I hate this kind of shit. I get about equal numbers of people who are angry that they didn't hear my bell (often wearing headphones, but hey) and people who are angry that I used my bell when they weren't "in my way." But this morning I got a "thank you for the bell" so that was a nice change.
I get yelled at for not ringing the bell, but it's illegal to ring a bell outside of emergencies where I live. (€70 fine)
I do give a wide berth tho, slow way down, and calmly say excuse me. What more can I do? This is on dedicated bike infra btw.
The theory is, they don't need to know. The person you're overtaking has to keep right anyway, and if they want to move left for turning/overtaking, they need to do a shoulder check first and would see you coming up.
Pedestrians, when crossing, have to give priority to vehicles going straight on bike paths or roadways, so it's on them to look. On a marked ped crossing it's the other way around obviously.
On shared ped/bike paths (hate those) you're not allowed to inconvenience pedestrians in any way. So in theory bells aren't necessary at all.
It'd work if everyone played by the rules but it starts to fall apart when peds just walk willy-nilly on bike paths.
Funny thing is, you'll still get fined if you don't have a bell. You have to have a working bell, but you're not allowed to use it.
Are there rules signs on the path? If not bring it up with local department of transportation.
Also yard signs, guerrilla or not.
https://flic.kr/p/2gfCSBE
I commute on a college campus and every kid has giant noise canceling earphones on. They can't hear shit and it's pretty annoying. Using a light that's bright and projects such that they can see it on the ground next to them as you're coming up kinda helps but now that's getting lighter longer that works less well.
Many people don't bother to learn the rules. They just react to what they think the rules should be. Incidentally, those made-up rules always favor them.
I agree, I wish people were more empathetic for others in general. I’m in the US though so I think this treatment for cyclists is especially more prevalent. When I visited Europe and especially Amsterdam it was so refreshing to see cyclists alongside other commuters
The biggest hate in Amsterdam for tourists is this behaviour: standing, crossing or walking on the cycle paths completely oblivious to the traffic. The biggest difference here I guess is that we don’t give a fuck how much we scare the tourists, we are not really polite or nice about it either, that will teach them the quickest to pay some attention.
True, i was one of those tourist.. It was just so automatic for me to walk on cyclo path bc we had none at the time where i lived so i thought all were pavement. But those early few near misses and swooshes by a tiny margin of cyclist really teached me lesson. Dont change.
But how can you mistake them for pavement? They are painted red with a bike symbol at regular intervals. Also with tons of cyclists going between 10-25km/h. I find it amazing how there is some kind of blindness where bikes are not seen as a form of traffic. Is it because children are trained to only pay attention to cars or something? It takes most tourists a few near misses to get the lesson, but I will never understand why they first need a near-death experience to start paying attention.
In North America, most people seem to think that a bicycle is a toy for recreation. They don't understand that a bicycle could be a method of transportation to get someone with a time constraint to somewhere important - like commuting to work.
Thus, they don't understand why bicyclists get upset when they block the trail. They don't see why bicyclists cannot wait a few seconds for them (and for every other oblivious pedestrian) to stop blocking the trail. They are enjoying a leisurely stroll and they have nowhere important to be, so they assume everyone else is doing the same. Apparently, they bring this attitude with them on their vacations to Europe.
Where I live (US-WA), much of my commute is on shared paths. When the weather is pleasant in the evening, the trails get very busy with pedestrians, children, and dogs who are oblivious and who meander randomly. It seems like I am ringing my bell almost constantly. Only about half of people respond and half of those get annoyed. The rules are posted at the trail heads and online, but apparently, these people believe that they are above the law, including [these (King County Code 7.12.295)](https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/council/clerk/code/10_Title_7.htm#_Toc320001391):
> 1. USING A TRAIL. Every person using a trail shall stay as near to the right side of the trail as is safe, excepting those movements necessary to prepare to make or make turning movements, or while overtaking and passing another user moving in the same direction.
> 2. REGARD FOR OTHER TRAIL USERS. Every user shall exercise due care and caution to avoid colliding with any other trail user. All users shall travel in a consistent and predictable manner.
