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

[SteveTheTech]

I hate to rehash an old topic but this is indeed one of the more important issues facing WABA members, and all local cyclists. Most of us want more accommodations for cycling made in traffic legislation, and or support the rail to trail projects. Not following the basic rules set forth on the trails and streets are just not leading by example, not surprising though as many of the other locals have pointed out with some pretty horrifying examples, some people suck.

To be a more conscious cyclist my wife and I are planning on taking some of the waba classes,. To learn proper safety and technique. I want to take a few of the mechanic classes, and eventually pursue mechanic certification as time and skill progress.

I always take both of my trusty multi-tools and a tire pump just in case, but I would be hard pressed to stop on the highway. For some reason being on a bike makes me a friendlier person, maybe I enjoy cycling more than driving. That sucks I used to be a hard core car guy…ahh getting older.
At a speed where you have typically a few seconds to decide whether to offer assistance or leave them be, we all have a few criteria that we ask ourselves. If the person looks like they are in distress I think we are all legally obliged to do something if we can.(total Seinfeld moment)

http://youtu.be/zPnK0NCn_MQ
Thanks for indulging, it’s a throwback (didn’t want to link the actual video it was too big).

Basically don’t do that ^ If you see someone who needs help…help them if you can. Seems simple enough.

[Usern Ame]

Well I personally I think the whole idea of announcing a pass should be phased out. It shoud be just like driving…do you announce you are going to pass when you are driving? No. You just do it. The reason this works is because people have an expectation that others will be passing them. Bikers should also just have an expectation that others will be passing them. When you are driving it is your responsibility to make sure that the lane you are going to switch to is safe…you do this by checking your mirrors, checking your blind spot, and then announcing with a turn signal your intention. I have no idea why it should be any different for biking.

[baiskeli]

@Usern Ame 5465 wrote:

Well I personally I think the whole idea of announcing a pass should be phased out. It shoud be just like driving…do you announce you are going to pass when you are driving? No. You just do it. The reason this works is because people have an expectation that others will be passing them. Bikers should also just have an expectation that others will be passing them. When you are driving it is your responsibility to make sure that the lane you are going to switch to is safe…you do this by checking your mirrors, checking your blind spot, and then announcing with a turn signal your intention. I have no idea why it should be any different for biking.

I think it’s different for biking because it’s harder for cyclists to see behind them. Cars all have a bunch of mirrors to do that. Calling a pass is a bit like a turn signal for cars.

I don’t think you have to call passes all the time, but you should when there’s a potentially dangerous situation.

[Usern Ame]

I look over my shoulder (usually) to check the lane before switching. It seems unsafe not to. Do you? Just curious.

Also, to be realistic alot of people wear headphones. Thats just how it is. So it doesn’t work to announce because headphonewearers (HWs) won’t hear, and HWs also have to check the lane anyways to make sure it is safe.

By my estimation at least half of people on the trail wear headphones.

[brendan]

@Usern Ame 5465 wrote:

Well I personally I think the whole idea of announcing a pass should be phased out. It shoud be just like driving…do you announce you are going to pass when you are driving? No. You just do it. The reason this works is because people have an expectation that others will be passing them. Bikers should also just have an expectation that others will be passing them. When you are driving it is your responsibility to make sure that the lane you are going to switch to is safe…you do this by checking your mirrors, checking your blind spot, and then announcing with a turn signal your intention. I have no idea why it should be any different for biking.

Unfortunately, pedestrians treat MUTs like sidewalks, and it’ll be a cold day in hell before that ever changes. Bell + called pass seems the safest thing passing both pedestrians and cyclists. Runners w/ headphones are generally experienced enough to check before turning but if they don’t, hey, at least *you tried to warn them*.

Also: it’s important to note that most experienced cyclists will slow down when coming up on another cyclist who is poised to pass a 3rd party. Sometimes they don’t and you end up with a double pass or pass-crash. Less likely to happen if the rear-most cyclist is calling passes, especially if there’s a great difference in cyclist speed.

Brendan

[eminva]

@brendan 5474 wrote:

Unfortunately, pedestrians treat MUTs like sidewalks, and it’ll be a cold day in hell before that ever changes. Bell + called pass seems the safest thing passing both pedestrians and cyclists. Runners w/ headphones are generally experienced enough to check before turning but if they don’t, hey, at least *you tried to warn them*.

Also: it’s important to note that most experienced cyclists will slow down when coming up on another cyclist who is poised to pass a 3rd party. Sometimes they don’t and you end up with a double pass or pass-crash. Less likely to happen if the rear-most cyclist is calling passes, especially if there’s a great difference in cyclist speed.

