calling out when you're passing

[Kitsune06]

I'll yell "AVAST! ON YER LEFT, Ye SCURVY DOGS!" and other such things (generally accepted to be in good humor, because my voice just doesn't *sound* intimidating or angry)

... fail that, I fire some warning shots across their bow.

[Lise]

I'll yell "AVAST! ON YER LEFT, Ye SCURVY DOGS!" and other such things (generally accepted to be in good humor, because my voice just doesn't *sound* intimidating or angry)

... fail that, I fire some warning shots across their bow.

Only 75 cents? Wow! Sign me up!

[Tuckervill]

SNAUSAGES? Not dachshunds?!?

They're fur balls, not dachshunds. ****zu or Lhasas or something...but they're fat--sausages on toothpicks.

It annoys me because I love dogs and I really DON'T want to run over them. And it annoys me that they think their dogs are so GREAT that they wouldn't chase a rabbit across the highway only to be hit by a chicken truck, or annoy the passing Rottie enough that they wouldn't get bitten in two, or that something in my movement of my feet wouldn't inspire them to take a bite, or that a toddler who is afraid of dogs might REALLY be afraid if they approach. It annoys me because the women obviously don't want to HOLD THE LEASH, so they take the leashes OFF THE DOGS and hold the unattached leashes IN THEIR HANDS!!!!

I really hope they got a ticket.

Karen

[Crankin]

All of these things are why i never would ride on a path. But, what about idiots who do these things on the road??!! This week I almost ran into a group of oblivious women in my neighborhood who sometimes walk their dogs around the loop of my street. Now, this is a mile long 5-10% up and down climb, with no sidewalks. Most walkers and runners here know that you walk/run opposite traffic, but not these women. This time, there were only 2 of them, with like 5 dogs. But, I've seen up to 5-6 of them at a time. I am going down the hill and scream out "passing on your left" and they do not move over on inch. Of course, I anticipated this, so I moved out into the center of the road. Then, they had the audacity to yell at me! Now, I am a cautious descender, but really, this pisses me off. I've had the same thing happen with people pushing strollers.

[Bluetree]

The first few times I (walking a path with a friend) heard a cyclist call "On your left," I thought they were telling me to "Move left." A lot of times "Left" is the only word you hear in that situation. So first, remember that many walkers don't know the lingo, and may not even hear everything you said. That's what makes "On your left," so problematical.

Ive worked at Southern California racing stables a long time so that I've realized that many people don't know the difference between left and right -- because they don't understand English!
I've done this for years... if I have no choice but to walk up behind a horse, I make as much noise as possible and call out, "Behind you!" I found that it freezes rider/groom and forces them to look around (and alerts the horse as well), while I cruise past them. Seems to work on the bike, too.

Joy

[pooks]

Oh man -- great point. And it hadn't even crossed my mind, but that's so true in Dallas.

[Lise]

We have a lot of Hispanic people in Chicago. So if they look like Spanish speakers, I'll yell "Passing! Pasando!" or "OJO!", which means "eye", and is used like "Heads Up!"

I've encountered several people in the past weeks, going the wrong way down a one way street, on the side where I ride, going with the cars (right). Not sure what they're thinking, but it's a good way to be hit by a car OR a bicycle! When I see them, I'll yell "OTHER SIDE!" and wave my arms. Trying to make sure they see me at all.

[pooks]

I think I'll just get a fog horn.

[mimitabby]

actually, before you go too far with ethnic groups here; my husband and i have already figured out that the group most likely to not notice you are dinging your bell and yelling are teenagers. If there is 1 you are probably okay, if there are two, good luck, if there are 3 or more; just figure you're going to have to slow WAY down and scream because they are somewhere else. All races, colors, creeds and sex. My apologies to the teenagers on the forum here. It's just what we've noticed over the last few years.

[Lise]

Oh, so true. The other day I just slowed to a creep behind a group of teens. I crept along behind them until one of them noticed I was there, and told the others to move over. They were very nice about it, probably because it was their idea and they didn't need to rebel against me asking them to do it!

My point about Spanish speakers was that they may "hear" a word in their own language better than "On your left!" And I'm just guessing about them speaking Spanish with a quick glance. That's why I ususally yell in both languages, if I think there's a chance. Anything to get their attention!

[pooks]

Sigh. Y'all keep upping the ante on me. Teenagers now?

Cattle prod.

[Kalidurga]

Boy, am I glad to find out I'm not the only one who gets grouchy over this kind of thing. I normally try to be a "bike ambassador", too, warning people, then waving and thanking them when they do move over and such, but, man, when they don't... If it didn't mean having to slow down or stop, I'd be buying whoop*ss by the case.

The thing that drives me really drives me nuts, though, are the people who stop to take a break in the middle of the trail! The places where I ride all have wide grassy shoulders along almost the entire length, but I end up swerving around all sorts of people who've parked their bikes in the trail and are just standing there chilling out. I want ask them: "If you needed to stop your car to look at a map or change a tire, would you stop in the middle of the road??" But, again, that would require me to stop long enough to say it 'Dorkus oblivious', indeed! (Thanks for that one, Nokomis)

[salsabike]

I ran into that exact situation on Friday. Four bikes, parked right in the middle of the trail. I just said, "There are better places to stop than the middle of the trail.." and went on by. Arrrr.

[Nokomis]

I have a bell. I use it exactly because it IS dorky. (I'm still trying to figure out how to put streamers on the end of my flat bars without having to use gross gelly grips designed for little kids.)

Let me know when you find a vintage blue glitter banana seat, mkay?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I put a bell on my new bike too. It has a cheerful friendly "ching-ching" sound that everyone knows is a bike sound when it is coming up behind them. Pretty loud too you can hear it from far away, but it's not annoying in the least. Today I noticed that people seemed to know it was a bike coming even before they turned their heads, and then I smile and say hello as I pass. Seems like a better soultion than hollering something they can't understand, or that they only hear the last word of like "___ __ ___ LEFT!"
There were other cool bells I thought about, but I purposely picked the classic sounding one. I just love it! I mounted it so that I only have to drop my thumb down to ring it, without having to take my hand off the top of the drop bars.