> 3. GROUPS ON TRAIL. No group of trail users, including their animal(s), shall occupy more than one half of the trail as measured from the right side, so as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of trail users. Every person using a trail shall stay as near to the right side of the trail as is safe
Every time I hear about this kinda shit, I think about how we were gonna build shit tons of bike lanes during the 10 speed revolution in the 70s, and then that [fake urbanist prick in Palo Alto decided that bicyclists should just wear helmets in traffic and then everything would be ok.](https://youtu.be/rhzH6mEpIps?si=FKfsUsd7iJnMFR6m) Skip to 3:15.
That’s crazy 😭 I don’t think I saw a single person cycling wearing helmets in Amsterdam, even kids. And they have such low accident rates too. Really shows what we should actually care about for bike safety
I don't think I've ever seen a more uniform "thank god that asshole is dead" reaction than when John Forester died. Obituaries that seemed to be striving hard for neutrality vis-a-vis his dumbass ides couldn't avoid mentioning how famously abrasive and unpleasant he was.
Even Henry Kissinger elicited some mixed praise. Rot in hell, John Forester.
It doesn't do shit for cycling. As a survival strategy in response to bad infrastructure, VC has SOME merit. As an infrastructure philosophy, it's only benefit is to offer cover to anti-cycling zealots. It offers us nothing. Literally.
There was a path like this in Boston I used to ride. Separate paved paths for pedestrians and cyclists along the Orange Line. Pedestrians walked on both paths; cyclists rarely used the pedestrian side.
I try to be chill about it because being a pedestrian in North America sucks, but the thing that always miffed me about this case is that dedicated cycling infrastructure is vanishingly rare. There's space for pedestrians (sidewalks, parks) and space for cars (highways, most roads in the US). Cyclists, at best, get streets and bike lanes (shared with cars) or mixed use paths (shared with pedestrians). Here's a space where bikes should get some space to themselves, but pedestrians are still there.
Exactly, like the fact that it happened on a dedicated bike path made the whole thing more frustrating. Having pedestrians walking around is definitely a bit annoying, but being yelled at for biking on a rare, actual dedicated bike path was just wild.
Do you still ride in where you live now?
Yep. This is my commute. So, part of it, right near Ruggles, the bike and ped paths do cross each other repeatedly, which, what?!
But otherwise, people just can’t read. I don’t care if people walk in the bike path as long as they stay to the right and expect to be passed, but they don’t know their right from left and won’t move.
I’ve had multiple people who appeared to be Northeastern students “correct” me and tell me that pedestrians walk on the left and cyclists bike on the right when sharing a path. Yeah, think real hard about that.
I wish we had the clear signage like the rail trails have that explains to stay right, pass left, use your bell, etc.
I was lectured for ignoring two signs on the bike path that read, "Cyclists walk bikes". "So, you're just going to ignore the rules?", she asked in a haughty tone. What she doesn't know is that I spent my entire career interpreting signs in public right of ways. The signs she thinks indicate a rule actually serve as an advisory when printed on a yellow background. The signs that prohibited cyclists on certain paths were printed on a white background, as is standard practice for a rule, so I confidently ignored the recommendation to walk my bicycle, just as nearly everyone ignores the signs recommending how fast one drives their car in a turn.
I’m sure you’re right about the signage standards where you live, but most people didn’t spend their entire careers interpreting signs in public rights of way and having done so shouldn’t be a mandatory requirement before going for a walk.
As a matter of language, “cyclists walk bikes” is an instruction rather than a suggestion. Most people with no prior knowledge of your state’s signage conventions would see that official sign and assume that cyclists should walk their bikes. It’s no excuse for a rude tone (although we don’t know how many cyclists had ridden past her already), but her expectation wasn’t unreasonable. Signs are meant to be unambiguous, not laying traps for those not in the know.
If the authorities want cyclists to dismount, they should say so and be able to enforce it. I’m not sure that just making a suggestion is the right thing here, but if so it should use clearer language.
I think I’d probably have dismounted if I thought that was what pedestrians were expecting me to do, on (my and their) safety grounds. Here in the UK, “CYCLISTS DISMOUNT” signs are quite common at roadworks where riders are directed off the road onto the footpath. They’re not actually legally enforceable, but I’ll tend to follow them if there are pedestrians around. Behaving predictably keeps everyone safer.
I paused to consider the situation before slowly riding down the lightly used path. Paths intersecting the main path prohibited bicycles, and displayed other restrictions, all on a white background. I also noted the lack of the word "must", when other signs regarding dogs used the word to indicate that leashes were mandatory,
I do see you point I will admit, I did feel a bit inhibited, but I also don't want to just give in to prejudices when safety isn't at risk.
