!!ON YOUR LEFT!! can be rude...

Lovely ride today & I'm still feeling good, in spite of those 3 wanna-be Olympians but didn't make the cut, speeding down a very crowded (w/ small children) lake shore bike path.  I don't understand why those idiot few feel the need to rudely scream and yell "on your left" at people when most other bikers are either ringing a bell &/or simply saying, not nastily yelling, "on your left" or "passing" followed by a "thank-you."  What's so wrong w/ being kind & decent? I don't get the rudeness and I believe that eventually they're going to encounter one of those muscle bound jogger dudes that'll knock them the F-OUT! No one takes kindly to some jerk yelling at them for no reason & there's a few out there that will retaliate, so watch yourselves rude boyz...

... & yes, I know & understand that some people aren't paying attention and have selective hearing but don't assume (making an ass out of U & not me) that ALL people walking, riding, roller-blading, skateboarding slower than you is dumb enough to get in your fools way.

Ok, I'm done & am putting the soap box away...

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Permalink Reply by Dovah Cat on August 24, 2013 at 1:14pm
It really isn't a matter of being rude so much as not wanting to hit someone's unattended child. Even when the path is crowded, I think parents have the responsibility to hold their children's hands and stay right. I only raise my voice when I need to be heard, not to be rude, but to avoid hitting someone.
Permalink Reply by Lee Greenhouse on August 24, 2013 at 1:59pm

I'm not an Olympian, though I do tend to be passing other people.  I want to be sure that I'm heard.  With so many idiots listening to their iPhones (and some even riding and talking and/or texting)  it's become a matter of safety to yell to be heard.  No apologies for putting safety first.

Permalink Reply by Michael A on August 24, 2013 at 2:30pm

The other thing is if you are traveling at a higher rate of speed, you have to yell louder so the people can hear and digest the info with enough time before you pass em otherwise they get freaked out.

Permalink Reply by ilter on August 24, 2013 at 2:58pm

But sometimes it is so obvious from the tone of their voices, and from the expression on their face, that they are yelling because they are irritated.. irritated at the fact that people will just not make way for them. Then they have to adjust their lines, they have to coast and even slow down, and sometimes they have to wait for runners or slower riders to pass one and other, and then they have to accelerate back to speed, form their pace lines again.. That`s a lot of work my friend. That`s why they are repeatedly yelling "LEFT!..LEFT!" as they squeeze their brakes, in frustration, anger and awe that these slower people would just not make way for them.

Permalink Reply by Maurice on August 24, 2013 at 3:12pm
"has it occurred to you that they might have learned from experience that a polite voice can't be heard by the IPod-wearing masses?"

Strongly agree. A non-yelled "on your left" is likely to be completely ignored. Even a yelled "on your left" might be followed by a pedestrian veering blindly into your path. This is why I refuse to ride on crowded paths, preferring the street.

Last time I was on the LFP, I was with my 7YO, and he was nearly trampled by a group of pedestrians walking on a 45 degree angle while completely ignoring my desperate cries of "on your left." Needless to say, he wasn't going particularly fast.
Permalink Reply by Norah Webster on August 24, 2013 at 3:51pm

I do tend to yell on the lakefront path, and even then it's often futile since so many people can't hear over their headphones, and feel the need to ride two abreast even in crowded areas.  At least they are saying something though - yelling is better than sneaking up on someone and passing them without notice, right?

Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on August 24, 2013 at 3:58pm

I haven't ridden the LFP during a busy time in years, but I use several other paths in the Chicago area and can say I do sound very gruff went saying, "Passing on your left" for several reasons.  

1.  I have a decently deep voice.

2.  I am usually riding with cotton mouth syndrome going on so "barking" comes readily and it is rather unavoidable.

3.  I have had issues with people wearing headphones, and I ride to exercise and improve, I don't cruise and I rarely get passed.

