Right of way?

[aidB]

Could anyone tell me who would be at fault in this scenario? I'm riding my bike on a shared pedestrian/cycle path. It's the one along the East Lancs Road between Walkden and Boothstown, if anyone knows it. I'm going along nicely when I spot two female walkers about 400yds ahead. They're walking towards me side by side, effectively blocking the path.
As I draw near, they can't have failed to see me, so I move towards the left-hand side in good time. To my surprise, I almost hit the one on that side because she didn't make room for me. If it wasn't for her companion pulling her out of the way and me going right to the edge of the path, I would have clattered into her. I like to think of myself as a considerate cyclist and would appreciate it if someone would point out if I was in the wrong.

 

[summerdays]

It's a shared space - there is no right of way! Your way wasn't clear to proceed so you should have stopped.

Perhaps they didn't notice you so a polite excuse me might have helped.

 

[Spinney]

But equally they should have allowed room for someone to pass...they have no 'right' to take up the full width of the path either.

 

[summerdays]

But equally they should have allowed room for someone to pass...they have no 'right' to take up the full width of the path either.

But if he stopped in front of them then they could get around him. I don't get bothered by pedestrians in my way on the whole (the MOD gate being the one exception where they step out the gate onto the bike lane without looking many a time), and use it as time to practice my slow bike skills and ear-wig their conversation - that one is usually gaurenteed to get them to shift out of your way

 

[tyred]

try one of these

 

[thegravestoneman]

Is that one of those U.F.O s every one talks about?

 

[Monkreadusuk]

This is one reason why I very rarely use shared use paths.

 

[albion]

"I'm going along nicely "

It is polite to stop peddling so as to go near walking pace as you pass.
Shared paths are pedestrian tracks often promoted to also allow cycling.

 

[malcermie]

I always slow down and say 'excuse me please' and a 'thank you' as I pass. Only ever had one problem with a woman yelling at me that it was a pavement, when I politely pointed out it was a shared path she yelled 'well it shouldn't be'!! There is really no answer to that!

 

[Leodis]

Damn those peds walking in pairs don't they know its single file!!

 

[numbnuts]

I always slow down and let them make the first move, if they don't move I shout out peanuts

 

[redcard]

Damn those peds walking in pairs don't they know its single file!!

Missing the point?

 

[snorri]

Perhaps the pedestrians thought normal road convention would apply, ie cyclists keeping to their left, and pedestrians keeping to their right. In which case it would not be unreasonable of the pedestrian on the left hand side of the path(your left) to expect you to bear right and go around her.
As others have said, on joint user paths there are no rules, we all have to exercise caution.

 

[aidB]

Thank you for your replies. In future, I'll be more wary of my fellow path travellers, and try not to make assumptions.

 

[pixiepie]

Yeah, I know it (well I know the stretch of it closer to Swinton anyway and I think it's pretty much the same the whole way along). Basically, because it's not really wide enough to be a shared path, a lot of pedestrians treat it like it's just a footpath and walk along it not expecting cyclists to come along (despite the fact that a lot of cyclists use it and regular signs with people and bikes on them to denotes it's shared use). However, you should always defer to the most vulnerable user so I reckon you should have slowed right down and not passed until you were sure she'd seen you and had moved into a safe position. You could have always rung your bell or called out to alert her to your presence.