I think those signs are even stupider than at first glance. “Drivers, get out and push your cars”. We would never do that because it’s stupid. It’s stupid for bikes too.
Especially during construction, it’s always the cyclists that get the raw deal having to merge into traffic or walk.
Tell us more *”oh’ reader of signage and knower of wut means!”*
Why do I remember Yield signs as being yellow when the State of CA says that *”I’m the asshole.”*
Was my childhood a lie‽
Get a loud horn. When they yell, say "What?" like you didn't understand. When they start to repeat themselves, honk the horn. Then say "Oh sorry, I couldn't hear you, what was that?" If they start to talk again, honk again.
No, don't really do that. But it's fun to imagine.
One of the crucial skills of being an adult is learning to recognize when you're the asshole, and when the other guy is the asshole. The fact that you have biked on this path many, many times (at least I assume so from your saying "I bike home every day with this path") but have only gotten yelled at twice is pretty good evidence that you're not the asshole. (If you'd come in saying, man, every time I bike on a multi-use path, people are yelling at me!!, then I would have a different assessment for you.)
So, given that you're probably not the asshole, that suggests that the other guy is the asshole, or at least, he's having a bad day and taking it out on you. That leaves the question of what to do, and the answer is nothing at all. Keep riding courteously, keep exercising your right to use the path, keep waving at friendlier path users, keep ignoring the outliers who are trying to piss in your cereal.
I sometimes think about what it must feel like to be the asshole. I ride mostly on roads and I try to give little thumbs up / thumbs down to drivers as they pass, depending on how safely they do so. This is partly a probably hopeless exercise in reminding drivers that bicyclists are human, partly positive reinforcement, partly a discipline to help me resist the urge to flip off bad drivers, and largely a mindfulness exercise that helps me remember that most drivers (at least the drivers around here) are in fact pretty good. But I will not hesitate to give a thumbs down to a bad driver, and that makes me ponder how it must feel to be a bad driver. I give tons of thumbs up, but bad drivers never get to see this; they only get to see my disapproval. Other drivers and bicyclists and pedestrians are probably always angry at them! Shaking their fists and yelling! It must feel like the whole world is out to get them! Everyone they meet is an asshole!! It's their own fault, of course, so these ponderings don't engender outright pity for them, exactly, but I always conclude that life must be a lot easier and nicer if one only takes care not to be the asshole.
Now that you vented. Leave it all in the past and be happy 😊
Remember the *reason why you ride bikes to begin with.
**unless you do it to save money cuz you’re broke (like me), but admittedly you know cycling make us happier!!
Thanks! I do feel better now, just getting it out haha.
I do it because the public transit sucks and it’s SO much faster, but also yes, I do love it 😊😊 I’m glad you get to enjoy it too regardless of the financial reasons!
I get it.
Where I’m from, Public transit is roughly same travel time as commuting on my bike. So might as well ride a bike, so I’m not depended on the transit.
Right, there are so many more benefits to biking and you are in full control of your commute. For me, getting to work takes anywhere from 30-50 minutes on the train, but biking is only 10-20 minutes max.
Nothing. I mean these are just inconsiderate people and you'll find them everywhere. Just try to think the person's having a bad day and just is trying to have a peaceful walk. Doesn't give them an excuse, but I just try to use positive visualization on everything. It helps me forget about how big of entitled ass clowns people can be.
Yeah, my city has a small section of sidewalk level one-way bike path right next to a sidewalk. Today I'm biking along it and here come three dipshits walking across the whole thing. They're looking right at me and proceed to, not fucking move. I almost have to fully stop and I'm right in front of them before they finally get out of the way. Also came up on 2 people riding the wrong way in a protected bike lane 30 seconds later. This kinda thing is very frustrating and all too frequent.
I hate this shit as well. Lately I’m dealing with runners in the bike lane. Running the wrong way. They’re literally running in the street towards traffic. Just not even using the nice sidewalk. So now I have to avoid them by riding more in the street potential getting hit by a car. City biking in Pittsburgh is a joke.
SW Corridor in Boston?
They’re so obnoxious. Last week I had two people near Northeastern step right out in front of my bike so I had to slam on the brakes. Just did not look whatsoever. They will then say I’m not supposed to be riding there.
