On your left – tales of woe

[pfunkallstar]

This morning I was riding down the Custis trail – GLORIOUS DAY BTW – and was passing a woman in her mid twenties. I gave my customary “On your left!” moved to the left lane and passed without incident – my voice is one part bullhorn, two parts foghorn, zero parts leghorn. About two seconds later the woman explodes in a cloud of anger, “Thanks a lot A$$hole, stupid, f@#k!” and so on.

Now normally I just let angry people be angry, it is a GLORIOUS DAY (did anyone see that freaking sun!), but today I slowed down and went back to see what was unhinging this otherwise seemingly hinged woman.

I pulled up and said:

Me: Sorry, I said “On your left.”
Lady: Well it was just so quiet and then you cut over and just whizzed by.
Me: (Pointing to headphones) Did you have you headphones on?
Lady: You are so f#$king smart, you think you are so smart! I didn’t have any music on. You know I’m a biker too! Why don’t you try walking!?!

I loved this last bit – “Well I have _________ friends too!”

At this point I just smiled and rolled away as she went off on another outing into crazy land – let angry people be miserable angry people on glorious days.

[jabberwocky]

I’ve had that happen a lot over the years. Using a bell helps, but honestly, if I see headphone cords these days I don’t even bother giving a warning. If they really wanted to hear whats going on around them, they wouldn’t be wearing fricking headphones. :rolleyes:

[consularrider]

Sounds like an encounter I had with a dog walker last year in Bluemont Park, I had rung my bell, but that wasn’t good enough for him. I still see him several days a week on my commute, but he hasn’t exploded again.

[CCrew]

@jabberwocky 18240 wrote:

if I see headphone cords these days I don’t even bother giving a warning. If they really wanted to hear whats going on around them, they wouldn’t be wearing fricking headphones. :rolleyes:

+ 1 there. Figure if they want to blot out their surroundings it includes me.

[Tim Kelley]

When I’m pretending to be a runner on the trails, I listen to music/podcasts at a low enough volume that I can hear approaching cyclists who call their passes. I generally give a little wave with my left hand to acknowledge that I’ve heard the call.

So while some runners have the headphones too loud, there are many others who appreciate the warning.

[jrenaut]

@Tim Kelley 18243 wrote:

When I’m pretending to be a runner on the trails, I listen to music/podcasts at a low enough volume that I can hear approaching cyclists who call their passes. I generally give a little wave with my left hand to acknowledge that I’ve heard the call.

So while some runners have the headphones too loud, there are many others who appreciate the warning.

Perhaps I’ve been lucky, but most of the joggers I pass either totally ignore me (which is fine) or give a little wave, which I appreciate. A couple get off the path, which I think is silly, but whatever. I always figure I’d rather give tons of warnings to people who won’t hear them than hit one person.

[americancyclo]

I walk a section of the W&OD in Falls Church nearly every day to get my daughter. I never wear headphones, although when it’s cold, I do put the hood up. Calling passes happens a fair amount, but not nearly 100%. I try my best when on a bike to call my passes, and I definitely appreciate it when I’m not biking, even more so if I’m pushing a stroller.

[creadinger]

I haven’t had anyone go off on me, but I’m sure it’s coming… I probably call many of my passes too quietly, but part of the problem is the area near Gravelly point with the airport, the highway, and usually wind drowning out pretty much everything but yelling. In that area would peds prefer I scream at them as I pass, or do they assume that with all the noise it’s not likely they’ll be able to hear normal voices?

[zanna_leigh]

@Tim Kelley 18243 wrote:

So while some runners have the headphones too loud, there are many others who appreciate the warning.

I notice more people acknowledge the warning on the Custis than on the W&OD/Mt Vernon. I have had people actually say “thank you” when I announce that I’m passing on the Custis, even while they’re running.

[consularrider]

I do appreciate the a runner/walker’s acknowledgement of my bell or “passing on your left,” especially when it comes from someone two or three up from the first person I’m passing. This morning the Army was doing PT, 40 to 50 runners, from the Gravelly Point parking lot to the 14th St Bridge cutoff and back, I think it’s their one mile course. I didn’t ring for everyone, but maybe about every five or six, or for a new cluster. One thing about that group is that none of them are using earbuds!

[Arlingtonrider]

Wow. Sorry to hear you encountered someone like that! I sometimes listen to music, but keep the volume turned way down low. (yeah – I know, I used to be totally anti-headphone.). I also try to thank everyone who calls their passes.
Please don’t stop calling passes just because you see headphones. I can easily hear you very easily.

[DaveK]

@consularrider 18252 wrote:

This morning the Army was doing PT, 40 to 50 runners, from the Gravelly Point parking lot to the 14th St Bridge cutoff and back, I think it’s their one mile course. I didn’t ring for everyone, but maybe about every five or six, or for a new cluster. One thing about that group is that none of them are using earbuds!

That group is pretty good at holding a line, too.

[creadinger]

@consularrider 18252 wrote:

This morning the Army was doing PT, 40 to 50 runners, from the Gravelly Point parking lot to the 14th St Bridge cutoff and back, I think it’s their one mile course. I didn’t ring for everyone, but maybe about every five or six, or for a new cluster. One thing about that group is that none of them are using earbuds!

I passed them this morning too. Aside from the sheer numbers, they were relatively easy to get around…. Were you at all surprised at how difficult a 2 mile run was for these guys? I thought the Army were supposed to be in pretty good shape? Even the Pentagon ones. I work with a small group of Navy folks and I think they’re in much better shape than the Army folks.

[JeffC]

After 5 years of regular commuting, I have gotten into a habit of announcing my intention to pass each and every time. Since I am slow, it is usually peds, not bikers I pass. The typical response is nothing, then less frequently the acknowledgement waive. I appreciate those that waive, it tends to the be the hardcore runners who stick far to the right that get the need for this. In my experience, the start of spring brings the kind of casual minded, inattentive peds who lack situational awareness and don’t understand that sometimes at narrow spots, blind turns, and steep slopes where bikes might have to pass abreast peds need to be alert.

The more aloof and distracted peds are and especially when they are in the middle of the trail, the louder is my warning. A few times, maybe once a year, I have had peds get hostile with me. I can only hope that startling these people out of their complacency may force them off the trail. There are plenty of places to walk in a distracted, inattentive manner without creating dangers for others. I still am befuddled as to why North Arlingtonians find the Custis an attractive place to walk at evening rush hour.

[pfunkallstar]

@JeffC 18268 wrote:

After 5 years of regular commuting, I have gotten into a habit of announcing my intention to pass each and every time. Since I am slow, it is usually peds, not bikers I pass. The typical response is nothing, then less frequently the acknowledgement waive. I appreciate those that waive, it tends to the be the hardcore runners who stick far to the right that get the need for this. In my experience, the start of spring brings the kind of casual minded, inattentive peds who lack situational awareness and don’t understand that sometimes at narrow spots, blind turns, and steep slopes where bikes might have to pass abreast peds need to be alert.

The more aloof and distracted peds are and especially when they are in the middle of the trail, the louder is my warning. A few times, maybe once a year, I have had peds get hostile with me. I can only hope that startling these people out of their complacency may force them off the trail. There are plenty of places to walk in a distracted, inattentive manner without creating dangers for others. I still am befuddled as to why North Arlingtonians find the Custis an attractive place to walk at evening rush hour.

I never try to startle anyone but it is a fine balance. One second an 18-wheeler is going by and your are screaming “ON YOUR LEFT” and then it gets absurdly quiet and the ped/runner thinks that you are being an ass.

[Author]

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