Comments on: Bike paths and Dear Abby

By: Juan

Juan — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:44:08 +0000

I’m also an Incredibell advocate. When I used to race, “On your left” seemed pretty simple. I’ve found though that most pedestrians have no idea what I’m talking about, and like most of you here have said, move to the left when they hear me. Now I give a few rings before I get close, and most people look back, then move over. I always say hello or morning as I pass, and have had a lot of people say thank you as I go by. The bell also seems better at penetrating the iPod crowd….maybe it’s the pitch?

By: Jeff Moser

Jeff Moser — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:42:23 +0000

I've been using the Incredibell. It's stealth, and pretty loud for its size. And since most of my pedestrian encounters are out on the trail, I appreciate the fact that it doesn't ding until needed.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:34:40 +0000

Instead of buying a bell or saying “on your left” (to which I’ve noticed most pedestrians then move to their left-if they hear me) I’ve adopted the practice of mimicking a bell: “Ding Ding!”

The iPod’s gotta go, people really ought to unplug!

By: Nicole

Nicole — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:51:30 +0000

I’ll admit that when I’m on road rides I wear headphones/listen to music to keep me motivated. However, I’m very careful to make sure that it’s at a volume setting where I hear traffic first and the music second.

By: RainCityCyclist

RainCityCyclist — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:18:52 +0000

Paul– Try Bikely.com for routes/mileage/mapping your route.

I don’t use a bell. First,I think they’re corny. Second, I don’t want another item strapped to my bike, and third, the prevalence of headphones renders the bell mosty ineffective. I try to proactively look far enough ahead to identify the potential problems. I sue “on your left” which isn’t effective. People sometimes think they should MOVE to the left, or they look at me with disgust like “how dare you say that”. Funny…

Any other bikers out there ride with headphones on?

By: paul

paul — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:28:58 +0000

Can someone guide me to a website that gives the mileage from different points on the Erie canal pathway? Example: Elmgrove Rd. Roch. to Gillett Rd. Spencerport.

By: Paul in Minneapolis

Paul in Minneapolis — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:15:21 +0000

For me, most of the time, I sing paSSING on your left, or BEEP BEEP passing on your left. After passing a lot of walkers with headphones or what ever, most of them have seemed to hear without jumping. For others I just ride slowly until it’s safe to pass. I know how it feels to be terrorized by a big stinking car, so I do my best to not terrorize people who don’t have a vehicle as big as mine.

By: Jett

Jett — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:11:52 +0000

I’ve got a bike bell. Not only can it alert people you’re coming around them, but it greets people on the other side of the road as you pass, and can be a thank you for when a car yields the right of way. It’s also a fun multiplier when you pass a bunch of kids who watch you pass by.

Still, I usually greet people with Good Morning when I approach from behind (even sometimes in the afternoon, by mistake). A bell can sometimes sound like “get out of my way”, but “Good Morning” — even in late afternoon — never sounds like “get out of my way”.

I’m trying to figure out though a recent trend that just started with the new year. Pedestrians seem to be walking on the wrong side of this one stretch of MUP. When I approach one, I make my lane position clear, take a long look behind me to assure no one is coming around, sharply change lanes, say “Good Morning”, and then swing around them back to the proper lane.

By: Fritz

Fritz — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:05:28 +0000

MUP = “Multi Use Path.” Because there really aren’t any such things as “bike paths.” (well, they’re rare, anyway)

MUP means go slow and be wary.

By: pc

pc — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:02:26 +0000

I wasn’t at the meeting where the term “MUP” was adopted. Please define.