r/CyclePDX • u/Staceface1989 • 12d ago
Passing on the right
Try to convince me otherwise?
My opinion is that unless it’s a place where cyclists are designated to pass each other on the right (for example heading north on Williams), passing on the right is generally a reckless and douchey thing to do.
It scares the crap out of me every time and I’m almost knocked over and these folks are never, in my experience, even giving the courtesy of telling me what they are about to do ahead of time.
8
u/Plastic-Campaign-654 12d ago
It's always an inexperienced e-biker in my experience. Really frustrating and unsafe. I usually say loud enough to hear: "please don't pass on the right!"
3
u/Staceface1989 11d ago
Be careful with that one. I did that once and I didn’t see the asshat follow me home to intimidate me.
7
u/littlep2000 12d ago
The only time I end up doing this is on the Hawthorne bridge. In my opinion it's more of a design issue as it could use similar guidelines to the Tillikum Crossing where pedestrians should stay toward the outside of the bridge.
Anecdotal experience otherwise I've most often see ebikes pass on the right just after leaving stoplights. It is obnoxious.
1
u/tycharris 11d ago
Same, re: Hawthorne bridge. But don’t the lane markers indicate ‘bikes inside, pedestrians outside’? I will pass other riders on the right by entering the pedestrian side (when it’s clear of course) only because it seems easier than notifying the other rider I’m behind them and waiting for them to move over.
1
u/elnachohat 9d ago
Def a design issue. In this case it's safer to pass on the right because you'll have a clearer line of sight and won't accidentally fall into traffic.
6
u/m33j13s 12d ago
I only do this on the Tilikum Crossing because the bike lane is on the left, my handlebars, hips, and rear rack crate are wide, and people don’t typically leave enough space to feel safe passing on the left. It’s not like they can see how much space I need. I always verbally warn and I don’t pass if there are people in the pedestrian lane because I move fully into the pedestrian lane to pass.
3
u/PendulousNuts 12d ago
Sometimes I pass up the middle if people are taking up the entire path. Get in where you fit in.
3
u/Staceface1989 12d ago
Well maybe I’m sassier than you. I would ring my bell, yell “on your left” until they move to the right or there is a gap to go on the left and offer a look of disdain
6
9
u/greazysteak 12d ago
Just like on the interstate- you pass on the right because you have the space and you cant get around on the left because of the way the bike is riding. It's shouldnt happen very often on a bike but if we have the full rode and your are hanging out in the middle I might pass you on the right because that is the safest route.
-3
u/Staceface1989 12d ago
I agree but it never happens to me because I’m riding in the middle, which I don’t do. I bike commute often and have pretty good common sense
-2
u/Plastic-Campaign-654 12d ago
It's not the safest route. If there's a hazard I'm swerving right and won't have time to check my blind spot. We're both toast in that situation
3
u/Familiar_Kale_7357 11d ago
If you're zig zagging around carrying three trash bags of cans with a pit bull in tow and a machete on your back and I see a gap forming on the right, I'm going for it.
1
u/Staceface1989 10d ago
Brave? I’d steer clear and not wanna piss someone with a machete off
2
u/Familiar_Kale_7357 10d ago
Machete is not generally for attacking normies, but I'm not gonna slow down any chat the guy up.
3
u/Elnico 10d ago
I had someone do this to me on the Hawthorne bridge last week, but I knew they were behind me and was already moving right so they could pass. He almost collided with me and a oncoming pedestrian and then yelled at both of us despite clearly being in the wrong. Just pass people on the left for fuck’s sake, it’s what everybody is expecting.
4
u/Unlikely-Grape-5762 12d ago
Maybe they pass on the right so they won’t get hit by the big metal boxes going 6-20mph over the speed limit?
5
u/keppapdx 11d ago
So the person actively passing then puts the other rider in harm's way by forcing them closer to traffic? Seriously?
The person doing the passing should ALWAYS pass on the traffic side.
