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Passing with a "On your Left" Call
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 2009-06-29 11:30 AM |
Extreme Veteran  660   |  Subject: Passing with a "On your Left" CallSome where from either my running or biking I was told when overtaking someone always yell "on your Left" out so you do not spook/scare them when you come up on them. But when I do this during the bike segment I have been getting alot of wierd looks? Is it there a apporiate way to warn the biker you are passing that you are there. |
| 2009-06-29 11:34 AM in reply to: #2250210 |
Champion 10020  , Minnesota Bronze member | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call You are doing the right thing. The other people are just 1) stupid and/or 2) stunned anyone was polite enough to say anything. |
| 2009-06-29 11:34 AM in reply to: #2250210 |
Veteran 172 Mansfield, TX | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call That is what I do (during the rare times I get to pass someone). |
| 2009-06-29 11:34 AM in reply to: #2250210 |
Extreme Veteran 417 Davidson | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call You are doing the right thing. I'd say you are either reading too much into the looks you are getting or you are passing novice riders. Greg |
| 2009-06-29 11:34 AM in reply to: #2250210 |
Champion 8766  Evergreen, Colorado | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call I would say in a racing situation people are EXPECTING folks to pass them on the left...so the call isn't ALWAYS necessary. I try to avoid saying it unless it's really crowded or I see a rider drifting left or something. It certainly isn't necessary if you are coming up on a lone rider who is riding perfectly straight along the right hand side of the road. |
| 2009-06-29 11:35 AM in reply to: #2250210 |
Not a Coach 11473 Media, PA | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call This seems to be coming up a lot lately. Frankly, shouting out "on your left" is just as likely to spook/scare a person as just riding by them. As long as the pass is going to be quick, I have enough room and have no reason to expect them to try to jump out left, I do the latter. In a race, people should expect to be passing/getting passed all the time and the rules are set up (e.g., riding to the right) so that cyclists are supposed to be riding to allow this to happen without people needing to shout warnings constantly. |
| 2009-06-29 11:36 AM in reply to: #2250224 |
Master 1702 Southern Ontario | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call BikerGrrrl - 2009-06-29 11:34 AM You are doing the right thing. The other people are just 1) stupid and/or 2) stunned anyone was polite enough to say anything. x2 I always call out - running on the sidewalk/biking/racing. It's just polite. |
| 2009-06-29 11:43 AM in reply to: #2250210 |
| Regular 108 | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call When I was competing a lot before I would get passed a bunch on the bike  and most people would shout 'On you left'. I didn't think it was necessary but decided it must be etiquette in the sport. |
| 2009-06-29 11:44 AM in reply to: #2250210 |
Regular 89 lowell | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call My wife and I were on a bike path earlier this year, on a busy day. She passed a little boy and his dad on the path, and didn't call out. The lil kid asked his dad "why some people didn't say 'on your left' when they passed" she was a little embarrassed. Needless to say, we both called out every time we passed till the end of the ride. |
| 2009-06-29 11:45 AM in reply to: #2250236 |
Champion 10020 , Minnesota Bronze member | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call My perspective may be different, since perhaps I passed more than others, but I totally disagree with the advice that announcing this is sometimes not necessary. You don't need to yell it out or anything, but a quick "on your left" is a good idea. I can generally hold a good line, but if I don't know you are behind me I might slide to the left a little if I am working hard during a race. It's just silly to do something that might cause an accident. On a training ride a few days ago, a very quiet and fast rider passed me. I didn't notice he was there, until I saw his shadow overtaking me. This was on a path where I could have easily swerved to avoid bumps, branches, or walkers. It's just taking too much of a risk. I called ahead for the benefit of my husband, who I was trailing. I am tempted to sit up and maybe stick my left arm out in these cases, if I could do it without crashing myself. Sorry, but it makes me angry. Now, if there's a really obvious novice ahead of you that you don't trust, I might say "Passing on your left" or "Coming through" far enough in advance for them to react and adjust. They will tend to go left when you say it, so plan ahead. Please, keep saying it. |
| 2009-06-29 11:46 AM in reply to: #2250210 |
Veteran 284 | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call I always give a "On your left" call in a race or training on the bike trail. On the bike trail, I even get an an occasionaly "thank you" when I pass. As a runner, I always appreciate a heads up from a biker coming from behind. JC |
| 2009-06-29 12:01 PM in reply to: #2250229 |
Master 1651 Breckenridge, CO | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call JohnnyKay - 2009-06-29 10:35 AM +2. IMO, "being polite" is irrelevant. To me, it's all about "safety" for everyone. I ride mostly on a bike path that has everybody on it from world class riders to a families on cruisers. It's so long and so rarely crowded that it's generally a fantastic path to ride on, even very aggressively. In terms of announcing a pass, I do whatever I think is going to be safest for everyone involved. With inexperienced riders if you announce "left", they'll tend to look over their left shoulder and veer directly into your path so I'll either do it loudly from a long ways away so they veer and then get back on line by the time I'm passing, or I'll just blow by as fast as possible so far to the left that it's very unlikely that they'll swerve at exactly the same time I'm passing. Long story short, I have my own set of rules for every type of rider that I'm passing and it works because I've been riding here for 15 years and never hit another rider or pedestrian. In a tri race, I don't announce unless it appears that I need to for safety. Being a fast rider in M4549, I'd be announcing "left" continuously for the entire course in every race and it's not something I'm willing to do. |
