Passing on the right.......

"Maggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Tom Keats wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Bells are the Civilized audible signaling device for bicycles.
They're universally recognizable.

Why did people stop taking bells off their bikes?

Peds around here think, "oh, there's a little tinkling noise behind me", not
"here comes a bike". Yelling, "Bicycle behind you" is universally
recognizable (unless they don't speak English).

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky

Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

Last night my girlfriend and I decided to walk laps at the park track
instead of the walking at the actually "walking" track in our town.

She does not own a bicycle so walking with a friend won out over taking
a bike ride last night. (Even though I needed the bike time with the
charity ride coming up).

When we were doing our laps...I hear "ON YOUR RIGHT" in back of
us.....It was a husband and wife riding bicycles.......the scenerio is
bizarre. I move to one side, my girlfriend moves to the opposite
side....needless to say...the couple riding bikes did the same. The
woman riding the bike hit me, the guy fell over, I cut my knee and my
girlfriend stood there hysterically laughing.

It was so ridiculous. "ON YOUR RIGHT"...ended up causing more
confusion than if they had just yelled. THERE ARE BICYCLES IN BACK OF
YOU.

This same thing used to happen to my friend and I when we would roller
blade...cyclists or roller bladers would yell...ON YOUR RIGHT...or ON
YOUR LEFT....and it never worked out.

TRULY, DOES IT EVER WORK OUT? It may sound like a cool thing to
say...but in our society...YELLING.."ON YOUR RIGHT"..does not ensure
that the person will move in the right direction...or even STAY STILL.

I decided if I am in the situation of riding in back of someone....I
will just yell. "OLD BROAD ON BIKE...COMING UP BEHIND YOU." That
will make them turn around and look.

All Good things.
Maggie.

Maggie said:

TRULY, DOES IT EVER WORK OUT? It may sound like a cool thing to
say...but in our society...YELLING.."ON YOUR RIGHT"..does not ensure
that the person will move in the right direction...or even STAY STILL.

The thing that really works is for walkers, roller bladers, joggers,
cell phone users, etc. to always leave room for someone to pass
somewhere, preferably on the left. That shouldn't be so hard for people
to understand, but it is. I'd rather ride on the road than deal with
slower traffic.

I usually call out, "Passing on your left." Gotta do it early enough to
give people time to react--that initial startled bewilderment--then
they look back, see you, and move over. I also slow down when the
situation looks a bit iffy for passing.

I'm toying with the idea of getting one of those little tinkly bells
like we used to have on our bikes when we were kids--it's a
recognizable, familiar sound that might have more impact than verbal
cues. --Roy Zipris

: TRULY, DOES IT EVER WORK OUT? It may sound like a cool thing to
: say...but in our society...YELLING.."ON YOUR RIGHT"..does not ensure
: that the person will move in the right direction...or even STAY STILL.
: All Good things.
: Maggie.

yes, It works out. it's not just a "cool thing to say"; it's a polite way of
alerting people that a bicycle is about to pass them. Only, I never pass on
the right (maybe my "training" from driving in Germany). If someone yells
that, first look behind you.

Of course, a person walking on a bike path should be aware that just maybe
bicycles will be in the area. I am always amazed that people will walk 4
abreast on the bike path (and here, there are signs reading BIKE PATH) or
that two people with a 2 dogs will take up the entire width of the path.
Next to the paved bike path is a crushed gravel running path that only smart
runners ever use. If I'm riding my mountain bike, I used the crushed gravel
path because then I have the path to myself!

Pat in TX
:

Maggie said:

Last night my girlfriend and I decided to walk laps at the park track
instead of the walking at the actually "walking" track in our town.

She does not own a bicycle so walking with a friend won out over taking
a bike ride last night. (Even though I needed the bike time with the
charity ride coming up).

When we were doing our laps...I hear "ON YOUR RIGHT" in back of
us.....It was a husband and wife riding bicycles.......the scenerio is
bizarre. I move to one side, my girlfriend moves to the opposite
side....needless to say...the couple riding bikes did the same. The
woman riding the bike hit me, the guy fell over, I cut my knee and my
girlfriend stood there hysterically laughing.

It was so ridiculous. "ON YOUR RIGHT"...ended up causing more
confusion than if they had just yelled. THERE ARE BICYCLES IN BACK OF
YOU.

This same thing used to happen to my friend and I when we would roller
blade...cyclists or roller bladers would yell...ON YOUR RIGHT...or ON
YOUR LEFT....and it never worked out.

