Hi all,
active commuter here. Most days, I love biking but other days there are angry ppl who ruin my mood - peasants and other bikers I outpace. They sometimes are startled or feel pressured when I ring a bell but also when I ride behind them slowly for a while.
Part of the problem is that bike lanes are narrow. Racing bikes and electric bikes are faster than most bikes. None cares or knows about rules dealing with bike traffic. So, partly it is structural.
I know, I cannot make friends with everyone (not my goal) but have you also thought about or even experimented with
- a bell which sounds friendly and does bot startle ppl
- a way to outpace ppl without them feeling pushed (ring the bell earlier/later)
- any other aspects of making encounters on bike pleasant
Happy to hear your thoughts Best