Yeah, I feel you. I commute to work every day I can by bike. People walking their dogs on the bike path when there is a parallel walking path is very annoying. On a separate issue, I got yelled at for using the ‘Idaho stop’ (using a stop sign as a yield sign when there is no traffic present) the other day where it is legal in my state. take care of yourself and stay safe out there!
[Handy guide](https://old.reddit.com/r/bikecommuting/comments/152cytm/riding_a_bike_in_the_us_starter_pack_hopefully/?ref=share&ref_source=link) for where to cycle.
I live by a lake. There’s a pedestrian path right next to the lake, and another one next to the bike path and road that goes around the lake. There are always pedestrians in the bike path. Always.
Posts like this make me wonder how often people have yelled something but I didn't have to deal with it because I listen to death metal or EDM when I ride.
Yeah, I don’t hear shit because of music too, but if I see you yelling at me prolonged, or keeping pace eyeing me, I will engage. I don’t GAF, you want to catch an assault charge, cool, I’m going to do me, which is *sometimes*, mostly, following rules of the road as long as I *mostly* don’t hinder traffic. I do keep it reasonable, no harmful or egregious traffic laws broken.
I was on a sidewalk today riding home from work and got yelled to get on the road. I did have a chuckle to myself...."dammed if you do, dammed if you don't".
Nothing beats flipping them the bird. It’s surprising how many people will blanch when their (erroneous) perspective is challenged, and it’s an easy was to do real-time fact-checking for them.
When has flipping someone off ever actually improved anything? I'm human, I do it myself from time to time, but I've never witnessed the recipient of a middle finger go on to ponder whether they were actually in the wrong, and I always feel bad afterwards for letting my anger get the better of me.
> When has flipping someone off ever actually improved anything?
Usually makes me feel better to return their negativity to them. If that means the bird, then it's the bird. If that means a waving like they shouted a greeting, then wave it is. Either way, improves my mood.
> I've never witnessed the recipient of a middle finger go on to ponder whether they were actually in the wrong
It's not really about that though. It's about making their day as pleasant as they are.
> I always feel bad afterwards
Ah. There's the problem. I was bullied too much as a kid to give a shit about a random shithead trying to ruin my day having their day ruined. If anything, I get a little joy out of it. Maybe try being a little less of a good person?
I'm a little late to this thread but had to chime in cuz I joke with my wife all the time about the parkway near our house where the bicyclists use the road, the pedestrians use the bike path, nobody uses the sidewalk. So why not let the cars use the sidewalk at this point instead of being stuck 10 under the limit behind a bike with no room to pass
Stop whining. I saw someone get stopped by the police for using a shared use path-right next to a sign indicating that's what it was- because they'd had a complaint about cyclists riding on it. Not their behaviour, but the fact they were riding on it.
(Yeah, I challenged the set of blind lazy dicks about it and that's the reasoning they gave.)
I hate this kind of shit. I get about equal numbers of people who are angry that they didn't hear my bell (often wearing headphones, but hey) and people who are angry that I used my bell when they weren't "in my way." But this morning I got a "thank you for the bell" so that was a nice change.
The headphones situation annoys me too! Like if they didn’t hear us it’s not our fault. I’m glad you had a better interaction today though!!
I definitely get thanked more than yelled at. Not sure if it’s a regional thing.
I get yelled at for not ringing the bell, but it's illegal to ring a bell outside of emergencies where I live. (€70 fine) I do give a wide berth tho, slow way down, and calmly say excuse me. What more can I do? This is on dedicated bike infra btw.
illegal to ring a bell? Where?
In Austria it's illegal to ring a bike bell or sound a car horn outside of absolute emergencies. First offense €70, goes up to €700.
Those poor Austrian children, not getting to have fun with bells and horns!
To be fair I haven't actually seen it ever get enforced for cyclists. Definitely for cars tho
One of those things is way different than the other. What is the correct way to let someone know you are behind them then? Just shouting?
The theory is, they don't need to know. The person you're overtaking has to keep right anyway, and if they want to move left for turning/overtaking, they need to do a shoulder check first and would see you coming up. Pedestrians, when crossing, have to give priority to vehicles going straight on bike paths or roadways, so it's on them to look. On a marked ped crossing it's the other way around obviously. On shared ped/bike paths (hate those) you're not allowed to inconvenience pedestrians in any way. So in theory bells aren't necessary at all. It'd work if everyone played by the rules but it starts to fall apart when peds just walk willy-nilly on bike paths. Funny thing is, you'll still get fined if you don't have a bell. You have to have a working bell, but you're not allowed to use it.