Brendan

Agree 100% with Brendan. And when kids or dogs are involved, any expectation of predictability goes out the window. I know the dog can’t and the kid might not heed the warning, but at least the responsible adult has fair warning.

Liz

[Usern Ame]

Well it sounds to me like you are in a certain sense excusing stupid dangerous behavior. I took my nephew out on the trail once and the first thing I told him was how it important it is not to cross over into the other lane. Any adult that lets their kid just run around on a bike trail like its a playground should be forced to take some kind of parenting class that explains to them how to protect their offspring.

[eminva]

Well, I’ll ignore your stronger assertions, but just to clarify one point: if you are talking about most of the trails in our area, they are not bike trails, they are mixed use trails. Big difference.

Liz

[Usern Ame]

How does the fact that are MUTs change anything? You are essentially saying parents should allow their kids to run around on a trail where bikes are. No difference whatsoever. A trail where bikes are present is a trail where bikes are present – they aren’t a playground. Thanks for ignoring my stronger assertions, I’m glad I took out the part about forced sterilization:)

[CCrew]

@Usern Ame 5482 wrote:

How does the fact that are MUTs change anything? You are essentially saying parents should allow their kids to run around on a trail where bikes are. No difference whatsoever. A trail where bikes are present is a trail where bikes are present – they aren’t a playground. Thanks for ignoring my stronger assertions, I’m glad I took out the part about forced sterilization:)

If you look at the MUT’s though, cyclists are at the bottom of the pecking order for right of way. It’s pedestrians, then horses, then us. I don’t have an issue with sharing trails. My issue comes in when the “it’s my trail I have the right of way” mentality kicks in.

[baiskeli]

@Usern Ame 5473 wrote:

I look over my shoulder (usually) to check the lane before switching. It seems unsafe not to. Do you? Just curious.

Always. But sometimes (not always) there is a dangerous situation simply when passing someone who is moving straight, especially in traffic. The slightest twitch on a bike can be a disaster.

Also, to be realistic alot of people wear headphones. Thats just how it is. So it doesn’t work to announce because headphonewearers (HWs) won’t hear, and HWs also have to check the lane anyways to make sure it is safe.

By my estimation at least half of people on the trail wear headphones.

Yeah, well, I wouldn’t expect anyone to call a pass to me if I had headphones on either. On the other hand, I have had people (usually joggers) with headphones suddenly decide to do a U-turn or something, without looking for traffic.

[Usern Ame]

So you are okay if a parent brings their kids onto the bike path and just lets them run around in both lanes?

[Usern Ame]

Quote:

Yeah, well, I wouldn’t expect anyone to call a pass to me if I had headphones on either. On the other hand, I have had people (usually joggers) with headphones suddenly decide to do a U-turn or something, without looking for traffic.

Yeah, I’ve seen joggers with headphones on do that too and it doesn’t make sense to me, they are endangering themselves and others.

[brendan]

@Usern Ame 5490 wrote:

So you are okay if a parent brings their kids onto the bike path and just lets them run around in both lanes?

No, but there is nothing that I can do that will change the behavior other than slow the heck down and call my passes as loudly and authoritatively as possible. Perhaps I let some incredulity creep into my voice when the brainlessness is on display…sometimes more than others…but I’m just passing through: a parenting lesson from anyone, even from the park police, isn’t going to go over well.

Some of the more parkish areas on the W&OD and MVT are overrun with cross-trail and along-trail kid and dog traffic, especially on the weekends. Fighting against that is like trying to stop a tidal wave with a bucket. Some kid is going to get hurt, and it may be partly the parent’s fault. But I’m not going to be involved.

Brendan

[Jsnyd]

I’m getting the bell. For sure. After riding up and down MVT the other day I got tired of calling and that was on a week day. It wasn’t that I was too tired, it just got really annoying. Especially when you call and the person is an “HW”. There were also a few blind turns and I just felt funny shouting, biker coming around! or whatever I should say. I starting laughing because I’ve never narrated my actions before.

A few non callers passed me. I didn’t mind too much, but at the same time they kind of scared the crap out of me. Here I am riding into the wind by myself, haven’t seen a person in 2 miles, head is down just chugging away and all of a sudden there goes a damn peloton going about 30mph. I didn’t have enough time to react until they we already past me. Not a word out of any of them was said. I hope they were more considerate of the day walkers and sight see’ers

[Author]

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