Pedestrians on the trails

.blitz

I like walking but last night I was out on my bike - just an easy ride around the Chase, taking in a bit of Follow The Dog. I'd finished section 16 and was about to turn onto 17 when I noticed a group of 30-something munters in strappy tops walking up the trail, accompanied by a couple of dogs off the lead :shock:

Fortunately I was able to go off-piste and avoid them but FFS it's a bike trail and there are signs everywhere BIKES ONLY NO WALKERS NO HORSES.

What should we do with people who walk on MTB trails?

KnightofCydonia

First time, just politely point out that it's a bike track and you don't want to hurt their pets because some places you'd not have seen them. If you get abuse, then those apply

I got shouted at by 2 women on a national cycle network route the other day. I happily pointed out the blue signs on the gate and that I slowed down for them so they had no reason to be bitchy with me. Most people are good on those mixed-use routes I find, the two worst things are horse shit, it's everywhere and people who pretend not to hear you coming and walk 2 or 3 wide. It's obvious so just move aside, I slow down, I say thanks but come on, be considerate.

stumpyjon

Chop their legs off, won't do it again will they .

Personally I generally agree with the ethos of being courteous to other trail users, however on the few bits of trail where we are the only permitted users I do tend to get a little niggley with walkers, it's dangerous if nothing else. Most people on bike trails are not 'there by accident', they are there because they have wilfully ignored the signs or are so obliviuos to other people it has never occured to them they shouldn't be there. Either way chop their legs off.

Graydawg

I;ve marked non as its a simple mistake... what REALLY grips my doo doo is for example last sunday, we were on the climb up to the summit at Golspie and this IDIOT and his family were cycling DOWN the wrong way.....

Now normally I would be like "ok no worries you don;t know how to get back to the car park....."

BUT THIS WAS THE 3rd TIME I HAVE SEEN THIS NUMPTY COMING DOWN THE ONE WAY TRACK!!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

There's no excuse for that..... at least he wasn't trying to go up the downhill section - or that could've ended in tears!!!!

MrChuck

Assume it's a simple mistake- no need to start treating people like chumps until they start behaving like chumps (which they very likely will, sadly).

mikeage

I'd generally let them be, maybe have a quick rest and leave them to clear the section. I don't want to start pointing out 'bike only' trails to walkers etc as slowly but surely this will lead into everyone turning against people riding anywhere else other than designated 'bike trails'. i.e. 'you have your own tracks to ride on, stay within those' attitude.

As someone that rides the Chase a lot but rarely on FTD there would be nothing worse than having the place I have ridden with comeplete freedom all my life slowly confined to certain purpose built trails!

DrWorm

They were probably getting their own back for all the times cyclists have terrorized them on footpaths . But seriously, if there are signs just point them out politely and leave them too it. They'll soon think twice when they get a 15KG bike smashing into them at 20mph.

As an aside...

I was out hiking last week and some guy came past me on a hardtail on a footpath on the tops despite there being a more than adequate bridalway network around that area. I didn't move for him. I don't ride on footpaths, never will & I have no time or consideration for people that do.

.blitz

mikeage wrote:

As someone that rides the Chase a lot but rarely on FTD there would be nothing worse than having the place I have ridden with comeplete freedom all my life slowly confined to certain purpose built trails!

I agree it's an enjoyable network of open trails but it's also great to relax on FtD, safe in the knowledge that nothing is going to be coming the other way. Most of the time

mikeage

heh! I understand, it's just a slippery slope when you point things like that to people who may have their own agendas, and certainly have enough time on their hands to start organising things!

Chalky76

I find it hard to believe they were all Munters? Did you look properly....?

.blitz

Chalky76 wrote:

I find it hard to believe they were all Munters? Did you look properly....?

Chalky, if munting was in the Olympics, these were gold medallists.

Chalky76

Firing squad it is then

mikeage

.blitz wrote:

if munting was in the Olympics, these were gold medallists.

probably mutants from down by the power station!

dave_hill

Any form of summary execution is good.

No amount of education will do any good with people like this, so it's off to the gulags with them.

RealMan

Meanwhile, at walkradar.com...

I like cycling but last night I was out walking - just an easy stroll around the woods. I'd finished the first foot path and was just going into the next foot path when I noticed a group of 30-something munters in lycra tops riding down the foot path on bikes. They almost hit me!

Fortunately I was able to go off-piste and avoid them but FFS it's a foot path and there are signs everywhere WALKERS ONLY NO BIKES.

What should we do with people who cycling on foot paths?

chuckd

I had a woman deliberately walk in front of me about a month ago in Pollok Park. In the park I was riding in the designated mtb area but she and her husband and dog decided to walk in there and she starts telling me she has right of way as a walker, etc. I told her there are hundreds of acres in this park and you chose to come here and asked her why? She couldn't answer so I told her to get a life.

:x

cliffhangermatt

What really annoyed me was the 3 oblivious walkers making their way up the Whites Level climb at Afan. a) they never should have been there and b) they were not getting out of the way of anyone, even when asked.

When confronted/informed, they argued blindly that it was a shared trail for walkers and MTBers and carried on! They were following a GPS

GRRR!

littlebear

Its a tough call sometimes, but most of the time i like to scare the living sh1t out of people, then apologize... like "sorry did not see you there" most satisfying and always guaranteed to leave them speechless!

ryan93

Is the guillotine for their legs so they can't do it again?

I don't think it's as bad when they are walking up the trail, that way they can see you coming and move out of the way, but if they are walking in the same direction your riding then expect you to look out for them then I think they should all have the guillotine.

