General Discussion

Whiskeytide

(4,662 posts)

29. Question for you or anyone else who might know...

Thu Sep 27, 2012, 05:08 PM

Sep 2012

I ride a trail bike on dirt trails in a park near my house. To get to the dirt trails, I have to travel a sidewalk pedestrian/walking path for about a mile, and I come up behind a lot of walkers and joggers.

What is the proper etiquette/rule for this? I have found that if I quietly glide by them, it sometimes startles them, but we're all safe because I can see them and I'm by them before they can react. If I announce my presence, I get varied reactions, sometimes actually causing a near collision. If I say something like "passing on your right", I can't be sure if they interpret it as "passing - get to your right" or "I'm about to pass on your right". Almost without fail, saying anything usually prompts a reaction from them, and then things become unpredictable.

I have had a friendly argument with a jogger out there who says I have to announce myself. I understand his position, but he also says he understands mine. We really don't have an answer

I'm not hauling ass, just cruising until I get to the trails where I get my workout. Sometimes I just leave the concrete altogether, but the ground on either side is extremely rough, and the sidewalk is usually raised 5 to 6 inches, and it can be dicey getting back up on it.

What's your take?

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Bicycle vs. Pedestrian [View all] AtomicKitten Sep 2012 OP

making the cyclist pay for your medical costs for one loli phabay Sep 2012 #1

fortunately I'm covered by Healthy SF AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #10

I'm in SF and frustrated with cyclists like you describe CreekDog Sep 2012 #72

I have a Friend the was a messenger in SF orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #138

I'm 55 I ride my bike everyday and orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #2

yup even the dog wins if there is a stop sign loli phabay Sep 2012 #3

They usurp the road by not riding inside orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #6

I think a bicycle has the right to use the full lane, esp. with no bike lane CreekDog Sep 2012 #78

Laws differ from state to state wtmusic Sep 2012 #92

Bicyclists are not that easy to discern, in a car lane. WinkyDink Sep 2012 #98

what the law says trumps that CreekDog Sep 2012 #100

bullshit. Warren Stupidity Sep 2012 #135

I live in upstate NY and a cyclists would be orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #137

that is a different argument from "required to ride inside the white line". Warren Stupidity Sep 2012 #139

Also different, but correct the law of probability orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #140

Absolutely wrong, of course. PavePusher Sep 2012 #150

Any details there or just a BLERT ? orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #152

Not true, although these "fast facts" would tend to give that impression. wtmusic Sep 2012 #141

The cyclists I deal with as a ped, are as rude to peds as car drivers are to them. CrispyQ Sep 2012 #4

I have no tolerance for assholes who choose orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #8

Question for you or anyone else who might know... Whiskeytide Sep 2012 #29

I always announce I'm passing -- on their left-- EXCEPT often when passing a little kid. Gidney N Cloyd Sep 2012 #32

I was taught by my bike club to always let your presence be known to any pedestrian Trailrider1951 Sep 2012 #33

Thanks to you and Gidney Whiskeytide Sep 2012 #35

i always announce "on your left" frylock Sep 2012 #41

Any kind of announcement I think is good nadine_mn Sep 2012 #47

I jog on a bike path a man told me I had no orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #67

Yep, you need to pay attention to the path. a la izquierda Sep 2012 #91

I'm saved really, sorry about your crash orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #99

You really should never pass on the right wtmusic Sep 2012 #89

i ride with a bear bell.. frylock Sep 2012 #129

thanks, I'm getting there AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #11

Time for the bicycle shit parade taught_me_patience Sep 2012 #5

lol whats not to hate. loli phabay Sep 2012 #9

I ride on two wheels as well and have been irritated by many bicyclists in the area as well. Whovian Sep 2012 #17

In most states, the bike has a right to the entire lane obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #23

Mine is licensed, tagged and will easily do 100 mph+ Whovian Sep 2012 #48

Me, too. I ride my bike every day Berlum Sep 2012 #102

It really is obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #21

I like cycling and am glad people do it, I've defended it on DU for years...BUT CreekDog Sep 2012 #75

very reasoned post frylock Sep 2012 #79

There's a shit parade of bicyclists? R. Daneel Olivaw Sep 2012 #83

You didn't miss a thing (except your ribs) frazzled Sep 2012 #7

I'd be terrified riding a bike here in SF. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #13

