Why do so many people not signal when passing on trails?

This topic has 57 replies, 22 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by Jsnyd.

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June 4, 2011 at 8:24 pm #909999

SteveTheTech
Participant

After a medium length morning ride I have another question.

As the title indicates.
Why are the riders who seem to be of a certain skill level (perceived or real) and above far less inclined to signal when passing?
Is it really too much trouble?

This must frustrate the “pros” that all these Aholes always swerving and cursing as they’re dusted up a gradual grade. There are always plenty of people who are riding in aerobars or on alternative cycling devices who will overtake people and warn others of their approach. Personally we enjoy riding early in the morning were the typical commuters (who have legit skill, and passion for cycling) are quite friendly. I’m not asking to have a conversation just warn as you are creeping up behind someone and going to over take them. We signal almost all of the time and thank as passing. Exchanging pleasantries with others on the trails and rest stations will not slow you down but we should all pass on some good karma.

I’m sure all of the members and readers here are people who signal and are champions for safe riding and enjoyment of cycling, especially when you come up on a few slower or visibly new cyclists.

Enjoy the perfect conditions out there, and carry some bug spray
Cheers,
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June 5, 2011 at 3:15 am #926463

acc
Participant

I think the only time I don’t call out is when I’m tracking more bogeys than Maverick in Top Gun. When I’ve got a monster stroller in front of me and a two ladies on a social ride side-by-side coming at me and a dude hopped up on EPO threading the needle between us– I’m just trying to survive. The other time I may not be loud enough to be heard is on a hill, I sound something like Jessica Rabbit.

I assume the others don’t call out because they figure they’ll be gone so fast it’s not worth the effort. But I hate being startled like that. I couldn’t care less if they zoom past me, but a warning is helpful.

Happy Trails,
ann

June 5, 2011 at 1:54 pm #926464

JustinW
Participant

What I have heard in discussions is that, for some, it is perceived as being too much trouble. I think it has to do with a fatigue factor – if you are out on a longer ride at a higher speed, you pass a lot of people and the volume of “On your left”s gets numbing, thus they quit doing it.
On the other hand, if trail users remember that they are on multi-use trails, they, too, have some responsibility for being aware of their surroundings including approaching traffic (from the front and the back). Far too many trail users are oblivious of what’s happening behind them, and sometimes a verbal announcement is too late anyway.
A compounding factor – some trail users don’t like verbal announcements. For whatever reason, I’ve been offered middle digits and various curses when announcing a pass. Curious.
I’ll alternate between verbal announcements and bell ringing. The bell works better over longer distances or with larger packs of trail users. Either way it is hardly foolproof – which may be another reason people don’t warn. Sometimes warnings as simply not heeded.

June 5, 2011 at 2:12 pm #926465

CCrew
Participant

Airzound for the win

June 5, 2011 at 5:54 pm #926468

StopMeansStop
Participant

@CCrew 4220 wrote:

Airzound for the win

Dukes of Hazard Dixie horn.

June 5, 2011 at 11:21 pm #926473

GreyBear
Participant

I think the answer is similar to the answer to the question, why don’t drivers use turn signals? Why wouldn’t you? Once in the 30 some years that I’ve been cycling, I’ve had a runner say F*** you when I said passing on the left. Besides him, I think most people appreciate a warning. A lot of people even thank me for warning them. I use a bell on my commuter bike. It took me a long time to realize that a bell is the best warning device–most people recognize the signal as a bike passing them, I don’t have to announce that I’m female, I don’t have to wear my voice out yelling, and I don’t have to deal with the people who don’t know left from right.
But people just don’t give a warning or they do so when they’re right next to you (OK, I can see you once you’re right there).

June 6, 2011 at 12:33 am #926475

SteveTheTech
Participant

@CCrew 4220 wrote:

Airzound for the win

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYkBHGurj-I
Time 2:14

That is amazing. It is huge and loud enough to scare old and young. Not even a language barrier could misinterpret. This would come in real handy on the W&OD east of Vienna. I feel like I may meet my maker by way of one of those suv strollers and it’s ipod wearing pilot.

@JustinW 4219 wrote:

What I have heard in discussions is that, for some, it is perceived as being too much trouble. I think it has to do with a fatigue factor –

On the other hand, if trail users remember that they are on multi-use trails, they, too, have some responsibility for being aware of their surroundings including approaching traffic (from the front and the back).

A compounding factor – some trail users don’t like verbal announcements. For whatever reason, I’ve been offered middle digits and various curses when announcing a pass. Curious.

Saying it is too much trouble is kind of what I expected. There is no excuse for neglecting such a basic safety item like that. The rider themselves may have complete control but you can never expect the people around you especially if they are children on bikes.

If fatigue is the biggest issue than I would assume their stopping distance is going to be compromised and they should willingly remove themselves from the multi-use trail, as they are knowingly riding in an unsafe manner. If for no other reason that the fact that running down a child in a stroller could end up with the rider being sued, or injuring. Personally I am for running over slow people as much as the next person out there, but some days my wifes MS is acting up and we are the slower riders.

I find it surprising you would have been told to F yourself while following the rules. Then again some people are just mean.