ExeterSimon

I was shooting down the Mojo DH at Cwmcarn a couple of years ago and came across a family walking up.

I managed to see them in time and screeched to a halt and was so stunned I just looked at them. The inbred dad just looked at me and said 'Well I need to teach the boy how to ride downhill!'.

That was all I needed....So I politely informed him that if he wanted his son to reach his goal of becoming a DHer (as well as reaching his next birthday) he might want to teach him correct trail etiquette.

As I rode off I heard squealing brakes followed by some very colourful language.

Think he got the message second time around.

Eranu

I think I've seen it all now, a family walking up the switch back section on the advanced trail at QE Park with a push chair! Luckily I had already done that part of the trail and was on my way back down the fire trail, I did tell them they shouldn't be going up there but couldn't hear what they said, just hope no one was coming down whilst they were walking up it! Even worse would be after the switch backs as the entry to them is quite quick.

toshmund

You are in the right to go ballistic when (a) they ask "where is your bell?" (b) when you approach the group. Half go to the left and half go to the right - treat it like a road, everyone keep to the left ffs. Why should a cyclist have to slow down for someone walking a dog off the lead anyway? If you have not got enough faith in how your dog is going to behave in somekind of meeting, why would you put the dog in that environment until you had trained the dog up anyway.

In keeping with all great military tacticians...know and learn everything about thy enemy!!!

http://www.ramblers.org.uk/areas_groups ... groups.htm

Group of munters in their 30's...that sounds like one of the 20's and 30's groups (insert "quite often an outdoor version of Spice/Focus/IVC or general care in the community dating agency") Amazingly...I have been on the committee of one of the groups...we had the full spectrum. A few munters and a fair few goddesses, but have since seen the errors of my ways. I never asked where the bell was either!!!

http://www.ndwg.co.uk/index.html

Gobs

There must be some hardcore stories out there where some riders have actually made contact with these numpties, let's be having you, don't be shy

Luke-Dob

Gobs wrote:

There must be some hardcore stories out there where some riders have actually made contact with these numpties, let's be having you, don't be shy

That said, Iv had a few 'good' contacts with these numpties on numerous occasions;

1) Blasting down the DH on the North Loop of Whinlatter (the part where you are riding the switchbacks within the wooded area) to find a group of about 7-8 walkers :shock: just heading round the bend the OPPOSITE way I was coming, this was quickly followed by me plowing at-least 3 of them over. After a 'heated' argument of who was wrong and them not believing me that this is a bike trail (who can NOT believe a 17 year old?...) this was finally wrapped up when a couple of other riders came down the trail too to finalize my point.

2) Complete repeat at Bedgebury forest and Coed -y- Brenin too...

P.S I think firing squad would be the best bet

Gobs

Hope the bike was ok :twisted:

stubs

Had a bit of trouble with a group of walkers on my local cycle path. Chief nob told me I shouldnt be riding on the footpath I pointed out he was actually standing on a six foot long painted bicycle sign that meant he was on a cycle path also I was able to point to where the footpath sign was not 20 yards away. Didnt make any difference he still told me I should have a bell its the law.

Gobs

I find a clothesline always works. Thank you Hulk Hogan

m@tty123

I have had a canny few collisions an very near misses with walkers on marked bikes only trails like one time this idiotic fat man was wandering around with his dog off the lead and as i aproached i slowed because i don't trust dogs when they are off the lead. This dog ran out infront of me and its a good job i slowed down as it ran straight infront of me and i hit it straight on with my front wheel and even though it was a marked track the man went mental and started shouting at me as his dog whined and ran over and sat at his feet, he ran at me going you hit my dog im gonna f**king kill you so i just went well you shouldn't be walking on bike tracks and raced off down the hill before i got my head smashed in because im only 16 and im hardly a big lad. I feel harsh on the dog because i like dogs but its was the guys fault because a) he shouldnt have been there b) he should have his dog trained or should keep it on the lead or have it properly trained. Hope the poor little pooch was ok because it wasn't a very big dog.

keeko

I genuinely don`t believe its an `accident` when these individuals are walking on purpose built MTB trails. I live on the seven stanes doorstep and have met on several occasions ar$eholes walking dogs and taking children out on stabilised bikes etc.
In the real world they need a kick up the ar$e for deliberately going out of their way to exert their `right to roam` mentality but really all that results is an argument.

Screaming round a corner into a collie / barbie bike / pram etc and being looked at like you`re some kind of hooligan rags the f**k out of me.

Si78

stubs wrote:

Had a bit of trouble with a group of walkers on my local cycle path. Chief nob told me I shouldnt be riding on the footpath I pointed out he was actually standing on a six foot long painted bicycle sign that meant he was on a cycle path also I was able to point to where the footpath sign was not 20 yards away. Didnt make any difference he still told me I should have a bell its the law.

Yup, I've experienced this. I think you need an 'audible warning device', ie your voice.

The other day a woman was walking her dog on the cycle path.
She turned around when we were about 50 metres away, looked right at us, then bent down to let her dog off the lead.
We slowed right down.
Dog was running around, all over the place and she was in the middle of the path.
I shouted "Coming through" as we approached her really slowly.
She promptly covered her head with her hands and ducked right down.
She then scurried sideways into my mate and nearly knocked him off his bike.
She apologised profusely, saying she hadnt seen us.
I said she should pay more attention when walking on a cycle path, and shouldnt really let her dog off the lead.
I then looked further down the path to where her dog was attacking another cyclist coming the other way... :roll:

cat_with_no_tail

Si78 wrote:

I then looked further down the path to where her dog was attacking another cyclist coming the other way... :roll:

I know it shouldn't, but this bit made me lol