Bike lane passing etiquette?

I have only been a city bike commuter for about 8 months and I'm often on the Dearborn PBL, Madison path and a few others.

I like to ride fast (relative term, I know) when I can on the bike lanes, but I sometimes come upon a slower rider in front of me. I have always slowed down and stayed behind the slower rider. When we eventually end up at a stop light, I typically wait next to the slower rider and then take off when the light changes, effectively passing him/her through the intersection before getting back into the groove of the marked bike lane.

Do any of you pass people in the bike lanes?

I have been passed in the bike lane before and sometimes it's a surprise, while other times, I'm notified somehow (bells, horns, calling out "passing on your left", etc). 

I know this is similar to discussions we've had on here (many times) about notifying pedestrians on the Lake Front Path, but I don't think I've noticed a thread about passing etiquette in the bike lanes.... specifically the "thinner" lanes like the Dearborn PBL which can get crowded during rush hour commute times.

Your thoughts? 

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Permalink Reply by Rich S on July 10, 2013 at 7:41am

If I want to safely pass someone in a bike lane I usually take the lane to get around them.  It's pretty much the only way to do it and still give a few feet of room to the person you're passing.  If there's traffic then I wait for an appropriate gap and make it quick.  

On the Elston PBL I've gone outside the bike lane to get around someone before.  That's the nice thing about our PBLs not really being that protected.  But I'll only do that if the person I'm trying to pass is hogging the lane and ignoring my request to let me through.  

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on July 10, 2013 at 9:53am

From the perspective of a slow rider:

On Dearborn I try to stay to the right side of the lane unless I am turning in order to allow faster riders to pass me.  Just as in any other passing situation I hope the faster rider will not pass unless it is safe considering oncoming traffic.  On Elston and Kinzie, I also try to stay to the right side to allow faster riders to pass.  In either case, it does not bother me if you come up next to me at a stop light or stop sign and take off ahead of me.

In a regular bike lane with parked cars to my right, I refuse to ride close to the parked cars.  If you must pass me, please take the lane as Rich does.  Or, if there is a gap in parked cars ahead I will move to the right side of the bike lane to allow you to pass me.  I will not move out of the bike lane!  Otherwise, at the next stop light or stop sign, pull up next to me and pass me then.  Please do it on the left.  Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Maurice on July 10, 2013 at 12:11pm
If you are in at least decent shape and ride regularly, then passing is inevitable. You're bound to come across somebody who is just getting started or is coasting for some other reason.

One thing to keep in mind: Consider whether the person is coasting because he is timing the traffic light. I must've been passed 5 times by the same dude this morning as I coasted to a red. I'm a regular commuter, and I time my ride so I arrive at the intersection just after the light turns green.
Permalink Reply by yai danche on July 10, 2013 at 12:53pm

I'll tell you what you don't do.  Don't pass on the right in a right turn only lane and tell me and another cyclist "wake up!  passing!"  Because yeah that other dude needs to wake up!  Another cyclist and I were behind 4 cars in middlish left part of a right turn only lane (where the bike sharrow symbol is) when that other guy blows by yelling that.  I was peeved, but at the same time worried that guy was going to get right hooked.  

Permalink Reply by Will on July 11, 2013 at 12:57am

I think there are too many lights on Dearborn to worry much about passing slower traffic, but if someone is *really* slow, I'd call out "on your left" before passing them. Dearborn is a bit tight, with the two way bike lanes that seem pretty narrow anyway.

Permalink Reply by SlowCoachOnTheRoad on July 11, 2013 at 1:13am

I pretty much only get passed, as I am SlowCoachOnTheRoad, enjoying the ride to work at snail's pace and trying hard not to internalize the hurried work ethic into my pre-work ride which is my time and not the boss', as so many are wont to do - I figure they either really love their job or are really anxious about not arriving on time, not sure which.  But I really hope that all who pass me will do so on the left, taking up car space outside of the lane if necessary, and preferably saying nothing or honking nothing, just gently slipping past respectfully.  There may be times to yell out to pedestrians ahead, but I have never found the need to yell "coming up!" to any bikes I may occasionally pass.  I have learned to safely navigate around people silently and without causing any undue stress.   As I said, I pretty much only get passed.  No female rider has ever given me a pass, either, like a wink and a "ooh I really do like a sweaty man on a bicycle!" but that is probably better anyway as I am a middle aged married man who would only blush uncontrollably and flash my ring!

Permalink Reply by Will on July 11, 2013 at 2:17am

My commute doubles as my daily exercise, so I'm generally not stressing about work or arriving on time, I'm just trying to keep my heart rate up. Different strokes for different folks.

Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on July 11, 2013 at 6:30am

I usually wait for a convenient/safe spot, then pass on left. 

If it's crowded, I'll call out: "Passing on your left".

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I wonder how the answers would read if this question was asked of motorists, passing other motorists. (we here in the USofA don't flash our lights before passing, no notice is given)

Permalink Reply by David P. on July 11, 2013 at 8:53am

This makes me think of a bicycle with an elaborately-painted "bell OK please" on the back, a la "horn OK please" on the back of trucks in India.

Michael J Blane 6.5 said:

I usually wait for a convenient/safe spot, then pass on left. 

If it's crowded, I'll call out: "Passing on your left".

--

I wonder how the answers would read if this question was asked of motorists, passing other motorists. (we here in the USofA don't flash our lights before passing, no notice is given)

Permalink Reply by pceasy on July 11, 2013 at 9:29am

I get passed, I pass people. I've learned it is better to say "on your left" instead of just passing. If I am stopped at a light and see that a faster more experienced biker is behind me I let them go first, and if I see a slower rider at the light I'll accelerate past them when the light turns green. 

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on July 12, 2013 at 3:03am

I give people the same courtesy I expect when passing. I wait for a break in car traffic, ring my bell a few seconds in advance, then take the lane to pass, making sure I don't get back into the bike lane too soon as to cut the person off.

Permalink Reply by Glenn Bradford on July 12, 2013 at 4:02am
It depends for me. If the cyclist looks disciplined and is arrowing down the lane, I will give a verbal cue and then pass in the bike lane. If they look wobbly, or I feel wobbly, or the lane is a mess with potholes, then I wait for an opening to pass into the lane. I time lights as well, but I actually wait at red lights so I often have to pass people multiple times.

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