Am I being rude? Bike path etiquette
July 5, 2021 2:48 PM Subscribe
I frequently ride my bike on city paths that have two bike lanes and one pedestrian lane. A situation often occurs which annoys me...
Okay, so for about half the time, the trails are wide enough that two cyclists can ride abreast in each lane, or at least wide enough so that two cyclists can ride abreast and only slightly infringe on the lane going the opposite way. The rest of the time, the lanes are not wide enough for this and are sometimes quite narrow.
Regularly, I will be biking along in my lane and cyclists will be coming the other way filling up both lanes such that unless I or they move, we'll collide. In crowded areas or at popular times, this can be hard to negotiate because of pedestrians or multiple cyclists in each lane going at different speeds, but often enough there is no one in the pedestrian lane so that I can in fact swerve without endangering anyone.
The people who blithely take up two lanes are always, always fully kitted out people with expensive bikes, mostly men. (You might think "oh, this would be thoughtless teens" or something, but no, it's grown adults.) And I hate it. I hate seeing these men biking toward me on their thousand dollar bikes expecting me to get out of their way - so I don't. (I mean, I pay close attention and I'd veer rather than collide, but I do stay in my lane and make them get back in theirs whenever it is clear that I can do so safely.)
I also hate it because regularly though not every day I end up in a position where it's legit hard for me to gauge how far to veer without hitting a pedestrian or another cyclist, and I feel like I'm being forced to be the bad guy in those cases - they wouldn't hit the pedestrian, I'd hit the pedestrian because I had to get out of their way. I feel like taking up both lanes is a habit that they have all the time, not just when there are few people on the paths.
But okay, is staying the course when I could just get out of their way rude and entitled? I really try, as a cyclist, not to take up more than my space and technically I could often get out of their way perfectly safely, I'd just hate it and resent it. But if metafilter thinks I should, I will suck it up.
Okay, so for about half the time, the trails are wide enough that two cyclists can ride abreast in each lane, or at least wide enough so that two cyclists can ride abreast and only slightly infringe on the lane going the opposite way. The rest of the time, the lanes are not wide enough for this and are sometimes quite narrow.
Regularly, I will be biking along in my lane and cyclists will be coming the other way filling up both lanes such that unless I or they move, we'll collide. In crowded areas or at popular times, this can be hard to negotiate because of pedestrians or multiple cyclists in each lane going at different speeds, but often enough there is no one in the pedestrian lane so that I can in fact swerve without endangering anyone.
The people who blithely take up two lanes are always, always fully kitted out people with expensive bikes, mostly men. (You might think "oh, this would be thoughtless teens" or something, but no, it's grown adults.) And I hate it. I hate seeing these men biking toward me on their thousand dollar bikes expecting me to get out of their way - so I don't. (I mean, I pay close attention and I'd veer rather than collide, but I do stay in my lane and make them get back in theirs whenever it is clear that I can do so safely.)
I also hate it because regularly though not every day I end up in a position where it's legit hard for me to gauge how far to veer without hitting a pedestrian or another cyclist, and I feel like I'm being forced to be the bad guy in those cases - they wouldn't hit the pedestrian, I'd hit the pedestrian because I had to get out of their way. I feel like taking up both lanes is a habit that they have all the time, not just when there are few people on the paths.
But okay, is staying the course when I could just get out of their way rude and entitled? I really try, as a cyclist, not to take up more than my space and technically I could often get out of their way perfectly safely, I'd just hate it and resent it. But if metafilter thinks I should, I will suck it up.
I imagine there will be a variety of opinions on this, but mine is that where lane markings exist, the people not complying with them need to divert their course when encountering someone who is. If it looks like they're not going to, then I will just stop and wait for them to figure out what they're going to do, to avoid the situation where we both decide to divert into the pedestrian lane at the same time.
posted by FishBike at 3:04 PM on July 5, 2021 [35 favorites]
posted by FishBike at 3:04 PM on July 5, 2021 [35 favorites]
If the path is totally empty except for you and the other bikers I would say you could move because it's easier for you to go to the side then one of them slow down to get behind the other. But if there's a hint of anyone else nearby then you should keep your current path and let the other bikers decide how they're going to deal with it.
