The Chainlink

Ms Manners, Cycling Edition

I know there have been some discussions around rider pet peeves and etiquette but wanted to get wisdom of the crowds on talking to fellow cyclists when they're in the wrong - or just plain rude.

Yesterday morning I was shoaled multiple times by a woman who whizzed in and out of traffic, running red lights, etc and a fellow rider yelled on the left as she approached. The woman yelled, huffed and sped up to try and out ride her, offended that she had yelled "on the left" to let her know she was passing. 

If you see someone on the road that is doing something to endanger others - or just doesn't understand the rules of the road how have you responded in the past? Embarrassingly I usually ignore and keep riding but feel some responsibility to make the city a better (biking) place.

Keep quiet and bike on or stop and talk?

p.s. Some of the worst shoalers on my ride home are not wearing helmets. SMH. 

 

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on August 24, 2017 at 11:18am

What is "shoaling"?

Permalink Reply by Kate Thoren on August 24, 2017 at 11:18am
Permalink Reply by Kate Thoren on August 24, 2017 at 11:24am

BTW if you were the female rider on Clybourn that took the high road, good on you! :)

Permalink Reply by David Barish on August 24, 2017 at 11:40am

shoaling can be annoying but  it is rarely  dangerous.  As such I  keep my mouth shut.  If I re pass somebody  many times I will say something like, "Well, hello again" or "We meet  again"  or "Gee,  I  haven't seen  you since the last  light" hoping  the sarcasm gets through. Most  of the time I mind my own  business.

Permalink Reply by Sharon Bautista on August 24, 2017 at 11:48am

Like you, I generally watch out for my own safety and keep my distance if I see another rider doing dangerous things. (I'm typically not riding where there are a lot of other riders.) If I think another rider is being really dangerous, I try to give other riders nearby a heads-up and just say something like, "Hey, watch out for that guy/gal. He/she is [whatever that person is doing]."

I've gotten negative/aggressive reactions to yelling "on your left" in particular, so I try extra hard to say that in the nicest, sing-songy, smiley way possible, like "Hello, I'm just passing on your left. Have a good day." I understand that being yelled at from behind and with a weird phrase like "on your left" can be a disconcerting experience for people who haven't been exposed to that etiquette before.

(I'm much less empathetic to people, particularly drivers, who are stupidly obstructing a bike lane I'm on.)

Permalink Reply by Kate Thoren on August 25, 2017 at 2:06pm
Agree on the sing songy approach! :)
Permalink Reply by David Henri on August 25, 2017 at 1:52pm

I usually don't say much, just watch the behavior, except when it comes to watching someone ride right alongside the parked cars, maybe only one foot away.  I have missed being doored by inches more than once this year.  I usually try and catch up to them and politely inform them that riding like that can get them killed.  So far I have been met with "thank you's".

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on August 25, 2017 at 1:57pm

Is there a certain speed below which you find this practice less objectionable? There are certain streets where I find it unnerving enough to be close to the moving cars that I will ride near the parked ones. But I keep my speed low at those times.

Permalink Reply by Kate Thoren on August 25, 2017 at 2:05pm
Good feedback - thanks for sharing!

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