True, they are almost always a problem. I get the impression that if it's not the road, pedestrians regard everywhere as theirs. It doesn't help that many of these "segregated" paths have been created by taking from what was pavement.
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Cycle Paths
- Thread starter steve.c
- Start date
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The phrase "do unto others" comes to mind! I often walk on the canal towpath and there is nothing more annoying than a group of bikers bombing on as fast as they can expecting pedestrians to immediately get out of the way... On one occasion I was shouted at "look out, strava coming through". But when cycling on there I ring the bell and slow to a walking pace, and if still not acknowledged I call out hello! Bike behind you! Anyone with any doubt about how to behave on a shared path should walk it and see what pedestrians have to put up with. There is always more than one point of view!
And herein lies the problem. It's not exactly fair on the pedestrians, who are at just as much risk from cars and cyclists are.
In the Netherlands, they take typically space away from the roads, not the footpath, in order to create safe cycling spaces. Narrow roads become single-track for cars, forcing them to slow down and take more care:
In the Netherlands, they take typically space away from the roads, not the footpath, in order to create safe cycling spaces. Narrow roads become single-track for cars, forcing them to slow down and take more care:
D
Deleted member 4366
Guest
What????
I find the exact opposite. There's a sort of field around me that causes pedestrians to suddenly change direction and veer into my path. The nearer they are to me, the stronger the field, so the faster the change of direction.
It's the same for cyclists that I'm trying to overtake. They're just cruising along in a straight line, but exactly when I get to the point of no-return, they suddenly change direction for no explicable reason, and always into my path - never the other way. Please don't say "ring your bell or sound a horn". That's absolutely fatal. They start to move out the way, so I start my overtake, when suddenly, they panic and decide that they want to be on the other side of the path, so they veer across when it's too late.
It's the same with pedestrians, especially when there's several of them. You ring the bell as you slow down. If your lucky, one of them will hear it and tells the others, so they spread out to the verges either side of the path. You say "thanks" and start to go through the gap, when, suddenly, one of them decides that they want to be on the other side. I don't know how many near misses I've had like that.
You must have some interesting rides
and I suppose there are only a limited number of near misses before....... My bit of towpath is only 4 foot wide so a near miss may end up in the water so I call out as I pass cyclists "coming by on your right" or left as the case may be. My only not a near miss was when duck decided to run the gauntlet getting stuck under my front wheel! I slithered to a stop with it wedged under the wheel then unbelievable as it may seem it extricated itself, quacked at me in disgust and jumped back in the water. At least ducks don't bite your ankles!
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Deleted member 4366
Guest
True also when not in any way associated with bicycles. I walk quite fast and when in fairly busy areas find the erratic behaviour of other pedestrians very confusing, the unpredictable veering exactly as you describe when I'm trying to pass.
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Fully agree with this post! In fact I sometimes consider it a challenge to anticipate and navigate these seemingly uncontrolled meanderings without breaking my stride. Perhaps I need to get a life.
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Deleted member 4366
Guest
Being serious, the number of times and the way it happens seems to be more than coincidence. I know that it's not because they see or hear you coming because they do it with their back to you while wearing headphones. There must be an explanation somewhere.
The answer is simple. Pedestrians should be licensed and undergo regular tests. Points should be awarded for infringements of the footpath code; anyone accruing 12 or more points should be disqualified and made to cycle everywhere. We could soon sort them out with appropriate offences:-
Careless walking
Inconsiderate walking (I.e. getting in the way of someone on a mission)
Ambling in a built up area
Obstructive chattering (standing talking in the narrowest part of the path)
They'll do for a start…
Careless walking
Inconsiderate walking (I.e. getting in the way of someone on a mission)
Ambling in a built up area
Obstructive chattering (standing talking in the narrowest part of the path)
They'll do for a start…
There is an awareness sense we don't understand as yet, sometimes called sixth sense. Try staring hard at the back of someone and it can be surprising how often they turn round as if they've consciously picked up on the stare. The younger and less mature the person, the more likely the sensing. Animals give clear signs of knowing there's an approaching storm long before any of the physically measurable signs appear. They've also shown a number of other abilities not explained by any currently measurable phenomena.