The pro-cyclist wannabees shouldn't be on the path at all as far as I'm concerned. If you're all kitted up on a fancy road bike intending to go fast then do it on the road. I avoid recreational bike paths unless I'm going slowly with my kids because if I'm on my own then I'll usually want to go faster than is appropriate for me to go on a bike path.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:08 PM on July 5, 2021 [15 favorites]
The pro-cyclist wannabees shouldn't be on the path at all as far as I'm concerned. If you're all kitted up on a fancy road bike intending to go fast then do it on the road. I avoid recreational bike paths unless I'm going slowly with my kids because if I'm on my own then I'll usually want to go faster than is appropriate for me to go on a bike path.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:08 PM on July 5, 2021 [15 favorites]
You might find some comfort from reading about Beth Breslaw, who decided to stop stepping out of the way of men on the sidewalk to see how many of them would literally walk into her, so certain were they that she would be the one to move aside. Spoiler: The vast majority of them.
If I've understood the geometry correctly, I think in your position, if there was a pedestrian on the other bit of path, I'd be tempted to stay in my lane and come to a dead stop well in front of the approaching two-abreast cyclists, owning my lane and forcing them to tuck in behind one another single file to come past me. But I guess that would get old pretty quickly if you were having to stop multiple times on each journey.
posted by penguin pie at 3:12 PM on July 5, 2021 [54 favorites]
If I've understood the geometry correctly, I think in your position, if there was a pedestrian on the other bit of path, I'd be tempted to stay in my lane and come to a dead stop well in front of the approaching two-abreast cyclists, owning my lane and forcing them to tuck in behind one another single file to come past me. But I guess that would get old pretty quickly if you were having to stop multiple times on each journey.
posted by penguin pie at 3:12 PM on July 5, 2021 [54 favorites]
It sounds like they are in your way because they're not where they're supposed to be, if I understood you right. In that case, if they are in your way, it is definitely not rude for you to stay your course! I mean, imagine if a car were driving up the wrong side of the street.
posted by aniola at 3:15 PM on July 5, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by aniola at 3:15 PM on July 5, 2021 [7 favorites]
often enough there is no one in the pedestrian lane so that I can in fact swerve without endangering anyone.
You use the word swerve, "to turn aside abruptly", to justify your case. But if indeed no one is around you don't need to swerve at all, just gently glide over and glide back, which then makes it real clear that your behavior is rude and unnecessary.
If you would need to actually swerve, or endanger pedestrians, then no, you should not do that.
Do you never ride with friends and want to talk with them? I ride on trails with families and they often ride side-by-side keeping the kids to the outside. Should I be stopping in the middle and demanding they move over even though there's plenty of room for me to pass by?
posted by flimflam at 3:17 PM on July 5, 2021 [3 favorites]
You use the word swerve, "to turn aside abruptly", to justify your case. But if indeed no one is around you don't need to swerve at all, just gently glide over and glide back, which then makes it real clear that your behavior is rude and unnecessary.
If you would need to actually swerve, or endanger pedestrians, then no, you should not do that.
Do you never ride with friends and want to talk with them? I ride on trails with families and they often ride side-by-side keeping the kids to the outside. Should I be stopping in the middle and demanding they move over even though there's plenty of room for me to pass by?
posted by flimflam at 3:17 PM on July 5, 2021 [3 favorites]
Hold your lane, maybe ring a bell?
posted by knapah at 3:18 PM on July 5, 2021 [24 favorites]
posted by knapah at 3:18 PM on July 5, 2021 [24 favorites]
I've been really lucky that this doesn't happen in the bike lanes I frequent. (And the pedestrians in the bike lane seem genuinely ignorant and kind of surprised to discover they're on a bike lane.) Everyone on bikes around here are really considerate. Even the cops. Bicyclists who ride abreast (except in a wide car lane) when other people are around deserve to be called out as jerks. No reasonable person in a city tries to do that.
