Well, in the 40+ years that I rode Madison streets it seems it has been custom to give some form of warning to those you are about to overtake. Bells are good (I always use a bell) but racers usually didn't have bells so they just gave each other a gracious "...on your left..." which was usually quite a welcome thing (rather than being surprised) unless one did not want to be passed.................. Sure, the person being passed SHOULD know to hold their line or at least not veer the wrong way BUT with the advent of IPods and such one can't be sure what to expect.
Here in Brazil I came across an interesting variant of the bike-bell. You can see it by going to http://picasaweb.google.com/mberigan/Brazil_bikes (a new album I intend to populate with more that the two lonely photos currently located there). The older gent pictured is surely armored for a different set of problems than Madisonians face. I'm sure that in Madison it would instill "bike rage" but here people see it as a legitimate line of proactive defense. Matthew Berigan Campina Grande, Paraiba On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 6:19 PM, Kristine M. Niemann <[email protected]>wrote: > I personally don't understand why people feel the need to say "passing on > the left" in normal situations on the bike path anyway. If a person is > riding on the right side of the line, NOT in the way of the approaching > bike, then the approacher should simply pass with caution. What do they > think is going to happen? The right lane rider is SUDDENLY going to veer > out into the left lane without notice? This is simply so ridiculous and I > really wish people would just ride the path with confidence and courtesy > rather than fear. There is almost always plenty of room to pass, so I don't > get it, and it's annoying. Now riding on the road...that's another matter. > > kris > ------------------------------ > *From:* Linda Kietzer <[email protected]> > *To:* "[email protected]" <[email protected]>; ArthurRoss < > [email protected]> > *Sent:* Tuesday, September 8, 2009 3:55:55 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Bikies] A Modest Proposal, Bikers Take the High Road / > Biking Rules Street Code > > Curious: Is it ever okay to pass on the right? I ask because a few weeks > ago while biking on the eastside bikepath, a biker behind me said "passing > on your ..." and when I heard that, I automatically veered to the right side > of the path, when s/he finished the sentence "... right!" I very nearly hit > that person, s/he nearly drove into the bushes, and I was SO irritated. > Pass on the left, yes? > > > > > > > > --- On *Tue, 9/8/09, Ross, Arthur <[email protected]>* wrote: > > > From: Ross, Arthur <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Bikies] A Modest Proposal, Bikers Take the High Road / Biking > Rules Street Code > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 3:46 PM > > B.C. Brown wrote <I'm one of those folks (whether on bike or on foot) who > is easily auditorily startled (and maybe kinesthetically dyslexic) and > liable to veer left when I hear "left."> > > This is why the recommended passing procedure includes this not quite > haiku titled Passing > > Passing > > slow down first > give audible warning > wait for reaction > . > > Arthur > ------------------------------ > *From:* [email protected] [mailto: > [email protected]] *On Behalf Of *B.C. Brown > *Sent:* Tuesday, September 08, 2009 9:56 AM > *To:* [email protected] > *Subject:* Re: [Bikies] A Modest Proposal, Bikers Take the High Road / > Biking Rules Street Code > > Just want to register agreement with John's comments re "passing." > > Thanks, > bcb > > On Sep 8, 2009, at 9:23 AM, [email protected] wrote: > > Thanks Steve for bringing the conversation back to the original topic. > > > This is a really easy thing to do and is a good habit to get into even when > > you see people with headphones. Some actually have the volume low enough > > that they can hear you when you give warning. I have been experimenting > > recently, and just saying, "passing" in a friendly conversational tone > seems > > to be the most effective. When I say "Left" or "Passing on your left," > > sometimes it startles people and they just hear the word "left" and think > > it's a command to move left. A simple message of "Passing" seems to be > well > > understood and they don't follow the unintended subliminal message and move > > left. > > > Thanks, > > John Rider > > The Bike Safety Guy > > > > -----Inline Attachment Follows----- > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > Bikies mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org > >
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