Wandering walkers and irresponsible dog walkers

[Norm]

If the owner looked sheepish, maybe that's why it couldn't control a collie **baddum tish**

 

[Chris-H]

We have some very good cycle routes round Bedford which attracts the usual walkers,cyclists,joggers,i find a loud warning of "passing on the left" works a treat and 9 times out of ten gets me a smile or a cheery hello.

 

[Brandane]

+1, pedestrians have priority on shared paths. You are capable of slowing down, giving them plenty of space and overtaking safely. If not, well, maybe you shouldn't use the same path as them. Think to yourself, "I am an ambassador for the local cycling lobby, I must not act like a d1ck." Because the chances are that the dog walker you have just annoyed will meet you later, with their dog in the car. So don't be a kn0b, for your own safety.

A bit harsh is it not?? I don't think the OP was "acting like a d1ck"; rather he was just expecting some courtesy from fellow path users. Not looking for special treatment, just some common sense would be good.

 

[Hip Priest]

I only use one shared use path on my commute. I slow down when passing people, particularly if they have a dog off the lead. And if a dog does run into my path, I don't make a big deal of it. Some people always seem to seek out conflict.

 

[exbfb]

To a cyclist, a car is a fast moving, potentially dangerous, vehicle.

To a pedestrian, a cycle is a fast moving, potentially dangerous, vehicle.

People out for a walk don't have their "dealing with traffic / making space" heads on.

We have to accept that, end of story really.

Get through easily if you can, deal with it if you can't.

It took me a little bit of time to work that out, I find that a little eye contact makes quite the difference.
Not that easy when you'rec coming up behind them.
Thinking of using my front light on flashing mode to catch their attention.

 

[jonesy]

To a cyclist, a car is a fast moving, potentially dangerous, vehicle.

To a pedestrian, a cycle is a fast moving, potentially dangerous, vehicle.

People out for a walk don't have their "dealing with traffic / making space" heads on.

We have to accept that, end of story really.

Get through easily if you can, deal with it if you can't.

It took me a little bit of time to work that out, I find that a little eye contact makes quite the difference.
Not that easy when you'rec coming up behind them.
Thinking of using my front light on flashing mode to catch their attention.

Quite, and nor should they have to. Motorised traffic has already taken away most of our public space in urban areas, cyclists really shouldn't be trying to impose the highway environment onto what little space remains for ambling along, enjoying your surroundings.

 

[david k]

being both a walker and cyclist i see both side. whether your on a bike or walking show courtesy to others

 

[bongofury66]

Apart from peanuts,it is verysimple. Whether you are on a bike, walking , walking a dog, riding a horse etc etc, just have respect for each other and realise you do all share. I always slow for any kind of activity on shared paths. As a cyclist of many years and a walker (with dogs), the one creature that REALLY pisses me off is the 'prospective' Tour de France rider in full racing regalia who on his/her sparkly road bike thinks that it is acceptable to belt along on a shared path when ther other people about. Be a man (or woman), and if you want to speed, do it on a public highway with other vehicles that might just intimidate you. If you are on a shared path, take it easy eh!! Had one of these on the shared path on blackpool (bispham) sea front recently. Male, Pink uniform, pink bike, pink shades doing about 20mph. Did my best to get the dog out of the way (for the dogs benefit), and just made it. Got a heap of abuse from MR Pink. Just told the f*ucker he 'looked very pretty'. Tw*t.

rant over

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I agree with Norm and Bongofury. I don't often use shared use paths, but when I do I'm always prepared to stop and (if necessary) walk past anyone with a dog or children or whatever. What I don't do is expect them to get their kids/dogs/etc out of my way.

