On your left – tales of woe

[Dirt]

@baiskeli 19738 wrote:

Since you’re passing on the left, I think it should be songs with “left” in them. I found some candidates on the web:

“Sweetness… I was only joking when I said, By right you should be bludgeoned in your bed tonight….”

[jabberwocky]

@Dirt 19832 wrote:

“Sweetness… I was only joking when I said, By right you should be bludgeoned in your bed tonight….”

Do you know how joan of arc felt now?

I love the treepeople’s cover of that song.

[Dirt]

@jabberwocky 19833 wrote:

Do you know how joan of arc felt now?

I love the treepeople’s cover of that song.

Yarp.

[Terpfan]

50/50 this morning on MVT. I decided to call every pass (didn’t do two because of jet noises being so loud they would be utterly pointless) even if they were in those sort of situations they weren’t really necessary in. I also counted those passing me for calls and figured out it was 50/50 of whether they would call. I made a point to say “nice call” when they didn’t call.

[baiskeli]

@Dirt 19832 wrote:

“Sweetness… I was only joking when I said, By right you should be bludgeoned in your bed tonight….”

“Right! You’re bloody well right. You got a bloody right to say.”

[JeffC]

This particular thread was mentioned in today’s Metro section of the Washington Post, looks like we are gaining notoriety.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/bike-lover-bike-hater-depends-on-whether-youre-on-four-wheels-or-two/2012/05/17/gIQARP6VWU_story.html

[pfunkallstar]

I figured it would be a busy “on your left” day, so I actually counted the number of times I said it -98

[SpokeGrenadeSR]

@pfunkallstar 19944 wrote:

I figured it would be a busy “on your left” day, so I actually counted the number of times I said it -98

bells for the win. had i said “on your left” the amount of times i rang that, i’d have no voice left!

[KLizotte]

@JeffC 19943 wrote:

This particular thread was mentioned in today’s Metro section of the Washington Post, looks like we are gaining notoriety.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/bike-lover-bike-hater-depends-on-whether-youre-on-four-wheels-or-two/2012/05/17/gIQARP6VWU_story.html

Great article. Very funny and astute.

[gensuki]

I both bike and jog on the Custis Trail. This thread well represents the biker viewpoint. I wanted to give some from the ped viewpoint. Only about 20% will give me an audible warning. I acknowledge my gratitude with a hand wave. Once in a while, the silent biker’s bike makes noise so I can hear it coming despite lack of audible. Most times, whizzing bikes startle me, especially when they pass really close to me when I’m jogging. I try to yell out “Give warning” as they pass, but they are out of earshot too soon. I wish all bikers would issue audibles. Is there some way to remind all bikers to do this? I’ve thought about wearing a sign on my back “BIKERS: GIVE AUDIBLE WARNING” but worry that may backfire on me. Any thoughts?

[Steve O]

My wife is a ped only (doesn’t ride a bike). She tells me she appreciates bells much more than verbal warnings. For her, they are easier to hear and interpret.

@Gensuki – I like the idea of the t-shirt reminder. I don’t think it would offend anyone, particularly if you added the word “please.”

[rcannon100]

Saw this at Anglers Inn today. Note the proximity with which NPS says you should signal your passes (hint: It’s not 5 feet).

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[dasgeh]

I saw a great sign at the Canal Road exit from Georgetown U for cars turning right. I think it said something like “Look both ways for pedestrians and bicycles; Area of high pedestrian use” or similar. So it can be done.

[creadinger]

Hah, 100 feet??

On the MVT that would mean calling/dinging to pass the 4th person up ahead while passing #1. The sightlines and traffic on the MVT just do not warrant giving huge warning times before passing, unless you just want to constantly ding your bell every 5-10 seconds. Most of the time when I pass another cyclist I have been riding behind them for a few seconds already because on-coming traffic is in the way. So no, they don’t get multiple warnings 5 seconds prior to me passing them.

[KLizotte]

@rcannon100 23527 wrote:

Saw this at Anglers Inn today. Note the proximity with which NPS says you should signal your passes (hint: It’s not 5 feet).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1258[/ATTACH]

100 feet? Seriously?!

There should also be a sign for ped users too; they have responsibilities as well. Just sayin’

[Author]

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