Stupid pedestrians… aaaarggghhh!!
If you’ve read recent posts, you’ll know that I’ve changed my daily commuting route to include a large portion of the trip being ridden on bike paths. Most of these bike paths are either shared bike / pedestrian paths (with the bike portion and pedestrian portion clearly marked) or bike paths with a separate pedestrian path approx 1 metre away.
I’m riding these bike paths to avoid the dangers of riding in Sydney’s traffic - in theory to improve my safety and avoid the risk of injury. Today I had two experiences that just made me shake my head.
Firstly, I’m barrelling down Kissing Point Rd in Turramurra and heading off the road and onto the bike path. Admittedly I’m doing about 45km/h so moving fairly quickly. Coming in the opposite direction is another cyclist, dawdling along with a dog leash around his neck. Where’s the dog? Well, with me at about 45km/h the dog is running towards me barking like mad. I manage to slow down enough and swerve to avoid the dog.
Needless to say I gave the guy on the bike heaps. I wouldn’t mind him having the dog off its leash if it knew how to behave, but please - if your dog is a nutcase, keep it leashed. I actaully asked him whether if his dog caused an accident whilst off the leash he’d consider it unreasonable of me to ask him to pay my hospital bills and repairs for my bike. This at least seemed to hit home.
After the adventures of the morning, I was expecting a clean run home. But no - barrelling down the Epping Rd cycle path, on the road section where there is the equivalent of a full car lane for bikes, separated from a pedestrian pathway, I come across two people dawdling up the cycle path. Note that there is a perfectly good pedestrian pathway just a metre away. I’m again moving at a pace of about 45km/h but this time it’s dark and I’m approaching with a blinding flashing light. Like a rabbit in the headlights, the stupid people, in the wrong place just stop and stand there looking at me. I brake hard and go around them, just shaking my head.
I don’t want to turn into one of those bike riders who just views the world from their own limited perspective and has a persecution complex, thinking the world is against them. However, it is just incredibly frustrating when people either show no regard for the safety of cyclists or respect for teh fact that certain facilities are provided for cyclists and cyclists alone. It is just incredibly frustrating when you have to navigate around pedestrians who have a perfectly good pedestrian path provided just a metre away.
Anyway, enough ranting!
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Comment by RB on 21 August 2008:
GJ,
I think the epping dr section is dangerous with all the people and driveways. Bit of caution is neede.
RB
Comment by Scooter on 21 August 2008:
GJ,
Yes we have all been there MANY times. Not welcome on the roads and not welcome on the bike path’s. I have a theory that its the same folks running you off the road that dawdle/dogs or whatever else on the bike path.
If I end up in an altercation over dogs or whatever else I usually suggest that they contact the council as obviously the facilities don’t meet the requirements of either Cyclist or Pedestrian, which lets face it fast bikes and slow pedestrians dont mix.
Wait till you get the “Why didn’t you ring your bell” usually from a 3 wide group spread over the path.DING DING.
Ah you have to laugh some days !!!
Comment by IM on 23 August 2008:
GJ,
Over the last 10 years or so there has been a significant improvement in pedestrian behaviour/attitudes on my regular commute (Parramatta River bikepath).
10 years ago a stealth attack was required –> no warning, cover brakes in case of surprises, maintain speed and nail gap between pedestrians: high passing speed gave them no time to do anything stupid between the moment of their realisation that I was there, and me being long gone.
A few years ago I lived in Calgary, Canada for 4 years. The pedestrians there were an eye opener for me. They expected bikes to be on the path, walked to the side, expected a warning ding on a bell, would give a visible indication that they had heard (raise a hand, give a nod …) dogs were generally leashed (except in designated off leash areas) and groups would squeeze themselves further out of the cyclist’s way. Early on, I actually got yelled at by pedestrians because I had not given them warning of my approach. In the busiest areas, there were separated bike and pedestrian paths, and the pedestrians actually used theirs!
Now back in Sydney, pedestrians are much more like those I experienced in Calgary, at least during my regular commuting hours. These tend to be regulars, especially in the morning, and I see many of the same people at roughly the same stretch as I commute. I’ve now settled on a system for warning pedestrians. One ding as I get to the earliest point they are likely to hear me (about 20-30 meters out), a double ding at half that distance, followed by me calling out on which side I intend to go by them (”coming by, on your right!”). Some will now give some kind of indication that they have heard. At night I supplement this with pointing my helmet-mounted flashing light somewhere they can see it; in front of their feet, or at a reflective surface in front of them.
It seems to me that it is much less common to get the ‘roo in the headlights response than it used to be. But you still do see some significant stupidity, eg. teenagers at night in dark clothing sitting in a group across the whole path. The other factor that I take into account is people’s tendency to only pay attention to an area with a radius of about two seconds at their own current speed, mainly where they can see (ie generally NOT behind them). Accordingly the most dangerous pedestrians are stationary, leaning on the fence of the bikepath while they have a chat! They are likely to step backwards into the middle of the path before they consider looking for danger.
All in all, I have way less trouble with pedestrians than I used to. If only I could change the behaviour of homicidal drivers in a desperate hurry to take their place 4 cars at back in the queue at the lights that are currently red and will remain so until well after I catch back up with them in 100m or less. Don’t even get me started on the fact that there are only two drivers in Sydney who actually know and follow the rules for round-abouts ….
IM
Comment by tom on 26 August 2008:
“If only I could change the behaviour of homicidal drivers in a desperate hurry to take their place 4 cars at back in the queue at the lights that are currently red and will remain so until well after I catch back up with them in 100m or less. Don’t even get me started on the fact that there are only two drivers in Sydney who actually know and follow the rules for round-abouts ….”
So true. So, so true.
Mosman shops is particularly bad. I think it’s cause the pedestrians there think they own the joint and walk blindly into the middle of the road. The drivers, whom also believe they own the joint, freak out and swerve their BMW X5s all over the place. There are even signs which read ‘give way to traffic already in roundabout’. lol, what a bunch of noobs.