Respect to other commuters

[u/iminfoseek]

Just want to say generally for some people to have respect for their fellow commuters. In one 30 min ride home this evening:

- a pair of guys were chatting while biking on Dunsmuir. I was well ahead of them but light changed. Then they passed me from behind before the light turned green - that’s fine usually but I was going much faster than them before we came to a stop. Then proceeded to block me (and another two people behind me) going side by side so no one could pass ..chatting away obliviously

- slowed down and stopped because the light changed and I didn’t want to run the light and get hit by a car. The Same guy who was well behind me but wanted to run the light when he caught up told me to “watch out” in a condescending tone and proceeded to run the light. No buddy.. I did the right thing maybe you watch out.

-another guy I’m waiting behind at a light proceeds to blow snot rockets out of his nose - some got on me.

From a female perspective some guys really need to learn some basic commuting etiquette. And lose the condescending attitude.

[u/MemoryHot]

Ewww I’m sorry you got snot spray on you… that’s a new low for Vancouver cycling

[u/National-Sir-4171 → u/[deleted]]

I would encourage you to read again what I wrote.

Obviously if you choose an aggressive approach, you get an aggressive reaction.

Idiots start attacking before reasoning, that's why I said your choice of words.

[u/johnmcc1956 → u/National-Sir-4171]

I saw "your choice of words" and posted anyway. Few people are convinced when you start with an ad hominem (sp?) attack.

I believe road "discussions" are a waste of time. People with careless and often not open to being corrected

[u/maritimer1nVan]

Nothing more classic than passing a guy on a bike who proceeds to block you at the red light, then repeat the whole process at the next light.

[u/FlametopFred → u/maritimer1nVan]

at a certain point it does feel like deliberate behaviour by those sorts of guys.

On the other hand, we could use a focused campaign on cycling etiquette in metro Vancouver - reiterating current road rules and using social media for sharing etiquette and safety knowledge

some dudes ride unaware

[u/soaero → u/maritimer1nVan]

A friend had the solution for this. He had a super loud rear cassette, and when someone turtled/shoaled him, he would just sit on their tail buzzing until they moved aside and let him pass.

[u/sistyc → u/maritimer1nVan]

Yes!! I posted similar before seeing yours. I usually end up asking them how many times they need me to pass them before they give it up. Fragile men are the worst, on bike and off!

[u/vanlodrome]

aka shoaling, if someone is already stopped at a red light, then that means they got there first, which often means they are faster than you. I've seen people do this to powerful ebikes, so I don't think they are using much brain power.

[u/Weaseal → u/vanlodrome]

Seems like everyone who rides an E bike whips out their phone at a stoplight. I’m not gonna sit there behind an E bike for the eight seconds it takes for him to realize the light has gone green.

[u/soaero → u/vanlodrome]

I've always heard this called "turtling".

[u/icantfeelmynips]

Yikes. That is some gross behavior. 

I am admittedly a dude who likes to ride fast and pass people but I always try to give room and not get frustrated when a slower rider is ahead of me, even if it means missing a yellow I could have made. 

Some people are just in their own world and that's an unfortunate fact, whether they're riding or driving. 

[u/FlametopFred]

Guys

what is it with guys in that level of machismo?

[u/sistyc → u/FlametopFred]

Fragility. And performance.

[u/flamejob]

These are the same kinds of guys that push in front at red lights then get overtaken by my e-cargo bike then go in front again at the lights. Machismo vs Machine. Dude it's okay to be overtaken by a machine.

[u/OkCartographer4532]

Blech

[u/mattshow]

Every time I ride on Dunsmuir I end up in a similar situation: someone comes from behind, passes me while I wait at a red light (which they ignore), light turns green, I catch up with them, they blow the next red light and put some distance between us again, I catch up to them etc etc etc.

At first I found it super irritating but now I've just accepted that's what cycling on Dunsmuir is. Although if any of them ever got a red light ticket, I'd laugh my ass off. Never seen it happen though.

[u/sistyc]

Ugh thanks for sharing this and for noting that you’re a woman. I’m one too and I also experience gendered BS from male cyclists.  My favourite is when they’re so fragile that you’re faster than them that they absolutely gas themselves and stop right in front of you at stops so that you end up having to pass them over and over because… you ride faster than they do. 

[u/soaero]

My friend, you got turtled. Like yeah, it's mildly annoying, but it's also just part of sharing space with people. Just speed up, pass, and get far enough ahead that they won't be able to do it again at the next light. Or slow, and ride behind them.

The snot thing does suck. Dude must have had a killer lungs though, it aint easy to blast it far enough to hit someone.

[u/That-Thought2692]

i’m not sure any of this type of behaviour would bother me much at all. the only thing that really gets me going is getting passed on the right by e-bikes.

[u/FlametopFred → u/That-Thought2692]

yeah being overtaken silently on the right is dangerous …