Which side of a cyclepath do you cycle on?

jimmypippa

crankycrank
There is nothing wrong with cycling like a "bloody American" in America - there would be something wrong in cycling like a bloody Brit in the US... As you have noted.

Toshmund wrote:

Always the left. Avoid the Tissington/High Peak Trail like the plague on any Bank holiday - always finish up front wheel to wheel with someone.

Along with the walkers, 5 abreast. Approach them from behind...ring a bell - jump out of their skins...approach slowly and ask and you get "Where's your bell?" You just cannot win. Area is dotted in footpaths, but they prefer to tut and chomp on the Werther's under their breath. "Cyclists on a cycle trail...whatever next!?"

Next one, gets the bobble hat shoved where the sun don't shine :shock:

Indeed, I have little idea why that would be attractive to walk along.

Even if you want a *ramble* there are some pretty valleys nearby, or Tissington itself.

Personally I prefer moorland.

roger_merriman

Jen J wrote:

biondino wrote:

The only time I've come off in Richmond Park (apart from my so far unique clipless moment)

Do tell.

(and an issue with the yellow brick road in RP (is that what you meant?) is that it attracts a lot of leisure riders, and is probably the only time they do ride, and so they're not quite as confident/able/aware of other path users - I use to hate running round there,and was quite anti-cyclist for a while)

Richmound park is just too busy I find, at least on weekends, have you tried Bushy?

dondare

Left.
The problem is most of the cyclists that you meet on paths aren't used to real roads and don't know the correct rules. Cyclists who ride on paths also meet pedestrians more often than they meet other cyclists; and pedestrians walk on the right (facing oncoming cyclists) so they have to be passed by moving over to the right.
All of which means that cyclists who use paths are more used to passing on the right than on the left and expect it from other cyclists.

Another reason for using the real roads rather than paths.

roger_merriman

dondare wrote:

Left.
The problem is most of the cyclists that you meet on paths aren't used to real roads and don't know the correct rules. Cyclists who ride on paths also meet pedestrians more often than they meet other cyclists; and pedestrians walk on the right (facing oncoming cyclists) so they have to be passed by moving over to the right.
All of which means that cyclists who use paths are more used to passing on the right than on the left and expect it from other cyclists.

Another reason for using the real roads rather than paths.

yup I try to only use shared paths if they are empty or close to.

LazyBoycp

Left, though I wouldn't be too surprised if pedestrians coming towards me wanted to pass on my left - as mentioned earlier, on a road without a pavement it's probably safer to be walking towards oncoming traffic because you can then at least see if vehicles passing you are going to do something stupid, and so it's easier to take evasive action. So pedestrians are possibly just applying that theory to the cyclepath. Or they're just trying to be annoying...

prawny

alfablue wrote:

On the Kennet and Avon canal path I was keeping left as usual (happened to be furthest from the canal), then a runner came the other way also keeping to my left (his right), as he passed me he moved just in time ( :shock: ) and said "you're supposed to be on the other side" to me. A few minutes later another runner was doing the same (but didn't say anything). It makes me wonder, is there some etiquette pertaining to canal paths or runners that I should know about (like, cyclists should pass nearest to the canal? Or is it like in sailing when we pass "port to port"?), or are they just wrong? Seems to me it must be safer to keep left as we do on the roads, that way more people will be familiar with that.

I'm not sure about towpaths, but you're supposed to be on the right on the water. Which I always found strange. I paddle all over though narrow boats are slow kayaks are superfast in comparison.

Agent57

Left on the way to work; right on the way home. That's the way it's marked (shared route). That said, I ride on the left side of the lane, whichever direction I'm going in.

Edit: oh, bumped thread is bumped. No wonder I can't vote in the poll.

prawny

Oops! I didn't notice the original date :oops: as you were

apreading

I tend to think that the most important thing is to pick a side and try to stick to it so that oncoming users know your intentions. I will try to make my pick based on what I think their intentions are and which would be best. In the absense of any other indicators I guess I would go left but cant be sure.

The exception to this is when I am out with my children cycling the canal towpath - I will tell them to pick the side furthest from the water if possible because if the person approaching isnt careful I would rather my kids are pushed into the hedge than the water.