In article <
[email protected]>,
Bernie <
[email protected]> 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.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >
> >Somehow I doubt that **** 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)