 

[al78]

Apart from peanuts,it is verysimple. Whether you are on a bike, walking , walking a dog, riding a horse etc etc, just have respect for each other and realise you do all share. I always slow for any kind of activity on shared paths. As a cyclist of many years and a walker (with dogs), the one creature that REALLY pisses me off is the 'prospective' Tour de France rider in full racing regalia who on his/her sparkly road bike thinks that it is acceptable to belt along on a shared path when ther other people about. Be a man (or woman), and if you want to speed, do it on a public highway with other vehicles that might just intimidate you. If you are on a shared path, take it easy eh!! Had one of these on the shared path on blackpool (bispham) sea front recently. Male, Pink uniform, pink bike, pink shades doing about 20mph. Did my best to get the dog out of the way (for the dogs benefit), and just made it. Got a heap of abuse from MR Pink. Just told the f*ucker he 'looked very pretty'. Tw*t.

rant over

*DING*
In a civilized society, everyone is expected to show consideration for others, regardless of rights, priority, mode of transport, whatever. It is the bloody-minded "I have rights" attitude without any regard for responsibilities that is at least partly responsible for the decline in quality of life in the UK.

 

[edindave]

What about 'dog walkers'?


I see a 'dog walker' almost every day on my commute, with at least half a dozen loose dogs, on a narrow 'shared use' cycle path. It's usually different dogs on different days too.

There is no control whatsoever so I tend to creep around them.

One of these days someone will hit one of the dogs.

If it's me then at least I'm insured through British Cycling.

However, I do think the dog walker ought to be in better control of the dogs, and I wouldn't like to be in their shoes having to explain to a dog's owner that a cyclist hit it and it was loose and out of control.

I am sometimes tempted to stop and have a word. Would you say something?

 

[cycleruk]

As John the Monkey says, if you want to go fast use a different route.

I find a cheery hello works wonders, better than a bell in my opinion. I only have the very odd person that grumbles "should have used your bell sooner", but they're very much in the minority.

Don't get me wrong, I can't stand people that don't control their dogs, and also those with the long expanding leads taking up the width of the path (anyone fancy being garotted?) but in most cases when they have nearly had me off in reflection I probably didn't give them enough warning of my approach.

Basically, expect that they'll do something that means you'll hit them/the animal and you're usually fine.

I use to say " excuse me please" and then people would moan that i dont have a bell, so when i got a bell
people would then say that i was too noisey when i tried over taking them!!!! . The best thing you can do is wait behind at a safe distance till a good over taking spot comes up and go past slowly or get off you bike and walk around them, then get back on after you pass them or lastly, just stick to the roads. Theres over six and a half billon people on this planet, good luck with trying keeping them all happy!

 

[Chutzpah]

I use to say " excuse me please" and then people would moan that i dont have a bell, so when i got a bell
people would then say that i was too noisey when i tried over taking them!!!! . The best thing you can do is wait behind at a safe distance till a good over taking spot comes up and go past slowly or get off you bike and walk around them, then get back on after you pass them or lastly, just stick to the roads. Theres over six and a half billon people on this planet, good luck with trying keeping them all happy!

The only place I've ever had a real problem is the Kennet and Avon canal towpath. There you can almost guarantee that if you ring your bell the person will moan that it's rude and inappropriate, but if you say "hello" they'll jump out of their skin and moan you should use a bell

Like you say, can't keep them all happy.

 

[Andy_R]

God yes! and then its the gormless smile/grimace even hello when your grinding your teeth thinking get out the f***in way you t*ats!

A bit harsh is it not?? I don't think the OP was "acting like a d1ck"; rather he was just expecting some courtesy from fellow path users. Not looking for special treatment, just some common sense would be good.

So it's ok to think of other path users as tw*ts and expect them to get out of the way is it? That seems to me as the mindset of a selfish d1ck. Translate it to the road, and imagine the pedestrian is a cyclist and the cyclist is a motorist. We all have to accept each other on whatever right of way we use, be it road, shared path, bridleway. You cant have your cake and eat it, however much you wish so.

 

[markharry66]

We have to respect other users and slow down no problem its a shared path that we can all agree but respect is a two way process a couple of times I have almost be pushed off my bike by retractable do leads. The owner allows the dog to wander straight across the path letting the lead span across the path hardly taking others into consideration. How about the dog mess they leave behind