Not sure what I'm looking for here aside from I just need to talk about this. I've been riding my bike in laps around the local footpath (made for walking, biking, etc.). There's a dashed yellow line down the middle so people can go both directions. Now that the weather is nicer, the path has gotten busier, plus there are signs up of "how to practice social distancing while on the path." One of the items is "warn people when you are near them." So if I'm coming up on people walking, particularly people with dogs on leashes, I've been saying "on your left" or "bike" (which I thought was more informative for dog-owners, because there are some dogs that really seem to think bikes are fun things to chase). In retrospect, just plain "bike" is maybe a little less polite. (It takes so much less energy to say...)
I also assumed - incorrectly - that the fastest-moving thing had the right-of-way. In retrospect, this seems very stupid to have assumed. So, in the situation this morning, I was approaching a couple with 2 dogs going in the same direction I was, and those people were about to pass a person going in the opposite direction. I said "bike!" because of (a) the dogs and (b) my incorrect assumption that I have some magical right-of-way. The guy holding the dog leash said "you don't own the bike path" and this is what made me feel ashamed. He is ABSOLUTELY right. It's totally unfair of me to expect others to hop out of my way when I can just as easily slow down and wait until I can pass freely on the left.
I appreciate that the guy pointed it out because now I can be more polite - and I totally was for the rest of the ride - but I just feel so ashamed that I didn't realize all of this on my own. I really have been trying to do my best to share the space and not scare people by zipping by them.
So now I know, and I can do better, but feel very ashamed and also sort of not-smart.
maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD
I also assumed - incorrectly - that the fastest-moving thing had the right-of-way. In retrospect, this seems very stupid to have assumed. So, in the situation this morning, I was approaching a couple with 2 dogs going in the same direction I was, and those people were about to pass a person going in the opposite direction. I said "bike!" because of (a) the dogs and (b) my incorrect assumption that I have some magical right-of-way. The guy holding the dog leash said "you don't own the bike path" and this is what made me feel ashamed. He is ABSOLUTELY right. It's totally unfair of me to expect others to hop out of my way when I can just as easily slow down and wait until I can pass freely on the left.
I appreciate that the guy pointed it out because now I can be more polite - and I totally was for the rest of the ride - but I just feel so ashamed that I didn't realize all of this on my own. I really have been trying to do my best to share the space and not scare people by zipping by them.
So now I know, and I can do better, but feel very ashamed and also sort of not-smart.
maybe she's born with it, maybe it's chlorine
If you're injured and need some sympathy, PM me and I'm very happy to write back.
disclaimer: PhD not MD