Ahhh! Joggers!

[Bman]

So, I’m riding along, on an unlit stretch of cycletrack (equipped with parallel pavement for the peds) going slightly downhill. I’m wearing high-vis, and have freshly charged batteries in my front lamp.

I lean into the corner, and then S**T, full breaks! There is a troop/squad/platoon of joggers about 6 wide and 10 long hogging the whole two lanes of the cycletrack and the pavement.

After about 12 foot of rear wheel skid (and a good couple of weeks wear on the tyre) they decide to part in the middle and let me through. Luckily by the time I started braking, I had started to straighten up and wasn’t in full lean.

I shout “get out of the road” as I pass, and one of them replies cockily “Its not a road, it’s a cycletrack”. IIRC, oblivious to the highway code or traffic laws.

I believe these joggers are part of an organized run, for Cancer research or something. Not your ordinary uneducated Chav.

Am I right in thinking these lot are actually breaking (multiple) laws doing this?
Would/could the organizer be held responsible?
Should I give the ol’ bill a call!?

Ok, rant over! (besides the joggers, and the wind, it was a nice ride home)

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I think the Highway Code states "never drive (ride) so fast that you cannot stop well within the distance you can see to be clear."

Sorry Bongman, I cannot sympathise.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Just this one rule which is relevant


5

Organised walks. Large groups of people walking together should use a pavement if available; if one is not, they should keep to the left. Look-outs should be positioned at the front and back of the group, and they should wear fluorescent clothes in daylight and reflective clothes in the dark. At night, the look-out in front should show a white light and the one at the back a red light. People on the outside of large groups should also carry lights and wear reflective clothing.

 

[ianrauk]

since when do chavs go jogging?
They have as much right on the (I assume) shared path as you do.. however many there where.

 

[Bman]

Gerry Attrick :

I argued this to myself before posting and actually, I may have exaggerated a little . I also after stopping the skid, had plenty of room and time to stop without risking a collision (I didnt need to stop dead, and had plenty of room to stop in time if I needed to) I passed them with about two foot clearance each side. The skid was partly for show, partly to allow me enough time to stop if required. IMO, I wasnt riding dangerously. I just didnt expect them to be there. Although, I was prepared to stop, just in case.

mr_cellophane:

They had no lights and no spotters, just a few of them wearing a reflective strip on their arm. I saw them and reacted first, but they would have seen my light a mile off (well, 100 yards off ).

ianrauk :

Its not a shared path, there is a designated path for pedestrians.

 

[Archie]

Just one of those things, no point getting annoyed about it. A bit of give and take and no-one needs to get hurt.

I don't know the laws but I think peds get free range to wander where they like in this country, and as an occasional ped myself I'd support their rights.

 

[eel28]

that really annoys me too, when cycling along a clearly marked cycle path, with a clearly marked footpath running alongside it, why do people insist on walking down the middle of the cyclepath? and then have a winge at you for cycling past them!!

 

[HLaB]

I've seen occaisions where there is a dedicated footpath parallel (about 15ft away) to a cycle path which is parrallel (4ft away) to an on road cycle lane and you still get folk in the cycle lane. It is a bit annoying but you've got to be aware of the possibility otherwise you soon adopt the karma of a lot of drivers, "get out of my way, you shouldn't be in the road, etc"

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

I've seen occaisions where there is a dedicated footpath parallel (about 15ft away) to a cycle path which is parrallel (4ft away) to an on road cycle lane and you still get folk in the cycle lane. It is a bit annoying but you've got to be aware of the possibility otherwise you soon adopt the karma of a lot of drivers, "get out of my way, you shouldn't be in the road, etc"

Yep, there's a separated cycle-path and footpath like that in a park near us. We were going through it with the Little-LCs last year, on the cycle-path, and passed a pair of chavettes with pushchairs who were making a spirited attempt at blocking it. One was heard to say to the other as we went past, "too many f'ing bikes on this path, innit?".

I pointed out (politey - Littlest-LC was on the trail-gator ) that the foot path was "over there, look" and that they were on the cycle path. Just got blank stares in response.

 

[fossyant]

In these situations you need eye searingly bright lights.....they will soon move !

 

[runner]

as well as being a biker...i am as my name suggests a runner I commute daily on the bristol-bath cycle track and often run on it so i can see the argument from both sides...i think it's all about giving eachother a little consideration..yes it's a cycle track but walkers/pedestrians/runners/dogs etc all use it and we just need to be mindful of eachother. I have been frustrated by bikes when out running....but equally i have been frustrated by runners when i am trying to get up a good head of steam on my bike....ah if only life were perfect

 

[trsleigh]

that really annoys me too, when cycling along a clearly marked cycle path, with a clearly marked footpath running alongside it, why do people insist on walking down the middle of the cyclepath? and then have a winge at you for cycling past them!!

I'm with Lee on this one.

Lets just rewrite above slightly

"that really annoys me too, when driving along a clearly marked road, with a clearly marked cycle path running alongside it, why do people insist on riding down the middle of the road? and then have a winge at you for driving past them!!"

I wish they would just get rid of 95% of all cycle facilities.

 

[Bman]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sou...6817,-0.179579&spn=0.004369,0.012306&t=h&z=17

(I think that link will work)

Im travelling west to east. The cyclepath I was on is centered. Can you blame me for using the designated cycle path? The alternative route is a long diversion. Ideally I prefer to avoid the lunatic car drivers where possible .

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Looks like a patch of grass to me

 

[Bman]

Bear in mind, that sat. image was taken during a summer, it doesnt look quite so green at the moment