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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to point out these things to people who used a shared cycle path?

70 replies

MrsFlannel · 18/03/2015 12:08

It's a SHARED path. That means it is for cyclists AND runners, walkers with or without dogs.

If you want to stand in the middle of the path with three large dogs talking to your friend, do not be surprised when I don't say "good morning" back to you as I squeeze my three children past you on our bikes because you've left us a FOOT of path.

If you walk all smiley and happy on the RIGHT side of the path do not be surprised when I am annoyed to have to swerve into oncoming "traffic" with my DC and risk a collision.

If you have dogs which are nervous of wheeled things, please hold them or get them to sit down so they don't suddenly dart beneath my wheels and risk getting injured. I love dogs by the way.

I DO have a bell and I DO call out "Just coming up behind you!" in a cheery voice when walkers are ahead of me....they then turn like this Shock and look as though I've just told them to get out of the bastard way or thrown shit at them.

If I don't call out they do the same.

So...if you use a path as a walker and it is also meant for cyclists, please walk on the LEFT.

Please. It's my only way to get to school and I hate the risks.

OP posts:
annielouise · 18/03/2015 12:18

Yes, I agree with you. Especially cyclists cycling on the right hand side!

Original poster
MrsFlannel · 18/03/2015 12:20

I spoke up today "You're meant to stick to the left" to a man with his dogs....he was in the way and so were his dogs...he gave me a mouthful of abuse..."fucking this and fucking that" and I had my children with me.

Luckily they were oblivious as we'd gone past him then but he was calling after me and I felt nervous then. What can I do though?

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsFlannel · 18/03/2015 12:21

annie I've never once seen a cyclist on the right...not saying they're all perfect...far from it...some of the men on their racing bikes don't ring their bell and overtake me too fast for instance but not once have I seen one on the right.

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OhNoNotMyBaby · 18/03/2015 12:25

Mrs you can remember that it is a SHARED path. And if people want to stop and chat they are perfectly entitled to do so. Likewise, they are similarly entitled to have their dogs off the lead. It is not a given right that just because you are on a bike everyone has to accommodate YOU. And if you don't say "thank you" when someone goes to the trouble of accommodating you and moving out of your way, you are being rude.

That said, there is no cause for abuse or rudeness on the part of non-cyclists. There should be tolerance on both sides - and manners too.

annielouise · 18/03/2015 12:26

Where I cycle about a third cycle on the wrong side (i.e. the right hand side of the lane so there's a stand off as I'm cycling on the left hand side of the lane, i.e. the correct side). A lot of foreign students around so that's part of it but families with kids don't seem to know. Everyone needs to stick to the left - it's simple.

Original poster
MrsFlannel · 18/03/2015 12:28

Baby yes shared...that means they can't take up 99% of it with their dogs and their bodies.....as if they do, there is NO room for me and my children.

they can chat to one side surely?

OP posts:
Doyouthinktheysaurus · 18/03/2015 12:29

Is there a rule about sticking to the left? There isnt on our shared paths, to a free for all.

I get the rage with big groups walking the width of the path as a runner while I struggle to pass but mostly it's just weaving around people. Bikes do the same.

When I ride with my dses, I remind them that we all share the path and we just weave around people. I always tell them to slow down around dogs and small children.

I would never tell anyone to stick to the left and I'd be annoyed if I got told to do that tbh. Most of the time in running and I switch sides based on the view.

Original poster
MrsFlannel · 18/03/2015 12:30

Baby and WHERE did I say I did not say thank you? I didn't say that. I always thank people....as for dogs off the lead of course! But pull it aside if it is the kind that will panic on seeing a bike and run under wheels. Or it may get injured (as may I ior my children)

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsFlannel · 18/03/2015 12:31

Saurus yes...if it is a cycle path in addition to a path...then you must stick to the left!

A path on which people cycle is not the same thing though...nobody should ride a bike on a path....this one is part of the Sustrans cycle network.

OP posts:
redskybynight · 18/03/2015 12:34

... and please point out to your children that this is a shared cycle path and not a park, and whilst the cyclist behind you is looking out, if a child suddenly jumps across the path in a random fashion this may well result in the cyclist having to slam on their brakes and quite possibly run into them.

growl3th · 18/03/2015 12:42

So if it is a shared path walkers stick to the left and cyclists stick to the right?

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 18/03/2015 12:43

I am genuinely not convinced there is any official rule about sticking to the left. I run along a sustrans path 4 times a week and have never seen that in action. There is certainly no signage to suggest that.

I have just looked on the Sustrans site and still can't see anything in their guidance for cyclists to say we should all stick to the left. I get the logic of that on specific cycle paths and always do that but shared paths are different obviously.

Ultimately shared paths are slower form cycists because you are sharing. If I want a decent speedy ride I avoid them like the plague, I stick to the roads. With my children we just go slower and enjoy the scenery.