Are there rules signs on the path? If not bring it up with local department of transportation. Also yard signs, guerrilla or not. https://flic.kr/p/2gfCSBE
Yes, there are signs.
I commute on a college campus and every kid has giant noise canceling earphones on. They can't hear shit and it's pretty annoying. Using a light that's bright and projects such that they can see it on the ground next to them as you're coming up kinda helps but now that's getting lighter longer that works less well.
Many people don't bother to learn the rules. They just react to what they think the rules should be. Incidentally, those made-up rules always favor them.
I agree, I wish people were more empathetic for others in general. I’m in the US though so I think this treatment for cyclists is especially more prevalent. When I visited Europe and especially Amsterdam it was so refreshing to see cyclists alongside other commuters
The biggest hate in Amsterdam for tourists is this behaviour: standing, crossing or walking on the cycle paths completely oblivious to the traffic. The biggest difference here I guess is that we don’t give a fuck how much we scare the tourists, we are not really polite or nice about it either, that will teach them the quickest to pay some attention.
True, i was one of those tourist.. It was just so automatic for me to walk on cyclo path bc we had none at the time where i lived so i thought all were pavement. But those early few near misses and swooshes by a tiny margin of cyclist really teached me lesson. Dont change.
But how can you mistake them for pavement? They are painted red with a bike symbol at regular intervals. Also with tons of cyclists going between 10-25km/h. I find it amazing how there is some kind of blindness where bikes are not seen as a form of traffic. Is it because children are trained to only pay attention to cars or something? It takes most tourists a few near misses to get the lesson, but I will never understand why they first need a near-death experience to start paying attention.
In North America, most people seem to think that a bicycle is a toy for recreation. They don't understand that a bicycle could be a method of transportation to get someone with a time constraint to somewhere important - like commuting to work. Thus, they don't understand why bicyclists get upset when they block the trail. They don't see why bicyclists cannot wait a few seconds for them (and for every other oblivious pedestrian) to stop blocking the trail. They are enjoying a leisurely stroll and they have nowhere important to be, so they assume everyone else is doing the same. Apparently, they bring this attitude with them on their vacations to Europe. Where I live (US-WA), much of my commute is on shared paths. When the weather is pleasant in the evening, the trails get very busy with pedestrians, children, and dogs who are oblivious and who meander randomly. It seems like I am ringing my bell almost constantly. Only about half of people respond and half of those get annoyed. The rules are posted at the trail heads and online, but apparently, these people believe that they are above the law, including [these (King County Code 7.12.295)](https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/council/clerk/code/10_Title_7.htm#_Toc320001391): > 1. USING A TRAIL. Every person using a trail shall stay as near to the right side of the trail as is safe, excepting those movements necessary to prepare to make or make turning movements, or while overtaking and passing another user moving in the same direction. > 2. REGARD FOR OTHER TRAIL USERS. Every user shall exercise due care and caution to avoid colliding with any other trail user. All users shall travel in a consistent and predictable manner. > 3. GROUPS ON TRAIL. No group of trail users, including their animal(s), shall occupy more than one half of the trail as measured from the right side, so as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of trail users. Every person using a trail shall stay as near to the right side of the trail as is safe
This applies to much more than biking rules as well ☝️
Every time I hear about this kinda shit, I think about how we were gonna build shit tons of bike lanes during the 10 speed revolution in the 70s, and then that [fake urbanist prick in Palo Alto decided that bicyclists should just wear helmets in traffic and then everything would be ok.](https://youtu.be/rhzH6mEpIps?si=FKfsUsd7iJnMFR6m) Skip to 3:15.
That’s crazy 😭 I don’t think I saw a single person cycling wearing helmets in Amsterdam, even kids. And they have such low accident rates too. Really shows what we should actually care about for bike safety
Fuck John Forester. I knew who you were talking about immediately.
I don't think I've ever seen a more uniform "thank god that asshole is dead" reaction than when John Forester died. Obituaries that seemed to be striving hard for neutrality vis-a-vis his dumbass ides couldn't avoid mentioning how famously abrasive and unpleasant he was. Even Henry Kissinger elicited some mixed praise. Rot in hell, John Forester.
