When a cyclist is approaching on a shared path would you mind deciding which side of the path you want to move to when there are more than one of you?
You really aren't doing us cyclists a favour when you part like the Red Sea with half of you one on each side of the path. This says collective indecision and invites panicking people, children and dogs to cross the path in front of us cyclists without warning.
It's especially disappointing when couples do this. Is your relationship so bad that under the slightest duress your instinct is to split up?
“Afternoon, just coming past on your left”.
Problem solved.
“Afternoon, just coming past on your left”.
Problem solved.
It's mainly a problem when approaching from their front. They are often already parting like the Red Sea well before you're in range of being able to instruct them, and why would they take orders from me anyway?
Yup - its annoying - but then I tend to do it when walking. Ones instinct is to go to the side you're nearest to
Chill out man, it's a shared path. They were good enough to give you room.
Makes me laugh when a couple split like that , realise the issue then both cross to the opposite sides to be polite and accommodating. 😃
They were good enough to give you room.
I appreciate the effort but otoh one of the rules of the path is that you shouldn't block it. They should leave a space for cyclists and horses.
My favourite is the elaborate two step...the one on left goes left one on the right goes right, they pause then switch...
Hierarchy of users, take extra care around the most vulnerable. Even if they appear to be idiots.
Yeah expect it and if it doesn’t happen - bonus. They’re independent beings, not fruit flies. Maybe identical twins would do something funky like the footpath equivalent of finishing each others’ sentences.
i find it odd and very common that a walker on the right as im approaching on the left sees me and crosses the shared path to then be on my side in front of me....just stay where you are man..
...but did you use your bell to signal that you were coming?
no cos we are facing each other like cars on roads do
It's their right of way, you should be stopping for them.... 😉
its their right of way to cross the path and then be in front of me..err ok
I found this particularly puzzling, during the stricter times of lockdown.
Despite being outdoors, standing on either side of the path often didn't allow for social distancing, for somebody passing between.
Due consideration should be given to pedestrians, though, as per recent legislation changes.
On another front, I prefer to use the term 'priority', rather than 'right of way' as I feel the latter is more to do with whether the individual concerned is allowed to use the particular path/lane/road/motorway - on a shared use path, cyclists and pedestrians both have right of way, but the latter has priority.
Every day of my life - commute along the canal - it's the humans who follow the dogs that don't know what to do. The dogs need a word with the walker.
Every day of my life – commute along the canal – it’s the humans who follow the dogs that don’t know what to do. The dogs need a word with the walker.
The deer walkers are even worse than the dog walkers
Sheep are far more predictable than walkers. I like sheep.
Sheep are far more predictable than walkers. I like sheep.
I like sheep too, but they can be bonkers sometimes. Rather than moving off to the side of the path as you approach, sometimes they’ll quite happily trot along in front of you for a while.
I've thought about this a lot. I think it's instinctive, and never going to change
I like sheep too, but they can be bonkers sometimes. Rather than moving off to the side of the path as you approach, sometimes they’ll quite happily trot along in front of you for a while.
Just like my stoopid dog...sigh
Since walkers are the only group that are not really under any obligation to know any user rules for paths I assume they’re all idiots who will behave chaotically and plan accordingly. Everyone else should have basic road sense.
Its bloody badgers that seem to have no manners. Leap out in front of you then just stop.
What I don’t get is that everyone manages to get by fine by driving their cars on the left side of the roads, but when confronted by someone coming towards them on bike or on foot, over 90% ‘instinctively’ move to their right. I run with my dog and taught her to run either in front or on my left side. I sometime run with a harness and her on a 2m lead - we can move quite quickly at less than 4mins/km - on the canal towpath which is more than 2m wide if I see someone approaching, I’ll move over to the left to give them plenty of room and they still step in front. These days, we’re more likely to be off-lead, but she still goes left as that’s what she’s trained to do - she’s often muddy and wet and will squeeze through the smallest gap 🤣
I find moorhens very unpredictable on the towpath, go behind a duck and it moves away. However, moorhens get a bit of a panic on and can run in any direction, a bit like squirrels! I don’t know what they’re like in water - ducks and moorhens, I’ve no experience there, I don’t think squirrels like water - I’ve never seen one in the canal.
Oh, I do use a bell.
Well I've been a walkerist far longer than a bikeist. Indeed when I started breeches and red stockings were de riguer. So let me tell you my side is the correct one.