As a pedestrian, intentionally shoulder-checking asshole dudes on the sidewalk who refuse to recognize other people is surprisingly fun. The shocked look on the face of suited businessmen who can't imagine sharing the space with other people always makes my day. (I'm also a reasonably fit, rich white guy who can handle myself in a fight, talk nice to a cop, and pay for a lawyer.) Showing assholes that you've noticed they're being assholes, assuming doing so doesn't endanger you, seems like a good thing in general. Only if it is very unlikely to get you hurt.
posted by eotvos at 3:22 PM on July 5, 2021 [11 favorites]
As a pedestrian, intentionally shoulder-checking asshole dudes on the sidewalk who refuse to recognize other people is surprisingly fun. The shocked look on the face of suited businessmen who can't imagine sharing the space with other people always makes my day. (I'm also a reasonably fit, rich white guy who can handle myself in a fight, talk nice to a cop, and pay for a lawyer.) Showing assholes that you've noticed they're being assholes, assuming doing so doesn't endanger you, seems like a good thing in general. Only if it is very unlikely to get you hurt.
posted by eotvos at 3:22 PM on July 5, 2021 [11 favorites]
Should I be stopping in the middle and demanding they move over even though there's plenty of room for me to pass by?
No, not when there's plenty of room to pass by, but as my comment said, if there's a pedestrian on the other bit of path and someone is going to have to give way, it should be the riders who are two abreast. The flip side to riding side by side is that you have to be willing to drop back to single file as needed when the path is full and you're taking up others' lanes. Kids can/should also be taught to do this as part of the skill of using a busy shared path.
posted by penguin pie at 3:25 PM on July 5, 2021 [14 favorites]
No, not when there's plenty of room to pass by, but as my comment said, if there's a pedestrian on the other bit of path and someone is going to have to give way, it should be the riders who are two abreast. The flip side to riding side by side is that you have to be willing to drop back to single file as needed when the path is full and you're taking up others' lanes. Kids can/should also be taught to do this as part of the skill of using a busy shared path.
posted by penguin pie at 3:25 PM on July 5, 2021 [14 favorites]
As I started reading your question, I thought to myself “I really hope you’re not swerving out of their way”. And you weren’t, yay! I am a bit of an extremist on this point, but you should absolutely not yield even if you can.
posted by kevinbelt at 3:34 PM on July 5, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by kevinbelt at 3:34 PM on July 5, 2021 [6 favorites]
You are not being rude; they are. I don't know whether you are female presenting, but if you are, Beth Breslaw's experience is useful. (I, a woman, did a similar experiment in a different city; one man had to pulled out of my way by his 5 year old daughter.)
That said, playing chicken on bikes isn't really fun. Would it be feasible to call "in front of you!" the way you'd call "on your left?"
posted by basalganglia at 3:38 PM on July 5, 2021 [19 favorites]
That said, playing chicken on bikes isn't really fun. Would it be feasible to call "in front of you!" the way you'd call "on your left?"
posted by basalganglia at 3:38 PM on July 5, 2021 [19 favorites]
The cyclists riding two abreast are mainly in the wrong. They shouldn't take up any more space than required especially during busy times. You should never take any action that might endanger yourself or others.
That being said, as a cyclist who has been the rude one in this situation, the lines don't really register as strongly as it does to other people. If you ride in the road, you develop a callous disregard for the rules of the road as they revolve around cars, and cars often do not obey those rules (to only the cyclist's detriment). Cyclists then develop their own set of rules for survival (see Effective Cycling), like avoiding the "bike path" because that's the best place to get doored. On shared paths, there is no shortage of other people also ignorant of the rules, from pedestrians on the wrong side of the path, to families taking up the entire width, to dogs with long leashes. I avoided shared paths if possible but sometimes it is the most practical way to get from point A to point B.
It can feel more like thunderdome than a neat and orderly road.
posted by meowzilla at 3:54 PM on July 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
That being said, as a cyclist who has been the rude one in this situation, the lines don't really register as strongly as it does to other people. If you ride in the road, you develop a callous disregard for the rules of the road as they revolve around cars, and cars often do not obey those rules (to only the cyclist's detriment). Cyclists then develop their own set of rules for survival (see Effective Cycling), like avoiding the "bike path" because that's the best place to get doored. On shared paths, there is no shortage of other people also ignorant of the rules, from pedestrians on the wrong side of the path, to families taking up the entire width, to dogs with long leashes. I avoided shared paths if possible but sometimes it is the most practical way to get from point A to point B.
It can feel more like thunderdome than a neat and orderly road.
posted by meowzilla at 3:54 PM on July 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
OP, I have similar frustrations with other riders on the very clearly marked bike lanes around my neighborhood, as well as those who insist on riding two or even three abreast while coasting along slowly so that they may hold a lively conversation, while commuters pile up behind them, unable to pass.
