Went on a cycle path today

"Simonb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For the first time in ages I used a roadside cycle path on part of my

daily

Quoted message said:

commute. First rider I came to moved to his right into my approach on the
LHS. I moved right and, as I passed, said "Please pass on the left." to
which he replied, "You [censored] [censored]!".

I don't use cycle paths for cycling, but *do* use them for jogging, and I
keep to the left which makes sense (unless I'm overtaking slower cyclists
;-) ).

I often notice that cyclists seem to like riding on *their* right hand side
as if they abide by stateside/continental rules, so they seem to end up
heading straight for me!

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 20:45:04 +0100, "Simonb"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I used a roadside cycle path on part of my daily commute.

So did I. I got a puncture. Bah!

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

"Adrian Boliston" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Simonb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For the first time in ages I used a roadside cycle path on part of my

daily

Quoted message said:

commute. First rider I came to moved to his right into my approach on

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

LHS. I moved right and, as I passed, said "Please pass on the left." to
which he replied, "You [censored] [censored]!".

I don't use cycle paths for cycling, but *do* use them for jogging, and I
keep to the left which makes sense (unless I'm overtaking slower cyclists
;-) ).

I often notice that cyclists seem to like riding on *their* right hand

side

Quoted message said:

as if they abide by stateside/continental rules, so they seem to end up
heading straight for me!

Oh good. I was begining to think this only happened to me.
My experience is that the 'ride on the right' brigade is gaining popularity.
Maybe it has something to do with the insane Brighton cycle lanes that allow
cycle traffic to flow in opposition to motor traffic.

As an experiment I have tried staying in my correct position on the left of
the lane. The verbal abuse received is similar to the above.

During the summer months this crazy behaviour is not so bad, but what of the
dark winter nights? I bet these are the same idiots that ride the dark cycle
paths without lights.

Brian

"Simonb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For the first time in ages I used a roadside cycle path on part of my

daily

Quoted message said:

commute. First rider I came to moved to his right into my approach on the
LHS. I moved right and, as I passed, said "Please pass on the left." to
which he replied, "You [censored] [censored]!".

I was most miffed.

Ho hum. Try to be helpful. Won't be using one of those for a while.

I wonder why many cyclists cycle on the right on tracks ? I can only

assume that it feels natural for them to do this. I have stayed on the left
side and only at the last second do they move over sometimes with a comment
about female parts.

PK

"Brian Drury" <briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oh good. I was begining to think this only happened to me.

My experience is that the 'ride on the right' brigade is gaining

popularity.

Quoted message said:

Maybe it has something to do with the insane Brighton cycle lanes that

allow

Quoted message said:

cycle traffic to flow in opposition to motor traffic.

This happens to me too on the track around RutlandWater, usually adults who
have presumably driven there. I'm at a loss to figure them out.

Rgds,
Pete.

We tend to get lots of pedestrians walking on our cycle paths (most of
which are designed by a man who clearly didn't own a bike himself!). I'm
fed up shouting "excuse me" in a loud vioce lest they get a 20mph bike
up their [censored] :-) (which hurts)

One even told me I should be cycling on it. It's part of the national
cycling network :-)

--
Who needs a life when you've got Unix? :-)
Email: [email hidden], John G.Burns B.Eng, Bonny Scotland
Web : http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk - The Ultimate BMW Homepage!
Need Sun or HP Unix kit? http://www.unixnerd.demon.co.uk/unix.html

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

We tend to get lots of pedestrians walking on our cycle paths (most of
which are designed by a man who clearly didn't own a bike himself!). I'm
fed up shouting "excuse me" in a loud vioce lest they get a 20mph bike
up their [censored] :-) (which hurts)

My technique on cycle paths is to whistle inanely. As long as you keep
it up for a while after passing it just appears that you are merry, and
given my whistling skills it provides a good incentive for people to let
you past.

Jon

Adrian Boliston said:

I often notice that cyclists seem to like riding on *their* right hand side
as if they abide by stateside/continental rules, so they seem to end up
heading straight for me!

