Surely the correct approach is to ding your bell as you are approaching?

Never a great issue for me in Edinburgh – all the paths I know are shared use apart from the nonsensical one in holyrood park and a ding on the bell works fine 99% of the time

Surely the correct approach is to ding your bell as you are approaching?

I’m not sure that works, or better put that the cyclist should assume that it works. I heard a bell on a recent amble down a canal tow path, but didn’t recognise the noise as being a bell and as a result did nothing.

I came round a corner, at speed, to a scattering group of toddlers,

At a trail centre (Llandegla? Maybe) I once had to dismount to get past a large pile of abandoned bikes at the start of a section of singletrack. Got back on and spun up to then discover that a couple of families had decided that this nice path and wooded area was a fantastic place for a game of hide and seek.

It all comes down to awareness and people living in thier own little worlds.

The UK sucks a lot of the time because most people are only interested in benefits for them, they want to gain something but don’t care if someone else loses out as a result.

Capitalism is like that, we have so little in our lives that makes us feel alive, that we are so focused on getting some happiness or something good for a while, that we fail ask if what we are doing will detrimentally affect other? or how it all got so shit for everyone on a regular basis.

This is a dedicated cycle path, no other paths near it.

Really? Where?

why not just strap a devil dog to your bars?

I cannot believe that we have reached page 2 & nobody has mentioned “owned” & “bombers”

The obviuos solution I’d have thought.

pop a cheeky manual, that usually shits them up

Stood in the middle chatting is pretty much a dumb move on their part, it’s a road! Er hello it’s a road!
My view is they stop having right of way once the put the kettle on and get the garibaldi biscuits out … I mean come on!

If it was me all of the above could happen depending on my mood at the time… The sensible thing would be to stop and explain the danger they are in politely (you might even get offered a biscuit, bonus!)… But truthfully I would probably take out the shotgun and waste them 😉 evolution of the species!

Oh so your the only person in the world who uses cycle lanes?

No everyone uses cycle lanes, dog walkers, pedestrians, parents with buggy’s, joggers/runners, cars to drive in or park on, this is the UK and respect or common sense is uncool.

Be cool, be a shit head innit!

You need to ride with a little more regard for other people in this world who share the same place/space.
Riding in That London teaches you a few things about give and take etc. Chill Out, enjoy the other 99% of your ride that was uninterupted.

Set off 5 minutes earlier so that you don’t get stressed by minor delays in your journey.

Hahahaha! an uninterupted ride, where can I get one of those.

Nice sentiment, sounds a bit like something jesus would say, turn the other cheek and all that.

Far too often in this country people just don’t give a shit, if you simply say nothing then you lose out and they gain, basically your going along with them and thier attitude, your reinforcing thier belief that thier behaviour is acceptable.

Also if you don’t let them know that you’re coming, you make it far more likely that a child or adult will be startled or will break away from the main group as you try and pass, into your path.

The bottom line is all too often people say nothing when this kind of crap happens and things are just getting worse!

Were they bigger than you and look like they could run and catch you ?

If not, then the correct procedure is to launch a snot bullet in their direction as you pass. Not at them, just in their direction. That gets the message across.

kaesae you do know on the national cycle network the pths are for shared use, and a cyclist is supposed to giveway to pedestrians……..try a little politeness yourself, it works wonders