I ring my bell to snap them out of their own little world where they are the only people who matter and remind them that hey, this is a shared space! Others exist!! I would absolutely not accommodate them by moving out of the way. That will only encourage their expectation that others should be the ones to move, which as you’ve aptly illustrated, could have dangerous results.
posted by keep it under cover at 4:00 PM on July 5, 2021 [8 favorites]
I ring my bell to snap them out of their own little world where they are the only people who matter and remind them that hey, this is a shared space! Others exist!! I would absolutely not accommodate them by moving out of the way. That will only encourage their expectation that others should be the ones to move, which as you’ve aptly illustrated, could have dangerous results.
posted by keep it under cover at 4:00 PM on July 5, 2021 [8 favorites]
I know exactly the types and I also make them move. Also applies to male swimmers and pool lanes. (And sidewalks, as above.)
Always make them move. They won’t LEARN anything, but it’s satisfying all the same.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 4:02 PM on July 5, 2021 [12 favorites]
Always make them move. They won’t LEARN anything, but it’s satisfying all the same.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 4:02 PM on July 5, 2021 [12 favorites]
Hold your lane, maybe ring a bell?
I have a Japanese bell that rings loud and true. It is loud enough that I would not ring it unless I have to. I'd agree with the above, as unfortunate as it is to have to occasionally assert your space when other cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers take up yours — always negotiating for personal safety, of course.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 4:03 PM on July 5, 2021 [6 favorites]
I have a Japanese bell that rings loud and true. It is loud enough that I would not ring it unless I have to. I'd agree with the above, as unfortunate as it is to have to occasionally assert your space when other cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers take up yours — always negotiating for personal safety, of course.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 4:03 PM on July 5, 2021 [6 favorites]
To put it another way, if everyone was in cars, the majority of drivers wouldn't think twice about swerving into the bike lane in order to avoid someone in the wrong lane. You'd be rightfully angry, but you're not about to play chicken with the other driver.
posted by meowzilla at 4:05 PM on July 5, 2021
posted by meowzilla at 4:05 PM on July 5, 2021
This is a good reason to have a bell on your handlebar as an alternative to shouting “oncoming!” at them.
They should absolutely return to single-file when they see you approaching, regardless of the existence of an adjacent (potentially empty) pedestrian lane. You don’t have perfect knowledge of who’s using that lane. It could be a fast jogger coming up behind you, it could be a kid on a scooter, so those oncoming cyclists shouldn’t be inducing you to swerve and potentially collide with a third party.
The other option, which is stopping and forcing them go around, also carries risks because cyclists behind you who might not be paying attention could run into you.
Two people wanting to ride side-by-side is understandable and I think it’s ok if there’s not much traffic. But it’s completely their responsibility to be alert for oncoming cyclists (like you) and to get out of your lane well before you have to even think about avoiding a collision or ringing a bell.
posted by theory at 4:06 PM on July 5, 2021 [23 favorites]
They should absolutely return to single-file when they see you approaching, regardless of the existence of an adjacent (potentially empty) pedestrian lane. You don’t have perfect knowledge of who’s using that lane. It could be a fast jogger coming up behind you, it could be a kid on a scooter, so those oncoming cyclists shouldn’t be inducing you to swerve and potentially collide with a third party.
The other option, which is stopping and forcing them go around, also carries risks because cyclists behind you who might not be paying attention could run into you.
Two people wanting to ride side-by-side is understandable and I think it’s ok if there’s not much traffic. But it’s completely their responsibility to be alert for oncoming cyclists (like you) and to get out of your lane well before you have to even think about avoiding a collision or ringing a bell.
posted by theory at 4:06 PM on July 5, 2021 [23 favorites]
There are two tests here I think; one is the social-breach test of who should give way and of path etiquette, the other is a test of the conservation of momentum. The second you're probably going to lose regardless of being in the right.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:16 PM on July 5, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 4:16 PM on July 5, 2021 [3 favorites]
It's basically the bike version of manspreading right?
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:16 PM on July 5, 2021 [22 favorites]
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:16 PM on July 5, 2021 [22 favorites]
They are rude! Absolutely with @theory on this one. Sure if the path is empty those two dudes can ride side-by-side, but the minute they see they have to share the lane they need to go back to single file.
a firm and loud "keep right!" should be your mantra.
