Shared use paths
Discussion
Cyclists of Pistonheads, I seek your honesty.
You are on a shared use footpath and you are cycling along pretty quickly. Up ahead of you there are some pedestrians. Do you:
a) Ignore them and press on regardless. It's a shared use path, you are entitled to be there and you don't see why you should slow down or deviate from your path in any way because of them.
b) Ring your bell or yell at them that you are coming but slow down and deviate as little as possible.
c) Slow right down, give them as much space as possible, prepare to stop if necessary, let them know you are approaching, make eye contact with them, smile and be personable and then press on after you have passed them.
I'm sure that the vast majority of cyclists will say c), but this doesn't fit with what is taking place on a very regular basis on paths near where I live and in the cities of Bath and Bristol. Being involved in local politics and trying to come up with a transport plan that provides well for cyclists, is affordable and practical and doesn't involve pedestrians being treated with contempt, I'm trying to understand what attitudes honestly exist.
You are on a shared use footpath and you are cycling along pretty quickly. Up ahead of you there are some pedestrians. Do you:
a) Ignore them and press on regardless. It's a shared use path, you are entitled to be there and you don't see why you should slow down or deviate from your path in any way because of them.
b) Ring your bell or yell at them that you are coming but slow down and deviate as little as possible.
c) Slow right down, give them as much space as possible, prepare to stop if necessary, let them know you are approaching, make eye contact with them, smile and be personable and then press on after you have passed them.
I'm sure that the vast majority of cyclists will say c), but this doesn't fit with what is taking place on a very regular basis on paths near where I live and in the cities of Bath and Bristol. Being involved in local politics and trying to come up with a transport plan that provides well for cyclists, is affordable and practical and doesn't involve pedestrians being treated with contempt, I'm trying to understand what attitudes honestly exist.
If I am just cruising about then c.
However, if I need to get somewhere, and if the paths have one side for pedestrians and one side for bikes (clearly marked, dividing line etc). Then I am happy to press on in 'my' lane and go past at cruising speed 14-17mph even if there are people walking in the cycle lane. It grinds my gears TBH.
If there is no clear divide and its truly 'shared' then option c (with some b) has to be the default attitude.
However, if I need to get somewhere, and if the paths have one side for pedestrians and one side for bikes (clearly marked, dividing line etc). Then I am happy to press on in 'my' lane and go past at cruising speed 14-17mph even if there are people walking in the cycle lane. It grinds my gears TBH.
If there is no clear divide and its truly 'shared' then option c (with some b) has to be the default attitude.
I use the Bristol-Bath railway path quite a lot on foot and on bike for commuting and recreation. Generally cyclists keep left on the path, runners keep left and walkers keep right (so they are facing oncoming "traffic"). I've found this works well, but it only takes one person to deviate from these "guidelines" and chaos can ensue. Dog walkers and people fixated on their phone are the usual culprits. Commuters are generally good.
When passing pedestrians on my bike I slow down and cover the brakes, ring my bell and/or call out "Excuse me", give them as much space as possible and thank them as I pass. I've found that roughly 25% of cyclists using the path do the same when I'm the pedestrian being passed. Sometimes i have to stop/slow to a crawl as there are bikes coming the other way or the group of pedestrians takes time to make room (classic is 2 people walking abreast, hear the bell and both swap sides, so achieving nothing
)
I try not to cycle on that path at weekends as it is ideal for families, so you get lots of kids wobbling around on bikes, dogs all over the place and people generally not aware of their surroundings. Sometimes despite being (what I feel is) pretty courteous, I still startle people - generally I've not noticed they are plugged into headphones so probably haven't heard me approach. In those cases I may apologise but they still need to take some responsibility for staying aware of their surroundings - you could consider them mugger-fodder after all.
My "code of conduct" would essentially be:
When passing pedestrians on my bike I slow down and cover the brakes, ring my bell and/or call out "Excuse me", give them as much space as possible and thank them as I pass. I've found that roughly 25% of cyclists using the path do the same when I'm the pedestrian being passed. Sometimes i have to stop/slow to a crawl as there are bikes coming the other way or the group of pedestrians takes time to make room (classic is 2 people walking abreast, hear the bell and both swap sides, so achieving nothing
)I try not to cycle on that path at weekends as it is ideal for families, so you get lots of kids wobbling around on bikes, dogs all over the place and people generally not aware of their surroundings. Sometimes despite being (what I feel is) pretty courteous, I still startle people - generally I've not noticed they are plugged into headphones so probably haven't heard me approach. In those cases I may apologise but they still need to take some responsibility for staying aware of their surroundings - you could consider them mugger-fodder after all.
My "code of conduct" would essentially be:
- Cyclists/runners keep left (more so in commuting times than others).
- Walkers keep right (more so in commuting times than others).
- Weekdays between 6-9am and 4-7pm be aware that people will be commuting so during these times try to keep dogs/children under closer control.
- Slow down, warn and thank people when you pass them (regardless of mode of transport).
- Stay aware of your surroundings - single headphone in for example.
- SMILE!
- In winter, use lights/reflective gear whether you're walking, running or cycling (loads of winter morning dog walkers wear all black and are then shocked when a cyclist doesn't see them).
Mon Ami Mate said:
Several examples of both, and plans for more, especially of the shared pavement variety.
On the Bristol-Bath RP and the Ring Road shared path, at commuting times, everyone ignores the walkers half/cyclists half signs/paint and just stays left (cyclists/runners) or right (walkers).I find the segregated (by paint) bits are less useful than shared paths letting people sort it out themselves.