TRULY, DOES IT EVER WORK OUT? It may sound like a cool thing to
say...but in our society...YELLING.."ON YOUR RIGHT"..does not ensure
that the person will move in the right direction...or even STAY STILL.

I decided if I am in the situation of riding in back of someone....I
will just yell. "OLD BROAD ON BIKE...COMING UP BEHIND YOU." That
will make them turn around and look.

All Good things.
Maggie.

Maggie,
This is a common cycling phrase usually used in team training, during
races and other group cycling events. As a cyclist if you hear "ON YOUR
LEFT" you can safely assume that a cyclist is approaching from the rear
and intends to pass you on the left, it does not usually mean that
approaching cyclist or roller blader expects you to move, it's an
informational signal so you aren't startled when someone just appears
next to you (courtesy would dictate that if you can safely move in the
/opposite direction/ you should). It does take some getting used to,
especially calling out "BRAKES" when braking, but hey bikes don't have
brake lights or turn signals and they are very quiet.

As for the injury, with a ride coming up it's important that you keep
moving, and not let your legs stiffen up. Walking, cycling gently, hot
baths (not a shower) etc. If you do streching exercises do a few while
in the hot bath, the heat makes the muscles relax and makes streching
easier. Talk hubby into giving your legs a massage, that could lead to
other things <wink>.

--
Roy Owen

Keep the leather side up,
and the rubber side down.

Pat said:

Of course, a person walking on a bike path should be aware that just

maybe

Quoted message said:

bicycles will be in the area. I am always amazed that people will

walk 4

Quoted message said:

abreast on the bike path (and here, there are signs reading BIKE

PATH) or

Quoted message said:

that two people with a 2 dogs will take up the entire width of the

path.

Quoted message said:

Next to the paved bike path is a crushed gravel running path that

only smart

Quoted message said:

runners ever use. If I'm riding my mountain bike, I used the crushed

gravel

Quoted message said:

path because then I have the path to myself!

Pat in TX
:

This is not really considered a bike path in our town. It's a big
circle going around two ballfields. Everyone uses it for a multitude
of things. Last night there were two softball games going on and alot
of parents sitting on the benches which border the path. Maybe I gave
the impression it is a bike path, but it is just a big path in the park
which goes in a circle. Because it is circular many people use it to
walk laps.

I would never ride a bike on it because there is way too many people
who walk it or just stand around talking while they watch their kids
play ball. I'm not sure if we actually have a bike path as you
describe.

This is not the kind of path where ON YOUR RIGHT would ever work out.
Too many kids, dogs, joggers, walkers and people just standing around
chatting. I actually think it is a bad choice for riding.

I used to bring my kids there when they were little and first learning
to ride. But I don't think I would ever ride my bike on it. We
probably need a designated bike path in our town.

I think those cyclists last night made a bad choice as to where to ride
now that I think about it. Beside being run over by a bike, a softball
went right over my head from one of the games. If I had been on my
bike, I think I would have been knocked out.

Maggie

Roy Owen said:

As for the injury, with a ride coming up it's important that you keep

Quoted message said:

moving, and not let your legs stiffen up. Walking, cycling gently,

hot

Quoted message said:

baths (not a shower) etc. If you do streching exercises do a few

while

Quoted message said:

in the hot bath, the heat makes the muscles relax and makes streching

Quoted message said:

easier. Talk hubby into giving your legs a massage, that could lead

to

Quoted message said:

other things <wink>.

--
Roy Owen

Hey, according to the Rocky Movie....His trainer told him....SEX
WEAKENS THE LEGS. ;-) NO SEX.

I know it makes your legs weak "during"...but I think he said it makes
strong legs weak for training.

I listen to Rocky music while I work out at the gym....so I have to
believe him. ;-)

Maggie

Maggie wrote:
(snip)

Quoted message said:

It was so ridiculous. "ON YOUR RIGHT"...ended up causing more
confusion than if they had just yelled. THERE ARE BICYCLES IN BACK OF
YOU.

(snip)

That is similar to my experience, though 99.9% of the time I warn "On your left"
and pass on the left. Very often a single pedestrian reacts as if I had
ordered, "MOVE to your LEFT!", so it seems they hear "left" and move in that
direction without thinking first.

When it's a gaggle I'm passing, anything can happen; usually they
scuttle/scatter like a bunch of startled birds that take off but then
immediately land. The cynic in toys with the idea that they are trying to
maximize the chances that one of them will bag the overtaker.

