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• Trail: Slow down, "excuse me!"
• Sidewalk: Slow down, Passing, "excuse me!"

I've never understood where the "on your left" concept came from. I'm an experienced cyclist, but in situations where I'm walking or jogging and a cyclist shouts that behind me, I *still* have the first instinctive reaction to move to my left. It's just an inherently confusing comment. I prefer "Excuse me" as being the most polite.

I also don't like the tone of an imperative command. Pedestrians, even slow-as-molasses pedestrians, have the right to be on a multi-use trail. I'd personally advocate for a 15-mph speed limit for cyclists on multi-use trails, and they should be required to slow down when passing. If you find that too annoying because you are a really fast cyclist who thinks nothing of completing centuries at an 18-mph pace ... well you shouldn't be on a multi-use trail in the first place.

This goes double for sidewalks. I actually think the bias against riding on sidewalks is overblown, I see nothing wrong with riding on a sidewalk *IF* you ride real slow, yield to pedestrians, and are prepared to dismount at a moment's notice.

by Marc on Jun 12, 2012 10:04 am • link • report