Cycling vs walkers in country parks

esuhl

ThemeOne wrote: »

I find the worst scenario with cyclists is when they ride the pavement, you don't hear them coming from behind, then they pass you at great speed and very close. It's a frequent and sometimes frightening occurrence, and always leaves me thinking how if I'd happened to step to one side into their path at the last minute there'd have been a very nasty collision.

Obviously the cyclist can see you in front of them, and seems to overtake on the assumption you will continue walking in a dead straight line, but pedestrians don't always do that, especially when they don't know there's a need to.

It's a very similar situation on the roads. Motorists pass cyclists at great speed and far too close. They often seem completely unable to read the road, and are surprised when cyclists move to avoid potholes, parked cars, or to take the lane.

Motorists often use their vehicles to intimidate cyclists, and delight in passing as close as possible.

As well as tackling poor cycling, we really need to get these criminals off the road, to make travelling more pleasant for everyone.

Altarf

esuhl wrote: »

It's a very similar situation on the roads. Motorists pass cyclists at great speed and far too close. They often seem completely unable to read the road, and are surprised when cyclists move to avoid potholes, parked cars, or to take the lane.

So having experienced the problem from cars, you would have thought that cyclists would not want to inflict the same problem on pedestrians.

But I suppose the problem with that is expecting cyclists to think.

WobblyDog

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Just looking for feedback on a situation, which happened this week gone, and has happened a good few times before.

Earlier in the week I went on a cycle in a country park where the paths are a few metres wide. On a long stretch of path a group of four people were walking towards me, two 50 something adults and two late teens, there was a good half minute before we would reach eachother. I made sure to keep to the left of the path which was probably four metres wide and slowed to a jogging pace.

Seemingly they had no intention of stopping their conversation to give me any space until I had to stop right in front of them (rather than cycling through one of them). I think they then expect me to say thanks as they eventually begrudgingly moved around me to the left in a two behind two formation, I assume thats what they thought because one of them gave a sarcastic "your welcome" as I proceeded without comment. This is what bugs me, I dont think they deserve any kind of thanks because they should have had the courtesy of giving me some path space in the first place. I would not expect thanks in the walkers position, which I am often when walking with friends.

I will always thank dog owners and people with kids for keeping left, as they have a tough enough task on their hands, but walkers seem to think they have a right to the whole footpath.

Any thoughts on the situation?

I don't think it's necessarily a cyclist/walker/whatever issue, it's just human group behaviour.

I get the same thing when I'm out jogging alone. When I'm approaching a group of people out walking they sometimes don't seem to see me and only make way at the last moment. I've even had the same thing when encountering groups of joggers. Maybe they assume that someone else in the group will make way. Maybe they're too absorbed in the social bubble of the group to think for themselves. People's decision-making processes change when they're in a group.

Norman_Castle

Altarf wrote: »

So having experienced the problem from cars, you would have thought that cyclists would not want to inflict the same problem on pedestrians.

But I suppose the problem with that is expecting cyclists to think.

To end the tedium of your boring moaning about cyclists it would be interesting to know exactly where this perfect but unused cycle route is.

I have mentioned before a wanabee organ donor I pass in the mornings who instead of riding down a perfectly designed £2.5 million cyclepath requested by Sustrans and designed by them, instead takes a longer route down a busy A road (and doesn't bother with high viz either).

Altarf

Moaning about cyclists, no.

Pointing out they are selfish and inconsiderate, yes.

Norman_Castle

Altarf wrote: »

Moaning about cyclists, no.

Pointing out they are selfish and inconsiderate, yes.

The cycle route?

Retrogamer

Altarf wrote: »

Moaning about cyclists, no.

Pointing out they are selfish and inconsiderate, yes.

News flash.
Lots of humans are selfish and inconsiderate.
Some cycle, some walk, some drive etc etc.

Try taking your blinkers off and have a real good look at what's going on around you and drop the confirmation bias nonsense.

If i'm walking on a path, to the side of it and lots of people are walking towards me, taking up the full path then it's obviously them who is selfish.

When you change me from walking to cycling, your prejudice becomes obvious.

brat

ThemeOne wrote: »

Obviously the cyclist can see you in front of them, and seems to overtake on the assumption you will continue walking in a dead straight line, but pedestrians don't always do that, especially when they don't know there's a need to.

Pedestrians are pretty predictable. You can easily tell what they are going to do. If you approach from behind, you should be able to give them a wide enough berth to avoid any potential conflict. I've done this daily in our pedestrianised zone for many years now without incident.
I think the problem is in the mind of pedestrians who may have been taken by surprise by the approaching cyclist and think "I might have chosen to dart to the right just as he was passing." But you don't 'move suddenly' without warning, and your movement will be being closely watched by the apoproaching cyclist who really doesn't want you to collide with him.

Perhaps pedestrians should take note of the Highway Code advice for other road users that suggests they should check behind them before they change course.

brat

Norman_Castle wrote: »

The cycle route?

The door has closed. Altarf has left the building.
:silenced::silenced:

NBLondon

brat wrote: »

I've done this daily in our pedestrianised zone for many years now without incident.

The very term "pedestrianised zone" suggests that pedestrians should have right of way. (I've discussed this with brat before and the one referred to does permit cyclists). Ditto with the OP - the park in question defines them as shared paths - but some people would assume that they are all footpaths unless marked. And when a significant minority of cyclists assume any path is for their use - even ones with No Cycling signs - it triggers the bolshie response in some pedestrians. Even when the cyclist is being perfectly reasonable as the OP was.

The place I most encounter it is Blackheath (South London) where there are two nice shared paths across the open space. They used to be tarmac with a dividing line until the council made them look nice for the Olympics and hid the markings. So pedestrians use the full width and some glare at any cyclists thinking they shouldn't be there. Most cyclists are reasonable and either slow right down or take to the grass and go around - a few put their head down and dive through.

Just north of that is Greenwich Park where there are marked shared paths - but most cyclists actually use the road as it's closed to motor traffic 10am to 4pm and the paths are full of selfie-ing tourists. The footpaths are clearly marked No Cycling but still the occasional cyclist thinks it doesn't apply to them.

My last example is the underpass at Hither Green railway station - which is also the approach to the station entrance. It's not specifically marked as anything - but as it starts and ends with pavement areas, I'd expect to be a footpath - and is not publicly owned, it's railway property. Again, most cyclists slow right down or scoot through with one foot on the ground but a few charge through at their usual cruising speed even though it's only 2 1/2 people wide and includes a blind corner.