Too often there are simply too many pedestrians in too small an area - e.g. two
or more groups converging from opposite directions - for me to attempt passing
in my usual manner. I slow to a crawl, roll off the pavement (to the right;
it's closer) *well* into the rough, and finally pass when my speed is slightly
faster than the walkers'. When the rough is rough enough to make parts of my
bike clatter I often hear simultaneous "OOO!!" and scuttle/scatter.

Sorry your accident drew blood.

Pat wrote:
(snip)

Quoted message said:

I am always amazed that people will walk 4 abreast ...

Yes, 3, 4, 5 can be a pain. I continue to be amazed that just 2 meandering
peds. can, for all intents and purposes, completely occupy the entire 8-10 foot
width of the path.

I'm also amazed by how often two groups of peds traveling in opposite directions
meet just when I'm planning to overtake. Nowhere for me to go except the
rough! Gotta brake, lose pace and momentum.

(snip)

Quoted message said:

... two people with a 2 dogs will take up the entire width of the path.

(snip)

Yup. And what's with those 15-foot long, nifty-auto-retract dog leashes??!!
The dog can run off into the woods, catch a squirrel, go home for some water to
wash it down, and dash back without the master having to break her (usually it's
a woman; honest) pace.

Michael "a 4-foot lead is enough" C.

Michael wrote:
(snip)

Quoted message said:

99.9% of the time I warn "On your left" and pass on the left.

Thinking about this some more, I've decided to use "on your left" only when
overtaking a cyclist.

I'm gonna try using a friendly "Hello" when overtaking peds, the idea being to
let them know, without startling them, that I am behind them. If you don't see
any posts from me for a while, suspect that this idea is no good.

Maggie said:

When we were doing our laps...I hear "ON YOUR RIGHT" in back of
us.....It was a husband and wife riding bicycles.......the scenerio is
bizarre. I move to one side, my girlfriend moves to the opposite
side....needless to say...the couple riding bikes did the same. The
woman riding the bike hit me, the guy fell over, I cut my knee and my
girlfriend stood there hysterically laughing.

Good that your friend had a sense of humor. I hope everyone else did, as
well.

There were several things that went wrong. First and foremost, the call
of "On your left/On your right" is totally meaningless to most
pedestrians, although most cyclists who ride on multi-use paths seem to
think otherwise. These paths are meant for everyone, not just those who
know the jargon. Try, first, slowing down, then calling out "I'm passing
on your left". That, at least, makes sense, and the pedestrian would know
what was happening -- as long as he/she speaks English and doesn't have
headphones blaring pop music.

The second thing I see was that even though the cyclists said they were on
the right, they did not do what they said. Maybe one did, but the other
didn't know what was meant, either.

Third is that cyclists in the US should always pass pedestrians on the
left, just as any other vehicle should, and just as they should pass any
other slower traffic. Imagine being in a car, and passing pedestrians
(walking with traffic) on the right. Even if there were room, it would
be criminally stupid to do so. I imagine things would be mirror-image in
the UK, but these days New Jersey is part of the US.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
_`\(,_ | mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so
(_)/ (_) | that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am
nothing. [1 Corinth. 13:2]

"Roy Zipris" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I usually call out, "Passing on your left." Gotta do it early enough to
give people time to react--that initial startled bewilderment--then
they look back, see you, and move over. I also slow down when the
situation looks a bit iffy for passing.

I'm toying with the idea of getting one of those little tinkly bells
like we used to have on our bikes when we were kids--it's a
recognizable, familiar sound that might have more impact than verbal
cues. --Roy Zipris

If you ride much on multi-use paths, I recommend using an "Incredi-bell".
It's small and unobtrusive (can be mounted on and below the handlebar stem).

The advantages of a bell are that:

1) the sound carries farther than yelling "on your left".

2) high-pitched sounds are much easier for people to locate in space using
just their hearing.

3) there's much less chance of a "startle reflex" with a bell.

4) it's more likely that the person hearing it will recognize that it
represents a bicycle coming up from behind.

--
~_-*
....G/ \G
http://www.CycliStats.com
CycliStats - Software for Cyclists

"Maggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Last night my girlfriend and I decided to walk laps at the park track
instead of the walking at the actually "walking" track in our town.

What's a walking track?

