Passing with a "On your Left" Call (Page 6)

I hate to hijak your guy's challenge thread...

I passed a road biker this morning who had head phones in. I usually will say on your left when out and about, but when I passed this guy I waited until the first moment he saw me and yelled,

"SURPRISE!"

Did I mention I hate it when people ride with headphones? Run or swim with them and it is fine, but ride? Come on people.

Mike

Shame on you for getting bacck on topic!

I admit it, I ride with headphones and listen to podcasts, not music, so it's not too loud. And no one passes me, so it's not a problem..

You people have ruined me - I was stuck walking behind an incredibly slow person strolling down the middle of the sidewalk this morning on the way to the train.  Trapped behind her and between a long fence up against the sidewalk and the street, all I could think of was shouting "Coming up on your left" as came flying up behind her to catch my train.

In triathlons, I usually yell on your left as I go by (and smile as if I am not working hard), but when I do time trials, no one says that. A tter said that is because tters have confidence in their bike handling skills but triathletes don't.

I do about 80% of my riding on roads and 20% on a multi-use path.  On the road, I rarely encounter other riders, and if I do...we're usually passing in opposite directions.  However...on the bike path, I assess the situation and will decide whether or not I call out an "on your left" before I pass someone.  It's been my experience, that most folks get startled or move directly into my path when I have called out to pass.   If the path is not very busy and I feel like the rider I am about to pass is holding their line well...I will pass silently.   I will also pass silently, if I come upon a rider or runner that is wearing headphones (which really irks me, but I digress).  Chances are they are not going to hear me calling out anyway, so I just get by them as quickly and safely as possible.  I will call out if I come upon dog walkers, families with kids, and folks that generally just look like they don't know how to ride a bike very well. 

I actually say "Passing on your left" mostly because I usually ride on trails with mom dad and their 3 obese kids in tow who have no clue what "on your left "means and more times than not the vear into my path.  Everyone knows what PASSING means and since we drive onthe right as soon as they hear tht they get over.  On the wider paths if someone is well to the right (no cars allowed on the bike path) I just pass without saying anything because there is plenty of room even if they fell over to the left to pass. 

Edited by Socks 2009-07-01 8:58 PM