[Organon]

In the summer I often go off-road on some of the gravel trails around the Mersey. There seems to be a tutting generation of passive aggressive pedestrians who seem surprised that there would ever be a cyclist on these trails, including those clearly marked as part of the National Cycling Network (although some of those are just muddy pathways.) Even though I am slowing down to pass them and they hear my freewheel, or I even say ‘excuse me’ to pass them, I get some of the most panicked responses with people jumping out of my way or even stepping in front of me like they were being chased by a lion.

And then come the comments. I was going along a nice wide alternative route to a bypass road, 4m wide Network route. I go to the left of the route and a fella grabs his Golden Retriever and pulls it the full width of the route and says ‘Your Welcome’ loudly as I pass. This wasn’t a fast process, I didn’t ask you to throttle your dog. That is even before I have to navigate the horse turds there. And then there was the family on one side of the path. Dad calls out to his dog at the last moment and instead of leaving it to safely snuffle in the bushes it runs to him directly in front of me. Not only is it off the lead on a popular cycleway shouting at it is the very last thing you should be doing.

There are 10’s of thousands of miles of mixed use pavements and routes in this country; however pedestrians always assume you are not supposed to be there no matter how slowly you approach them. Roads are for cars, paths are for pedestrians, don’t dare to ride on either or expect the wrath of the tutting classes.

Topic

[Cycloid]

I often ride on towpaths. I

I often ride on towpaths. I don’t have a bell, but try to approach pedestrians slowly from behind with a polite “excuse me” when I think it’s close enough to be heard.

It’s the ones with headphones that annoy me, I find myself just behind them shouting at the top of my voice, to no avail. They don’t half jump though when I tap them on the shoulder!

There’s always the nightmare scenario, Three abreast on a country lane with headphones, and a couple of dogs on long leads

Seriuosly though, we should know from riding in traffic that pedestrians have absolute right of way, and deserve our consideration.

[bikeman01]

Covid-19 has added a new

Covid-19 has added a new class of extra nervous pedestrian. You’re riding along a road, the adjacent footpath is wide (maybe even on the opposite side of the road) yet the nervous pedestrian presses themselves as far over as they can, some even push themselves into hedges. 

I have this almost uncontrollable urge to shout ‘boo’. 

[bikeman01]

Sriracha wrote:

Sriracha wrote:

The ones who I can hear from some way off, usually by way of a bell, are no problem.

But for some PEDs just being a cyclist is apparently a problem, as they steadfastly refuse to hear the tinkle of an approaching bell, the shifting of a deraileur, the friendly hello, the louder bell, and finally the shout.

[Sriracha]

Bells aggressive? Depends
Bells aggressive? Depends what they are saying. If you are already coming through as you ding the bell then it’s saying “move over, now”. If you are still a way off when you ding it says “hi, there’s a bike coming, just to let you know.”
I know, not everyone hears it, yet I’m pleasantly surprised by how many, having seemingly not responded, do in fact step aside,[b] at their convenience[/b], but in good time for me nevertheless.
To do the same verbally, from that distance, I’d be raising my voice considerably. For whatever reason a loud bell is more accepted than a raised voice. And I think that being alerted from a distance is what makes the difference.

[Rick_Rude]

Dog walkers on ‘shared’ cycle
Dog walkers on ‘shared’ cycle paths are usually pig ignorant arseholes. Took my lad out, doing about 7 – 10 mph and it’s such a major inconvenience for them to put the dog back on the lead. He literally had to stop to avoid this piece of crap sausage dog going under his wheels. Obviously the owner looks at us as if we shouldn’t be there.

If anything, dog walking should be banned as the owners clearly don’t clear up looking at my local paths. Literal dog toilet.

[Anonymous]

Good lord, I’m not sure who’s

Good lord, I’m not sure who’s worse, the pedestrians, drivers or cyclists having read these comments.

I was always told to treat everyone on the roads as an idiot, that they are all out to kill you.

Likewise, on a shared path I always try to treat other users as actual people, you know, who can converse with each other. Use a bell if you really must, but it comes across as aggressive regardless of whether that is the intention or not.

