Passing or Not Passing Cyclists

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the road is that dangerous that you don’t feel comfortable passing them, people shouldn’t be cycling on it. Pure entitlement and selfishness.

I have finally realized that narcissism is a prerequisite for being a biker in this area. The type that dress like they are lance armstrong and then go 20 MPH on beach drive. Just plain old narcissism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the road is that dangerous that you don’t feel comfortable passing them, people shouldn’t be cycling on it. Pure entitlement and selfishness.

I have finally realized that narcissism is a prerequisite for being a biker in this area. The type that dress like they are lance armstrong and then go 20 MPH on beach drive. Just plain old narcissism.

Agreed. Anti-biker sentiments are strong in my family and everyone has 10 stories to add of awful bikers. There's a handful of decent ones (you can usually spot them by their absence of Lance Armstrong gear) but narcissism is generally a prerequisite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the road is that dangerous that you don’t feel comfortable passing them, people shouldn’t be cycling on it. Pure entitlement and selfishness.

I have finally realized that narcissism is a prerequisite for being a biker in this area. The type that dress like they are lance armstrong and then go 20 MPH on beach drive. Just plain old narcissism.

Agreed. Anti-biker sentiments are strong in my family and everyone has 10 stories to add of awful bikers. There's a handful of decent ones (you can usually spot them by their absence of Lance Armstrong gear) but narcissism is generally a prerequisite.

Huge fan of the bikers that get dressed up to pedal 10 mph on Glebe in rush hour traffic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't pass cyclists unless I have plenty of room. IMO that's your call as the driver and the cyclist can wave all they want.

As a driver, sharing the road with cyclists is a huge PITA but I understand they have a right to be there and I'm going to do it however I need to to be really confident I won't hurt them. There's no obligation to pass quickly if you feel it's unsafe. I'm constantly shocked by how closely people pass cyclists.

This is how I feel too. I'm not going to pass you in a way that I think is dangerous for you even if it's legal and you want me to do it. You're not the one who has to live with it if I run you over and kill you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just chiming in to say I hate the bikers on Beach and I scream at them (with my windows closed) to use the trail. Anyone saying the bike trail (that is RIGHT there) is unsuitable for bikes is ridiculous. It is much safer for them to ride on the trail. There is a lot of hubris that they must ignore the trail and ride on the road where passing is stressful and not passing is maddening.

Here’s the deal - I LIVE on the trail. It’s literally in my back yard. I also ride a bike - in my neighborhood and on the trail, but not on Beach when it’s open to cars. So I definitely speak from experience on this, certainly more so than most of you here.

The trail is NOT suitable for the kind of cycling most of these spandex clad idiots want to do. There’s too many people (like me) walking their dogs, pushing strollers, walking, jogging, or (like me) slowly riding a slow mountain bike. The trail is only about 8 feet wide. It’s too narrow to allow them to pass at the speeds they want to ride. It’s also very bumpy and very slippery in some places, so riding fast on the trail is not only uncomfortable but it will probably result in a crash on a slippery spot.

For these cyclists, who want to ride fast (for a bike “fast”) you can’t do it on that trail. It’s basically impossible.


And yes, I hate them too, even though I own a bike myself.

[Anonymous]

I am cyclist. They are not annoyed. They worry that you are. So if they signal you to pass and you don’t, in a way, they’d feel a bit better cause they gave you a chance to pass. They’ll probably try to give you other chances, not cause they’re annoyed with you, but when they see an opening.

Keep in mind, many cyclists are also drivers, so feel the pain on both sides.

As a driver, I also wouldn’t trust some random cyclist unless I was confident I could clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am cyclist. They are not annoyed. They worry that you are. So if they signal you to pass and you don’t, in a way, they’d feel a bit better cause they gave you a chance to pass. They’ll probably try to give you other chances, not cause they’re annoyed with you, but when they see an opening.

Keep in mind, many cyclists are also drivers, so feel the pain on both sides.

As a driver, I also wouldn’t trust some random cyclist unless I was confident I could clear.

So, the idea of maybe pulling over for a minute and letting the line of slow traffic that has accumulated behind you go around you just never even materialized, huh?


Of course it didn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s hilarious - you think cyclists are gonna do ANYTHING that doesn’t suit them, lolz!

I thought I was missing something; based on the comments - it sure looks like cyclists don't give a cr*p about anyone or anything else but rely on the kindness of others. They also like to play victim when they can.

I do like mountain bike culture they seem to help, show courtesy, and keep peace with everything around them.

I’m a mountain biker who also road rides some and you’re not far from the truth. I think there are a large proportion of road riders who are safe and follow rules, but there are also a significant portion that don’t. A significant portion of drivers don’t follow the rules either to be fair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am cyclist. They are not annoyed. They worry that you are. So if they signal you to pass and you don’t, in a way, they’d feel a bit better cause they gave you a chance to pass. They’ll probably try to give you other chances, not cause they’re annoyed with you, but when they see an opening.

Keep in mind, many cyclists are also drivers, so feel the pain on both sides.

As a driver, I also wouldn’t trust some random cyclist unless I was confident I could clear.

This is helpful, thanks. I'd like to say thanks but no thanks! would rather be safe then sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't pass cyclists unless I have plenty of room. IMO that's your call as the driver and the cyclist can wave all they want.

