fairly flat. I slowed to a crawl, and politely asked "May I pass on your left, please?" I couldn't imagine being any less polite with that group. Fortunately for them the trail had a pretty good line of sight, or they would've risked being obliterated by someone.

The people who walk in the bike lane on their cell phones on my commute home? Yeah...I pretty much buzz them. If you're going to walk IN THE ROAD please leave the phone in your pocket.

[beccaB]

I like to bike in a nearby lake resort community. Those all used to be summer vacation homes for Detroit folks but now they're mostly inhabited year round. I'm surprised by the number of people who meander out in the road right in front of us. My husband will do his loud whistle or sometimes we have to swerve to avoid them. The ironic part is you can go 25 easy because it's sort of a wind tunnel because of lake winds. The speed limit is 25. I've broken it a few times when people aren't meandering about aimlessly.