"On your left" - What does this mean to you?

[Trek420]

Case 2: Hike and bike trail at the park. Path is about 6' wide, paved. Couple is walking hand in hand taking up most of the path.. I slowed down a bit, said "on your left" as I approached, and the man stopped in his tracks, and stayed where he was (left side of the path) the lady also stopped, but turned around, put both arms out (???) essentially blocking the whole path and I ended up off the path and off my bike (not a fall exactly, but no traction in gravel I pretty much skid to a sideways stop and hopped off). She apologized profusely, but it still left me thinking that people just don't have a clue what proper passing entails... it's not like I expected them to hightail it out of my way (just moving over a bit to the right would have given me more than enough room to pass safely), but to STOP and effectively block my way completely? Uh, no....

I've learned whether it's hikers, kids, cyclists who seem new or newer and especially kids to say a cheery "good morning" or "I'm passing on your left" or "Hello! "

You never know what kids will do, and hikers often go to the left that is to say right smack into you.

Of course you should call out, but it does not have to literally be "on your left".

I rarely get to pass people, I hear the call out more than I say it

[TrekTheKaty]

While at a bike shop in Defiance, MO--we found a kid's toy that made a fog horn noise! We laughed about that all day! When we went back the next weekend, it was gone Everytime I come up behind clueless people, I want that fog horn--it's also bilingual. We have quite a few older, oriental people on our bike path. They clearly don't understand "on your left" but have learned "hello" means we are coming up behind and they step over, smile and wave. They understand "hello" and think we are just being friendly

Dogs on retractable leashes--I just cringe and wait for impact as I go over my handlebars.

Kids. I had one child who saw me, froze and smiled as I said "hello" and waved. Mom, however, freaked and bolted in front of me. SO, yes, don't split Mom and baby--even if BABY understands your intentions.

[kenyonchris]

Dogs on retractable leashes--I just cringe and wait for impact as I go over my handlebars.

DONT'T even get me started on those retractable leashes!!! I have had so many near crashes on patrol while riding on the path (which I never do on my personal bikes for all these reasons)...and seen many non-doggie people very unhappy when accosted by a dog on a retractable leash.
My dog heals when in public on a leash. Makes life better for him, the people around me, and me.
Those things are nuisances and dangerous.

[e.e.cummings]

There are some people who just don't like be passed and they get competitive when it happens (guys more than girls?). It is like when you are driving, behind someone slow and as soon as you try to pass, they speed up or make it difficult for you. I guess these people are everywhere.

On our bike path (or most places I imagine), the etiquette is if you hear someone coming up from behind, keep to your right if you think they want to pass. People are not supposed to right two by two, but some do anyway. They will normally go single file when they hear someone coming, but some die-hards just will not give it up.

Sounds like you have a couple of die-hards (or blow-hards!) on your hands. It's annoying, isn't it! Don't let them spoil your ride. I have run it a few of these. I keep smiling, am courteous, if my initial warning (bell ring or comment) is ignored, I state loudly 'hello, can I get around you please' when other efforts fail - I think they realize they are going look like real jerks if they don't let me pass since I am being pretty civilized about it.

[Biciclista]

Sounds like you have a couple of die-hards (or blow-hards!) on your hands. It's annoying, isn't it! Don't let them spoil your ride. I have run it a few of these. I keep smiling, am courteous, if my initial warning (bell ring or comment) is ignored, I state loudly 'hello, can I get around you please' when other efforts fail - I think they realize they are going look like real jerks if they don't let me pass since I am being pretty civilized about it.

+++++

[ilima]

Sounds like the guy deserves to have a pump in his spokes. Seriously. The way he was riding was extremely dangerous. There is no excuse for acting like an a$$hole and endangering other cyclists lives during a charity ride!

If he was wearing a number (and you remember it) you should report him to the ride director.

[Jiffer]

What a jerk! Yes, common courtesy as well as cycling etiquette should have caused him to move over for you and certainly not try to force you over or keep you from passing! I'm guessing they probably didn't even hear you to begin with, as they were engaged in their conversation completely oblivious to the fact that there were other riders in the universe. Secondly, when you went to pass him, he probably couldn't stand the idea that a woman was passing him and had to try to show he was a man and, therefore, strong enough to keep you in your place behind him.