Also cities should just build bike lanes wide enough so people can ride side by side
posted by brookeb at 4:22 PM on July 5, 2021 [9 favorites]
a firm and loud "keep right!" should be your mantra.
Also cities should just build bike lanes wide enough so people can ride side by side
posted by brookeb at 4:22 PM on July 5, 2021 [9 favorites]
I'm a longtime cyclist and cycling commuter. I agree with many previous comments.
To summarize:
1) Get a bell and use it. not just for this instance, but consistently.
2) they are jerks. Don't move over, even if you have the room.
3) make them move, either by holding your line ( with the bell and your own alert "Rider up!") or by stopping directly in their way. Eotvos has the right idea!
and there is no indication in the post that these are "pro cyclist wannabees trying to go fast". Cyclists are 'kitted up' for the same reason any recreational enthusiast would be using appropriate gear. ...your bias is showing....
posted by TDIpod at 4:24 PM on July 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
To summarize:
1) Get a bell and use it. not just for this instance, but consistently.
2) they are jerks. Don't move over, even if you have the room.
3) make them move, either by holding your line ( with the bell and your own alert "Rider up!") or by stopping directly in their way. Eotvos has the right idea!
and there is no indication in the post that these are "pro cyclist wannabees trying to go fast". Cyclists are 'kitted up' for the same reason any recreational enthusiast would be using appropriate gear. ...your bias is showing....
posted by TDIpod at 4:24 PM on July 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
While riding a suburban separated bike/multi-use path, I was called a bitch by a racing team (I know the difference between an amateur in bike gear and 5 dudes all in the same local racing team kit tyvm) for yelling at them as they approached in the other direction, taking up all of their lane and half of mine. I was forced to break hard for a slower rider in my direction because they were taking up the space I could have easily used to pass her. If this is the kind of situation you are talking about, you're in the right, but I doubt they will ever care. I'm too much of a chicken to hold my line, I guess, and I don't like on the rare occasion that I do that I can't give the pedestrian/slower cyclist I'm passing as much space as would be comfortable. In the end I feel like the asshole for passing too close while trying to hold my line, vs braking and waiting until the 2-3 abreast jerks coming from the other direction pass. It is SO frustrating though.
posted by misskaz at 4:38 PM on July 5, 2021 [8 favorites]
posted by misskaz at 4:38 PM on July 5, 2021 [8 favorites]
Bike bell!
And I don't know if this a common law, but where I live ALL riders are supposed to ride single file. I often mention that as we pass each other. I understand the bit about wanting to chat with each other, but courtesy should be the primary action.
posted by Grok Lobster at 4:39 PM on July 5, 2021 [2 favorites]
And I don't know if this a common law, but where I live ALL riders are supposed to ride single file. I often mention that as we pass each other. I understand the bit about wanting to chat with each other, but courtesy should be the primary action.
posted by Grok Lobster at 4:39 PM on July 5, 2021 [2 favorites]
The second you're probably going to lose regardless of being in the right.
Any collision on a bicycle, at any speed, is always fraught with danger of serious injury or death. All cyclists should always assert their space, but always while keeping in mind the context of circumstances. If the bro riding at you doesn't see you or doesn't want to, then any kind of signal may not work and you just need to get out of the way. Doubly the same for someone behind the wheel of a vehicle. That's just common sense. However, if you can or do have time to make eye contact, then ringing a bell and yelling an alert can communicate very quickly to an oncoming cyclist that they are obliged to get back in their lane. I live in a city where people bike a lot, and sometimes riders in the other direction need that reminder, but etiquette can evolve from those moments.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 4:45 PM on July 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
Any collision on a bicycle, at any speed, is always fraught with danger of serious injury or death. All cyclists should always assert their space, but always while keeping in mind the context of circumstances. If the bro riding at you doesn't see you or doesn't want to, then any kind of signal may not work and you just need to get out of the way. Doubly the same for someone behind the wheel of a vehicle. That's just common sense. However, if you can or do have time to make eye contact, then ringing a bell and yelling an alert can communicate very quickly to an oncoming cyclist that they are obliged to get back in their lane. I live in a city where people bike a lot, and sometimes riders in the other direction need that reminder, but etiquette can evolve from those moments.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 4:45 PM on July 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
Bell, bell, bell, bell, bell, bell (like a constant bell alarm as they approach), and don’t stop in your lane unless you want to create a pileup or other dangerous situation behind you. They are assholes.
