Do YOU yell at cyclists to get off the road?

[DarcyInOregon]

I am mostly a rural road cyclist, and I bike focused, so when I see down the road a distance runner, or the can collecting bike guy, or a lady pushing a tram coming at me head-on, I merely move out into the traffic lane a bit more, force whatever vehicles there may be to go around all of us, zip on by and never give it another thought. However, what really annoys me no end because it is a type of cycling that can endanger me, and that is having cyclists in front of me or behind me who are pedaling with one hand and yapping, texting or emailing on their cell phone with their other hand, totally oblivious to vehicles, pedestrians or other cyclists. The people on the other end of the phone are just as guilty, knowing they are texting, chatting, emailing with a guy who is out on his bike.

Texting the cycling buddies is great, particularly when there is a dozen of us out on an event ride, and everyone is riding at a different pace and gotten spread out. We can text each other as to where we are and can regroup or meet up after the ride for a meal, even text about the killer nasty hill. However, when I am on my bike, and my cell phone rings or burps, I don't look at it until I am stopped by the side of the road, and safely out of the way of other cyclists and vehicles. But I see cyclists who are texting while biking, don't even know that I am passing them on the left because all they can focus on is their cell phone - and that is incredibly dangerous.

[zoom-zoom]

But I see cyclists who are texting while biking, don't even know that I am passing them on the left because all they can focus on is their cell phone - and that is incredibly dangerous.

They scare me, too. But I also pity them. Seriously...they can't be without communication for even a short bike ride? I won't generally even return calls or texts during a ride break. I like to wait until I am totally done. My ride time is MY time. I like being off the grid. I don't get people that never take a break...especially when it's risky to do so.

[skhill]

Just yesterday I yelled at a cyclist. But I was on my bike too. It was at a 4-way stop, he was on the wrong side of the road and ran the stop sign, and I came within inches of hitting him.

When I'm on foot on a sidewalk by a bikeable road and an adult comes riding along, I move to the very center of the sidewalk and won't yield. Haven't thrown an elbow yet, but I've been tempted. If they want to go faster than I'm running, they belong on the road.

katluvr, I was actually taught as a child that you walk and ride facing traffic. From what I've heard, that's just about universal around here. And in the countries that a lot of the non-car owning immigrants around here come from. Some of us learn better, but not everyone.

[Biciclista]

my coworker is riding on mountain roads. He's training for a big ride and rode right where i did a few weeks ago. He asked me, "do you guys go to the opposite side of the road where there is the danger of rock falls?"
i said, "Seriously? Absolutely not! - we all try to obey the traffic laws. I can't think of anything more dangerous than riding against traffic"
His response "well, i'm not going to get taken out by a rock.. I'm going to continue riding on the other side!"
some people are immune to learning. i hope he doesn't take someone else out, those shoulders are narrow.

[grey]

"well, i'm not going to get taken out by a rock.. I'm going to continue riding on the other side!"

Maybe not a rock, but if the road is that narrow and you're going the wrong way - what about the truck that comes careening around the bend? Head-on? That's the huge danger of riding against traffic. There's so much less time for both the rider and a driver to see each other, a little more calculation needed in very short span of time, and what if they CAN'T safely give you room right at that time? At least with the traffic a driver can slow down until it's clear to pass.

[TrekTheKaty]

As a child, I was taught to walk and ride my bike facing traffic--so you could see the oncoming traffic (this could be where my fear of being hit by a car came from). I assume a lot of the older riders that are just getting back out there, are misunderstanding the same thing.

Maybe, just maybe, that indiscretion you see is an isolated incident. I thought of this thread while riding today. We were in a hilly residential area, and had missed our turn. While riding back, I decided to cross over to the left shoulder for my upcoming left turn since there were no cars coming (I know, stupid). I went too soon, the shoulder ended, and suddenly I was riding on the road into two oncoming cars. They were coming out of a stop sign and slowed to go around me--but I'm sure they thought I was stupid--AND I WAS being stupid. I'm glad they didn't yell. I felt bad enough already

[goldfinch]

Maybe the best thing is to push for public education. For example, we could go to our local schools and offer to do a talk in classrooms about bike safety.