Passing Another Cyclist on the Road, Then Having that Cyclist Catch Up to You at a Stoplight and Come to a Stop In Front of You or In Your Path

Does anyone else find this a little frustrating, a little lame, and sometimes a little unsafe? (You know, because you have to pass them all over again; this time from a stop with more bunched traffic.)

I wish folks would generally line up behind the stopped bike that's in front of them at a stoplight -- especially those who were just passed.

I was curious how y'all feel about this? Maybe I should be less grumpy about this sort of thing?

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Permalink Reply by yaj 7.4 on August 5, 2009 at 8:50am
I completely agree with you. I'm always curious why anyone I just passed would use a stoplight to get in front of me. Milwaukee Ave is full of this on the morning commute.
Permalink Reply by Rob Kowalczyk on August 5, 2009 at 8:53am
Ah yes. The side-by-side. That's what I mostly get, which I like and am totally cool with. Chit chat is always a nice bonus too. Recently, I've just experienced a few more of the scenarios I posted about above. I just had to get it off my chest. In an online forum apparently...
Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on August 5, 2009 at 9:03am
Yup, this is annoying as hell.

Also, when they ride past me through a red light (I stop at almost all red lights) and then I have to re-pass them when the light changes.

Also when at triple intersections where, while waiting at a red light, they cross the road to the right to get a little further across the intersection while waiting for the light to change. That is not so much annoying as just silly.
Permalink Reply by Lisa yeah on August 5, 2009 at 9:05am
funny to see this up here today. Something happened this morning on my way up California. There's this guy I see almost every morning and evening with a super fast bike, who always passes me up somewhere along the way. This morning he passed by me, then turned to look at me, and the spit a giant loogie right in my path. I have no idea why! I've never gotten in front of him or paid much attention to him at all.

Rob Kowalczyk said:
Ah yes. The side-by-side. That's what I mostly get, which I like and am totally cool with. Chit chat is always a nice bonus too. Recently, I've just experienced a few more of the scenarios I posted about above. I just had to get it off my chest. In an online forum apparently...
Permalink Reply by DonRay A.K.A. Zesty on August 5, 2009 at 9:06am
This really gets on my nerves - I tend to notice it happening more and more as the summer gets hotter.
It seems that inexperienced riders are very offended after being passed on the roads - I think they think it's a race.
Permalink Reply by Homebuilt on August 5, 2009 at 9:08am
Yes it's rude, I try to get over it just by showing better skills. Of course usually said cyclist also is running the red light, so it's in or after the intersection that I'm having to pass them again.
Permalink Reply by Homebuilt on August 5, 2009 at 9:10am
When that happens to me, I pretend I didn't see them coming from the left (where they're now running a 2ND red light) and yell "watch out!" as they come at me from the right.
Passive agressive, I know.

envane x said:
Yup, this is annoying as hell.

Also, when they ride past me through a red light (I stop at almost all red lights) and then I have to re-pass them when the light changes.

Also when at triple intersections where, while waiting at a red light, they cross the road to the right to get a little further across the intersection while waiting for the light to change. That is not so much annoying as just silly.
Permalink Reply by Lisa yeah on August 5, 2009 at 9:14am
So true- I don't understand why anyone cares what speed someone else likes to bike. Who cares!

DonRay A.K.A. Zesty said:
This really gets on my nerves - I tend to notice it happening more and more as the summer gets hotter.
It seems that inexperienced riders are very offended after being passed on the roads - I think they think it's a race.
Permalink Reply by cutifly on August 5, 2009 at 9:24am
Spit ???? That is so so so so rude, and usually the male attempt to prove ones ego. I get it all the time. I hate that more than anything. I hardly spit ever and If I do I make sure no one is looking. If you get a picture this guy I will make sure to run him into some parked cars and I will spit on him (for both of us) ...

Lisa yeah said:
funny to see this up here today. Something happened this morning on my way up California. There's this guy I see almost every morning and evening with a super fast bike, who always passes me up somewhere along the way. This morning he passed by me, then turned to look at me, and the spit a giant loogie right in my path. I have no idea why! I've never gotten in front of him or paid much attention to him at all.

Rob Kowalczyk said:
Ah yes. The side-by-side. That's what I mostly get, which I like and am totally cool with. Chit chat is always a nice bonus too. Recently, I've just experienced a few more of the scenarios I posted about above. I just had to get it off my chest. In an online forum apparently...
Permalink Reply by Vilda on August 5, 2009 at 9:44am
So Rude Dude! Happens on Lincoln all the time as well on Wells. The jump lights after i passed them so that they get a head start and then i have to repass. Grrrr.
Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on August 5, 2009 at 9:48am
Rob,
Whenever you ask the question Maybe I should be less grumpy about this sort of thing? the answer is always YES. DAMHIK

But you are right, the behavior you describe is rude and not conducive to a happy biking community. It pains me greatly to see bikers behaving as if we are drivers of little two wheeled cars: full of rage, haste and competition.

I wish we could come to some kind of consensus about passing protocol. On the rare occasions when I'm actually biking faster than another biker and need to pass, I always pass on the left, leave as much room as possible and ring my cute little bell two or three times. If I'm on my road bike sans bell I resort to a "passing on your left" but really I find that so annoying that I pretty much never ride the road bike anymore.

A couple of weeks ago I came very close to colliding with another biker who was passing me unannounced as I was about to make a left turn. I chased him down, yelling like a cager on crack. It was a pretty appalling spectacle.

(As is spitting in public.)
Permalink Reply by heather s on August 5, 2009 at 9:52am
Interesting... I have always thought this was a gender thing, since I have only ever experienced men doing this. I figured they were thinking, "well, boys are fast and girls are slow, so I'll just save everyone the trouble and pass her while we're stopped." But I've been thinking about this and realizing that there are many factors involved. For example, I like to stop behind the pedestrian crosswalk when available, but I know that many cyclists will get as far out as they can without being in the intersection. I also usually stay stopped at red lights unless there is really no one coming. So I guess I can see how a cyclist who knows he is going to run the light as soon as there is a slight break in traffic would want to pull ahead of me. It's definitely lame though, particularly when someone has just been passed. If it was a race, that would be a dumb way to win.

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