Original poster
MrsFlannel · 18/03/2015 12:48

Growl no....everyone sticks to their left no matter what they're on or not on and no matter what direction they're going in.

Care there's a line...and the Sustrans website says Keep to your side of any dividing line;

Surely it follows that one sticks to the LEFT side? It's just stupid not to.

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littleducks · 18/03/2015 12:51

I am also not convinced about the stick to the left thing. I can see it being sensible (except when walking on roads with no footpath pedestrians walk on the right so a possibility of confusion) to have a rule buy I don't think this is a universal shared path rule. ...

TeenAndTween · 18/03/2015 12:56

I don't walk along cycle paths.

But unless clearly designated otherwise, I would quite possibly naturally walk on the right, just like if I was walking along a road. ie to face the oncoming traffic.

growl3th · 18/03/2015 12:56

OK. the few shared paths we have near me have a dividing line and cyclists take one side (which has a bike stenciled on the ground every 200yds or so) while walkers take the other.

Pootles2010 · 18/03/2015 13:01

Some near us are like growl3th says, some have no line. As long as there is no clear guidance, and no consistency when shared paths are created, I don't think you can expect people to know 'The Rules' surely?

BoulevardOfBrokenSleep · 18/03/2015 13:02

The ones round us have a line with a bike and a pedestrian painted as appropriate. Never noticed if it's always the same side Hmm

They also have ridged tiles every so often with the ridges parallel to the path on the bike side, across it on the pedestrian side (a pain with a pushchair)

JoffreyBaratheon · 18/03/2015 13:03

One of the most... interesting for me last year was the jogger who ran dead centre of our local Sustrans track. And, just my luck, I caught up with him at the narrowest point. And he was jogging painfully slowly. And listening to his iPod. Usually, even if someone is wearing an iPod, my incredibly loud ding-dong bike bell pierces their reverie... But nothing worked. I literally had to stop cycling and walk til he got past the narrowest bit. No common sense whatsoever. (Alongside the tarmac track was a grassy path he could have run on to his heart's content).

Another was an over-protective, slightly threatening man out on his bike with his other half who clearly had never ridden a bike before, and was wobbling like a three year old, so he over protectively rode to her right, making the entire path unpassable. Maybe teach her to ride somewhere like a park or a big, open space? Not a track where some cyclists are going past at speed. He seemed to be hugely panicking if anyone went within 6 feet of the wobbly woman - but why teach someone to ride, there?

And of course we had a couple of women, messing about on mobile phones, with unattended toddlers wandering right across the track. In one case, the child was careering (alone) down the steepest hill of the entire track whilst she played Candy Crush/texted her mates. I just act like there could be anyone or anything round every corner.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 18/03/2015 13:07

The shared path round here had the line down the middle removed and it was widened a bit.

It may seem like common sense to stick left but it really is up to people to do what they choose. As long as everyone looks before crossing the path and avoids stepping out in front of bikes, or runners, people can stick to whatever side they like Imo.

MiddleAgedandConfused · 18/03/2015 13:10

Dogs off the lead on a cycle path - that's insane. And selfish. And dangerous. There are hundreds of places you can walk a dog off a lead, why on earth would you choose to do it on a cycle path? (Speaking as the mother of a child who was seriously hurt when knocked off his bike by a dog off the lead on a cycle path.) Angry

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 18/03/2015 13:12

Hang on. This isn't all cycle paths is it?

Ours is a single pavement in places. A pedestrian couldn't 'stay left' with space for a bike to pass without being in the gutter if walking West or the hedge if East.

My biggest issue is head down cyclists who plow round a blind corner right by us. We have had quite a few near misses. And they were only near misses because we are very careful.

Original poster
MrsFlannel · 18/03/2015 13:14

Middle I genuinely don't mind the dogs...it's the only real bit of wilderness locally and if the owners are sensible, they get the dog to sit...I slow down anyway...so they have time to call them or whatever....but a few think their dogs are SO important that they're free to run under the wheels of my bike. There are loads of dogs.....so I can't keep getting off or I might as well walk!

Most owners call the dog, I say thank you and admire the dog in passing "What a good dog he is!" kind of thing and carry on....others gape at you whilst their dogs run and dash in front of me or my children's wheels.

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MiddleAgedandConfused · 18/03/2015 13:15

PS given how few cycle paths there are compared to fields, footpaths and parks and playing fields, it makes it even more selfish for dog owners to decide a cycle path is the best place to exercise their dog.

Oldraver · 18/03/2015 13:15

We have cycle path which is a widened path with a line down the middle and walkers, mums with buggies etc STILL walk all over the cycle part, and can get stroppy if you dingle them.. Both DS and myself have nearly hit people who just step in front of you... I have had to drill it into DS to just stop and not to swerve over as he has nearly ended up in the road many a time as he naturally gives way to people.

Almost every single frigging day there would be an issue and can do without the stress of it. Dont even get me started on the bint who snorted "I'm not moving for anyone" after OH had passed her