| 2009-06-29 12:04 PM in reply to: #2250229 |
Champion 9600 Fountain Hills, AZ | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call JohnnyKay - 2009-06-29 11:35 AM This seems to be coming up a lot lately. Frankly, shouting out "on your left" is just as likely to spook/scare a person as just riding by them. As long as the pass is going to be quick, I have enough room and have no reason to expect them to try to jump out left, I do the latter. In a race, people should expect to be passing/getting passed all the time and the rules are set up (e.g., riding to the right) so that cyclists are supposed to be riding to allow this to happen without people needing to shout warnings constantly. Yes, but the problem is that they often don't abide by those rules and I find people tend to do what you least expect at the worst times, so I would say a "On your left", loud enought o be heard and acknowledged, no need to shout, is the best way to proceed. I also thank people as I pass. |
| 2009-06-29 12:08 PM in reply to: #2250280 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call BikerGrrrl - 2009-06-29 12:45 PM My perspective may be different, since perhaps I passed more than others, but I totally disagree with the advice that announcing this is sometimes not necessary. You don't need to yell it out or anything, but a quick "on your left" is a good idea. I can generally hold a good line, but if I don't know you are behind me I might slide to the left a little if I am working hard during a race. It's just silly to do something that might cause an accident. On a training ride a few days ago, a very quiet and fast rider passed me. I didn't notice he was there, until I saw his shadow overtaking me. This was on a path where I could have easily swerved to avoid bumps, branches, or walkers. It's just taking too much of a risk. I called ahead for the benefit of my husband, who I was trailing. I am tempted to sit up and maybe stick my left arm out in these cases, if I could do it without crashing myself. Sorry, but it makes me angry. Now, if there's a really obvious novice ahead of you that you don't trust, I might say "Passing on your left" or "Coming through" far enough in advance for them to react and adjust. They will tend to go left when you say it, so plan ahead. Please, keep saying it. x2 lets people know to hold their line. Also agree with later post that you need to evaluate who you are passing. If you are going to be passing someone that looks like they are just about to fall over, make sure you yell it with plenty of advance notice so they have time to react Though racing yesterday in a completely over crowded race I was going just about 40 and there was a rider in the right I saw drifting over to the left, I started screaming on your left, so of course she moved left because she started panicking, came within about 1 inch of hitting her or going over the curb. So even with plenty of notice people still might not do the right thing. I absolutely hate the dumba$$'s that don't say anything when I am out running on the multi use trails in our area, been buzzed by quite a few people, all I had to do was stretch my left arm out maybe because of a bug or something and they would be closelined easily... |
| 2009-06-29 12:09 PM in reply to: #2250351 |
Champion 9060 Charlottesville, Virginia | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call bryancd - 2009-06-29 1:04 PM JohnnyKay - 2009-06-29 11:35 AM This seems to be coming up a lot lately. Yes, but the problem is that they often don't abide by those rules and I find people tend to do what you least expect at the worst times, so I would say a "On your left", loud enought o be heard and acknowledged, no need to shout, is the best way to proceed. I also thank people as I pass.Frankly, shouting out "on your left" is just as likely to spook/scare a person as just riding by them. As long as the pass is going to be quick, I have enough room and have no reason to expect them to try to jump out left, I do the latter. In a race, people should expect to be passing/getting passed all the time and the rules are set up (e.g., riding to the right) so that cyclists are supposed to be riding to allow this to happen without people needing to shout warnings constantly. yep me too, when being passed while running I always acknowledge those that say "on your left" as they go by. |
| 2009-06-29 12:12 PM in reply to: #2250351 |
Not a Coach 11473 Media, PA | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call bryancd - 2009-06-29 1:04 PM JohnnyKay - 2009-06-29 11:35 AM This seems to be coming up a lot lately. Yes, but the problem is that they often don't abide by those rules and I find people tend to do what you least expect at the worst times, so I would say a "On your left", loud enought o be heard and acknowledged, no need to shout, is the best way to proceed. I also thank people as I pass.Frankly, shouting out "on your left" is just as likely to spook/scare a person as just riding by them. As long as the pass is going to be quick, I have enough room and have no reason to expect them to try to jump out left, I do the latter. In a race, people should expect to be passing/getting passed all the time and the rules are set up (e.g., riding to the right) so that cyclists are supposed to be riding to allow this to happen without people needing to shout warnings constantly. I agree to an extent, but am with breck above in that "on your left" calls sometimes encourage the unexpected movements you're hoping to avoid. In a quick pass, there is rarely any time for the rider ahead to make enough movement to cause any problems so long as I have plenty of passing space around them. When I do feel the need to announce a pass with an "on your left" or "ride right", like you, I try to thank them as I go by. |
| 2009-06-29 12:12 PM in reply to: #2250210 |
