"You should be on the cyclepath!"

[matticus]

How long is the path? Unless it is extremely long is anyone really vexed at the thought of walking for a minute or so?

Sounds like the same attitude as motorists who whine about the 20mph limit because it slows them down when, of course, they are perfectly capable of safely driving faster than that.

They're not simply being asked to slow down, are they? (Plus as others have pointed out, a dismounted cyclist often makes life MORE difficult for pedestrians!)

 

[icowden]

exactly
my bars are quite wide and then the pedals have sharpish edges to them - if I ride it in a considerate manner, including going slowly, then everyone is better off if I stay on it rather than push it from the side
IMO

I always used to find that frustrating back when I was a commuter. I used to work in offices at Minerva House in London Bridge and the best route back to Waterloo was via national cycle route 4 which takes you along Clink Street where on many occasions I would get yelled at to "get off and walk - this is a pedestrianised area". Firstly - it isn't, it's part of cycle route 4, and secondly and more importantly, by cycling slowly and carefully not much faster than pedestrians (often the same speed) I took up less room than if I had been pushing the bike.

 

[All uphill]

I think it's important to also look at this from the viewpoint of a vulnerable pedestrian. I'd contend that a person walking with a bike appears, and possibly is, less of a risk than one cycling.

I'd also suggest that in areas where we may cycle, there will often be individuals who won't slow down and take care.

A cycling friend is recovering from major surgery and walks with sticks. She tells me she is frightened of people cycling past her on this bridge.

Close, fast passes aren't only frightening to cyclists...

 

[welsh dragon]

I had one Errrrr person in a range rover go past me on a bridge and bip his horn and shout that I should be on the cycle path that was only 300 feet long, on the opposite side of the road and came to an end at an overhead railway bridge on a corner. I would have had to stop, get off, and cross over the road on a bend on a busy main road with the very real chance of going splatt under a bus or car. Needless to say my language was not at all ladylike. Some people just like to moan and whine and complain because they can.

Seems to be the way things are nowadays from keyboard warriors online to the people in everyday life.

Thankfully I am thick skinned.

 

[matticus]

I think it's important to also look at this from the viewpoint of a vulnerable pedestrian. I'd contend that a person walking with a bike appears, and possibly is, less of a risk than one cycling.

I just hope they realise that on most pavements, they are at greater risk from car drivers.

 

[mjr]

How long is the path? Unless it is extremely long is anyone really vexed at the thought of walking for a minute or so?

Yes. I can't hold the bike up and use my walking stick safely, plus I'll take up much more width for much longer and I don't like being in the way, so it is rather vexing.

Sounds like the same attitude as motorists who whine about the 20mph limit because it slows them down when, of course, they are perfectly capable of safely driving faster than that.

How is it the same? I've yet to see "motorists alight and push" signs anywhere.

 

[mjr]

I think it's important to also look at this from the viewpoint of a vulnerable pedestrian. I'd contend that a person walking with a bike appears, and possibly is, less of a risk than one cycling.

Only appears and that appearance is fuelled by more than a century of press demonisation portraying cyclists as evil hoons.

I'd also suggest that in areas where we may cycle, there will often be individuals who won't slow down and take care.

The ones people need to worry about will cycle through whether or not we may or may not. Putting dismount info signs on cycle routes just increases conflict where it is least needed and makes vulnerable people who dismount easier, slower-moving targets for ragers to lash out at or set their dogs on. They are signs put up by non-cycling physics deniers to start culture wars to distract from the real problem that the route is too narrow to meet the demand and should be widened, most likely by rebuilding the bridge deck or taking some width off motorists.

 

[All uphill]

The ones people need to worry about will cycle through whether or not we may or may not. Putting dismount info signs on cycle routes just increases conflict where it is least needed and makes vulnerable people who dismount easier, slower-moving targets for ragers to lash out at or set their dogs on. They are signs put up by non-cycling physics deniers to start culture wars to distract from the real problem that the route is too narrow to meet the demand and should be widened, most likely by rebuilding the bridge deck or taking some width off motorists.

The ones people need to worry about will drive at more than 20mph whether or not we may or may not. Putting 20mph signs on roads just increases conflict where it is least needed.... and so on.

This all sounds to me very like entitled drivers' rants.

In the example I showed I'm happy to dismount as it feels safer for everyone.

 

[matticus]

In the example I showed I'm happy to dismount as it feels safer for everyone.

No-one's stopping you dismounting anywhere.

 

[Alex321]

Yes. I can't hold the bike up and use my walking stick safely, plus I'll take up much more width for much longer and I don't like being in the way, so it is rather vexing.


How is it the same? I've yet to see "motorists alight and push" signs anywhere.

I think Mr Nails was suggesting that you complaining about being told to dismount for a short path that you can safely ride was similar to motorists complaining about being made to drive at 20mph when they can safely drive faster.

He got entirely the wrong end of the stick about why you were complaining I think.

 

[mjr]

The ones people need to worry about will drive at more than 20mph whether or not we may or may not. Putting 20mph signs on roads just increases conflict where it is least needed.... and so on.

This all sounds to me very like entitled drivers' rants.

1. Sadly, that is actually a government-accepted principle and why we cannot get lower speed limits on roads where the average motorist speed is too high without some other measures to reduce that speed.

2. The difference is that speed limits are regulatory signs which (in theory, at least) are enforceable and only imposed after publishing for consultation a justification that can be challenged. This is another way that "cyclists dismount" being information signs is an ugly dodge: they're unenforceable and used willy-nilly in illogical ways.

In the example I showed I'm happy to dismount as it feels safer for everyone.

I should think so because, unless something changed since I left Somerset, you've already passed a "no cycling" regulatory sign to reach that point!

Does it really feel safer? The oncoming dismounted rider completely blocks the full bridge width, so I suspect most people wait because it doesn't feel safer to climb over them! Dismounting seems mainly to bully most oncoming walkers into waiting. Some people are happy to bully but I'm not.

That bridge deck really needs widening or bypassing, but it's in the area of a council that talks a good game but is pretty terrible at cycling (again, unless something changed) and tells disabled cyclists to ride an extra half km to SCAT and Tesco and back instead. The desire is clearly there because otherwise, no-one would put up a wordy non-standard probably-unlawful dismount sign there.

 

[icowden]

The desire is clearly there because otherwise, no-one would put up a wordy non-standard probably-unlawful dismount sign there.

Apropos of nothing, there is a fantastic one of those at the footbridge over Teddington lock. It's attached to the stairs. It's not entirely clear how they think anyone will cycle up the steps...

 

[I like Skol]

if I ride it in a considerate manner,

There's the problem.

 

[I like Skol]

And also, many cyclists who try to ride at walking pace get increasingly unstable and out of control. Whatever instructions/guidance is issued, the authorities can't win.

 

[Mike_P]

I manage a walking pace fine using the rarely used granny gear on my ebike, assist obviously off. Its probably aided by its wide tyres. Obviously there may be times when propelling along by foot is necessary.