posted by Maarika at 5:06 PM on July 5, 2021 [12 favorites]
posted by Maarika at 5:06 PM on July 5, 2021 [12 favorites]
They are rude and entitled, and they are endangering you and others. Ask whoever maintains bike lanes to do safety signage (that they will ignore). Polite bell, sure, but I'd want an airhorn or paintball gun, as a fantasy anyway. Get a bike horn, use it.
posted by theora55 at 8:05 PM on July 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 8:05 PM on July 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
For what it's worth, I'm a relatively large white male and I've had to consciously decide to halt and stand my ground against rude or clueless idiots like this coming toward me (on foot or on bikes/scooters/etc.). I'm angry enough at that sort of behavior that I'm perfectly willing to bodily obstruct them without apology.
I've never had this happen while I was on a bike, but if it did I'd be inclined to do the same, with the above-mentioned bell plus a loud assertive statement of intent that you won't be moving out of their way, possibly along with a solid strong-arm stance to fend them off if they decide to try to ignore you. (I suppose carrying a hefty jousting lance would be going too far, but it's a tempting notion)
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:19 PM on July 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
I've never had this happen while I was on a bike, but if it did I'd be inclined to do the same, with the above-mentioned bell plus a loud assertive statement of intent that you won't be moving out of their way, possibly along with a solid strong-arm stance to fend them off if they decide to try to ignore you. (I suppose carrying a hefty jousting lance would be going too far, but it's a tempting notion)
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:19 PM on July 5, 2021 [5 favorites]
Yeah, bikespreading is irritating AF, but I would be worried about getting injured just because I insisted on my own space and right of way and getting jerks to acknowledge and move around me. I'm not sure if this is a great fight to pick for purposes of your own safety, here. It's one thing to pick that fight on foot, but on wheels, I'd be concerned.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:51 PM on July 5, 2021
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:51 PM on July 5, 2021
I am a frequent bike rider but not in the US - that is there might be some habits that don’t translate but jerks are universal -
Bell, loud and often
If you’re pinched in (pedestrians on one side lane-bargers on the other) I would definitely stop and wait for the lane-bargers to get back.
People are not always acting to piss you off… though yes, at times they really are… for myself giving them the benefit of the doubt lessens the load (for me personally - I’m being impure in my compassion here)
posted by From Bklyn at 12:37 AM on July 6, 2021
Bell, loud and often
If you’re pinched in (pedestrians on one side lane-bargers on the other) I would definitely stop and wait for the lane-bargers to get back.
People are not always acting to piss you off… though yes, at times they really are… for myself giving them the benefit of the doubt lessens the load (for me personally - I’m being impure in my compassion here)
posted by From Bklyn at 12:37 AM on July 6, 2021
If you're all kitted up on a fancy road bike intending to go fast then do it on the road.
Counterpoint: people all kitted up on fancy road bikes deserve the safety that bike paths offer, too. They just shouldn't act the way that OP describes.
posted by entropone at 5:23 AM on July 6, 2021 [6 favorites]
Counterpoint: people all kitted up on fancy road bikes deserve the safety that bike paths offer, too. They just shouldn't act the way that OP describes.
posted by entropone at 5:23 AM on July 6, 2021 [6 favorites]
Something similar happens to me sometimes. There's times I feel safer on the street than on the paths. I usually ring the bell, wave them to their lane and yell hey or move over. That said, we only have 2 lanes on the path so there is nowhere else to go. (I prefer saying hey rather than a longer phrase or more obscure word like oncoming or heads up because I figure there is less room for misunderstanding, especially if the other person does not speak English or doesn't hear very well.)
I agree with everyone above, they are being rude and they should move over and where possible hold your ground. However, I also agree with others, be careful about stopping dead, quick blind lane changes, going off the path into the turf, or being distracted by them and hitting say a tree root in the path, or colliding on a bicycle at high speeds. Any of those things could be a mess.
posted by philfromhavelock at 6:53 AM on July 6, 2021
I agree with everyone above, they are being rude and they should move over and where possible hold your ground. However, I also agree with others, be careful about stopping dead, quick blind lane changes, going off the path into the turf, or being distracted by them and hitting say a tree root in the path, or colliding on a bicycle at high speeds. Any of those things could be a mess.
posted by philfromhavelock at 6:53 AM on July 6, 2021
You might find some comfort from reading about Beth Breslaw, who decided to stop stepping out of the way of men on the sidewalk to see how many of them would literally walk into her, so certain were they that she would be the one to move aside. Spoiler: The vast majority of them.