I am a bike rider and sometimes I wil glide through stop signs or red lights... rfranklin Sep 2012 #12

as a suv driver i also glide through stop signs and red lights loli phabay Sep 2012 #15

how long you been driving strawmen? frylock Sep 2012 #52

only at halloween. not a strawman just using the logic that cyclists can break the law loli phabay Sep 2012 #57

i promise you that you break the law every time you get behind the wheel.. frylock Sep 2012 #80

off course i do everyone does loli phabay Sep 2012 #87

Haha. I saw what you did there. WinkyDink Sep 2012 #101

The car (or SUV) is most likely to be cause of accident with a bicycle... rfranklin Sep 2012 #116

not if it involves a cyclist blowing a stop sign and hitting a pedestrian loli phabay Sep 2012 #118

my bicycle with rider weighs perhaps 190 pounds hfojvt Sep 2012 #131

There you go again, quoting Newton and the laws of physics... rfranklin Sep 2012 #134

i think you need to read again. my point was my suv wasnt involved loli phabay Sep 2012 #146

no, the mass and the force is the point hfojvt Sep 2012 #149

I honestly have no problem with buzzing AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #16

In some areas, it's legal for bikes to do this obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #25

I very seldom see bike obey traffic lights/signs if there no traffic coming. Stupid. Logical Sep 2012 #14

I have some sympathy for bike riders when they are on an incline. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #19

You are wrong. bluestate10 Sep 2012 #56

Shit, then why do cars stop? Logical Sep 2012 #61

because they are motorized and about 400 times heavier CreekDog Sep 2012 #85

LOL, you said if there was no traffic around it would not matter. So why does the size matter? Logical Sep 2012 #88

what's the point of arguing with straw men? CreekDog Sep 2012 #93

if there's no traffic, then what's the harm? frylock Sep 2012 #53

Hell, then why do cars stop? Either you want to be treated like a car or not. Which is it? Logical Sep 2012 #60

you're asking the wrong person.. frylock Sep 2012 #77

There are two kinds of people who ride bikes WilliamPitt Sep 2012 #18

You sound like a responsible rider who values his well-being. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #24

The same thing holds for car drivers obamanut2012 Sep 2012 #26

Also known as WilliamPitt Sep 2012 #27

Roger That DaveHee Sep 2012 #31

nonsense.. frylock Sep 2012 #54

+1 wtmusic Sep 2012 #74

yep.. frylock Sep 2012 #81

Yup nadinbrzezinski Sep 2012 #65

when I am driving a car hfojvt Sep 2012 #132

Many cyclists also don't realize pedestrians can't hear them coming from the rear. yellowcanine Sep 2012 #20

It's really chaotic around SFSU. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #44

some pedestrians will also wander around the path.. frylock Sep 2012 #58

"Wander[ing]" happens to be a PERQUISITE of walking! Are we all in the Army now?? WinkyDink Sep 2012 #104

Yes but just be aware of who is sharing the path. yellowcanine Sep 2012 #106

of course not, but is it too much to ask that a walker not take up 2/3 of a 20' wide path? frylock Sep 2012 #123

"just before I overtake them"--What?! Don't you know that can spook a person to jump the WRONG way?? WinkyDink Sep 2012 #103

Far enough back, wide berth, and regular voice will not spook them. Hasn't happened yet so must yellowcanine Sep 2012 #107

i've had people practically jump out of their skin by calling out "on your left" frylock Sep 2012 #125

are you suggesting that a cyclist should just slow down to the speed of the pedestrian.. frylock Sep 2012 #126

I've almost been hit by other cyclists on my bike sakabatou Sep 2012 #22

I once watched two idiots run into each other, they both ran the stop signs. hobbit709 Sep 2012 #30

Me, too. And I've seen a couple ugly collisions close up. Gidney N Cloyd Sep 2012 #38

I recall making a left turn into a parking lot a while back. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #46

If I am on the wrong side, I usually go on the sidewalk sakabatou Sep 2012 #82

Hiring a lawyer to take him to the cleaners. MicaelS Sep 2012 #28

My medical costs are covered but I've lost time off work. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #39

certain bicyclists are just awful bigwillq Sep 2012 #34

thank you AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #40

I've heard before that half of all bicyclist deaths were the fault of the bicyclist who died XemaSab Sep 2012 #36

When I lived in the Santa Cruz area, I recall a bicyclist AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #45

For cyclists older than fourteen wtmusic Sep 2012 #73

Was the real problem the car with dark tinted windows - hedgehog Sep 2012 #37

It sure would have helped had that last car's windows not been tinted. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #43

As a pedestrian crossing a road properly, you have right of way. bluestate10 Sep 2012 #42