So cool that you were strong enough to "crush him" (as my dh would say!).

I recall being on a long beach ride with dh and some friends where we were keeping a fairly fast pace line going there were no other cyclists around. We were along busy Pacific Coast Highway. All of a sudden a cyclist comes out of nowhere, not even on the left, but the right and passes without a word. Completely freaked me out. I was so ticked that he snuck up without making us aware he was there, where there wasn't a whole lot of room for someone to pass on the right of all places.

Anyways, I say that guy was a jerk and you were AWESOME for passing him and doing it like a girl!!!

[channlluv]

My favorite ride is a five-mile loop around Lake Miramar in San Diego. It's a MUP, though, and a favorite spot for families barbecuing up by the boat rental building and restrooms. It's a really nice spot for picnics and boating, but there's no swimming allowed. It's a drinking water resevoir (but there are geese and ducks and various other wildlife - go figure).

Anyway, as bmc said, in the late afternoon and evenings, the place is full of pedestrians who don't realize they're on a 15 MPH bike path. There's a big sign at the front of the path telling them to keep to the right, but obviously, that sign is meant for everyone but them and their toddler and their cute little dog on the retractable leash. I try not to go ride in the evenings there.

I also avoid it early on Sunday mornings. The walkers clear out around 10am, though, and that's when I get there. It's almost empty in the middle of the day every day of the week.

A couple of weeks ago, though, I was riding in the middle of the day and came up on these four young women walking abreast and taking up the whole right-hand side of the road (it's a standard two-lane street according the city maps, and is open to vehicular traffic, with a 15mph speed limit).

We were coming up on a blind curve that is posted for no passing - there's literally a bright yellow pole in the middle of the road that serves as the double yellow line there, and there's a big yellow street sign that says "No Passing." I was a good way behind them, but I called out "On your left!" so they'd have time to move - I was going about the speed limit. They didn't move. I called out again as I got closer and the girl on the outside and the one next to her went to move right and I started to pass them when the third girl waved them back out!

I literally skidded to a halt within a couple of feet of the two girls who had moved to the right, then moved back. Number Three gets all snarky and says, "There's a whole road over there." I kicked back into gear because now Number One and Number Two had moved farther to the left and made room between them and Number Three for me to get by.

I called out, "Oh no, there's not. It's a posted no-passing curve." She yelled back, "Oh yes, there is."

Oh, geez, did I really revert back to grade school? Yes, I'm afraid I did. "Really? You're willing to force people into oncoming traffic?" I shouted back at her. I did not handle it well. I admit it. But at least I didn't shout obscenities at her. They smirked at me - or at least, she did, the others just sort of looked to her to see how they were supposed to react. I think they were embarrassed. I know I was later when I had time to process what had happened. I should have just ridden between them and ignored Number Three.

I only call out "On your left!" if I actually need someone to move over for safety, like when people are walking and talking and blocking the right side of the road and there is oncoming traffic in the opposite lane. If there's no oncoming traffic, I just whip around them and return to the right side of the road as quickly as I can.

I actually got passed by a guy on inline skates a couple of weeks ago. He didn't call out anything, he was so zenned out. I heard him coming and couldn't believe I couldn't stay out in front of him doing 12 - 14mph. I finally quit trying and he passed me by like I was sitting still. Sheesh.

When I see people with dogs on long leashes, I call out "Bike!" well in advance of me catching up to them, which sometimes works. Sometimes I yell, "Leash!" when it's one of those retractable things. I agree that those things are an absolute safety hazard.

The people who bug me the most, though, are parents who let their toddlers and young children run all over the road while they - the parents - are talking on the phone. It's a posted 15mph road and there are occasional cars and trucks on it, too (people driving into the park to visit the several fishing spots with docks and reeds and all that stuff that turns fishermen on). There are also cyclists who do not pay any attention at all to that 15 mph speed limit. (I have to admit that I've hit 19 mph on some of the flats, and my daughter confessed to 17.6mph when she was on a rescue mission to get a First Aid kit to her friend who had crashed and needed bandages.)

