To expect pedestrians to move out of way on a shared cycle/pedestrian path

[Watsername]

I have recently moved house and now cycle to and from work every day. I cycle almost exclusively on cycle paths which are shared spaces for cyclists and pedestrians.

Because of where I work I travel at the same time as children are going to and from a local secondary school. So I am on the shared space cycle path at the same time as a lot of teenagers.

AIBU to expect the teens to move out of the way when they see a bike coming? I am getting fed up of having to stop on the path as they walk 5-6 abreast and don't move. When I stop I wobble off and have nearly fallen into a busy A-Road several times.

Surely they don't want to get run over?!

If I ring my bell or say 'excuse me' politely I get dirty looks, sworn at, or roared at (yes, really!)

@Lucked
I think you have hit the nail on the head

OP says she is cycling against the flow. So priority is irrelevant.

It's never happened to me, but if it did I'd simply stop my bike and make the pedestrian walk round me.

Where I live, cyclists and pedestrians tend to stick to the left, and that works pretty well.

And yeah, stablisers. Or lower your seat.

I think you’re getting a hard time on here OP!

I have to cycle past 2 schools on my way to work and exactly what you describe used to happen, except the kids also used to think it was hilarious to shove each other into my path or act like they were going to push me off my bike

I emailed the school these kids were from and basically framed it as, most of the kids are lovely and polite but some of them are deliberately getting in my path and I am concerned about someone getting injured. The school dealt with it and it’s not an issue any more.

Also I made the decision to request a change to my working hours so I’d miss the busiest times for pedestrians being on the shared path, which has helped a lot.

Hope you manage to sort it.

“ It's almost like wherever cyclists are people seem to think they shouldn't be there or defer to everyone else”

Why should my assertion that cyclists need to defer to pedestrians mean that I think cyclists should defer to everyone? I am absolutely anti the way that some drivers behave towards cyclists. My husband cycles to work and is on the receiving end of some terrifying behaviour from drivers. Cyclists are the more vulnerable road users in that situation and should take priority. There’s no need for the pity party about sharing a space with pedestrians though. Yes, some pedestrians are inconsiderate dicks in the same way as some cyclists are the same on the road, but cyclists should defer to pedestrians regardless, just as drivers should defer to cyclists regardless

Hate hate hate those shared spaces.

Why should cyclists get priority? You can use the road.

I might move. But if you were barrelling down the path acting like you owned it, I might not. Or I'd let you pass and you might wonder if you heard someone calling you a selfish fucking wanker as you did.

It's a shared path but pedestrians still have priority by law. Cyclists really are 3rd class citizens when it comes to road users.

Lemoncurd
Cyclists can't win on MN. I've long realised this

If they are on the road then some MNers will decide they shouldn't be on the roads, they're too slow, they should stop every five seconds for cars too lazy to overtake properly, there's cycle paths for them to to use, they look ridiculous and need to move out the way, it's arrogant to be so entitled.

If cyclists use cycle paths or shared use paths they shouldn't be there, or they should be prepared to stop every five minutes, they shouldn't expect common sense from any other path users, they shouldnt cycle more than 3mph because that's unsafe, they should be willing to move around anyone who doesn't feel like moving or applying common sense (but also shouldn't weave around people because that's basically thinking they're in the tour De France 🙄).

Sometimes I think it's amazing that most people in my area manage to function in parks, roads and shared cycle paths given how much cats bum face seems to exist on MN.

Of course they should be on the roads. Like every other road user they should use them properly.

YABVU. Quite honestly shared use are a cop out by councils just so they can say they've increased provision for cyclists, when what they've actually done is compromised provision for pedestrians. However, as cyclists and pedestrians are totally different beasts and a shared space is totally inappropriate, I don't know why cyclists don't just cycle on the road.

Oh wait, yes, I do. Because so many of them would cycle on the path even if it wasn't shared use.

Can you tell pavement cyclists really piss me off?

Get one of those big horns and honk it upon approach. Scare the life out of them, they'll soon make way. My son had one, they're very loud 🤣
I really don't understand why people would be anti cycling! One less car on the road, healthier, better for the environment.

Cyclists don't like to cycle on the road because people try to kill us. Happens to me quite frequently even with my daughter in a seat on the back. (I'm not going too fast, I'm not riding erratically, I'm following the road rules).

It is not anti cyclist to say that pedestrians take priority. Any more than I imagine cyclists are anti pedestrian ever

Pedestrians 100% take priority but a group of teens taking up the entirety of the pavement and not moving to allow a cyclist to pass is not on.

YABU to expect pedestrians to move out of your way! I bloody hate it when I'm on a shared path and a cyclist starts ringing their bell and expecting me to jump out their way. It's even worse when they don't ring their bell and they fly past you without warning. I find too many cyclists see themselves as the priority - always whether on the road or on a path.

Paths are for people roads are for everything apart from prams and wheelchairs.

But this path is a designated cycle path

But this path is a designated cycle path

Earlier you said it was a shared path with no line??
Are we talking about a different path now?

As a cyclist I think you have to accept that on narrow shared paths, pedestrians take priority. I would probably leave earlier (if practical) and/or use the road.

Maybe get some stabilisers OP, if you are still a bit wobbly.

No same path. It is still a cycle path, even if it's shared. There is a picture of a bike on the sign. Ergo, I can be on it, even if you don't want me to.

pennysPocket
It's a shared use path so specifically allows cyclists.

So anyone on the path should reasonably expect common sense. Part of that is not walking 5 or 6 abreast and expecting other users to slow and stop around you. It's rude whether it's a cyclist, a roller bladers, someone on a skateboard, runners, other walkers etc. You don't take up loads of space and expect everyone to shift around you.

Sadly even when pedestrians are being inconsiderate they still take priority

We have some shared use paths that specifically state 'cyclists should give way to pedestrians'

I've still not quite worked out how a cyclist 'gives way' if they're approaching a pedestrian who's moving in the same direction of travel.

It is still a cycle path, even if it's shared

Nope it's just a path. A cycle path is clearly just a cycle path. They are usually a kerb down and painted a colour if on a main road or there is a white line with a bike symbol on it if a shared path.
If it's just a path the pedestrians take priority.
Don't get me wrong these teens sounded like idiots but as a pedestrian who walks along my local canal I meet more ignorant dangerous cyclists than pedestrians.