As a driver, sharing the road with cyclists is a huge PITA but I understand they have a right to be there and I'm going to do it however I need to to be really confident I won't hurt them. There's no obligation to pass quickly if you feel it's unsafe. I'm constantly shocked by how closely people pass cyclists.

This is how I feel too. I'm not going to pass you in a way that I think is dangerous for you even if it's legal and you want me to do it. You're not the one who has to live with it if I run you over and kill you!

I think if the cyclist says you should go ahead, and it's safe for YOU, the driver, you shouldn't worry about whether it's safe for the cyclist. (And I say this as someone who commutes by bike far more often than I commute by car, though never on Beach.) You probably won't run them over and kill them, but if you did, the consequences for them would be worse anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am cyclist. They are not annoyed. They worry that you are. So if they signal you to pass and you don’t, in a way, they’d feel a bit better cause they gave you a chance to pass. They’ll probably try to give you other chances, not cause they’re annoyed with you, but when they see an opening.

Keep in mind, many cyclists are also drivers, so feel the pain on both sides.

As a driver, I also wouldn’t trust some random cyclist unless I was confident I could clear.

So, the idea of maybe pulling over for a minute and letting the line of slow traffic that has accumulated behind you go around you just never even materialized, huh?


Of course it didn’t.

DP -- I pull over behind parked cars when I'm on my bike if a car has been behind me without passing, and I see plenty of other cyclists doing the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am cyclist. They are not annoyed. They worry that you are. So if they signal you to pass and you don’t, in a way, they’d feel a bit better cause they gave you a chance to pass. They’ll probably try to give you other chances, not cause they’re annoyed with you, but when they see an opening.

Keep in mind, many cyclists are also drivers, so feel the pain on both sides.

As a driver, I also wouldn’t trust some random cyclist unless I was confident I could clear.

So, the idea of maybe pulling over for a minute and letting the line of slow traffic that has accumulated behind you go around you just never even materialized, huh?


Of course it didn’t.

DP -- I pull over behind parked cars when I'm on my bike if a car has been behind me without passing, and I see plenty of other cyclists doing the same.

I drive every day I have never once seen a cyclist do this. Anyone else care to chime in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am cyclist. They are not annoyed. They worry that you are. So if they signal you to pass and you don’t, in a way, they’d feel a bit better cause they gave you a chance to pass. They’ll probably try to give you other chances, not cause they’re annoyed with you, but when they see an opening.

Keep in mind, many cyclists are also drivers, so feel the pain on both sides.

As a driver, I also wouldn’t trust some random cyclist unless I was confident I could clear.

So, the idea of maybe pulling over for a minute and letting the line of slow traffic that has accumulated behind you go around you just never even materialized, huh?


Of course it didn’t.

DP -- I pull over behind parked cars when I'm on my bike if a car has been behind me without passing, and I see plenty of other cyclists doing the same.

I drive every day I have never once seen a cyclist do this. Anyone else care to chime in?

I've never seen this either. Rather, the exact opposite. Many insist on riding during rush hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am cyclist. They are not annoyed. They worry that you are. So if they signal you to pass and you don’t, in a way, they’d feel a bit better cause they gave you a chance to pass. They’ll probably try to give you other chances, not cause they’re annoyed with you, but when they see an opening.

Keep in mind, many cyclists are also drivers, so feel the pain on both sides.

As a driver, I also wouldn’t trust some random cyclist unless I was confident I could clear.

So, the idea of maybe pulling over for a minute and letting the line of slow traffic that has accumulated behind you go around you just never even materialized, huh?


Of course it didn’t.

DP -- I pull over behind parked cars when I'm on my bike if a car has been behind me without passing, and I see plenty of other cyclists doing the same.

I drive every day I have never once seen a cyclist do this. Anyone else care to chime in?

I've never seen this either. Rather, the exact opposite. Many insist on riding during rush hour.

Yes, cyclists insist on riding during rush hour because they’re commuting to or from work, the same reason so many drivers insist on driving during rush hour. But it’s still possible to swerve into the space behind a parked car and let a car go by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am cyclist. They are not annoyed. They worry that you are. So if they signal you to pass and you don’t, in a way, they’d feel a bit better cause they gave you a chance to pass. They’ll probably try to give you other chances, not cause they’re annoyed with you, but when they see an opening.

Keep in mind, many cyclists are also drivers, so feel the pain on both sides.

As a driver, I also wouldn’t trust some random cyclist unless I was confident I could clear.

So, the idea of maybe pulling over for a minute and letting the line of slow traffic that has accumulated behind you go around you just never even materialized, huh?


Of course it didn’t.

DP -- I pull over behind parked cars when I'm on my bike if a car has been behind me without passing, and I see plenty of other cyclists doing the same.

I drive every day I have never once seen a cyclist do this. Anyone else care to chime in?

I've never seen this either. Rather, the exact opposite. Many insist on riding during rush hour.

Yes, cyclists insist on riding during rush hour because they’re commuting to or from work, the same reason so many drivers insist on driving during rush hour. But it’s still possible to swerve into the space behind a parked car and let a car go by.

Every single day on Glebe I pass cyclists in rush hour who are not commuting. They’ve either gone or home or started at home, changed into their race attire, and then ride around at a fraction of the speed of traffic.