I think it has to do with what side is the curb? Cycling paths are narrow, and
if there are parked cars on one side, we will tend to avoid that side to
prevent getting doored.

EFR
Ile de France (who rides on the left when going south).

"Elisa Francesca Roselli" <[email hidden]> wrote
in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think it has to do with what side is the curb? Cycling paths are narrow, and
if there are parked cars on one side, we will tend to avoid that side to
prevent getting doored.

Are you talking about cycle *lanes*? Talking about parked cars seems to imply a
lane (edge of road) rather than a path (separate from road) and on a "lane" you
would only get cyclists travelling the same way as the traffic (i hope!!)

Elisa Francesca Roselli said:

Adrian Boliston said:

I often notice that cyclists seem to like riding on *their* right
hand side as if they abide by stateside/continental rules, so they
seem to end up heading straight for me!

I think it has to do with what side is the curb? Cycling paths are
narrow, and if there are parked cars on one side, we will tend to
avoid that side to prevent getting doored.

Good point, but I'm talking paths, not lanes.

"peter.kidwell" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<WWWLc.556 I have stayed on the left

Quoted message said:

side and only at the last second do they move over sometimes with a comment
about female parts.

The only bike v bike crash I,ve seen was on a canal bank where an
oncoming cyclist kept moving further to his right as I kept going
further left. This was followed by both of us doing emergency stops.
His friend cycling behind him didn't stop fast enough and hit him and
came off. Only pride hurt I think.
Iain

"Peter B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Brian Drury" <briandotdruryatdsldotpipexdotcom> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oh good. I was begining to think this only happened to me.

My experience is that the 'ride on the right' brigade is gaining

popularity.

Quoted message said:

This happens to me too on the track around RutlandWater, usually adults who
have presumably driven there. I'm at a loss to figure them out.

I assume it is connected with some vague memory of HC1*. People view
shared use paths or off road cycle paths as roads without a pavement.
Also since many path users cycle very slowly there could be a tendency
to rely on ped style informal conflict resolution rather than the more
structured environment of traffic'n'roads. TBH I am slightly split on
the issue. It would obviously be helpful if cyclists all followed the
same conventions but I am not comfortable with the idea of expecting
off-road space to be as highly regulated as road space. I am not
convinced that the expectation of being able to ride as if on a road
should exist for off-road environments

*"If there is no pavement or footpath, walk on the right-hand side of
the road so that you can see oncoming traffic. <snip>"

best wishes
james

Simonb said:

Good point, but I'm talking paths, not lanes.

I'm talking paths too. Many around here are typically built parallel to
roads, as a sort of extended edge to the sidewalk.

EFR
Ile de France

"james" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am not
convinced that the expectation of being able to ride as if on a road
should exist for off-road environments

I certainly don't expect the convention to be adhered to on what I consider
real off-road tracks as found eg in the Peak District. When using those
there are certain factors that come into play, such as picking the best line
for a technical climb or fast downhill, the rough nature of the trail etc.
and when meeting other mtb'ers coming the other way a bit of experience and
common sense are employed to avoid making the other riders life difficult
as well as for collision avoidance. And to date it seems to work to
everyones satisfaction.
However, when riding on a broad, reasonably surfaced, purpose built track
accessible to all it makes life easier if the keep left convention is
employed so we all know well in advance which course to take and can then
relax and enjoy the ride instead of having to second guess the oncomer.
I think some occasional riders think at ped speed <1>, about 3 mph on a
good day, and don't allow for those of us who wish to press on.
<1> we all know how most peds react to an oncoming bicycle on a shared path,
headless chicken comes to mind :-)

My thruppence worth,
Pete.

"Adrian Boliston" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Elisa Francesca Roselli"

<[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

in message news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I think it has to do with what side is the curb? Cycling paths

are narrow, and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

if there are parked cars on one side, we will tend to avoid that

side to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

prevent getting doored.