4.  People respond to a commanding tone of voice than a Mr. Roger's tone, its not a rude thing its an attention getter.

However every pass I make is always followed up with a "Thank you" or "Good Morning" because I want to leave a good impression.

Permalink Reply by Reboot Oxnard on August 24, 2013 at 11:48pm

Sometimes the best solution is to be loud. Sometimes the best solution is to slow down.

Bikers don't own the path, we have to share. If everyone is blocking your way, you're moving too fast for conditions. You can emulate drivers on the streets and get angry and drive irresponsibly...or you can behave better than that and slow down and relax.

Permalink Reply by Mickeal Teague on August 25, 2013 at 2:07am

Hmmm, some responders took an offensive approach to my post & I, hopefully didn't make you feel like you were on trial as I pointedly spoke of the (3) rude riders out of the many other normal riders I encountered. 

Yes, it is important to be safe &, when warranted, let bystanders know you're coming past them.  I can only hope you weren't doing it in the fashion of the 3 rude-riders who SCREAMED "ON YOUR LEFT" & had it SPEWING OUT OF THERE MOUTHS LIKE WORD VOMIT!  (not necessary...)

I'm a great defensive & offensive rider; I'm watching out for me, you & "them" &, for a variety of solid reasons, I don't ride w/ headphones & I can tell by looking at the ears or wires hanging down when someone has them on.  So for the "hearing impaired" I either ring the bell or adjust riding speed to safely get around them; end of show, not a big deal to me.  I'm riding for the joy, scenery & calorie-burning/exercise of it & pedaling back to my original speed (prior to the pass) is just another opportunity to REALLY work my abs & thighs. Boo-Yah! 

So just be nice, try saying "on your left" w/ a smile on face. Smiling to sound better is a little trick I learned in a recording studio ~ when we smiled & sang on the 3rd take, it was 10 times better than the first (2) pent-up/non-smiling versions.  Give it a try, what have U got to loose?

Permalink Reply by Mickeal Teague on August 25, 2013 at 2:09am

True, so true...

Reboot Oxnard said:

Sometimes the best solution is to be loud. Sometimes the best solution is to slow down.

Bikers don't own the path, we have to share. If everyone is blocking your way, you're moving too fast for conditions. You can emulate drivers on the streets and get angry and drive irresponsibly...or you can behave better than that and slow down and relax..

Reply by Jeff Schneider:

True.  We can say (or even yell) "On your left" all we want, but we need to be safe even if they don't hear or don't pay attention.  For example, when I am overtaking a runner who is slowing down, I assume they are about to make a U-turn without looking...and I make a wide, slow pass.

And, as we've said before, LFP is a playground, not a highway.  You have to expect some chaos.

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on August 25, 2013 at 3:06am
I say or yell "on your left" to ensure the safety of other path and road users as well as my safety as I pass. Most slow traffic keeps to the right and so only a light verbal warning is necessary. However when slow traffic moves to the center or even crosses over leaving little or no room to pass (usually for no reason at all), I feel it's important to issue a warning that will be taken seriously. And if that mean yelling "on your left" without a smile on my face, you'll just have to deal with hurt feelings.

The path has to be shared by slow and fast cyclists, no one's ride is more important than anyone else's.

Mickeal Teague said:

So just be nice, try saying "on your left" w/ a smile on face.

Permalink Reply by Mickeal Teague on August 25, 2013 at 6:27am



Tom Dworzanski said:

I say or yell "on your left" to ensure the safety of other path and road users as well as my safety as I pass. Most slow traffic keeps to the right and so only a light verbal warning is necessary. However when slow traffic moves to the center or even crosses over leaving little or no room to pass (usually for no reason at all), I feel it's important to issue a warning that will be taken seriously. And if that mean yelling "on your left" without a smile on my face, you'll just have to deal with hurt feelings.

The path has to be shared by slow and fast cyclists, no one's ride is more important than anyone else's.

Mickeal Teague said:

So just be nice, try saying "on your left" w/ a smile on face.

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