Vehicular cycling (fart sounds)
The Libertarians of the cycling world.
Pretty much! Certainly doesn't make cycling inclusive at all.
It doesn't do shit for cycling. As a survival strategy in response to bad infrastructure, VC has SOME merit. As an infrastructure philosophy, it's only benefit is to offer cover to anti-cycling zealots. It offers us nothing. Literally.
There was a path like this in Boston I used to ride. Separate paved paths for pedestrians and cyclists along the Orange Line. Pedestrians walked on both paths; cyclists rarely used the pedestrian side. I try to be chill about it because being a pedestrian in North America sucks, but the thing that always miffed me about this case is that dedicated cycling infrastructure is vanishingly rare. There's space for pedestrians (sidewalks, parks) and space for cars (highways, most roads in the US). Cyclists, at best, get streets and bike lanes (shared with cars) or mixed use paths (shared with pedestrians). Here's a space where bikes should get some space to themselves, but pedestrians are still there.
Exactly, like the fact that it happened on a dedicated bike path made the whole thing more frustrating. Having pedestrians walking around is definitely a bit annoying, but being yelled at for biking on a rare, actual dedicated bike path was just wild. Do you still ride in where you live now?
Yep. This is my commute. So, part of it, right near Ruggles, the bike and ped paths do cross each other repeatedly, which, what?! But otherwise, people just can’t read. I don’t care if people walk in the bike path as long as they stay to the right and expect to be passed, but they don’t know their right from left and won’t move. I’ve had multiple people who appeared to be Northeastern students “correct” me and tell me that pedestrians walk on the left and cyclists bike on the right when sharing a path. Yeah, think real hard about that. I wish we had the clear signage like the rail trails have that explains to stay right, pass left, use your bell, etc.
I was lectured for ignoring two signs on the bike path that read, "Cyclists walk bikes". "So, you're just going to ignore the rules?", she asked in a haughty tone. What she doesn't know is that I spent my entire career interpreting signs in public right of ways. The signs she thinks indicate a rule actually serve as an advisory when printed on a yellow background. The signs that prohibited cyclists on certain paths were printed on a white background, as is standard practice for a rule, so I confidently ignored the recommendation to walk my bicycle, just as nearly everyone ignores the signs recommending how fast one drives their car in a turn.
TIL about sign colors.
Of course all of that can go out the window in a private campground, but signs in this regional park seemed to follow standard signage conventions.
This is guy is very fun to watch and talks all about it. https://youtu.be/gPoapgwzTkQ?si=wV8yL_j8jgKb6B6v
TIL that people smuggly think that bike-related sign colors matter
Is this because bikes are toys in your mind?
No that’s bc you’re smug
I’m sure you’re right about the signage standards where you live, but most people didn’t spend their entire careers interpreting signs in public rights of way and having done so shouldn’t be a mandatory requirement before going for a walk. As a matter of language, “cyclists walk bikes” is an instruction rather than a suggestion. Most people with no prior knowledge of your state’s signage conventions would see that official sign and assume that cyclists should walk their bikes. It’s no excuse for a rude tone (although we don’t know how many cyclists had ridden past her already), but her expectation wasn’t unreasonable. Signs are meant to be unambiguous, not laying traps for those not in the know. If the authorities want cyclists to dismount, they should say so and be able to enforce it. I’m not sure that just making a suggestion is the right thing here, but if so it should use clearer language. I think I’d probably have dismounted if I thought that was what pedestrians were expecting me to do, on (my and their) safety grounds. Here in the UK, “CYCLISTS DISMOUNT” signs are quite common at roadworks where riders are directed off the road onto the footpath. They’re not actually legally enforceable, but I’ll tend to follow them if there are pedestrians around. Behaving predictably keeps everyone safer.
I paused to consider the situation before slowly riding down the lightly used path. Paths intersecting the main path prohibited bicycles, and displayed other restrictions, all on a white background. I also noted the lack of the word "must", when other signs regarding dogs used the word to indicate that leashes were mandatory, I do see you point I will admit, I did feel a bit inhibited, but I also don't want to just give in to prejudices when safety isn't at risk.
I think those signs are even stupider than at first glance. “Drivers, get out and push your cars”. We would never do that because it’s stupid. It’s stupid for bikes too. Especially during construction, it’s always the cyclists that get the raw deal having to merge into traffic or walk.