I've called out "Baby on the bike path!" to a father who was pushing an empty stroller, talking on a phone, and ignoring his toddler who was scampering along way behind him. I had to yell it twice before he heard me and turned around. I had stopped and his boy was stopped, too, looking up at me. He scooped the baby up without saying a word to me and continued his phone conversation.

Another young mother was on the phone, too, while her toddler was wandering in the middle of the path behind her. I was approaching from in front of her, so she could see me coming. She was just too engrossed in her phone conversation. I called out, "Watch the baby! Watch the baby!" She turned and saw where the baby was, looked back at where I was, and told the baby to hold still, which the baby, to her credit, did, and I passed very slowly, just in case.

There are the same parents who ignore the many signs warning about rattle snakes, too, I guess.

And then there are the parents with their kids out on new bikes who are actively teaching them the safety rules. "Keep over to the right. Good." For those folks I'll call out "On your left!" even thought there's plenty of room, just to demonstrate what to do, and I've often heard the parents saying, "See? You call out 'On your left' when you need to pass someone." That's a nice warm-fuzzy.

Roxy

[HappyTexasMom]

And then there are the parents with their kids out on new bikes who are actively teaching them the safety rules. "Keep over to the right. Good." For those folks I'll call out "On your left!" even thought there's plenty of room, just to demonstrate what to do, and I've often heard the parents saying, "See? You call out 'On your left' when you need to pass someone." That's a nice warm-fuzzy.

This is me with my son. I've been taking him out on paths and lesser traveled roads (with bike lanes and still plenty wide) so I can teach him the rules of the road. Wow, I never realized how much knowledge I just take for granted. Teaching him the different directions traffic can come from and how to look, what people are *supposed* to do (and therefore what you can generally expect, but not necessarily count on), and how to cross like a bike vs. a pedestrian. It's exhausting taking him for a ride! But so worth it.

[channlluv]

You know, the rules have changed, too, since I was a kid. When I was little, we were instructed to get off our bikes at intersections and walk across like pedestrians. That would have made any kind of in-town riding a real bore.

I'm so much more diligent about following the rules when my daughter is with me, too. And not only to be a better example for her, but doggone if she doesn't call me out when I do something wrong. Ha!

Roxy

[kfergos]

When I'm passing other riders who are reasonably far right, I use "passing on your left" (spoken as loudly and clearly enunciated as possible) to mean "stay where you are and I'll go by you."

When passing riders two widely abreast, who look unstable on their bikes, or who are individually farther left than necessary, I mean "please move to the right a bit so I can get by you." If they don't move, I'll wait behind them until it's safe and clear to pass.

When passing kids, old people, or families on multi-use trails, I usually say "Coming up behind you" from a good distance away; I definitely don't assume they know what "on your left" means (especially little kids). That gives them time to figure out what's going on and react in a way I can predict and accommodate. I also always say "Thank you," whether or not I could perceive any reaction to my calling out, because I want people to remember me as that polite cyclist who slowed down to pass, rather than that jerk who blew by at 20 mph when passing a 4-year-old on training wheels. No need to foster more cyclist-non-cyclist dissension than there already is.

I do NOT expect people to move to the right for me, unless they're unreasonably far left. When people say "On your left" to me, I generally hold my line and speed since I put myself as far right as is safe in any given situation.

Slight thread hijack: On the STP this year and last year, we were passed by hundreds of people who didn't say a word when they went by. They silently passed us, often in groups of 10 or more, and that really bugs me. After a while we started calling "Bikes back!" to the other riders in our group to warn of these stealth passers. Is it reasonable to feel irritated when people rudely pass without saying a darn thing? Is there any law that says you need to notify somebody before passing? (I doubt it; I think this is probably just common courtesy.) Especially in big group rides when you're almost always being passed and almost always passing, it seems like saying SOMETHING should be the norm for everybody.