Thanks to all. I'm signing out to get some work done. AtomicKitten Sep 2012 #49

I am so sorry you got hurt! nadine_mn Sep 2012 #50

Every mode of transportation has people who will irritate somebody using the same or different mode central scrutinizer Sep 2012 #51

Dorky bike shorts are a major warning sign. Bikes MUST follow the laws of the road,... HopeHoops Sep 2012 #55

LOL! "dorky bike shorts' I know exactly what you're talking about. WI_DEM Sep 2012 #143

Yeah, and it was a Dilbert cartoon - "Bike seats are uncomfortable. Solution? Dorky bike shorts." HopeHoops Sep 2012 #144

Assholes give dorky bike shorts a bad name wtmusic Sep 2012 #145

I like early '70s era basketball shorts. They're light and allow free movement. HopeHoops Sep 2012 #147

Excuse me, but my shorts are extremely courteous. wtmusic Sep 2012 #148

Yeah, I'll give you the pariah part, but ALSO APPLAUD YOU!!! HopeHoops Sep 2012 #151

You should see what it is like when you are out rollerblading Aerows Sep 2012 #59

Like drivers, bicyclists here are American and therefore, mostly assholes. I'm very sorry to hear Egalitarian Thug Sep 2012 #62

question for all the rule of law types posting in this thread.. frylock Sep 2012 #63

To paraphrase a local cop at Starbucks nadinbrzezinski Sep 2012 #66

speeding is nowhere near the problem of running traffic control signs. NutmegYankee Sep 2012 #69

but running a stop sign when no other vehicles or pedestrians are present.. frylock Sep 2012 #84

Driving a car is the leading cause of death in traffic fatalities. NutmegYankee Sep 2012 #96

The person on the bike in the OP didn't "roll" through the sign lumberjack_jeff Sep 2012 #90

yes, the cyclist in that instance was an asshole.. frylock Sep 2012 #95

I get that toe clips make long term stops awkward. lumberjack_jeff Sep 2012 #105

I can honestly say that I don't run stop signs on my cycle or R. Daneel Olivaw Sep 2012 #94

First glad you are out of the hospital nadinbrzezinski Sep 2012 #64

I really wish this site had a pamphlet option for printing: kentauros Sep 2012 #122

As a cyclist who rides 4,000 miles/year wtmusic Sep 2012 #68

My son, who is learning to drive, almost hit a cyclist, but it wasn't his fault. Arugula Latte Sep 2012 #70

When I see someone riding without a helmet wtmusic Sep 2012 #86

I ride offroad as well as on. R. Daneel Olivaw Sep 2012 #97

These people ride every day of their life as transportation. Very few wear helmets outside of the US modem77 Sep 2012 #120

The average Dutch citizen rides 1.5 miles/day wtmusic Sep 2012 #121

In addition to what wt said.... PavePusher Sep 2012 #153

id disagree i used to bmx and mountain bike a lot and ive never had a helmet loli phabay Sep 2012 #124

how awful. Glad you and dog are ok Liberal_in_LA Sep 2012 #71

Here ya go... progressoid Sep 2012 #76

Ohhhh, AKitten! I'm so sorry this Cha Sep 2012 #108

Open and shut case - pedestrians come first bhikkhu Sep 2012 #109

Not always. wtmusic Sep 2012 #114

Republican cyclists. We're supposed to yield to whatever they want. valerief Sep 2012 #110

I'll admit I didn't read all the responses but here's my response for what it's worth. tech3149 Sep 2012 #111

In this part of Japan, Art_from_Ark Sep 2012 #112

What happened to the bicyclist? subterranean Sep 2012 #113

Mode of transport aside, that was an asshole, I hope you sued. Care Acutely Sep 2012 #115

Bicyclists... licensed, registered, insured. -..__... Sep 2012 #117

fuck that shit.. frylock Sep 2012 #127

" If you take a walk i'll tax your feet " George Harrison orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #133

I imagine your suggestion will be given all the consideration it warrants... LanternWaste Sep 2012 #154

People are at their worst in a car or store .n/t orpupilofnature57 Sep 2012 #155

I ride 5 miles every morning and I always stop at stop lights and stop signs. modem77 Sep 2012 #119

I roll stop signs all the time; I didn't hit you, or anybody else. So why bring me into this? nt Romulox Sep 2012 #128

Cyclists hit somebody on a pathway by my office atleast weekly Sen. Walter Sobchak Sep 2012 #130

Hope you are feeling better! lonestarnot Sep 2012 #136

I see this everyday walking in downtown Madison... WI_DEM Sep 2012 #142

Post removed Post removed Dec 2018 #156