Families riding bikes

[Cam77]

Some probably won’t agree but it’s starting to annoy me. Whenever I/we go out for a walk we often have to rush out out the way of families bike rides (sometimes both parents and two/three kids) cycling along the pavements.
I know a family bike ride is a nice activity. But how can the person walking toward you practice effective social distancing when a group of four/five people is zooming often unsighted around the corner at 5-10mph?
And the parent(s) often stay at the back of the family group with little kids in front, who often have virtually zero awareness of the environment ahead.
It’s getting to the point where I don’t want to take my child/dog for a quick walk because we can’t get out of the way of all the large groups of family cyclists and heavy breathing joggers bursting round corners. What’s wrong with a nice stroll? That’s what’s people in China did when went into lockdown (Though not everyday. Most kids just went for a quick walk round the block, with face mask) once a week). I keep hearing about they fiddled the figures but actually the biggest difference is just that they acted with sensible caution.

[JayAlfredPrufrock]

I agree. I’m sick of joggers huffing and puffing past me on the towpath so I’ve stopped walking there. Our pavements are wide but kids on bikes have no idea about distancing.

[footprintsintheslow]

Even if it happened once every walk I went on it would be something I'd tut at and then move on from.
The roads are quiet here so I'd take myself and my pram into the road whilst they passed me. It would be annoying but I'd get over it.

It wouldn't be something that would stop me having my daily exercise. But you can stay in because if it if you want.

[HuckfromScandal]

Ffs - just because they are not exercising the way you want them to...

Get a grip - if you don’t like it - stay home.

[CherryPavlova]

Why are they on pavements when roads are now so empty? Good time to train children in safe cycling on the roads.

[Oysterbabe]

For most of us a nice stroll is not really exercise, you need to get your heart rate up. I run often and everyone I encounter is very respectful of social distancing. I usually go in the road.

[Iggly]

Yes I know families doing this. My kids want to go on bike rides but because I can’t trust them to stay 2m from people and I can’t trust them to ride on roads (well I can’t trust dick head drivers) then we are just going for walks at the moment.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

There's plenty of space where I walk but I do wish some families (or groups of adults too) would stop riding 3 or 4 abreast. It's moldy annoying but I hope the families I now see continue to do this in the future. I have always walked my dog (often further from home) but there are a lot of families out there for whom this is a new activity. I'm sure the children are loving this time outdoors with their parents.

[Cam77]

I guess from a practical point of view I’d ask that if people absolutely must keep with the family bike rides that the adult makes absolutely clear to children’s that they must all stop when pedestrians appear on pavement, to at least allow pedestrians a chance to navigate around them.

[Yester]

God it brings out the pettiness in people.

[Yester]

Save your anger for the government's ridiculously slow response. Its herd immunity and years of underfunding the NHS

[Cam77]

@footprintsintheslow
That’s what I usually try to do. But there’s not always time to navigate past a big group of cyclists who suddenly emerge around the corner. I made that clear in the OP.

[HelloJohnGotANewMotor]

This isn't something I have seen. I live in a densely populated area- think rows and rows of terraces with narrow streets. I haven't encountered one cyclist on the pavement, never mind a family. Most people are walking and we step to the opposite edges of the pavement, step off the kerb or cross the road as necessary.( and say a cheery hello and roll our eyes in a We're All In This Together kind of way).
Any families/ groups on bikes should be more aware of their behaviour. Behaving as you describe is not acceptable, I just personally haven't seen anything like it.

[Cam77]

@Yester
Few have been more critical of the government than me. But as we are stuck with this government for the next 4 years we have to look to other things. Being considerate of others and taking all possible small steps to stop the spread. Social distancing matters. It’s not adjust a nice guide, it’s a vital rule to adhere to.

[Sohardtochooseausername]

Get angry with the government for not being prepared for this or taking it seriously soon enough. Don’t have a go at people trying to do their beat for their kids.

[footprintsintheslow]

@CherryPavlova @Cam77 I do agree with you that this is the perfect time to teach road skills and if they must use the pavement then food etiquette.

Even my two year old knows to step on the grass away from the footpath on sight of another human now!

[plunkplunkfizz]

God it brings out the pettiness in people.

Hardly petty to want to be able to take a walk safely.

[footprintsintheslow]

Food etiquette??!!! I think I meant pavement etiquette.

Hmmm food

[Pollyputthepizzaon]

If people exercising within the guidelines upsets you this much you should stay home.

Leaves more room for others who are exercising to get on with it.

[willowhazel]

They should have a parent at the front and back if there are two parents with them.

[Cam77]

@Yester
People are not able to safe walk around the block because other people are not exercising due caution outside. Pettiness is a silly word to describe it. We are in the midst of a pandemic ffs. People need to stop thinking about what they want and start thinking about how to keep others safe.

[bobstersmum]

The whizzing around blind corners is not on, but I think even on a pavement if they keep to one side and you keep to the other, in the open air you will all be fine? Unless someone is actually coughing on you.

[Iggly]

Get angry with the government for not being prepared for this or taking it seriously soon enough. Don’t have a go at people trying to do their beat for their kids

Or, how about getting incredibly angry at our government and be annoyed at the thoughtlessness of inconsiderate cyclists?

Both are perfectly doable.

[Ferfooksek]

Ffs posters really can’t help themselves having a dig at the government. It’s not been underfunded, it’s been grossly mis-managed. Corbyn isn’t relevant anymore, stop listening to him. Think for yourselves for once in your life.

[Cam77]

@Pollyputthepizzaon
If you are keeping barely 50cm between passerby who didn’t have time to react to a large group of cyclists, you are not practicing social disctaning - and you are also failing to social distance in a selfish way which means pedestrians don’t have the time to keep a safe distance.

[thedancingbear]

FFS this is pathetic.

'I hate cyclists! I hate joggers! I hate families! Only what I do is acceptable!'

Grow up OP. This is infantile, you're helping no-one and achieving nothing