Blog-Ed

Is this along the side of the ring road? I used to cycle there last year, and its mostly chinese people (or it was). Airhorn is clearly the way to go.

Jeremy

I find a good way is to have really squeaky brakes and then slam them on when approaching the pedestrian. Round us some of the cycle paths are coloured red, so it must be very confusing for the pedestrians... do I walk on the bright red bit with a picture of a bicycle on or the normal pavement colour bit with a person on???

Yep, Air horn. A mate of mine also doing a phd at nottingham did indeed cable tie one of those air horn cans to his handle bars. Worked a treat apparently!

I did once cycle up to someone really fast, slammed on the brakes, and the ped got such a fright, it was hilarious. What annoy me most however, is cyclists with no lights on, grr.

That'd be me then :-) Not that you'd be able to know I'm there 'cause you can't see me... I told a copper that once, he wasn't too impressed...

"Oi! You! Stop! You should have lights on your bike, people won't be able to see you without them and you'll get run over."
"So, why've you stopped me then?"

The pedestrians don't have lights either and I don't have any problem not hitting them!

I've noticed that everyone seems to have stooopid flashing led light things now, even at the front... I'd rather they turn them off... you can't judge how far away the people are or anything, it's just a flash of light twice a second and a bloody distracting one at that.

I should really buy some more lights soon. I bought the last set from the Poundshop and they fell off :-(

The main cycle path in Halifax is that one that comes down Elland bypass and then stops as soon as a new road joins. Very few cyclists are seen in these parts due to the lack of cycle paths i guess.

On my first time seeing the cycle path/pavement it was confusing as cyclists aren't allowed to cycle on the pavement so I was like "Get on the road you idiot!" Upon seeing the many pictures of cycles though (and I seem to remember others being told off by Ed confirming my suspicions) it became obvious it was a cycle path.

Maybe it comes down to intelligence of pedestrians and their general all round ignorance of the Green Cross Code.

Anyway the point I was making is that it is understandable for pedestrians seeing it for the first time but once you twig what it is, respect the cyclists and walk on the pavement.

WHatever....

When i lived in Nottingham i constantly got nearly knocked over by cyclists on pedestrian bits.
West entrance was a classic, where the cycle track ends (as is not for uni, as is for uni bolouvard joining woodside road..) but they insist on continuing on pavements inside campus.

In london in the last 15 days i've had a few close ones with cyclist pricks who think that traffic lights don't apply to them.

Intelligence of pedestrians, yes. We're all really dumb. We're clever enough to not go onto a bloody road full of lorries and cars on some piece of 2 wheeled shit without lights on it.

GRRRRR.

I once got bored enough on my way to school a few years ago that I counted the pedestrains on the cycle path on my route.

Got 56 - and it's not even 5 miles.......

pedestrians in cycle lanes should be educated as to their erro. Personally I like the method of comments when I cycle passed, along the lines of "yes that IS a cycle path" "Don't mind me", but then I make those comments to people who dont say thanks when you've done something nice for them, like gave way when you needn't, or open a door for them.
On the other hand lights are a must, and cyclists who do stupid things should be shot. Like cyclists who shoot red lights, what kind of idiot does that on something without a very good engine?!
Basically, as my driving instructor pointed out, if you're on a public byway and not me, you should be shot.

I once got hit by a cyclist while walking along near where Ed lives and ended up on the floor. He didn't stop. I can't recall if I was walking in the cycle lane or not, but I was definately on the path further away from the road.

Contemplate this: Car drivers hate cyclists on the road, they do unpredictable things and generally get in the way. Equally, cyclists hate cycling on the road, cos its just too scary to be tail-gated by an artic, or whatever.

So: bright idea by council types, put the cyclists on the footpath! In this scenario, cycles play the role of cars, and pedestrians play the role of cyclists. Cyclists hate pedestrians because they get in the way and do unpredicatable things, and pedestrians hate cyclists because they are too damned scary.

So, as you cycle along cursing pedestrians for walking in the wrong place (probably trying to save time - why do cycle paths always take the shorter route?), just remember what its like to cycle on the roads.

As a final comment, if someone is occupying a cycle path in front of you, they automatically have right of way (whether they are meant to be there or not)... just the same as on the road. Look that one up in your highway code and smoke it!

Agreed. Pedestrians are much less annoying than idiotic car drivers which in turn aren't as bad as stupid cyclists (ignoring traffic signals, no lights at night etc.) who give us sensible cyclists a bad name. All road (including cycle track) users should always give way to pedestrians (where possible) but that doesn't mean that they're right; you can still point out their stupid behaviour.

Most (sensible) cyclists don't do unpredictable things on the roads, and most roads are okay to cycle on, but as you say, the drivers don't tend to appreciate that cyclists are other road users which can make cycling rather terrifying. Cyclists don't (shouldn't) get in the way more than any other cars do, it's just they're smaller and slower so an easier target.

Cycle paths probably take the shortest route since they are usually (in my experience anyway) between the (pedestrian) pavement and the road (which I presume is a safety measure) Hence, if you need to cross a road then walking on the cycle route is going to be faster. However you don't (or I'm presuming anyway!) walk down the middle of the road just because it's quicker! According to the Highway Code, "road" includes cycle paths (hence why peds have right of way on them) so you shouldn't be taking 'short cuts' if there's traffic coming just as you wouldn't on a busy road.