this is a copy of the good cycling guide relative to the national cycle network, maybe have a read and digest
General
Be courteous!
Always cycle with respect for others,
whether other cyclists, pedestrians,
people in wheelchairs, horse-riders or
drivers and acknowledge those who
give way to you.
Shared Use
[/b]Give way to pedestrians, leaving them
plenty of room.
Keep to your side of any dividing line.
Be prepared to slow down or stop if
necessary.
Don’t expect to cycle at high speeds.
PUBLIC
BRIDLEWAYS
Public bridleways are defined in
statute as highways over which there
is a right of way on foot, on horseback
or leading a horse, with an invalid
carriage or on a bicycle. Under the
Countryside Act 1968 (section 30)
bicyclists (but not unicyclists or
tricyclists) have a right to use
bridleways provided they give way to
walkers and horse riders.
Bridleways will make up approximately
140 miles (1.5%) nationwide (of which
half were previously surfaced), of the
whole Network. In total, there are
about 18,000 miles of bridleway in
England alone. In addition there are
other non-statutory permissive paths
where agreement for access by horse
riders, cyclists and walkers has been
reached with the landowner. To date,
through the creation of the National
Cycle Network, over 90 miles of new
permissive paths for horseriders,
walkers and cyclists have already been
created.
Much of what follows applies just as
much to those permissive paths as to
public bridleways.
Bridleways are sometimes rendered
impassable for pedestrians, cyclists and
horse riders by the movement of farm
vehicles and livestock, by forestry
operations, by poor drainage or by
lack of maintenance.
Without proper management of the
path, horses can also severely damage
surfaces, making cycling and walking
difficult.
All legitimate users should be able to
use National Cycle Network routes
comfortably in any weather
conditions, and Sustrans can
legitimately allocate Millennium
Commission funds towards this goal.
However, this should not preclude the
use of bridleways by any one group,
when alterations to suit another group
are carried out.
Our preferred way of achieving use for
all is to have a bridleway at least 4
metres, but preferably 5 metres, wide.
This would be surfaced to create two
paths, each a minimum of 2 metres
wide, with a sealed surface for cyclists,
wheelchairs, buggy pushers, young
children and less hardy walkers, and an
equally wide engineered grass surface
for horses and more experienced
ramblers (see boxes 1 and 2).
The decision on the actual surface
should be based on local
circumstances, expected use and
treatments already in use locally. It
should be noted that maintenance of
bridleways should not result in a less
commodious facility for any of the
legitimate users. Legal truncation of
the bridleway width may be necessary
but bridleways often have a defined
width in the definitive map statement
so legal procedures must be followed
if the width is to be reduced.
Cuckoo trail in Hailsham. Parallel cycle and
horsepaths.
The Good Cycling Code
Be careful at junctions, bends and
entrances. Remember that many
people are hard of hearing or visually
impaired. Don’t assume they can see
or hear you.
Carry a bell and use it.
Don’t surprise people.
Where there are wheelchair users and
horse-riders, please give away.
On Roads
Always follow the Highway Code.
Be seen – most accidents to cyclists
happen at junctions.
Fit and use lights in poor visibility.
Consider wearing a helmet and
conspicuous clothing.
Keep your bike roadworthy.
Pavements are for pedestrians – don’t
cycle on them except where
designated.
Use the bell – not all pedestrians can
see you.
In Country Areas
Follow the Country Code.
Respect other land management
activities such as farming or forestry
and take litter home.
Cycle within your capabilities.
Match your speed to the surface and
your skills.

a cyclist is supposed to giveway to pedestrians

The OP implied that the cycle path was being blocked – giving way on a shared path is not equal to having to get off the path completely to get around the pedestrians because they are blocking it.

giving way on a shared path is not equal to having to get off the path completely to get around the pedestrians because they are blocking it.

lots of walkers think it is tho, hence problems, how the hell do you get passed a bunch of pedestrians completely blocking the trail going in the same direction as you? Does kind of need pointing out to some people. I like samuri’s approach for stationary peds, quite passive aggressive.

how the hell do you get passed a bunch of pedestrians completely blocking the trail going in the same direction as you

I get this problem when walking/running on regular pavements as well – something to do with parents thinking that having children gives them rights over everyone else…

erm, chill out? live and let live?

I don’t mind sharing but creating a road block out of your kids is just dumb!

but creating a road block out of your kids is just dumb!

I think you mean ignorant…

The correct answer to the OP, of course, is “ring your bell.”

You do all have bells for riding on shared use paths, right?

Just cycle around them. Aye they’re being a bit inconsiderate but it’s hardly a disaster.

If you continually get angry/upset/outraged at little things like this you’re going to have a very stressful life

OP, you’re just grumpy, try this:

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URAqnM1PP5E[/video]