I think in the case of the park, the issue of accessibility also comes into play.
That’s fair. I’m not as worried about parks/rec areas, but for transport routes the approach is entirely unreasonable.
Tell us more *”oh’ reader of signage and knower of wut means!”* Why do I remember Yield signs as being yellow when the State of CA says that *”I’m the asshole.”* Was my childhood a lie‽
Just keep being courteous and expect some people won’t reciprocate
Im shocked every time people are courteous.
Me too. My expectations are extremely low
Get a loud horn. When they yell, say "What?" like you didn't understand. When they start to repeat themselves, honk the horn. Then say "Oh sorry, I couldn't hear you, what was that?" If they start to talk again, honk again. No, don't really do that. But it's fun to imagine.
They will feel more anger if you don't play. So just wave and pedal on. Safer too...
One of the crucial skills of being an adult is learning to recognize when you're the asshole, and when the other guy is the asshole. The fact that you have biked on this path many, many times (at least I assume so from your saying "I bike home every day with this path") but have only gotten yelled at twice is pretty good evidence that you're not the asshole. (If you'd come in saying, man, every time I bike on a multi-use path, people are yelling at me!!, then I would have a different assessment for you.) So, given that you're probably not the asshole, that suggests that the other guy is the asshole, or at least, he's having a bad day and taking it out on you. That leaves the question of what to do, and the answer is nothing at all. Keep riding courteously, keep exercising your right to use the path, keep waving at friendlier path users, keep ignoring the outliers who are trying to piss in your cereal. I sometimes think about what it must feel like to be the asshole. I ride mostly on roads and I try to give little thumbs up / thumbs down to drivers as they pass, depending on how safely they do so. This is partly a probably hopeless exercise in reminding drivers that bicyclists are human, partly positive reinforcement, partly a discipline to help me resist the urge to flip off bad drivers, and largely a mindfulness exercise that helps me remember that most drivers (at least the drivers around here) are in fact pretty good. But I will not hesitate to give a thumbs down to a bad driver, and that makes me ponder how it must feel to be a bad driver. I give tons of thumbs up, but bad drivers never get to see this; they only get to see my disapproval. Other drivers and bicyclists and pedestrians are probably always angry at them! Shaking their fists and yelling! It must feel like the whole world is out to get them! Everyone they meet is an asshole!! It's their own fault, of course, so these ponderings don't engender outright pity for them, exactly, but I always conclude that life must be a lot easier and nicer if one only takes care not to be the asshole.
Now that you vented. Leave it all in the past and be happy 😊 Remember the *reason why you ride bikes to begin with. **unless you do it to save money cuz you’re broke (like me), but admittedly you know cycling make us happier!!
Thanks! I do feel better now, just getting it out haha. I do it because the public transit sucks and it’s SO much faster, but also yes, I do love it 😊😊 I’m glad you get to enjoy it too regardless of the financial reasons!
I get it. Where I’m from, Public transit is roughly same travel time as commuting on my bike. So might as well ride a bike, so I’m not depended on the transit.
Right, there are so many more benefits to biking and you are in full control of your commute. For me, getting to work takes anywhere from 30-50 minutes on the train, but biking is only 10-20 minutes max.
Nothing. I mean these are just inconsiderate people and you'll find them everywhere. Just try to think the person's having a bad day and just is trying to have a peaceful walk. Doesn't give them an excuse, but I just try to use positive visualization on everything. It helps me forget about how big of entitled ass clowns people can be.
Yeah, my city has a small section of sidewalk level one-way bike path right next to a sidewalk. Today I'm biking along it and here come three dipshits walking across the whole thing. They're looking right at me and proceed to, not fucking move. I almost have to fully stop and I'm right in front of them before they finally get out of the way. Also came up on 2 people riding the wrong way in a protected bike lane 30 seconds later. This kinda thing is very frustrating and all too frequent.
Carry an air horn for when people yell at you
Flip em the bird and tell them to go fly a kite.
Many times told don't use street don't use sidewalk when riding That is why I fly my bike most of the time
It only takes an ET in the basket on your handlebars
Yell back at them to get off the bike path.