Maybe the "wanderers" unconsciously sense a presence and react, while not knowing accurately where the presence is. This could also be where the claims of paranormal ability come from, a misreading of such sensing as the presence of another physical dimension.
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The hard of hearing are the biggest challenge for me. How do I pass without giving them a heart attack at the same time? If I slow down to walking speed I have to get so close so that, without me shouting, they can hear me that they then jump when they turn round and see me there.
Maybe it's just the sight of 6 foot 2 on a small wheeled bike that unnerves them so?
Maybe it's just the sight of 6 foot 2 on a small wheeled bike that unnerves them so?
Just cycled around the York University Heslington East Campus. It's cycle heaven!
Only buses and bikes are allowed on the access roads, and there are many very wide cycle tracks. The whole area is very spread out with artificial lakes.
The older walking/cycle tracks, beside the river can be lethal. After floods, the cycle side gets left with mud and puddles which nobody clears up. The cycle bit is only about 1 metre wide As mentioned above, in some areas some bright spark decided to put a small kerb to separate the two bits. It's vertually impossible to cross this in an emergency without falling off. Check out my Youtube video of last years Skyride to see the action!
Only buses and bikes are allowed on the access roads, and there are many very wide cycle tracks. The whole area is very spread out with artificial lakes.
The older walking/cycle tracks, beside the river can be lethal. After floods, the cycle side gets left with mud and puddles which nobody clears up. The cycle bit is only about 1 metre wide As mentioned above, in some areas some bright spark decided to put a small kerb to separate the two bits. It's vertually impossible to cross this in an emergency without falling off. Check out my Youtube video of last years Skyride to see the action!
Same down in Colchester, there's been a considerable investment in cycle paths but come of them have similar hazardous low kerbing. This caught me out when my front wheel grazed against the kerb sending me into a 'tankslapper' somehow I stayed on but some how my upper ankle had got sawn up by the front sprocket. A minor injury for most but I'm on blood thinning anti coagulants so there's an ominous dripping trail all the way home.
I've found my 'tinker' bell indispensable for alerting folk around blind corners and from afar that I'm coming though, as folk have already mentioned, earphone wearing pedestrians negate any forewarning.
I've found my 'tinker' bell indispensable for alerting folk around blind corners and from afar that I'm coming though, as folk have already mentioned, earphone wearing pedestrians negate any forewarning.
The best time of your life coming up Phil, enjoy!
I retired early 24 years ago and the only thing I'd change is to have retired at least a decade earlier.
I still have 18 months to go but cant wait for it ?? I also went for a 49 mile round trip on my Freego Eagle and the battery was still showing half full/empty so when i retire I can do ore of this!!!
End of September I'm free after 47 years paid work and never yet got a liking for it.
Taking 'Early Voluntary', sod the Ofsted!
We've a mixed bag of cycle paths in our neck of the woods ( South Leicestershire) one or two really good ones near me but others are potholed and full rubbish.
The best ones are a ways from the road the ones right by the road seem to get all the bottles and chip wrappers thrown onto them.
Do agree on extending dog leads, those can be a bleddy nuisance.
Taking 'Early Voluntary', sod the Ofsted!
We've a mixed bag of cycle paths in our neck of the woods ( South Leicestershire) one or two really good ones near me but others are potholed and full rubbish.
The best ones are a ways from the road the ones right by the road seem to get all the bottles and chip wrappers thrown onto them.
Do agree on extending dog leads, those can be a bleddy nuisance.
Not sure if it's relevant but I always say thank you when they move out of the way....
Most pedestrians can spot if you are cycling with consideration and respond in a nice manner,as Phill just stated manners are free and being polite confuses the hell out of some of them.
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