On 18 May 2005 02:54:12 -0700, "Maggie" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Last night my girlfriend and I decided to walk laps at the park track
instead of the walking at the actually "walking" track in our town.

She does not own a bicycle so walking with a friend won out over taking
a bike ride last night. (Even though I needed the bike time with the
charity ride coming up).

When we were doing our laps...I hear "ON YOUR RIGHT" in back of
us.....It was a husband and wife riding bicycles.......the scenerio is
bizarre. I move to one side, my girlfriend moves to the opposite
side....needless to say...the couple riding bikes did the same. The
woman riding the bike hit me, the guy fell over, I cut my knee and my
girlfriend stood there hysterically laughing.

It was so ridiculous. "ON YOUR RIGHT"...ended up causing more
confusion than if they had just yelled. THERE ARE BICYCLES IN BACK OF
YOU.

This same thing used to happen to my friend and I when we would roller
blade...cyclists or roller bladers would yell...ON YOUR RIGHT...or ON
YOUR LEFT....and it never worked out.

TRULY, DOES IT EVER WORK OUT? It may sound like a cool thing to
say...but in our society...YELLING.."ON YOUR RIGHT"..does not ensure
that the person will move in the right direction...or even STAY STILL.

I decided if I am in the situation of riding in back of someone....I
will just yell. "OLD BROAD ON BIKE...COMING UP BEHIND YOU." That
will make them turn around and look.

All Good things.
Maggie.

In the USA, the usual phrase is "on your LEFT", just like you would
pass a slower moving car.

It does work most of the time, and as someone else mentioned, it is
often just for courtesy. If you are walking, jogging, running, biking,
etc on a MUP [multi use path] you should stay to the right. Treat it
like a two way single lane road.

I generally call out early enough, so that if they flounder, or are
confused, I can tell them "your other left".

I also say thank you, as or after passing. Very often the people thank
me too.

The woman shouldn't have hit you, she should have had control of her
bike, but it sounds like either you or your friend, went the wrong
way.

Once again, because it is important, for you to know, it is
"ON YOUR LEFT".

Or you could shout "INCOMPETENT OLD BROAD ON BIKE", that would be a
fair warning.

Did you get your cyclocomputer installed?

Life is Good!
Jeff

Paul R said:

What's a walking track?

We have a track in our town that has the lanes painted on it. You know.
A track. A place where they hold track and field events. The track has
lanes, in the center is a field. You know. Like you see at the
olympics.

The track is made from something that is kind of rubberized or
something, so its easier on your feet. There is a board that tells you
how many miles you walked if you are in lane 1, 2 , 3 and so on. I
think it has 6 lanes.

You can't go on this track with shoes..you must wear sneakers...and no
animals are allowed on the track. It is gated and there is a field
house.

The track teams from the school practice there. Other sports from the
school use the field. It has certain hours that it is open. Certain
hours the public cannot use it. Does that explain what it is. It's a
track.

It is a place to walk or jog and not be run over by a bike. ;-)

Maggie

Maggie

I would never ride my bike on the situation such as you have now described.
Just wouldn't do it.

Pat in TX

: > Last night my girlfriend and I decided to walk laps at the park track
: > instead of the walking at the actually "walking" track in our town.
:
: What's a walking track?

In Texas, that would be the running track going around the football field at
the high school or junior high school. It's probably the same in New Jersey.

Pat in TX
:
:

Claire Petersky said:

"Maggie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

It was so ridiculous. "ON YOUR RIGHT"...ended up causing more
confusion than if they had just yelled. THERE ARE BICYCLES IN BACK
OF YOU.

I have three stages of calling out to pedestrians:

A. "BICYCLE behind you", from as far back as I think will still be
audible. I have a voice that cuts through ambient noise like a hot
awl through butter, so that's still at some distance.

B. "I will be passing you ON YOUR LEFT": this so they know what I'm
planning to do. Simply ON YOUR LEFT, as many have noted, causes
people often to turn to their left, increasing the chance of
accident. I know the whole phrase is wordy, but it seems to be more
effective. Since it is relatively long, it has to be blurted out in
time for the pedestrian to react.

C. "Thank you" just as I am passing.

Since a major portion of my commute is on the I-90 trail, a multi-use
facility I have the opportunity to use these every day.

The usual "on your left," etc., seems to work fine around here. I'm sure the
"thank you" helps too!

There are enough bikes on the paths around here that everyone seems to know the
routine. I know it isn't the same everywhere though.

Matt O.