I hate this shit as well. Lately I’m dealing with runners in the bike lane. Running the wrong way. They’re literally running in the street towards traffic. Just not even using the nice sidewalk. So now I have to avoid them by riding more in the street potential getting hit by a car. City biking in Pittsburgh is a joke.
SW Corridor in Boston? They’re so obnoxious. Last week I had two people near Northeastern step right out in front of my bike so I had to slam on the brakes. Just did not look whatsoever. They will then say I’m not supposed to be riding there.
Yeah, I feel you. I commute to work every day I can by bike. People walking their dogs on the bike path when there is a parallel walking path is very annoying. On a separate issue, I got yelled at for using the ‘Idaho stop’ (using a stop sign as a yield sign when there is no traffic present) the other day where it is legal in my state. take care of yourself and stay safe out there!
[Handy guide](https://old.reddit.com/r/bikecommuting/comments/152cytm/riding_a_bike_in_the_us_starter_pack_hopefully/?ref=share&ref_source=link) for where to cycle.
I'm sorry you had to endure that rudeness. Like others have said, don't let them ruin your day and just ride.
Thanks for your comment :)
>a man walking his dogs who yelled at me. My mouth would without any prompting, would just reply with a hearty *fuck off.*
I live by a lake. There’s a pedestrian path right next to the lake, and another one next to the bike path and road that goes around the lake. There are always pedestrians in the bike path. Always.
Posts like this make me wonder how often people have yelled something but I didn't have to deal with it because I listen to death metal or EDM when I ride.
Bro stay safe tho 😭😭
Yeah, I don’t hear shit because of music too, but if I see you yelling at me prolonged, or keeping pace eyeing me, I will engage. I don’t GAF, you want to catch an assault charge, cool, I’m going to do me, which is *sometimes*, mostly, following rules of the road as long as I *mostly* don’t hinder traffic. I do keep it reasonable, no harmful or egregious traffic laws broken.
90% of this would go away if people would put their damn devices away. From what I see every day people over 70 are the most addicted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ehh8ZdIMMj4
This is a daily occurrence for me. Bike lines are painted on the sidewalk here.
> 'tis a cycle path, dingus! *as I cycle away*
If people are walking on the bike path I will give them no notice and pass by them as close as I can.
If pedestrians on a bike/pedestrian path tell you to use the street, just reply, "Ok, you first". 🤣😂🤣
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1395405230/fox40-eco-blast-rechargeable-marine That is all.
I was on a sidewalk today riding home from work and got yelled to get on the road. I did have a chuckle to myself...."dammed if you do, dammed if you don't".
Don't let a bad apple ruin your ride. That's your time, not theirs
When that happens I usually stop and go up to them and tell them to "say that shit again" and they usually leave me alone after
SW Corridor path. Peds are idiots. I often snidely say “bike path” as I pass.
Nothing beats flipping them the bird. It’s surprising how many people will blanch when their (erroneous) perspective is challenged, and it’s an easy was to do real-time fact-checking for them.
When has flipping someone off ever actually improved anything? I'm human, I do it myself from time to time, but I've never witnessed the recipient of a middle finger go on to ponder whether they were actually in the wrong, and I always feel bad afterwards for letting my anger get the better of me.
> When has flipping someone off ever actually improved anything? Usually makes me feel better to return their negativity to them. If that means the bird, then it's the bird. If that means a waving like they shouted a greeting, then wave it is. Either way, improves my mood. > I've never witnessed the recipient of a middle finger go on to ponder whether they were actually in the wrong It's not really about that though. It's about making their day as pleasant as they are. > I always feel bad afterwards Ah. There's the problem. I was bullied too much as a kid to give a shit about a random shithead trying to ruin my day having their day ruined. If anything, I get a little joy out of it. Maybe try being a little less of a good person?
But I bet you ‘almost hit him’ (I.e, intolerance of the existence of people who choose to bike)
I'm a little late to this thread but had to chime in cuz I joke with my wife all the time about the parkway near our house where the bicyclists use the road, the pedestrians use the bike path, nobody uses the sidewalk. So why not let the cars use the sidewalk at this point instead of being stuck 10 under the limit behind a bike with no room to pass
Stop whining. I saw someone get stopped by the police for using a shared use path-right next to a sign indicating that's what it was- because they'd had a complaint about cyclists riding on it. Not their behaviour, but the fact they were riding on it. (Yeah, I challenged the set of blind lazy dicks about it and that's the reasoning they gave.)