OK, I'm going to take this opportunity to once again give my advice on path etiquette and passing. I'm sure Aaron is already following all the points below, but in case others need some help being good "share the path" bicyclists....
1. When passing slower users (whether a pedestrian or a slower bicyclist), announce your desire to pass safely well in advance of getting to the person. Instead of just yelling, "On your left!" I usually say something like, "Coming by on your left." or "Passing on your left." 2. Give them time to absorb the information before you arrive behind or next to them. 3. Wait for a reaction! Yes, people may be wearing ear buds or may not react, even if they hear you. But you want to be sure, if possible, that the person has absorb the information before you appear behind or next to them. (See # 1 and 2 above.) 4. If you aren't sure if the person has heard you, SLOW DOWN. The last thing you want is to be going full bore and have the person suddenly step the wrong way or be startled. This could cause a collision, hurting one or both people. 5. Make sure there is adequate space to pass. If someone is coming the opposite direction, you may need to wait to pass. 6. As you pass, smile and say, "Thank you!" Often that little phrase can help dissipate any irritation the person has. Remember that we as bicyclists are often the faster users on the path (although I have seen runners pass slow bicyclists.) When we are on the road, we want motorists to give us adequate passing distance and even slow down and wait for a safe opportunity to pass. When we use the path, we need to extend the same courtesy to slower users, like pedestrians and slower bicyclists. We may have to slow down to wait to pass if the path is crowded. Don't pass when there is someone coming the opposite direction, because you will probably end up passing too close. Don't startle other path users. Be nice. It's pretty simple. As someone who has been hearing lots of feedback and comments regarding the lighting on the SW Path (and that's another subject, so let's not clutter this thread with that), I can tell you that concerns over rude bicyclists creep into the comments. People don't like getting buzzed by a bicyclists any more than we like being buzzed by drivers in motor vehicles. Sorry to sound like I'm scolding, but those of us that are out there in the public view, representing other bicyclists, end up getting an earful for less-than-polite behavior on the part of other bicyclists. It makes advocates' jobs easier when we all try to get along. Robbie Webber, Bike Fed Board member Transportation Policy Analyst State Smart Transportation Initiative www.ssti.us 608-263-9984 (o) [email protected] On Wed, Nov 21, 2012 at 10:11 AM, Aaron Crandall <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Bikies, > > This morning on the bike path, upon crossing W Wash, I calmly said "on > your left" to a lady who I must have startled & she seemed upset that I > even said anything because she thought it was bad etiquette & started > blurting out something about a NY Times article, etc. If the lady is on > this list, please share that NY Times article. > > I guess I'd prefer to know when someone was coming up next to me, than > them simply rushing by, of course depending on how much space they gave me > either way. What are other folks thoughts, better to call out "on your > left" or remain silent & get by quickly? > >
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