Far better to slow down, state clearly your intentions in a calm voice, for instance “coming through on your left” and then thank them for moving over. If they are over dramatic, diving into the hedgerow give them a gentle dig, make a joke of it, we all need a laugh right now.

Obviously, it also depends on where you live and the cycle traffic on your local paths, but most pedestrians I come into contact with are absolutely fine unless you are pedalling like the clappers. There’s always the odd one, usually a dog walker, but I just throw them in the river!!

However, one thing that is often overlooked in these situations is that your local pedestrian is usually one of your local drivers too. Giving them some respect may just give them the opportunity to respect you some other time on the road. Being nice, costs nothing and might work to your advantage out on the roads.

[Saintlymark]

Nothing quite as irritating

Nothing quite as irritating as the sarcastic comment from a pedestrian assuming you should thank them for not being particularly helpful. We can all get it wrong sometimes, but I’ll decide when you behaviour is requiring or thanks and when mine is needing an apology, thanks. 

[brooksby]

srchar wrote:

Why wouldn’t you thank someone for pulling their dog out of your path, even if you thought their action was unnecessarily swift?

Doesn’t it depend on whether thet are pulling their dog out of your way or pulling their dog towards them (and into your way)?

[srchar]

Why wouldn’t you thank

Why wouldn’t you thank someone for pulling their dog out of your path, even if you thought their action was unnecessarily swift?

[Sriracha]

Hmm, let me visualise the
Hmm, let me visualise the scenario. Shared use thoroughfare, a slower vulnerable user in front, a faster one behind using a mechanical contrivance, and not enough room to pass safely. What’s the protocol?

[fukawitribe]

“however pedestrians always

“however pedestrians always assume you are not supposed to be there no matter how slowly you approach them”

..perhaps a consequence of their nasty habit of tarring everyone in their out-groups with the same brush ? Tut tut, such a thing…

[Sriracha]

My experience is that you can
My experience is that you can win, but you have to think it through from their perspective, recognising that they are enjoying a peaceful walk lost in their thoughts.

If you ride up their arse and hammer your bell at them, then yes, it comes across as aggressive – like you are asserting your priority. And if they didn’t already know you were coming it is a shock as well.

I find the key is to sound the bell from far enough that it comes across as a warning of your impending approach rather than as a demand to step out of your way immediately. That way you are just opening a necessary negotiation rather than asserting your urgent priority. And, it gives them time, that is the key; remember they are ambling along lost in thoughts, not alert on point duty scanning for incoming hazards.

I only came to this by considering how it feels for me when I am the pedestrian. The ones who teleport themselves up to within a metre before whoosing past do give me a heart attack. The ones who come up silently and then sound a bell or voice right behind are little better, they just trigger the fight/flight response. The ones who I can hear from some way off, usually by way of a bell, are no problem.

[fenix]

Have you tried chatting to

Have you tried chatting to them ?  And I’d want the dog under control rather than able to wander out in front of me. 

If its a shared path – slow down and expect all of this. I’ve never had any problems. 

[brooksby]

Sriracha wrote:

Sriracha wrote:

I always find a decent bell helps. As a pedestrian I hate it when I only become aware of a bike when it’s already time to step aside. It’s far more comfortable to know of its approach well before then so I have ample time – the lack of urgency makes the interaction much more pleasant. So as a cyclist I use my Lion bell loud and clear from as far as possible. Generally I find that makes the difference.

In my experience you can’t win:

If you ring or ping a bell, the pedestrian thinks you’re being aggressive and ordering them out of your way.

If you don’t use a bell, but say something, you’ll get people asking why you didn’t use a bell.

If you don’t make any sound but just sneak past you’ll get someone miming having a heart attack or making some snide comment.

[hawkinspeter]

I prefer the passive

I prefer the passive aggressive peds to the actually aggressive drivers.

(I sometimes quite enjoy meeting the clueless ped with their dog if I have to stop and then briefy make friends with the dog)

[Author]

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