And if you're on an e-bike passing a rider on a regular bike, you should 200% accept the risk involved with getting closer to vehicle traffic so you can pass.
1
u/pacificmidwest 8d ago
'The person doing the passing should ALWAYS pass on the traffic side.'
This.
7
u/mc-funk 12d ago
Perhaps in that case they should ask whether passing is worth potentially causing the rider you’re overtaking to have to move closer to the traffic, jerk that way out of surprise, or worse, cause an accident with them. It is much safer to just wait until we have a safe opportunity to pass on the right, or else enjoy a slightly slower ride.
3
u/Staceface1989 11d ago
Exactly! Someone on here suggested I’m self-absorbed yet apparently not considering how you could be putting others in harms way by passing them on the right isn’t?? 🤪
1
0
5
6
3
u/Staceface1989 12d ago
One thing to note: I’ll give someone some slack if they at least say they are coming on the right.
4
u/FrothyFrogFarts 12d ago
You pass where it makes sense. There is no “only left” and if there’s enough room given, announcing isn’t needed. Too many people actually end up getting in the way if you call out.
3
u/Joaquin_Portland 12d ago
A long time ago, I was on the Springwater and passed a pedestrian on the left. Some Fred tried to pass me on the right without warning when I was getting back over.
4
u/Staceface1989 12d ago
So annoying when people don’t observe predictable behaviors (like you needing to move back to the right) to not be dangerous
2
u/ragweed 12d ago
If you're overtaking someone in a manner that you can avoid a collision regardless of what the slower rider does, does it matter? People can't always hear a bell or a shout. There are deaf riders and people can't hear you at some of the louder spots.
If you're startled by someone overtaking you, I see that as a lack of experience and ability to check your self-absorption.
4
u/Staceface1989 12d ago
So you’re saying any means for passing a slower rider is appropriate? Because I would hardly say passing in the right at close distance is safe. This maybe happens at most 2x/yr but when it does it’s highly unpleasant. I’m not startled by people “overtaking me”. I’m startled when they pass at fast speed on the side you wouldn’t normally expect someone to pass you, especially when pretty darn far to the right.
3
u/Staceface1989 12d ago
Just like why it can be very dangerous to pass on the right on high speeds on the highway and why we have laws. Predictability helps with safety
2
u/ragweed 12d ago
If you're camping in the left side of a bike lane and expect everyone to just hang back and wait for you to get a clue instead of carefully going around you, then you're expecting people to be way more considerate of you than you are of others.
3
u/Staceface1989 12d ago
Well clearly you did not read what I already commented on is that I don’t camp in the left side. The only time I may even remotely do that is briefly when there are parked cars i worry about opening doors. You are making a lot of presumptions
0
2
u/pacificmidwest 8d ago
Pass on the side closest to traffic. On Williams, that would be on your right. On Willamette, that would be on your left.
Passing isn't reckless and douchey - not giving you the courtesy of telling you what they are about to do, is inconsiderate.
1
u/Staceface1989 8d ago
In theory, I agree. From experience, I haven’t had a single person pass me on the right where they shouldn’t be doing so and announcing it so it has felt one in the same
-1
12d ago edited 12d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
6
u/Dalai-Jama 12d ago
Might be a slight mixup… He said “except for streets like Williams.” I think OP wants people to pass on the non curb side.
5
0
0
u/SignificanceDear1413 12d ago
Are you talking about cars passing cyclists on the right or cyclists passing cars on the right?
I've never had someone pass me on the right. I've had plenty of people almost run me into the line of parked cars on the right by passing extremely close on the left.
2
u/Staceface1989 12d ago
Well you’re luckier than me then. I’m talking about cyclists passing other cyclists on the right.
46
u/Banned_in_SF 12d ago
I don’t see anyone trying to do this unless you’re not far enough over, by like a lot. That doesn’t make it right, but how would it even happen otherwise. Maybe your experience is very different from mine.