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.

@Iggly
I know right. Seems many people struggle with handling more than one idea at the same time though.

I’ll probably be criticised for this, but I suspect that the rate of infection with a child passing someone on a towpath at 1.5m is rather low

@thedancingbear
Calm down and practice safe social distancing in public spaces.That is all I’m asking. Nothing controversial. Just asking larger family groups to be considerate. I know many are already but a significant number are not.

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

No, it's because they are being selfish dicks and are showing a complete lack of awareness of their surroundings. Everyone has to consider others when they are out, be that walkers, runners, cyclists or dog walkers.

If you live in a built up area with lots of other human beings, a little tolerance goes a long way, or move to somewhere less populated?

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).

Then this is what you should do.

OP I agree but it's not just family groups out cycling, it's family groups and couples full stop. They won't go single file. I react quickly and get out of their way. All I can suggest is that you do the same.

Where I am it's the couples who won't walk single file or cross the road into my path even though their side of the road was clear.

I think some people have zero awareness. I just hope they don't drive cars...

a little tolerance goes a long way

Yes, the selfish dicks taking up the whole pavement should absolutely show more tolerance and understanding for others.

or move to somewhere less populated?

How do you see that working...?

Where I live I've seem a massive increase in adults cycling on pavements - no children. The roads were quiet anyway but even quieter now so there's just no excuse. And they cycle straight down the middle of what are pavements, definitely not designated cycle paths.

Young children cycling on pavements are not being 'complete dicks'. If this country had a proper cycling infrastructure they wouldn't be on the pavement. Given that high pollution rates in cities are now linked to higher covid 19 deaths, maybe we'll start rethinking our cities infrastructures.

@Ferfooksek you think the government has effectively handled this? The PM publically shaking hands with CV patients, delaying lockdown, allowing construction to continue, keeping schools open and then blaming people the same weekend for going to beaches. What's that to do with Corbyn?

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?

If they were all doing that , I doubt the OP would have started this thread.

Everyone needs to be considerate of everyone else. If the kids are old enough to be zooming ahead, they're old enough to behave properly and give priority to pedestrians. (Adult cyclists of course shouldn't be on the pavement). Shared paths - cyclists are meant to behave courteously and give way. Of course pedestrians need to also not spread themselves all over the path.

In my area everyone seems to be able to manage this. It's not impossible.

The OP shouldn't have to stay at home because others aren't behaving sensibly and considerately.

Soupdragon. In time for the next epidemic

Yes - I was out with the dog last night - little used woodland path, all of a sudden young boy probably around 7-8 absolutely thunders past ( it's slightly downhill) closely followed by his smiling father. No fucks given about anyone else on the very narrow path or of social distancing- thank god we aren't elderly and ddog was sniffing at the side at the time.

I'm all for people getting exercise and to some extent going out on bicycles, but one of the key fundamentals of cycling is basic awareness of the conditions around you. I don't blame a 7 year old biy, but I absolutely do blame the DF for not teaching him to look out for other people before you whizz down a path.

How often is this happening op?
I haven't experienced this at all where I live, sure there are cyclists about, we're them, but We're taking the opportunity to cycle on the road.

Where do you live OP? Is it in a built up area?
I’m finding, in my rural area that there are more people out walking locally than ever before... because usually everyone disperses in to the surrounding countryside but can’t do that anymore.

I'm sure all this hating, moaning and whingeing cant be good for your immune system.

Of course there's an increase of adults exercising outside at the moment. Gyms aren't open.

The parents shouldn’t be allowing kids to zoom round blind corners. That is very dangerous. I can understand why you are upset. If this happened to me, I wouldn’t be able to get out of the way.

Yep it’s happening here too. Families of 4 or 5 out cycling on the pavements, the kids always in front.
The other thing I’ve noticed is couples/families refusing to walk single file when someone is walking towards them.

I guess these people are either just thick or completely selfish. I now go out early before the families are out, I’m heading out for my walk in about 15 minutes.

If they are cycling on pavements, they are breaking the law. The police should be stopping that sort of behaviour (for three reasons - it’s dangerous, it’s illegal, and it breaks the rules on social distancing).

I am one of the people that annoy you OP. I have a 2 and a 5 year old, the 2 year old goes on the back of my bike and the 5 year old goes in front or behind me. The pavements round here are generally wide and we ride on the road on some quieter roads. However there is still a fair amount of traffic on the main road we're on - people are driving much faster than normal because its quieter, sometimes double the speed limit. I cant take a 5 year old on what has effectively become a dual carriage way. So we go on the pavement, in a line, and every person we come across I tell her to give them some distance and move to the grass at the side of the road if possible etc. What's difficult is when we pass whole families on a walk who stay in a group on the pavement so we cant pass safely even when the pavement is wide enough for everyone. I ring my bell, they generally move to the side, and i say thanks when we've passed.

She hates walking, drags her feet, and wouldn't actually get any proper exercise on a walk round the block.

I'm just trying my best to entertain two small children in the house who don't really understand why they can't go to soft play, the park and play with their friends as normal. We do a mix of obstacle courses in the garden, going a scoot round the block, going for a bike ride for exercise. They get bored doing the same thing every day so I'm trying to mix it up and keep their interest.

How many corners are there round you?!

We haven't had any such issues really, it's been easy enough for either party to get out of the way of the other.

People in general are annoying in many ways, but I don't think families cycling should be discouraged. There will be massive unintended consequences to this lockdown and obesity and poor physical fitness is a significant one.

Can you change your route at all to avoid hotpots? Can you walk in the road to ensure you meet none of these people? Shout each time?

Cycling on the pavement upis, and remains, illegal and people who choose to cycle therebshoukd akways give way to pedestrians.

I wouldn't hold my breath though.

Some people just don't see how making the pavements unsafe for people on foot is just as inconsiderate as drivers making the roads unsafe for the bicycles, even though that's where they should be.

Cycling is a fantastic form of exercise, but if it is not safe for younto use your local roads, then you will have to choose something else.

The whole family going for a walk is more irritating. Teenagers on their phones, mum and dad striding along all walking 3/4 abreast. I end up walking in the road as otherwise I can’t get past these happy chatty families who before this never did a family walk.