Are you talking about cycle *lanes*? Talking about parked cars

seems to imply a

Quoted message said:

lane (edge of road) rather than a path (separate from road) and on

a "lane" you

Quoted message said:

would only get cyclists travelling the same way as the traffic (i

hope!!)

Quoted message said:

Or perhaps what Americans call "sidepaths" - cycle tracks alongside
roads. In the old days those cycle tracks were always one way,
because they are ten times as dangerous when ridden the wrong way.

I hope people know why there is that hazard difference. If you don't
know what the hazards are, how can you avoid them.

Jeremy Parker

Simonb popped their head over the parapet saw what was going on and said

Quoted message said:

For the first time in ages I used a roadside cycle path on part of my
daily commute. First rider I came to moved to his right into my
approach on the LHS. I moved right and, as I passed, said "Please
pass on the left." to which he replied, "You [censored] [censored]!".

I was most miffed.

Ho hum. Try to be helpful. Won't be using one of those for a while.

When out cycling with the lad I vocalise (loud enough for
anyone coming the other way to hear) "keep to the left just like
on a road" tends to let others know what you are thinking and the
tendency is for people to agree with you fortunately the ones who
will insist they are in the right and call you a [censored] are very rare
(especially when you have an 11 year old in tow).

--
yours S

Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione

in message <[email hidden]>, james

(') said:

I assume it is connected with some vague memory of HC1*. People view
shared use paths or off road cycle paths as roads without a pavement.
Also since many path users cycle very slowly there could be a tendency
to rely on ped style informal conflict resolution rather than the more
structured environment of traffic'n'roads. TBH I am slightly split on
the issue. It would obviously be helpful if cyclists all followed the
same conventions but I am not comfortable with the idea of expecting
off-road space to be as highly regulated as road space. I am not
convinced that the expectation of being able to ride as if on a road
should exist for off-road environments

I am utterly convinced of it. If someone is riding at 20+mph there is
not a lot of time for 'informal conflict resolution', and airy hand
waving will lead to people being at least injured. Cyclists on a cycle
path should obey the rules of the road, for their own safety if for no
other reason.

Quoted message said:

*"If there is no pavement or footpath, walk on the right-hand side of
the road so that you can see oncoming traffic. <snip>"

We're not talking about walking, we're talking about vehicles.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; this is not a .sig

On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 21:07:41 +0100, "Adrian Boliston"
<[email hidden]> wrote (more or less):

Quoted message said:

"Simonb" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

For the first time in ages I used a roadside cycle path on part of my

daily

Quoted message said:

commute. First rider I came to moved to his right into my approach on the
LHS. I moved right and, as I passed, said "Please pass on the left." to
which he replied, "You [censored] [censored]!".

I don't use cycle paths for cycling, but *do* use them for jogging, and I
keep to the left which makes sense (unless I'm overtaking slower cyclists
;-) ).

I often notice that cyclists seem to like riding on *their* right hand side
as if they abide by stateside/continental rules, so they seem to end up
heading straight for me!

Yes - it's /really/ annoying.

--
Cheers,
Euan
Gawnsoft: http://www.gawnsoft.co.sr
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On Fri, 23 Jul 2004 10:30:03 +0100, John Burns
<[email hidden]> wrote (more or less):

Quoted message said:

We tend to get lots of pedestrians walking on our cycle paths (most of
which are designed by a man who clearly didn't own a bike himself!). I'm
fed up shouting "excuse me" in a loud vioce lest they get a 20mph bike
up their [censored] :-) (which hurts)

One even told me I should be cycling on it. It's part of the national
cycling network :-)

A friend of mine used to walk her dog 'off the lead, of course' along
NCN75.

She and I went for a stroll along it one day, she started to complain
about the cyclists and I pointed out that we were waling on the main
Edinburgh to Glasgow cycle way. She got a bit sheepish at that point.

--
Cheers,
Euan
Gawnsoft: http://www.gawnsoft.co.sr
Symbian/Epoc wiki: http://html.dnsalias.net:1122
Smalltalk links (harvested from comp.lang.smalltalk) http://html.dnsalias.net/gawnsoft/smalltalk