Abuse by fellow cyclists.

[Pat "5mph"]

Today I got a tirade of abuse by a woman cycling on the right hand side of the shared path, because I was riding on the left and would not get out of her way.
Well, one does not know what to do, because they might swerve in my direction if they realize they are on the wrong side, or, like in this case, we might collide if they are convinced to ride correctly.
I normally stop before collision, obviously.
It is mostly tourists on city bikes that ride on the right, but this one was definitely local!
Once I witnessed the exact same: a rider showered another with abuse, this time the shouter was right, it was the other riding on the wrong side.
Another time it was a jogger that got sarky "which way are you going??"
Well, 'ya muppet", you are jogging into me, I'm where I'm supposed to be - did not say that of course
Again, on the quite narrow riverside path, a bunch of tourists on city bikes take the whole path.
When I politely suggested they keep to the left because there will be fast riders coming from round the blind corner, one says "do you want me to take a license to ride a bike?"
All right mate, get run into then
With this sunny weather the shared paths are busy, we must have a system ... or not?
Should we just ride slalom like, hoping for the best?
I don't think my cycling skills are up to this

 

[snorri]

Aye, it's no' easy Pat .
Maybe we need sprinklers on these paths to keep everyone cool?

 

[PK99]

Another time it was a jogger that got sarky "which way are you going??"

That's an interesting one.

On the road with no pavement, walker/jogger goes on the right into oncoming traffic and the traffic moves out around.

I've always worked the same principle on shared cycle/pedestrian paths.

 

[Racing roadkill]

It’s happening more and more recently. There are no ‘rabbit proof fences’ to keep ‘em out, you don’t need to take an I.Q. Test before you can ride a bike ( more’s the pity).

 

[pjd57]

The path along the Clyde gets very busy on good days. It's a good route but it can be a challenge.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

The path along the Clyde gets very busy on good days. It's a good route but it can be a challenge.

But the worst one is Kelvingrove park, I try to avoid it at peak times.
It's the random dogs more than the pedestrians!

 

[Andy in Germany]

I find I get snark from other cyclists in summer. Usually although not exclusively they seem to be riding very expensive bikes in the latest team kit. Generally they are upset about people being 'in the way' or 'not following the rules' which at times is the case,strictly speaking, but they seem to think that people trundling along the cycleway should react like drivers on the Autobahn. It's like they've left the car in the garage, but they're still driving it in their head.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Nothing will be close to to ideal with shared infrastructure. Any mixed form of transport will create conflict.

The jogger is right to run into the traffic. The cycles are right to stay on the left. At some point they’ll meet. Who gives way? The cycle probably, but what if you add another jogger or cycle to the mix? How about a horse? Chuck in a dog walker who has a dog that’s off the lead. Add a buggy and a toddler and two elderly walkers, one who can’t hear a bell, the other one gets frightened at the sound of a bell. Also, take to account the vegetation has encroached onto the path either side resulting in a reduction in space of 30%...

And taa daa...There you have it ladies and gentlemen: Shoot infrastructure. How dare you use it when I’m using it.

Off to the NL in August just to make me even madder on my return.

 

[Drago]

In my experience the Power Rangers are the ones least likely to follow any rules themselves.

 

[DCBassman]

In my experience the Power Rangers are the ones least likely to follow any rules themselves.

Too true...

 

[DaveReading]

I find I get snark from other cyclists in summer. Usually although not exclusively they seem to be riding very expensive bikes in the latest team kit.

Not only that, but they invariably don't have a bell ...

 

[Heltor Chasca]

How do pedestrians manage on crowded pavements? After all, they hardly ever collide. People just need to apply the same principles to shared use paths. Look out for each other and employ a bit of tolerance.

Peds can sidestep in the blink of an eye. Cycles by their very design travel in very straight lines and 5 times quicker. Shared paths are far from ideal. Come with me to the NL in August and see a better solution. Bring a swimming cozzy too.

 

[DCBassman]

Reading that post, a vision of swimming routes popped into my head. That would be good on a nice day, and ice-skateable in winter!

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Bikes CAN indeed go five times faster, but in your scenario they shouldn't be, that's my point.

And I agree, but I was dramatising a less than ideal scenario. As an ideal scenario, where bikes are a viable and sustainable means of mass transport, they need to be 5 times quicker and not mixing with peds or vehicles.

 

[Time Waster]

You don't go five times faster on Dutch cycle routes, certainly not town ones. Pedestrians ask around who have priority so quite often ime you have to expect a ped to cross the cycle path. Then the cyclists themselves!

Since it's natural for the natives but isn't for the brit visiting it often becomes the brit who's causing the issues on the cycle paths in Holland. At least in my experience (only one trip so possibly not valid). So this issue the Op has needs to be sorted and understood by cyclists here if we're going to get even close to Such system of bike use. It's about social norms for bike or other modes of transport and motion.