Oh, yeah, I’ve done the same thing many times. I was nearly shoved off a bridge by a group of Buddhist monks once. They were so surprised that I didn’t just jump into the gorge to let them barrel through.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:07 AM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Oh, yeah, I’ve done the same thing many times. I was nearly shoved off a bridge by a group of Buddhist monks once. They were so surprised that I didn’t just jump into the gorge to let them barrel through.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:07 AM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
I'd echo the above advice of getting a loud, easy to ring, ready at your thumb bell on your handlebars. Ring it immediately when you note someone in your lane headed toward you. If they don't hear the first ring, do it again louder, and if they don't yield, get out of their way and tell them sternly “Get in your damn lane!”
Swerve out of their way. Bike chicken never ends well. Don't hurt yourself to correct these assholes. The world has always been full of them, and the wave of narcissism that social media has unleashed has made the problem exponentially worse.
posted by sydnius at 7:13 AM on July 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
Swerve out of their way. Bike chicken never ends well. Don't hurt yourself to correct these assholes. The world has always been full of them, and the wave of narcissism that social media has unleashed has made the problem exponentially worse.
posted by sydnius at 7:13 AM on July 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
If it's crowded, hold to your lane. It's safest for everyone, and they know they shouldn't be in your lane.
If there are (literally) no pedestrians, it's probably easier for you to wander over into the pedestrian path. Technically, you shouldn't have to, but it's harder to justify getting worked up over, unless you'd get fined for riding on the pedestrian path.
posted by kjs4 at 8:30 AM on July 6, 2021
If there are (literally) no pedestrians, it's probably easier for you to wander over into the pedestrian path. Technically, you shouldn't have to, but it's harder to justify getting worked up over, unless you'd get fined for riding on the pedestrian path.
posted by kjs4 at 8:30 AM on July 6, 2021
I think the bell needs to be accompanied by a clear statement to be effective, like yelling out:
STAY IN YOUR LANE
or
YOU’RE IN MY LANE
They need to be reminded that lanes are a thing that should be honored.
posted by delight at 9:53 AM on July 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
STAY IN YOUR LANE
or
YOU’RE IN MY LANE
They need to be reminded that lanes are a thing that should be honored.
posted by delight at 9:53 AM on July 6, 2021 [2 favorites]
I ride my bike a lot, usually by myself but often with others. In busy areas, we ride single file. Sometimes I like to ride my bike next to someone else. It's easy to get caught up in conversation and sometimes we don't always yield/drop back when we should. I really object to the idea that folks on bikes should always be riding in a single lane. When we drive our cars, we often enjoy chatting with the person beside us. Riding a bike can be lovely, so why not make it even better with a bit of conversation?
If the pedestrian lane is empty, truly empty, then it takes very little effort for you to shift a bit to your right and then back into the marked lane. This does not need to be a swerve. I think you are super caught up in the lines, and it would be a lot healthier for you to relax a bit about this. You are already keeping alert for pedestrians or other objects in the lane, so you need to be watching out for folks anyway.
I've been yelled at twice for riding two-by-two. One time, the person was probably right: my friend and I were enjoying our on-going conversation, but it was probably busy enough that we should have gone back to single file even though it was a really wide lane. But a few weeks ago, I got yelled at for riding two-by-two on a quiet street designed primarily for bikes. A person passed us and scolded us and told us we should be riding as far to the right as possible. That person was wrong. That person thought it was her job to get out of the way of cars as quickly as possibly, even when we were on streets where bikes were prioritized, even when that made it more dangerous for her (she was hugging the door zone).
Let's get away from vehicle-centric thinking. If it's a nice day and conditions are fine and there are no pedestrians, a small shift from you lets two folks continue to have a pleasant ride and share some conversation.
The more people on bikes, the safer we all are. All bikes are good bikes. All people on bikes are our bike people.
