Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on November 16, 2012 at 1:13pm

No, I pass on the left.

How could I pull out to over take them a safe distance from them if I did so on the right unless they are riding in the middle of the street?

I do not pass on the right and usually give the person a very wide berth unless they are very slow moving and at the extreme outer edge of the bike lane in which case I pass close and ding or holler because they really need to ride farther right; at least the center of the bike lane, if they are going to move at a snails pace.

I do not endorse passing on the right but I do endorse keeping right if you move slow; when I have a trailer with stuff in it and don;t go as fast I hug to the right so others can pass easily.

Sarah D. said:

DUG, I usually get behind your crankiness on here, but this time you're being douchey. You get yelled at because you're passing on the wrong side, and that is what's bs. Just pass on the passing side - the LEFT. Easy as pie, and will save you some grief and an innocent fellow cyclist a crash and some panic. Win-win!

notoriousDUG said:

No, it is not disingenuous to compare it to driving.  I don't pass anyone closer than arms length and I get yelled at from time to time and I think that is bullshit.  

I do exactly what a car does.  I wait for an opening, move over, accelerate, overtake with a safe margin of disatnce (about 3 feet) and then re-join the bike lane when well past the slower rider.  Unless people are a complete spaz they have more than enough room to maneuver and if they have that hard a time controlling a bike they should maybe not be on one... 

Sarah D. said:

1) Biking and driving are totally different, I think it's disingenuous of you to make that comparison. BUT: 2) A bike sharrow/lane is a single lane, meant for one bicycle. If you need to pass, you come up behind, wait til it's clear, then take the shared car lane to pass outside on the left. Think of it like highway driving if you must - you can't pass on the shoulder, you have to wait till you can change lanes to the left, and go around slower vehicles. 

Honestly I don't care about announcing as much as not getting nearly hit numerous times by asswipe cyclists who zoom by on the right of me, usually at intersections where I am trying to merge right to wait anyway (and - surprise! They are usually running through red lights). It's startling and stupid. Just PASS ON THE LEFT.

notoriousDUG said:

If you are paying attention you don't get passed unexpectedly.

If you are driving do you expect other motorists to announce it before they pass you?

Sarah D. said:

The point, Peter, is that it's not "unexpected" for *you* when you are passing, it's unexpected for the person in front of you, and thus creates an unneccesarily dangerous situation. Have the common sense - and decency - to announce your approach and to pass on the left. "Hold your line"? Are you serious?! - on Chicago's potholed/glassy/living streets - with Chicago drivers? You've got to be kidding me.

peter moorman said:

Come on y'all...expect the unexpected.

Its a big city ...lots of folks moving about here.

No big deal if riders don't communicate when coming around you... either side ... if your holding  your line.

Do you expect a car driver to do the same. : "On yer left biker"

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Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on November 16, 2012 at 1:28pm

Well, see? We're all as one. Happy Friday!!!!!

notoriousDUG said:

No, I pass on the left.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on November 16, 2012 at 1:42pm

Take out the earbuds or the noise cancelling Skull candy type headphones!? You are in traffic.

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Permalink Reply by Michael A on November 16, 2012 at 2:12pm

Announcing your intention to pass is not as simple as it sounds. I bike commute the LFP daily, sometimes pulling a trailer and sometimes in race kit. I try to pass on the left whenever it makes sense but there are times that some walkers, runners or other cyclists seem to need to travel right on  the center line(maybe so they do not get lost?) I seldom announce I am passing if I am going at a much faster speed then the person I am overtaking, I just leave a safe distance and make the pass. I have found from experience that yelling loud enough to let someone know you are about to pass causes more problems. More often then not a person's reaction to "on your left" is to look over their shoulder to see who or what is passing. This usually causes them to drift over to the left as they look causing my passing lane to narrow. Riders who can hold their line while they check over to see who is coming are good enough bike handlers to deal with someone passing them without freaking out. So bottom line to me is if I announce that I am passing it is usually because I am traveling at a very similar speed and it is just an act of being cordial. I believe everyone has the same right to use the LFP, arguing over who has the right of way, or what is the proper side to pass on is just wasted energy. Ride safely and be predictable is my only advice.

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Permalink Reply by Rich S on November 19, 2012 at 6:11am

I had an interesting encounter just before 8:30 this morning. Right at State St heading east on Illinois, I passed another rider on the left with a good 4-5 feet of room. He passed me back on the right with barely a foot of room and said something about that not being cool. I caught up to him at Rush and asked what the problem was since I gave him plenty of room while passing. No reply so I'm guessing he just didn't like that I passed him. If you're reading this you were on a single speed Raleigh. What gives?  

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