A rush hour ride in London on a straight wide road.
I glanced over my shoulder before I made a half-of-my-body-widths shift and someone yelled at me 'watch out! geez...' from behind. Apparently my practice wasn't enough for her not to be frightened.
But how can I 'watch out' my behind? Shouldn't I be mostly looking at the direction I'm travelling? When I checked over my shoulder, I didn't see her in a too-close distance. What does she want more from me? Turn around and engage in a lengthy conversation to elaborate what I'm about to do and get her written permission?
I believe it's the responsibility of whoever behind to keep a safe distance from a person ahead of them. It's the same logic as for driving, right? If a car in front suddenly braked and the one behind shunted into it, that's the fault of the one behind for not keeping enough distance.
Other time, I waited behind a van at a red light because there's not enough gap for me to going through between the van and the pavement. Then a guy behind me commanded 'excuse me!' as if I'm needlessly getting in his way. I think you shouldn't be telling people in front of you like this because you won't necessarily see all the risks. Demanding people to move away in this circumstance is the equivalent of asking others to take a risk for your convenience.
Of course, I should be considerate of other people around me, be it other cyclists or other road users. But that doesn't mean other people should demand their convenience from my behind. That's just a distraction and unsafe to everyone.
If I'm in front of them I have the right of way. People behind me should be patient and keep enough distance. Telling me to be aware of my behind or to hurry up is not the answer.
Do you have a similar experience? Or do you DO that to others? In what circumstance do you think it's safe & acceptable to yell an instruction at someone's back?
Please enlighten me. Thanks!
I glanced over my shoulder before I made a half-of-my-body-widths shift and someone yelled at me 'watch out! geez...' from behind. Apparently my practice wasn't enough for her not to be frightened.
But how can I 'watch out' my behind? Shouldn't I be mostly looking at the direction I'm travelling? When I checked over my shoulder, I didn't see her in a too-close distance. What does she want more from me? Turn around and engage in a lengthy conversation to elaborate what I'm about to do and get her written permission?
I believe it's the responsibility of whoever behind to keep a safe distance from a person ahead of them. It's the same logic as for driving, right? If a car in front suddenly braked and the one behind shunted into it, that's the fault of the one behind for not keeping enough distance.
Other time, I waited behind a van at a red light because there's not enough gap for me to going through between the van and the pavement. Then a guy behind me commanded 'excuse me!' as if I'm needlessly getting in his way. I think you shouldn't be telling people in front of you like this because you won't necessarily see all the risks. Demanding people to move away in this circumstance is the equivalent of asking others to take a risk for your convenience.
Of course, I should be considerate of other people around me, be it other cyclists or other road users. But that doesn't mean other people should demand their convenience from my behind. That's just a distraction and unsafe to everyone.
If I'm in front of them I have the right of way. People behind me should be patient and keep enough distance. Telling me to be aware of my behind or to hurry up is not the answer.
Do you have a similar experience? Or do you DO that to others? In what circumstance do you think it's safe & acceptable to yell an instruction at someone's back?
Please enlighten me. Thanks!
