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!)

Where I am the pedestrians are brilliant, its a subsection of other cyclists that ruin it for everyone.

Either cycling 2-3 wide, weaving in and around everyone at speed, running red lights, not giving way, squeezing through tiny gaps and generally leaving destruction in their wake.

Still, I think when there is a massive wide path and someone, man or woman, is coming the other way and you’re walking six abreast with your friends, it’s your turn to move.
I agree.
The article is great, it's just not really comparable to this situation.

I find the same around the university campus near us. Some students seem to think it's reasonable to take up the whole path, leaving everyone else to use the road (including prams etc). Out of principle I take the inside away from the road route and don't move. They can stop walking 3 abreast and stop being arses.

Either cycling 2-3 wide, weaving in and around everyone at speed, running red lights, not giving way, squeezing through tiny gaps and generally leaving destruction in their wake.
On most I agree.
Where I disagree is the two across. It's a common myths (perpetuated on MN) that this is wrong. It's not.
If cycling in a group then a bunch in pairs is safer for cars to do one safe overtake giving appropriate clearance, which means crossing the centre line on the road.

Drivers who have an issue with two abreast on the road do so usually because they want to squeeze past cyclists, not leaving enough room to pass safely. See also, drivers who think cyclists should ride in the gutter with no space to move themselves out of danger when an idiot inevitably decides to squeeze past.

@FluffyEarMuffs

Not sure what your post of 15:42 is referring to?

Your original response is about ALL users of the shared space being careful. I agree.

I agree about cyclists going two abreast for safety in some circumstances - the other instance that they do it near me is on country lanes which are really too narrow for cars to pass cyclists and drivers just need to be patient but if cyclists go in single file cars try to squeeze past and knock them into the hedge, so by going two abreast cars won’t even attempt, even if they do get very cross

Surely pedestrians have right of way? Isn't it like ships; we concede to the slowest moving?

Although I would add that teenagers seem to like walking five or six abreast and cannot fathom the idea they should step aside for another pedestrian, so YANBU in that respect.

Some teens have attitude and arrogance.

DH was in town over the summer and honestly had to stand and refuse to move as a group of girls aged 13-16 were walking in a pack strutting around like they own the place (complete with hysterically loud fake laughs and dramatic responses to mundane topics).

Most are polite and reasonable.

This thread is absolutely batshit.

These teenagers are not being "inconsiderate", they are being utter cunts. They are not just deliberately refusing to make room, to piss someone off, which would by itself make them cunts, they are also swearing and shouting at her.

Maybe wear something like a gopro camera so any encounters are automatically filmed. Then show it to anyone who might do something about it. The swearing and shouting could be treated as a criminal offence.

There is a shared path near me which sound similar. Enough room to walk six abreast. 99% of the time I use it as a pedestrian. There are always cyclists on it as well, and there's never any conflict or problems. We don't have any local secondary schools though.

I ride with my son to school most days, much of it on a shared cycle/pedestrian path. I haven't rtft but I agree that people (not just teens) are massively self-involved and should be more considerate of other users. I am considerate of pedestrians on the path and don't expect people to jump out if our way, however when we are behind pedestrians spread across the whole path while my son is wobbling on his bike because it's actually very hard to cycle at walking speed, and they see us but make no attempt to move it makes me cross. There are also huge numbers of people who are just in their own little world and oblivious to others around them.

I think when there is a massive wide path and someone, man or woman, is coming the other way and you’re walking six abreast with your friends, it’s your turn to move

Yes. If there's one of me, and several of you, please give me some space and don't force me into the gutter of a busy road!

If I am on my bike I don't generally ring my bell at people because I think it's rude, but if they are walking 4-abreast blocking the cycle path, I do. I'd quite like a bell when I am running actually.

teenagers seem to like walking five or six abreast and cannot fathom the idea they should step aside for another pedestrians

And mothers with buggies on the way to the schools near me (and yes it is mums, not dads, sadly)

Thank you @PettyContractor you are the first to mention the swearing and roaring (literally leaning over into my personal space and roaring like a lion).

Apparently that's OK as I was on a bike

I do appreciate the solidarity by some today.

This has been an eye opener, but explains some of the other abuse I have had. Last week I was on a different cycle path, minding my own business, tootling along at about 8mph, no pedestrians in sight..... A driver in the road next to the path honked me and gave me the finger (couldn't see his face, just the finger). No idea why, other than I was on a bike, not even on the road.

As someone who makes a great deal of effort to be considerate in every area of my life, I find it all very upsetting. But my skin is getting thicker.

I'm obviously lucky where I live, people seem to understand sharing and are considerate to others when it comes to bikes and shared spaces. I was riding along recently and two teenage girls actually lifted a low hanging branch so I could ride under it, it made my day!

I don't generally ring my bell at people because I think it's rude, but if they are walking 4-abreast blocking the cycle path, I do. I'd quite like a bell when I am running actually.

I used to feel like that until I got abuse for not ringing it. I do now, just so they know I'm there. I always slow down that is the most important thing

I am not the person to answer this I detest the cyclists where I live. We live along an old railway line and they seem to think it’s perfectly ok to get up as much speed as they can along it and if you happen to be walking down it, it’s at your own risk of being hit by one of them because they aren’t going to slow down. I have daydreams about them hitting tree stumps

Last week I was on a different cycle path, minding my own business, tootling along at about 8mph, no pedestrians in sight..... A driver in the road next to the path honked me and gave me the finger (couldn't see his face, just the finger). No idea why, other than I was on a bike, not even on the road.

Obviously because he's a foul idiot.

But in the absence of it being socially acceptable to be racist/ homophobic et. cyclists are the new fodder for random abuse by horrid people encouraged by the press. You even see it on here. Plus some car drivers have the attitude that roads are for cars and anyone else shouldn't be there. Bizarrely enough just because some dickhead went up the inside of their car and ran a red light 3 weeks ago on a bike that's the fault of all cyclists.

Whatever you do on a bike you can't win. I tried to let someone past me before signalling last week. The driver was considerate and could tell I was turning right so waited. The passenger however started yelling out of the window I should have signalled earlier 🤷🏻‍♀️. If I had he'd have accused me of blocking the road I don't doubt. If you're in a group they'd rather have a longer line of single file so it's even more difficult to overtake on our crap and/or overcrowded roads unless you fancy ending up with one on your bonnet. There are stories of groups of 20+ riding 3 abreast - I've never ever seen anyone do that and it would clearly be ridiculous.

I've been beeped at for riding on a cycle path, told I should be on an unsuitable cycle path, shouted at for just riding along (both on my own and in a group). If I pull over and let drivers past only about 30% actually say thank you.

Ultimately you just have to rock on and continue to be a normal, considerate person while disregarding the tossers and giving them minimum attention.

And sorry one other thing I always make sure that I thank drivers for patience and consideration when I'm on a bike. There are also some really nice people out there!

Charming pookiedoo 😳

Since your update about you being fast I think yabu. You should go slow in the shared space

You keep stressing it’s a cycle path as if that gives you special rights.

Bridlepaths are ‘for horses’ but pedestrians still have right of way.

Find out their school and complain to the head teacher.

I’ve done it before with teens on trains.

Why dont you get out of the way of the pedestrians ? why do you think you have right of way ? I agree they should show some consideration and learn to look at whats in front of them. They think they are important and you think you are important so you should understand each other very well

Iggly
That's what some of our local residents have done if there's concerns. We then put a message out on the notices and in assemblies reminding students about conduct in the local area.
We can't police it, but we can remind the minority to not be so selfish or inconsiderate. Most of the time it's not mallice from them, they're just teens being self centered and not thinking of others.