The Chainlink

Passing other cyclists

Is there a reason that no one ever says "on your left" anymore? I was actually called out for not doing so by a messenger about 3 weeks ago passing him on his left over the brigde heading southbound on Milwaukee, just before Grand/Halsted. I was embarassed but realized that no matter how close or far (I thought I left plenty of room for him to swerve) you are to someone it helps/doesn't hurt to let them know you're there. It's just courtesy. In the weeks since I have been keeping a mental inventory of how many people (generally) actually say anything when passing. So here is my unofficial count from three weeks of rush hour commuting:

-1-

Do cyclists not like doing it? Do they think it is rude itself? I decided to post this today finally after being passed in the rain this morning (9.27.11) on my RIGHT by about a foot, with no warning. 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by zerofivenein on September 27, 2011 at 4:14pm

i tend to pass (always left) quickly and silently.

 

i generally only call out when there are preoccupied pedestrians/cyclists wobbling about. otherwise, i slow down so i don't kill anyone (myself included), or pop out as far as possible and speed by.

 

i don't really ever get passed, but if someone were going to, i wouldn't need any audible notice.. just a decent amount of room.

Permalink Reply by David on September 27, 2011 at 4:34pm

I can't stand bells.  I don't get angry or give people dirty looks or anything because I know the bell people are just trying to be nice, but bike bells are one of the very, very few biker things that really annoy me on a regular basis.

 

For one thing, I can't place them in the environment as well as I can place voices.   So I find myself jumping up and looking all around every time any cyclist in a 20-foot radius decides to ring their bell.  Also, the message isn't obvious at all: I don't know if the bellringer is passing me, passing somebody else, warning me about a danger, warning a car to stay away, or just saying "Hi" to somebody.  And in the city, it's pretty much *never* necessary, at least not for me. I'm generally aware of what's around me and I'm not going to make sudden turns to my left for no reason without looking first.

 

My feeling is, pass people on the left and at safe times, with verbal warning only in the very rare times it's necessary or useful.  Occasionally you'll meet the kind of asshole who complains about it for no reason, but you're going to periodically meet assholes in the big city. It's part of life (and it's especially part of life when your sample pool is bike messengers on Milwaukee Ave.). 

 


Rhea Butcher said:

I will be getting a new bell as well. I had one, used to use it all the time and got tons of dirty looks! I guess you can't win and just have to be on the side of cautious. A side note, I once was turning and used my bell to let a car know I was coming up on the right and the driver told me to "eff off!" for using my bell. Fun. Ah well. Thanks for all the replies! 

Passing on the right is dumb. 

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on September 27, 2011 at 4:56pm

Ding, ding, on your left, hello, good morning! Hello!

 

All of us @ Active Trans via Ethan Spotts

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on September 27, 2011 at 6:06pm

A light ding ding from my bell. A HONK from my airhorn to really get their attention! An "on your left" when passing within 3 feet without any of my noismakers;)

Permalink Reply by David P. on September 27, 2011 at 7:59pm

Your question makes me notice how lazy I've gotten about that. I don't say it that often on my commute, though I've never given it up completely. I say it to women more often than men, I think. Or 'a la izquierda' if appropriate.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Billy Poore on September 27, 2011 at 8:17pm
Ha!  I might consider getting an air horn as well.  I would feel bad if it startled the passed person enough to lose control though.  

S.Presley said:
I like my little bell...it feels better than yelling. But sometimes I wish I had an Air horn for people on the LFP with head phones.
Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on September 28, 2011 at 6:56pm
My best guess at why no one says " on your left" anymore, is maybe we are building such a massive growing population of urban cyclists, that saying "on your left" is like wearing a helmet in Amsterdam. 
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on September 29, 2011 at 9:03am

I use a bell. I think Regan is onto something. It seems like Spandex people sometimes take their race habits onto the street. One does not need to announce one's presence in a race since everyone is presumably going in the same direction. But on the street we may be taking a left or changing lane position at any time so it is never actually safe or courteous to pass anyone without somehow making your presence known.

 

Permalink Reply by Ringo Bonham on September 29, 2011 at 9:49am

I try to use common sense judgment and, if there is even a chance that the person doesn't hear me coming, I call out.  It's just smart and courteous, IMO.  I also try to do it with enough advance warning that, if it's a pedestrian, I can react when they inevitably turn and move to their left--right in my line.

 

However, I do get frustrated when I yell out several times and the person (pedestrian or cyclist,) doesn't hear me because they have headphones in.  Whaddyagonnado?

 

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on September 29, 2011 at 10:01am

*like*

 

Ethan, Active Trans


Duppie said:

I don't say "on your left" very much, but that may be because I rarely pass anyone. I am usually the one that gets passed.
Permalink Reply by Chuckchuck on September 29, 2011 at 10:46am
I prefer to use "Bike Back".  It's a sound that carries better and it's standard bike speak in groups (pelotons).  "On your left"  sometimes makes folks look and turn to the left and it sounds lame. I some times even shorten that to "back!" then allow the forward rider to make the move to the right.
Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on September 29, 2011 at 12:55pm

I use my bell. There's a law (city? state?) that says you're supposed to have some audio warning device.

I rarely say "On your left" or "I'm on your left". I usually say "Passing" - with "Passing" I get fewer people stepping to their left, in front of me.

I'm mostly irked by other cyclists who wait until they're nearly along side when they shout "ON YOUR LEFT".

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