June 6, 2011 at 12:33 am #926476

Joe Chapline
Participant

@GreyBear 4230 wrote:

I think the answer is similar to the answer to the question, why don’t drivers use turn signals? Why wouldn’t you? Once in the 30 some years that I’ve been cycling, I’ve had a runner say F*** you when I said passing on the left. Besides him, I think most people appreciate a warning. A lot of people even thank me for warning them. I use a bell on my commuter bike. It took me a long time to realize that a bell is the best warning device–most people recognize the signal as a bike passing them, I don’t have to announce that I’m female, I don’t have to wear my voice out yelling, and I don’t have to deal with the people who don’t know left from right.
But people just don’t give a warning or they do so when they’re right next to you (OK, I can see you once you’re right there).

I find the bell to be most effective, too. People can hear it from a distance, and usually move over. If I get close enough to shout (I’m not a great shouter), I find that a lot of people turn in my direction when they hear my voice. This is not an excuse for not giving a warning, I’m just saying that pinging the bell from a ways back works best for me, and I think it’s less startling and confusing for the person I’m passing.

June 6, 2011 at 1:21 am #926477

PrintError
Participant

I don’t just shout, I SHOUT. ON YOUR LEFT!!! Most often though I actually yell “PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH!!!” I have a very projecting voice though, and it’s rare for anyone not to hear me.

That said, I feel the pain of the people out there training for the Reston TdF who don’t signal. I usually yell out “NICE SIGNAL” as they pass. They usually tell me I’m number 1!

June 6, 2011 at 2:04 am #926480

acc
Participant

@SteveTheTech 4232 wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYkBHGurj-I
Time 2:14

That is amazing. It is huge and loud enough to scare old and young. Not even a language barrier could misinterpret. This would come in real handy on the W&OD east of Vienna. I feel like I may meet my maker by way of one of those suv strollers and it’s ipod wearing pilot.

If I heard one of those go off I’d assume it was the signal of the start of the apocalypse.

ann

June 6, 2011 at 11:28 am #926482

5555624
Participant

I tend to use both a bell and say, “On your left” (and often, to non-cyclists, “Thanks,” when I pass).

I have noticed more and more people not saying/signaling at all. Lately, more fail to signal than signal. (I know that was the case last Friday, when I was actually keeping track for a while.) I think most are just too self-absorbed and they don’t care about anyone or anything other than themselves. They don’t signal when passing, they cut you off, they don’t stay to the right, they ignore the “bike traffic lights” on the Custis Trail, etc. It’s all part of a trend to less and less etiquette

Years ago, if you had a flat or other problem, it seemed like most people riding by would ask if you needed any help; now, it’s maybe one in ten. (As I fixed a flat, I counted one out of eleven.) The look of surprise I get when I ask someone if they need help also makes it seem like not many people ask.

People are taking their driving mode — once in their car, they’re the center of the universe — to their bikes.

June 6, 2011 at 11:58 am #926483

OneEighth
Participant

That happens every year when the weather gets nice and more people get out on the path.
Lots of 90+ degree days are coming, though, and that always thins the herd.
In the meantime, the only thing any of us can really do is lead by example.
On a related note, how many non-registered users visit this forum? I wonder if many of the strings on etiquette, etc., are just a case of preaching to the choir.

June 6, 2011 at 12:36 pm #926484

Joe Chapline
Participant

@OneEighth 4240 wrote:

On a related note, how many non-registered users visit this forum? I wonder if many of the strings on etiquette, etc., are just a case of preaching to the choir.

Google Analytics says there were 2781 unique visitors to the forum in the last 30 days. There are 539 registered users, many of whom probably have not visited the forum in that time period. So it seems that there are lots of non-members that visit. When I log in, there are always more “guests” than “members” viewing the forum, although members who aren’t logged in will also be counted as guests.

June 6, 2011 at 12:54 pm #926485

txgoonie
Participant

I was actually going to post something about this after a particularly frustrating 10 mile run on the MVT about a week ago on one of those super hot days. I was working my bum off already and really didn’t appreciate the half-dozen or so shots of adrenaline I got from cyclists who passed me on the same side of the yellow line with no warning whatsoever. And in this one anecdote I’d have to qualify most of those riders as “recreational.” The last couple of months seems to have brought a significant uptick in the number of infractions.

So it got me wondering if it’s not a matter of ignorance. I honestly can’t remember where I learned the rules. Plus, if people haven’t been out there (especially on foot) and been buzzed by somebody going anywhere between 15 and 30 mph, then they don’t know what a shock to the system it is. Or perhaps they think it’s a rule that only applies to serious bikers going hella fast. I wouldn’t mind a sign or two along the major multi-use trails that says something to the effect of, “call out all passes.”

My reactions to uncalled passes range from the polite yet stern “Verbal warning, please,” to the wholly aggressive, “Nice warning, a**hole.” Some people should just know better.

June 6, 2011 at 1:09 pm #926486

OneEighth
Participant

Thanks, Joe. I am very glad that the forum is getting lots of visits from non-members. Hopefully, they take something positive away from each visit.
Are you seeing a noticeable seasonal spike in visits?

June 6, 2011 at 1:23 pm #926488

skreaminquadz
Participant

1/8 has a point. I”ll bet that the majority of the people on this forum do abide by the rules. I’ll bet the majority of the “buzzers” do not participate in any cycling forum, member or not.

txgoonie – I never truly appreciated the impact of calling out passes until I started running on the trail. While I always have called out passes b/c I knew that I should, I never truly understood it until I used it for non-cycling activities.
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