DR Jane I saw your comments about a biker racing past you while you were walking.
As the biker, it is sometimes hard to know what to do when people are walking. You assume that they will stay walking the way they are. But sometimes they can move abruptly and it becomes dangerous.
I started ringing my bell whenever I pass someone. But it actually scared the crap out of a couple.
I never race by people though. I always slow down. But I almost got hit by another biker. I was biking around the lake and there is a blindspot. I slowed down and rang my bell. There were a bunch of joggers coming and another bike was beside them. This other biker decided to race around the blindspot. And then he had the choice between almost hitting the joggers or me. So he chose me. We didn't collide but i had to jam on my brakes. I was so mad. He didn't even apologize. I don't know why he was racing past those joggers. The lake is not a place to go quickly. I wanted to scream at him.
You got a bell
I admit, I have still been startled, however, I prefer jumping before the biker reaches me than as they are racing by. I might be talking or day dreamer, or just my usual self and not register it at first. I hear a bell better than most people who call out, and I know what the bell means.
I think most people who call out or ring a bell are more thoughtful about their "driving" and safety. We always say thank you, startled or not
I am very, very glad that idiot didn't hit you and not surprised at all he didn't say sorry. Our walking/jogging path is also not a place to race, especially on the sections where they can do so in the street. A few days ago this idiot did yell, only as he RACED past us. There was a driveway right behind us he could have turned out into the street and back up the next driveway. There weren't any cars and he had a clear view of us long before he passed us.
Some of the bikers do go off one driveway and then back up to avoid people. There are businesses all along that stretch and multiple driveways.
