Peds on the cycle track (dedicated CYCLE track)

Andyn11
Andyn11 Posts: 31
edited April 2016 in Road general
Start rant : getting pretty annoyed with the local dog walkers and dozzies that walk along and take up the entire bike path (often with their dog fully. Extended on the lead at the other side of the cycle path) then they draw up a dirty or shocked looked no matter how politely you handle the situation. Can start to understand why cyclists will use the road even tho they're riding along next to a cycle path (rant end)

Anyone else like to use cycle paths? And what's your chosen method of not mowing people down. Iam not far off mowing the next numbskull down

(I use the cycle paths for the fact I don't see myself as being fast enough or gutsy enough to put myself in front of a car driver who doesn't know how to overtake properly and trust me, where I live there is lots of idiotic car drivers)
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Comments

  • Mantas
    Mantas Posts: 33
    99,9% using a cycle path if it's possible. I do not like to use them in the city, but there is no other opportunity...
  • debeli
    debeli Posts: 583
    I think it's just one of those things that are sent to try us, like trolley-dawdlers in the supermarket.

    It's not a big deal and it's not a human-rights issue. It's just a bit of a pain.

    Once you know that there are likely to be pedestrians on the thoroughfare, you can moderate your speed and anticipate problems. Motorists have long mastered (some of us) the knack of sharing road space with slower vehicles.

    Just because I'm driving in a 60, I don't have to do 60. If the cyclist ahead is doing 20 and I can't pass safely, then I'll do 20. It seems perfectly reasonable.

    This is the UK. people do walk dogs (although I have no idea why) and people do amble slowly where one might perhaps think they oughtn't.

    I do not use cycle lanes. I prefer to cycle on the road, but I quite understand those who don't.

    When cycling on the road, I try to take into account the presence or likely presence of other legal or illegal road users whose behaviour might impact on my personal space or physical integrity.

    I suggest you do the same on cycle paths. How much time would it cost you?
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,317
    What can you do... people are shit... the other day the lady in the garage in front of mine reversed with her car until the edge of my garage and then went to lock it, with the exhaust fuming just inside my garage where I was working on a bike... I could/should have told her off, but I don't think she even noticed... people are just outrageously stupid, beyond belief... not worth getting angry as they are too stupid to learn or even just understand...
    left the forum March 2023
  • Andyn11
    Andyn11 Posts: 31
    Just seems really silly to me to walk along a cycle path with a footpath 3x wider with very little foot traffic right next to it lol
  • fudgey
    fudgey Posts: 854
    Get a bell, or, as much as it pains me - shout 'rider' etc to make them aware.

    Or just kick them out the way like in road rash, that'll learn them.
    My winter bike is exactly the same as my summer bike,,, but dirty...
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    We know how to deal with this kind of thing in Dundee (I should add - it wasnae me)

    https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/lo ... h-warning/
  • Vslowpace
    Vslowpace Posts: 189
    Cyclist moaning about others using "their" path, where's the difference between that and road users moaning about cyclists on "their"roads.

    Are you an only child
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    I'm not sure on the legal status tbh. I would imagine peds using cycle infrastructure might be being dozy, but I suspect not doing anything illegal.
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    Vslowpace wrote:
    Cyclist moaning about others using "their" path, where's the difference between that and road users moaning about cyclists on "their"roads.


    All that.

    Of course it can be frustrating, but just take a deep breath and relax. What does it matter if your journey takes a couple of extra minutes?
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    The OP does sound like a motorist transferred to a bike. Got me thinking as I've moaned about dog walkers at times on a mixed use canal towpath near me.

    To be fair I'm not moaning about them using it just that it's frustrating when someone has no control over their dog such that you have to walk your bike past only to be told little Fido is only being friendly. I'm a dog lover but I'll still push your dog away if I need to.

    But overall I don't have a real problem as I just slow and take.the necessary action. IMHO any cyclist who contacts another path user then they're in the wrong. You have the control over your bike exercise it any ride responsibly.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    I think the OP is fair enough - he starts with "Start Rant" so he knows it's a rant ...

    and there's an element of truth in there ... drivers don't want cyclists on the road, pedestrians don't want cyclists on the footpath -so when there is a cyclepath for cyclists to use, it's a bit annoying if there are non-cyclists in it ... totally appreciate the frustration.

    Only shared use paths around where I am - don't tend to use them on the commute - it's significantly slower and less convenient. I've started using one of them on the way home though as it's well off road and there's usually nobody around - so I can go whatever speed I can still muster - but have to accept that if there are other users then I'll have to ride accordingly.
  • davebradswmb
    davebradswmb Posts: 549
    I was once visiting Munich and absent-mindedly stepped onto a cycle path just as a bike came past. The rider avoided me thank goodness, and shouted "TOURIST" at me. I thought well spotted, and good English!

    TBH most cycle paths in this country are so little used by cyclists (outside London anyway) that it is the exception rather than the rule to see a rider on them. In Tamworth where I live we have a fantastic network of cycle paths and I walk my dog on them all the time. I try to keep the lead short and my eyes open for cyclists, but more often than not I won't see any.

    I use them very little myself, it isn't safe to use them at the kind of speeds I want to ride at so I stick to the roads.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    It's very common where I live - we have a huge promenade with a 6 foot wide cycle path marked on. Inevitably people ignore the pavement and walk in the bike path oblivious.

