Touring in France - Page 4 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

07-12-2004, 07:27 AM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>,
Bernie <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> S o r n i wrote:
>
> >Richard Tack wrote:
> >
> >>S o r n i wrote:
> >>
> >>>Richard Tack wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>Do the French use a similar phrase for "on the/your left?"
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>Oui.
> >>>
> >>>Bill "it's '****ez-vous' I believe" S.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>Why would you be asking to **** the rider you are passing?
> >>
> >
> >Somehow I doubt that Dick Chaney was propostioning Patrick Leahy.
> >
> >Bill "je ne pas literalist" S.
> >
> >
> Vraillemente mon cher bonhomme, try "je passe a gauche!" (I pass on
> your left!)
> bon chance! Bernard
>

Well, I'm no definitive specialist, but I would say that the last advice
is not very good.
In France, the law is that vehicules (all of them, bicyles included)
must always ride on the rightmost practicable place. An overtaken
vehicule must keep right ; it's absolutely forbiden to pass on the
right of any vehicule. As a consequence, there is absolutely not
ambiguity as to the relative location of an overtaker and an overtakee.
So, is you pass one adult, simply signal you pass ("bonjour !", or
"ahem ", or a bell sound). For a group of youngsters (or
wanabee racers:-), the "serrez a droite !" (keep on right) is a
good warning.
A sentence like "je passe a gauche" (the "on your left") is highly
likely to confuse the other rider who may only notice the "a gauche"
and then ... go left.

Bonne route,

Jean-Pierre (pure French breed)