What Happened to "[Passing] on Your Left"? . . .

. . . Or "on your right"?

In order to be ready to run a marathon this October, I've started to appear more often on the LFT as one of those annoying joggers a.k.a. runners.

I do try hard to be not very annoying, though, given my own reaction to 'em joggers. Do upon others, practice what you preach, and all that. I look back before making turn or changing lanes, I even point to the direction I am about to make a move, just like I would do when I ride my bike.

I found that something is almost totally missing now.

It didn't take me long to realize what it was: almost never do I hear a warning from cyclists overtaking me, even when they pass within a couple of inches.

Has "passing on your left" gone out of fashion? Do cyclists save their breath, considering that runners and others will not hear them, anyway?

Or, may be, cyclists are trying not to annoy runners?

WTF?

(Sorry, Chi Lowe ;)

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Eli on June 11, 2013 at 7:08am

At the very least, it might serve as a CYA: if they don't hear, or ignore your warning, it will be their fault.

I think this is the attitude that angers pedestrians on the receiving end. No, it will not be their fault if you hit them while passing. It is your responsibility to pass safely, or to wait until you are able to do so. This is a common feature of every system of "rules of the road" that I have ever heard of, from US driving rules to marine navigation rules: it is the overtaking vehicle that must keep clear of the vehicle being overtaken, not vice versa. Why should it work differently on the LFP?

Permalink Reply by steve rulz on June 11, 2013 at 7:13am

The real excuse is that I'm lazy damn it! The second excuse is that when I do yell on your left people take it the wrong way. I have been yelled at for giving people a heads up and for not giving a heads up. I should get a bell they are more friendly than this yelling business.

Uptown to the loop! Man that's 100% of the worst part of the path. I ride from Addison to Hyde and don't feel like I can relax until I hit soldier field.

Louis Silverman said:

I ride from Uptown down to the Loop on the LFP daily, always call passing and have never lost my voice as a result.

Get a bell and a new excuse.

Permalink Reply by Michelle Marie Turnis on June 11, 2013 at 7:23am

Every time you overtake someone by surprise it reinforces the idea that bikes are rude and inconsiderate.

Announcing yourself may not be heard every time you do it but it is heard most of the time... and often you will hear a "thank you" from the person you're overtaking.   

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 11, 2013 at 7:24am

Ha!  I would have loved to see that reaction.  ;)

Tom Z said:

That happened to me! I couldn't believe it. Lady got pissed and freaked out "HOLY SHIT JESUS!!!"

You should have screamed "Where?"

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on June 11, 2013 at 7:26am

I have about 8-10 more left: Bell for a Buck.  I took the bag home yesterday, but I can bring them back and meet people wherever...

steve rulz said:

 I should get a bell they are more friendly than this yelling business.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on June 11, 2013 at 7:29am

Because there are people who choose to walk/run/bike three abreast and block the entire trail.

Eli Naeher said:

At the very least, it might serve as a CYA: if they don't hear, or ignore your warning, it will be their fault.

I think this is the attitude that angers pedestrians on the receiving end. No, it will not be their fault if you hit them while passing. It is your responsibility to pass safely, or to wait until you are able to do so. This is a common feature of every system of "rules of the road" that I have ever heard of, from US driving rules to marine navigation rules: it is the overtaking vehicle that must keep clear of the vehicle being overtaken, not vice versa. Why should it work differently on the LFP?

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on June 11, 2013 at 7:45am

On the water, there are no lane markings and anyone can go anywhere, even in channels.   (Sometimes I have an incredible grasp of the obvious.)  No matter where, the overtaking vessel must yield to the vessel being overtaken, and an overtaking vessel is required to clearly signal its intention to pass.  Of course, that signaling intention thing works about as well on the water as it does on the LFP.

Permalink Reply by Mark on June 11, 2013 at 7:59am

It's a matter of yelling on your left to CYA against runners who wear earbuds and can't even hear your warning before they turn across the path without looking.  At least the biker provided a warning, even if the runner chose not to be able to hear it.  I will wait if I can't safely pass.  But there is little that bikers can about runners who chose to be careless and not be aware of their surroundings.

Eli Naeher said:

At the very least, it might serve as a CYA: if they don't hear, or ignore your warning, it will be their fault.

I think this is the attitude that angers pedestrians on the receiving end. No, it will not be their fault if you hit them while passing. It is your responsibility to pass safely, or to wait until you are able to do so. This is a common feature of every system of "rules of the road" that I have ever heard of, from US driving rules to marine navigation rules: it is the overtaking vehicle that must keep clear of the vehicle being overtaken, not vice versa. Why should it work differently on the LFP?

Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on June 11, 2013 at 8:52am

For anyone else who didn't know, I looked it up: "Against stupidity the gods themselves fight (contend) in vain." - Friedrich Schiller, from The Maid of Orleans


Serge Lubomudrov said:

Mit der Dummheit kampfen Gotter selbst vergebens.
Permalink Reply by Heather on June 12, 2013 at 4:11am

I was on the path yesterday and behind a group of four people walking side by side--I was going pretty slow so I just said, "bike in back of you" and gave them a wide berth. As I passed, I heard one of them say passive-aggressively, "Whenever they do that, it startles me." I've had the same annoyed reaction if I say "on your left," use my bell, whatever. I give up: I can't read people's minds as to what they prefer me to do.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on June 12, 2013 at 4:13am

Isn't startling them the point, though? If you yell out "on your left" or ring your bell, and they get startled and move, didn't you accomplish your goal? If they don't want to be startled, then they probably shouldn't block off the entire trail.

Heather said:

I was on the path yesterday and behind a group of four people walking side by side--I was going pretty slow so I just said, "bike in back of you" and gave them a wide berth. As I passed, I heard one of them say passive-aggressively, "Whenever they do that, it startles me." I've had the same annoyed reaction if I say "on your left," use my bell, whatever. I give up: I can't read people's minds as to what they prefer me to do.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on June 12, 2013 at 4:41am

Startled people don't always move the way you want them to, particularly if they try to look toward the source of the alarm.

That said, I got sideswiped going around some walkers because a couple post-midlife crisis types on a speed run thought yelling on your left meant they had the right of way and I was supposed to collide with the people I was overtaking.

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