    I think you just have to live with it until the bike volume builds up and people know not to step into bike paths. It's going to take a long time to catch up with Holland.

    If i was riding bike paths a lot I'd have a bell.
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    I have a bell, bloody useless. Must get.a better one, perhaps a legal air horn. Until then I have a loud voice that I'm learning to use to good affect!

    Mind you, what do you shout? "Bike", "rider", "excuse me" or "look out" are all suggestions but what works best / what do you use.
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Tangled Metal wrote:

    Mind you, what do you shout? "Bike", "rider", "excuse me" or "look out" are all suggestions but what works best / what do you use.

    From my experimenting by far the best is "Hello!", or (obviously time dependent) "Good Morning!", said in a cheery a voice as you can possibly muster.

    The advantage is nobody can take that any other way than as a friendly greeting, rather than an instruction.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    What can you do... people are shoot... the other day the lady in the garage in front of mine reversed with her car until the edge of my garage and then went to lock it, with the exhaust fuming just inside my garage where I was working on a bike... I could/should have told her off, but I don't think she even noticed... people are just outrageously stupid, beyond belief... not worth getting angry as they are too stupid to learn or even just understand...

    Should have stuck a potato in her exhaust!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    bompington wrote:
    We know how to deal with this kind of thing in Dundee (I should add - it wasnae me)

    https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/lo ... h-warning/

    As pointed out in the comments - that bit isn't a cycle path. It's a shared use path at most. Far too much stupidly fast cycling on that Dundee to Ferry route anyway. To many knober$ on ill fitting Giants trying to bag a KOM. I'm the one shouting 'raise you're seatpost you fat fuxker!' from the beach btw ;-)
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    A cheery morning seems to work best for me.

    If you are pleasant you'll find people are pleasant back. And if you bellow 'out of my way' then you'll probably find that people are rude back.

    Sounds like this place is a shared use facility - so just lines between walkers and cyclists ? So it's your responsibility to look out for peds as clearly its easy for them to wander over the lines. This isn't the place for tw@atting it along at top speed.
  • tangled_metal
    tangled_metal Posts: 4,021
    What? Not even if you're on for some strava pb or whatever it is you do on there. I just use it as a log of my rides.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    I'm the one shouting 'raise you're seatpost you fat fuxker!' from the beach btw ;-)

    and they're the ones shouting "Correct your Grammer idiot!" back .... ;)
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    Slowbike wrote:
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    I'm the one shouting 'raise you're seatpost you fat fuxker!' from the beach btw ;-)

    and they're the ones shouting "Correct your Grammer idiot!" back .... ;)

    Must try harder.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    Slowbike wrote:
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    I'm the one shouting 'raise you're seatpost you fat fuxker!' from the beach btw ;-)

    and they're the ones shouting "Correct your Grammer idiot!" back .... ;)

    Must try harder.

    Is You're seat post stuck ? ;)
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    edited April 2016
    My seat post is at it's* optimum length thank you for asking.



    *Denotes humour.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,106
    Slowbike wrote:
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    I'm the one shouting 'raise you're seatpost you fat fuxker!' from the beach btw ;-)

    and they're the ones shouting "Correct your Grammer idiot!" back .... ;)


    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=grammer

    Second one down.
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    bompington wrote:
    We know how to deal with this kind of thing in Dundee (I should add - it wasnae me)

    https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/lo ... h-warning/

    As pointed out in the comments - that bit isn't a cycle path. It's a shared use path at most. Far too much stupidly fast cycling on that Dundee to Ferry route anyway. To many knober$ on ill fitting Giants trying to bag a KOM. I'm the one shouting 'raise you're seatpost you fat fuxker!' from the beach btw ;-)
    In these kind of stories I always assume that the "cyclist" in question is more of a BSO - a bicyclist shaped object.

    Who around here hasn't at some point enjoyed zipping along Riverside when the wind's behind you? But you would have to be some kind of serious fool not to expects peds at any point along the route - or any other cycle path, for that matter.

    As for dogs on extending leads - anyone who knows anything about dogs will tell you that they are an abomination for all kinds of reasons: they train dogs to pull their lead, they fail to prevent the dog from attacking people and other dogs, they allow a dog to get real momentum before the lead is stopped, meaning they can often break free - and in fact, they might be legally classed as not having your dog under control at all.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    DeVlaeminck wrote:
    Slowbike wrote:
    thegreatdivide wrote:
    I'm the one shouting 'raise you're seatpost you fat fuxker!' from the beach btw ;-)

    and they're the ones shouting "Correct your Grammer idiot!" back .... ;)


    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=grammer

    Second one down.
    :D
  • pastryboy
    pastryboy Posts: 1,385
    Only thing that bothers me is other cyclists or joggers who insist on being dead centre of the path blocking you and usually have headphones in.
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    don't use cycle paths. I don't on principle as they are nearly all badly deisgned and the mixed ones are a liability. safer on the road.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    We have some nice ones round here. Usually quite quiet with the occasional Walker but mainly for bikes. Great routes that avoid some crappy busy roads. You'd be silly to avoid them all on principle.
  • Andyn11
    Andyn11 Posts: 31
    Vslowpace wrote:
    Cyclist moaning about others using "their" path, where's the difference between that and road users moaning about cyclists on "their"roads.

    Are you an only child

    No I am not... I also don't cycle on the road, as a younger sibling I tend to learn from other people's mistakes

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