Expert 1170 Southern Pines, NC | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call A few years riding on MUPs made me realize that I'm better off passing people silently. They're far more likely to drift left looking for what's coming if you yell something. I know it's not the popular way to do things, but there it is. |
| 2009-06-29 12:13 PM in reply to: #2250210 |
Veteran 239 Kalispell, MT | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call I was running on a multi-use paved path last night - coming up on a couple walking a dog, they were three abreast taking up the whole path. I knew they didn't hear me coming up behind, and I knew that I would startle them... but I had to get around somehow!  When I got a good 10-15 yards behind them (plenty of distance) I called out a gentle "passing you on the left" Yep, all three of them jumped! Dog went ballistic, mom and dad freaked out trying to control the dog, I sprinted past them... would have taken the ditch if I could have, but there was no room to pass anywhere but on the path. I guess I should have been running louder!!  |
| 2009-06-29 12:14 PM in reply to: #2250210 |
Regular 89 lowell | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call There are alternatives to the standard 'on your left' I change it up depending on the rider I'm over taking. One that works well, and doesn't seem to spook people is just a friendly (or not so friendly) "coming up on ya" this usually gets people to move over. If a person's particularly squirrely a "hold your line" or "keep it straight" as you pass works. People who are experienced usually won't need a warning. If i'm not sure they know i'm there i'll give a quick whistle to let em know i'm coming around. if you lived in china you could always do this:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnL4fjMzsSU Being polite is key, spooking a person isn't cool since they could take you out or go down themselves. |
| 2009-06-29 12:15 PM in reply to: #2250210 |
Master 1920 Ann Arbor, MI | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call It depends on where I'm riding. In a race, if the person is all by themselves, and is fumbling with their water bottles, or just has a look of uncertainty, I warn them. If it's a very busy race, with lots of riders, I only yell On your left if they are 'blocking' and not riding to the right. In training and regular commute riding, I found that if I shout 'On your left' most people jump to their left..... so I sort of gave up on that, and only occasionally use it with other cyclists, but a lot of times, I feel pretty obnoxious saying it. Bikergrrll... you really try to DECK other cyclists that don't say 'on your left?' I'm confused...I thought you wanted people to say it for 'safety' yet you are trying to cause physical harm to both you and the other cyclists by stiff arming a passerby??? Or did I just misread your comment about your left arm? Ok- you are 'tempted'....but still, realize that people that don't say it, aren't doing it out of malice. In fact, on training rides, if I'm coming up on another female, I tend NOT to say it, because I feel like I may be 'rubbing in' the fact that I'm passing, and feel slightly obnoxious...but again, it just depends on the situation. If it's a road, where I can go far around the other person, I won't say it, and I only ride on multi-use trails as a commuter, not a competitor, and that is when most people jump in front of me... Edited by jazz82482 2009-06-29 12:21 PM |
| 2009-06-29 12:17 PM in reply to: #2250210 |
| Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call Heh, on our local bike paths (which I try to avoid, but sometimes it's the only way), we get a lot of yoyos. Saying "on your left" is sometimes as likely to make them look left, and the swerve left. I play it by ear, sometimes I say it, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I say "behind you" A friend of mine trains with a bell. That is kind of annoying to hear all ride. We also get lots of runners. Once, a guy was running down the middle of the path with earphones in. Two loud "on your lefts" didn't work, so as I passed him, I screamed into his ear ON YOUR LEFT. In races, it all depends. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. |
| 2009-06-29 12:17 PM in reply to: #2250210 |
Regular 316 | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call Do it out of etiquette(b&r); but just as likely to startle someone(especially the women-folk) as not |
| 2009-06-29 12:19 PM in reply to: #2250389 |
Champion 10020 , Minnesota Bronze member | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call The bell is awesome in that video! I am bringing one next time I visit the Mall of America. I hate that place and the 5-abreast walkers. I also use "Coming through" or "stay to the right" in some instances. For some reason "coming through" works for walkers best coming at me, who appear unsure which way to go. They split in the middle usually Edit to add: My husband rides with the bell and it's pretty ineffective in our area. People aren't used to them anymore, I guess. Most just look surprised. Edited by BikerGrrrl 2009-06-29 12:20 PM |
| 2009-06-29 12:27 PM in reply to: #2250210 |
Pro 4824 Houston | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call My firt tri was all women and all the women that passed me said 'on your left' or something else - 'passing' or words of encouragement. My second tri was yesterday, a co-ed race and I was disappointed that maybe 10% of the men said something - two guys passed VERY close to me. 90% of the women said something. I was passed a lot so there was plenty of opportunity to hear what people were/were not saying. Not sure why the guys weren't saying anything but I found it somewhat rude. |
| 2009-06-29 12:28 PM in reply to: #2250415 |
| Austin, Texas or Jupiter, Florida | Subject: RE: Passing with a "On your Left" Call I'll say "on your left" in a busy race. But during my regular morning-rides, I'll just say "good morning" as I reach their back wheel. Running, I'll usually say "hey" or Good morning, afternoon, evening as I'm getting closer. I have a distance alarm set on my Garmin 305 to remind me to hydrate (1 mile on the run and 2 miles on the bike) that may also give-away my presence. Either way works. |
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