(I also want to add that bikes treating stop signs as yield signs, as is the law now in Oregon, inspired by what's called the Idaho Stop, is much safer for everyone, and has shown a particular decrease in injuries for folks on bikes.)
posted by bluedaisy at 1:30 PM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
If the pedestrian lane is empty, truly empty, then it takes very little effort for you to shift a bit to your right and then back into the marked lane. This does not need to be a swerve. I think you are super caught up in the lines, and it would be a lot healthier for you to relax a bit about this. You are already keeping alert for pedestrians or other objects in the lane, so you need to be watching out for folks anyway.
I've been yelled at twice for riding two-by-two. One time, the person was probably right: my friend and I were enjoying our on-going conversation, but it was probably busy enough that we should have gone back to single file even though it was a really wide lane. But a few weeks ago, I got yelled at for riding two-by-two on a quiet street designed primarily for bikes. A person passed us and scolded us and told us we should be riding as far to the right as possible. That person was wrong. That person thought it was her job to get out of the way of cars as quickly as possibly, even when we were on streets where bikes were prioritized, even when that made it more dangerous for her (she was hugging the door zone).
Let's get away from vehicle-centric thinking. If it's a nice day and conditions are fine and there are no pedestrians, a small shift from you lets two folks continue to have a pleasant ride and share some conversation.
The more people on bikes, the safer we all are. All bikes are good bikes. All people on bikes are our bike people.
(I also want to add that bikes treating stop signs as yield signs, as is the law now in Oregon, inspired by what's called the Idaho Stop, is much safer for everyone, and has shown a particular decrease in injuries for folks on bikes.)
posted by bluedaisy at 1:30 PM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
You are in the right. Get an Orp and blast the shit out of them.
posted by dobbs at 2:32 PM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by dobbs at 2:32 PM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
You won’t collide. They just want to stay in both lanes longer than you’re comfortable with. So when they jump back into the right lane at the last moment, they think they’re doing it at the right time. If you were to suddenly ride off the path, they would see it as unexpected behavior, maybe dangerous. It is a breach of shared path etiquette for them to ride that quickly so close to people, and same for you to ride off the path unexpectedly, so it’s good you’re not doing that.
posted by michaelh at 2:33 PM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by michaelh at 2:33 PM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
Oncoming cyclists riding abreast are supposed to move to single file if a cyclist is approaching toward them. If it appears that they are not going to do so, it is safer for you to stop your bike and wait for them to do what they are supposed to do than it is for you to veer into the pedestrian lane. (I've been a cyclist for 30+ years.)
posted by SageTrail at 3:09 PM on July 6, 2021
posted by SageTrail at 3:09 PM on July 6, 2021
One thing I do rather than use a bell is to gently Jedi-wave where I want the oncoming traffic (pedestrian or cyclist) to go. I find that bells sometimes startle folks and they end up just freezing (has definitely happened to me). But people seem to receive hand motions with their lizard brain and it feels slightly less jarring and confrontational.
posted by funkiwan at 11:00 PM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by funkiwan at 11:00 PM on July 6, 2021 [1 favorite]
You are very much in the right. However, better to be unscathed than have an avoidable collision, even if that means backing down. Sadly, that's exactly what these jerks counting on.
I personally like to shout "WRONG LANE GENIUS" at the top of my lungs, but that's probably going to backfire eventually.
posted by aspersioncast at 11:30 AM on July 7, 2021 [1 favorite]
I personally like to shout "WRONG LANE GENIUS" at the top of my lungs, but that's probably going to backfire eventually.
posted by aspersioncast at 11:30 AM on July 7, 2021 [1 favorite]
Oof this is tough. You know you're right, but this is a pack of white guys doing their white guy hobbies. Take care of yourself first. If taking care of yourself means crowding the line on your side and risking injury then by all means because screw these freds, but if that doesn't feel good, then please let yourself let them go by. I ride too, every day, but its to get places and run errands. Hobbyists. FEH.
posted by turkeybrain at 12:19 PM on July 7, 2021
posted by turkeybrain at 12:19 PM on July 7, 2021
This thread is closed to new comments.
They are assholes, and you are in the right, sorry. I'll be interested if anyone has any actually helpful suggestions but I'd be calling them out to be civil, like "did you know this is my lane?' or 'please yield when going against traffic!'
... or something more snide, bc they are just throwing around entitlement to break the code of conduct because they can. Fuck that.
posted by SaltySalticid at 3:02 PM on July 5, 2021 [30 favorites]