What I don’t get is that everyone manages to get by fine by driving their cars on the left side of the roads, but when confronted by someone coming towards them on bike or on foot, over 90% ‘instinctively’ move to their right.
Ah now then, on the road pedestrians should face oncoming traffic so maybe the ones that move to the right are correct. Not that they necessarily walk on the correct side of the road though!
I had one the other day where they all stepped to the same side, looked around, realised they'd all stepped to the same side, and so some crossed back over.
I mean, caused no issues, but I'd love to know what they were thinking.
I blame Mike Reid, “Run around now”
Bloke walking on a path/ trail today, i rang my bell repeatedly, my mate shouts ‘excuse me’ several times as we get closer - zero response, passed him either side and he nearly pooed his pants, earbuds in, lost in music!
Although this walker had earbuds in, a deaf person may have the same reaction, slow right down and pass one side turn and smile, say hello, a cheery wave?
him either side and he nearly pooed his pants, earbuds in, lost in music!
Caught in a trap?
I blame Mike Reid, “Run around now”
Blimey, you're old!
Chill out man, it’s a shared path. They were good enough to give you room.
This. If you're in a hurry, use the road.
And.. you’re a walker on a bicycle, cyclists can be as infuriating on trails too, stay calm and smile, stay positive, you can still cycle without bombs and shrapnel around you, you’re very lucky compared to some at the moment. However, we should still push for a better governance?
Just realised that this is a bit of a crossover from https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/best-insult-youve-had-from-an-angry-walker/
I appreciate the effort but otoh one of the rules of the path is that you shouldn’t block it. They should leave a space for cyclists and horses.
Back in the day when people had sensible sized handlebars leaving a gap in the middle was probably enough!
I try to never think of the trail or bridleway etc as "my" path, so I cycle with the attitude that I most probably will encounter people, including walkers glued to their phones, loose dogs/ children etc. After that, it's all about management, if you call out in a friendly voice well in advance to people using the trails and then wish folk the most excellent day as you go past then 99.9% of the time your interactions with walkers, horse riders etc will be positive.
Shouldn’t this patronising thread be on a walking forum ?
Maybe OP was asking for advice where to post ?
Personally I find that if I cycle down the middle of a shared path people part to either side. If I stick to the left, then they stick to their left too
I wonder if a walkerist has posted a similar thread on a walking forum?
…but did you use your bell to signal that you were coming?
I know they're uncool but one of the most significant upgrades to any of my bikes used on a shared path is a loud bell with a good, low tone so older people hear it easier. Gives people plenty time to decide which side of the path to move to, you rarely see the classic line dancing moves from walkers then which is a shame really. Often an excuse for bit of a laugh with them.
earbuds in, lost in music!
Because every day starts well when it starts with disco. Love this remix.
When a cyclist is approaching on a shared path would you mind deciding which side of the path you want to move to when there are more than one of you?
I find that if you move to one side, the walkers will move to the other side like magic...If you ride down the middle of the path they tend to part like the red sea.
I find that if you move to one side, the walkers will move to the other side like magic…If you ride down the middle of the path they tend to part like the red sea.
This too. The difference between expecting things to be a particular way and positively influencing them to be that way.
We do ride to the side don't we?
Common sense reminder.
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“Afternoon, just coming past on your left”.
Problem solved.
I take it you've never actually cycled where walkers/pedestrians are?
On a bridleway we have the right to ride but should give way to horse and pedestrians
As far as I know on a bridleway there is no keep left expectation
I know they’re (bicycle bells) uncool
Only if you’re 13 years old 😉
I use a big rotary bell on the town/ute/touring bike
and a small, piercing dinger on the 29er. Much prefer the big rotary one. It’s cheerful and bicycle-y, and loud, and it gleams in the sunlight.
I think that there are (most often) sensible/preferable instances for using a bell, and also opportunities for not using bells
What I find is never ‘cool’ on a bike is a sense of entitlement, impatience and irritation. ‘Move out of my way, and be sure to move promptly and in the manner by which I prefer!’*
*unless on a marked shared paths with one side for pedestrians and another for bikes. I feel annoyed/impatient when whole families take up the whole path. But I will still pull up to a stop and be prepared to lightly admonish them with humour, with the expectation that we part on good terms. ie ‘I’m glad you finally moved off my side, If we’d been on a bend I might have accidentally parked a front wheel in your cheek, wahEY!’ etc…