Edited by ewenm on Thursday 22 August 09:50
This is no different to road driving (shared use between cars, cyclists, lorries etc.) so anyone answering A or B need to have a little think about their cycling.
Let's put the original post in perspective
As poster above says, rather not crash at all than crash but say "but I was in the right".
ACtually, re-reading - B is acceptable if they've clearly seen you and are letting you through (e.g. when a dog owner holds his dog, stops to let you through etc.)
Let's put the original post in perspective
Mon Ami Mate said:
Motorists of Pistonheads, I seek your honesty.
You are on a shared use road and you are driving pretty quickly. Up ahead of you there are some cyclists. Do you:
a) Ignore them and press on regardless. It's a shared use road, you are entitled to be there and you don't see why you should slow down or deviate from your path in any way because of them.
b) Ring your bell or yell at them that you are coming but slow down and deviate as little as possible.
c) Slow right down, give them as much space as possible, prepare to stop if necessary, let them know you are approaching, make eye contact with them, smile and be personable and then press on after you have passed them.
Obviously, that's in mind of approaching them from behind or passing face to face on a single track road (or between parked cars etc.). I'm not suggesting they slow right down on an open road because a cyclist is coming the other way! As for shared use paths, there will mostly be little space (narrow lane) so should always slow down in case of child/dog/adult even falling over/darting out etc.You are on a shared use road and you are driving pretty quickly. Up ahead of you there are some cyclists. Do you:
a) Ignore them and press on regardless. It's a shared use road, you are entitled to be there and you don't see why you should slow down or deviate from your path in any way because of them.
b) Ring your bell or yell at them that you are coming but slow down and deviate as little as possible.
c) Slow right down, give them as much space as possible, prepare to stop if necessary, let them know you are approaching, make eye contact with them, smile and be personable and then press on after you have passed them.
As poster above says, rather not crash at all than crash but say "but I was in the right".
ACtually, re-reading - B is acceptable if they've clearly seen you and are letting you through (e.g. when a dog owner holds his dog, stops to let you through etc.)
Edited by Dracoro on Thursday 22 August 10:02
Mon Ami Mate said:
b) Ring your bell or call out politely at them that you are coming but slow down and deviate as little as possible.
Usually this, if I'm allowed alittle edit. Basically same as I would when walking or driving past a slower moving person/vehicle.Only difference would be dog walkers, whom I would observe C for, as the dog is such an unknown quantiy :-)
I have a 2mile converted railway near me, its superb. The vast majority of people, cyclists and dog walkers stay left, as such if you are head to head you can pass at full speed with just a smile of friendly nod, overtaking walkers I generally ring or say "morning" or similar.
I have used the Bath-Bristol trail, its an amazing local amenity, you are lucky to have it. I can see at busy times how issues might arise, in places its very narrow for a MUP. IMO these need to be at least 2mtrs wide, preferably 3mtrs.
As a cyclists on one of these MUP you should ride like a Police Pursuit driver, you're so much faster than the other traffic and need to be ultra vigilant, however if everyone stayed left and remembered it wasn't pedestrian only that might be nice.
Bit of B & C. I commute using the bristol bath cycle path.
Anyone coming the other way will have seen me, so no point slowing down for them, they arent exactly about to leap in front of me.
People heading the same direction as me wont have seen me. and get varying degrees of b&c depending on all the little things. People on their own dont tend to bimble all over the place, but if its a pair of people or more, or there is a dog involved, all bets are off and its walking pace till I'm past.
Instinct and body language play a part, saved me last night as a girl decided to abruptly stop and turn across the path without looking, earned a 'careful' as I came by.
There is immense silliness that occurs at either end though. The first 2 miles from the centre of bristol is no place to try and press on, likewise the bath end once you get to the dolphin forget it.
I'll conceed I may have pressed on a bit in the past near bristol centre, now I come in from the other way, joining at saltford. Much quieter.
And to the women who was walking her black dog off the lead, with no light or reflective collar in the midford tunnel path, you're an idiot.
Anyone coming the other way will have seen me, so no point slowing down for them, they arent exactly about to leap in front of me.
People heading the same direction as me wont have seen me. and get varying degrees of b&c depending on all the little things. People on their own dont tend to bimble all over the place, but if its a pair of people or more, or there is a dog involved, all bets are off and its walking pace till I'm past.
Instinct and body language play a part, saved me last night as a girl decided to abruptly stop and turn across the path without looking, earned a 'careful' as I came by.
There is immense silliness that occurs at either end though. The first 2 miles from the centre of bristol is no place to try and press on, likewise the bath end once you get to the dolphin forget it.
I'll conceed I may have pressed on a bit in the past near bristol centre, now I come in from the other way, joining at saltford. Much quieter.
And to the women who was walking her black dog off the lead, with no light or reflective collar in the midford tunnel path, you're an idiot.
Mon Ami Mate said:
Several examples of both, and plans for more, especially of the shared pavement variety.
In my experience shared pavements are tricky to get right. They just about work as connecting links for family leisure cycling but for a commuter trying to get somewhere or a sport cyclist they are often worse than useless.Out of interest are you a cyclist yourself? Only asking because it will be helpful to know how to pitch my advice.
Problems occur because pedestrians tend to treat shared use paths as pavements and cyclists tend to treat them as roads, when in fact they are neither and we have far less experience of them than either roads or pavements, so have little specific ingrained behaviour for them.
My comment to the OH a few weeks ago after a particularly trying cycle home was "Shared paths are great except when I have to share them"
My comment to the OH a few weeks ago after a particularly trying cycle home was "Shared paths are great except when I have to share them"
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