[Mad1580]

Hi and hello everyone.

First of all, I want everyone to understand I have no gripe against cyclists. 

However, locally there is a pedestrian/cycle path. The cyclists take delight in zooming past pedestrians as close and as fast as possible. So e weeks ago a cyclists ran into me, bruised my back, swore at me and accused me of ” being all over the place”. I asked why he did not warn me by using g his bell. Instead of replying g he rode off.

I have asked the local council to consider having demarcation lines one side for pedestrians, one side for cyclists. So far there has been no response.

What is youd view on this , I feel there will be more accidents, maybe even a fatality.

Car drivers have to give e cyclists a metre and a half passing room, how about the same for cyclists to give pedestrians?

Just out of interest, I was 69 last weekend, I have several health conditions including g a heart condition. I just want to have a short walk a couple of times a day without being scared of being the victim of an accident or being sworn at.

Topic

[hawkinspeter]

Mad1580 wrote:

I think I was hoping that using g this website, with its ” near pass of thd day” video would meet with a response showing concern and a ” what can we do to get along together” attitude. I don’t want cyclists to be castigated, but pedestrians have rights too. Why can’t that be respected. Now I drive to a different location ,walking around d a beautiful lake,where cyclists are not allowed!!

Cyclists aren’t a collective, so there’s very little “we” can do to get along as there is no “we”. It’s similar to asking what you can do to stop other motorists from speeding/using phones etc.

It’s a shame that you need to drive to get your exercise now.

[hawkinspeter]

It’s a general problem with

It’s a general problem with shared infrastructure. You get pedestrians that don’t realise that they may be on the bike side or even walk two/three across and block both sides. You also get cyclists that think that they should be able to go full speed as it’s “cycle” infrastructure and maybe even “buzz” pedestrians that are on the “bike” side. I don’t think that a painted line will do much to help anyone.

The law is very much on the side of pedestrians (no matter which side of the path that they’re on) and as cyclists are the ones with the greater speed and/or mass, they should be mindful of the increased danger that they pose. However, at least 5% of people are inconsiderate assholes and it sounds like you encountered one of them – I’m thankful that they were just on a bike and not using something faster and heavier.

Usually, cyclists are more than capable of slipping past obstacles with much less than 1.50m room and as cyclists have skin-in-the-game, they’re typically much more careful than motorists (or at least they tend to be more careful after misjudging distances). Also, if an asshole cyclist is going to close-pass people, then they’re likely to ignore any minimum distance laws, so I don’t think legislation is going to make any difference at all.

Anyhow, I hope you get over your fear of close-passes (they can certainly be very scary for cyclists) and continue with your exercise. Don’t let one incident bully you from getting a few walks in.

[Mad1580]

Thank you for your sensible

Thank you for your sensible reply. I assure you j have taken the matter to the council, in view of the fact that another path to our local Morrisons has the demarcation and is respected by cyclists and pedestrians. 

I think I was hoping that using g this website, with its ” near pass of thd day” video would meet with a response showing concern and a ” what can we do to get along together” attitude. I don’t want cyclists to be castigated, but pedestrians have rights too. Why can’t that be respected. Now I drive to a different location ,walking around d a beautiful lake,where cyclists are not allowed!!

[Mad1580]

Hi there, your comment about

Hi there, your comment about cyclists  zooming past. 

If only they were just teenagers,but unfortunately not. And no I do not have insight into their mental state, just a knowledge of the hand signals they make when I ask them why they didn’t warn me of their presence. I havnt put this thread on to cause disrespect,just to state facts as they are happening to me. The bruising g was not pleasant, very painful  and im not sure of your age, maybe you are not a teenager, so maybe you wouldn’t like to find  that your Mum had been a collision with a cyclist who refused to warn me he was there and ran I to me!

The person who ran I to me was I  his 50’s. All I heard behind me was ” oh,oh,oh” then the impact.  This is all so disappointing. I was a cyclist who took, the Cycling Profficiency test while at school in the ’50’s.  We had to have a working bell to alert pedestrians. 

What’s wrong with the cyclists then In our area who do cycle past really fast and as close as possible. 

 

 

 

[mdavidford]

If there is sufficient cycle

If there is sufficient cycle traffic that you regularly feel intimidated by its proximity, then probably adding separation lines isn’t really enough. They’re of limited use, given that neither cyclists or pedestrians can be relied upon to remain on ‘their side’, and typically there isn’t enough room to pass another path user without crossing the line. There would be a good case for campaigning for the council to provide dedicated cycle facilities that would separate both modes entirely and likely make both lots of people happier.

[andystow]

“The cyclists take delight in

“The cyclists take delight in zooming past pedestrians as close and as fast as possible.”

This seems unlikely unless they’re teenagers trying to impress their friends. Do you have some insight into their mental state that most people wouldn’t, or do they laugh maniacally as they pass?

In any case, yes separation might help if the path is wide enough, and yes cyclists should ride relatively slowly around pedestrians and give them a wide berth, even if it means waiting to pass. The vast majority of us do so.

A map link to the path might help if you really want fruitful discussion.

[Author]

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