Being a pedestrian in Cambridge

[PK99]

We are in Cambridge for a few days, arrived less than 24 hours ago and have been at serious risk of being damaged by inconsiderate cyclists on 3 occasions.

1. Female cyclists came fast across a zebra crossing and entered pavement without warning or hesitation. If I had not pulled up sharply she would have t-boned my damaged knee.

2. Similar. Male cyclist out of leg of t-junction onto pavement across head of junction to access cycle parking.

3 on midsummer meadows shared path. Side by side on wide path. Cyclist passed from behind very close on the narrow side and cut so close in front we both startled.

Had I been early in rehab rather than 4 months in, the sudden jolt in any of these would have put my ACL graft at risk.

My expectations are very simple.

On a pavement I never expect or accept being put at risk of harm by a cyclist.

On a shared path I expect the courtesy of a wide berth and some form of warning from behind.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Sounds like chaos. Not good for the name of cycling.

 

[Mark1978]

I commute through Cambridge from the station to the science park and have to agree with your observations. I see a general lack of self preservation and awareness from a lot of cyclists. I'd say a good 10-20% of cyclists cycle around in the dark with absolutely no lights and quite often nothing more that the reflectors on their pedals making them visible. Only this morning I had a young lady with headphones on not concentrating on where she was going almost collide with me head on as she weaved around on the wrong side of the road. No amount of shouting at her distracted her from whatever she was doing as she couldn't hear a thing.

Then there's the guys who ride up and down the river shouting at the rowers with, what seems to be, absolutely no control of their steeds and no awareness of anyone else who happens to be on the same bit of road as them.

You really have to have your wits about you and have respect for the shared usage of peds and bikes if you are commuting through the city, that's for sure.

Mind you, it would also be nice if peds would refrain from walking down the middle of roads.

 

[Dave 123]

I have to agree that there a too many knob heads on bikes in Cambridge. I wouldn't call them cyclists though!

It seems to be across the board-old, young, male, female, locals...

Frustratingly, it puts everyone on a bike In a bad light.

 

[Mark1978]

Panther Cabs are a scary bunch. That lot and "Mick George Skips" drivers. Many a time have I been cycling towards the station with a Panther driver behind me revving up as he wants to squeeze past down the rat-run streets.

 

[Drago]

Occasionally Cambs Dibble hammer down on it, but they don't have the resources to do it all the time. A scheme of bike confiscating and immediate crushing would ram the message home.

 

[Elybazza61]

And there's lots of idiot pedestrians in Cambridge as well...


... but neither the pedestrians or the cyclists are as much of a danger as the minicabs (yes, I'm looking at you Panther Cabs).

Had a couple of blinders this morning from Taxis;one cut across me before the lights at the Parkside/East Rd junction and then another run a red coming from Mill Road*.

Had some good ones lately from peds too,wandering without looking especially crossing Tennison Rd at the junction on Mill Road.

Yes,there are idiot cyclists but there are as many idiot peds and car drivers too.


*The Coleridge Road/Mill Road lights are a favourite for red light runners,I'm amazed there hasn't been an accident there.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Cyclists or Stoodents?

 

[mjr]

You really have to have your wits about you and have respect for the shared usage of peds and bikes if you are commuting through the city, that's for sure.

Mind you, it would also be nice if peds would refrain from walking down the middle of roads.

I think that's basically the nub of it. Cambridge is a compact city where the highways authorities have been pretty late at even starting London-style modernisation schemes and they're still far too little IMO. There's a lot of shockingly bad motoring (cars, minicabs, lorries, buses...) there too and that's far more likely to kill or seriously injure you. Nonetheless, I quite like it but it's a lot less stressful once you realise you should expect pre-congestion-charge central London levels of traffic madness from pretty much everyone else and can regard it with detached amusement.

I wouldn't call them cyclists though!

Who needs other people to flame cyclists when cyclists disown each other like that?

Occasionally Cambs Dibble hammer down on it, but they don't have the resources to do it all the time. A scheme of bike confiscating and immediate crushing would ram the message home.

From what I remember, Cambridgeshire Police have a bad habit of clamping down in places like Milton Road where cycle tracks turn into footways without any discernable reason, rather than address the more troublesome problems like reckless cycling in the busy central area.

And why should cyclists suffer confiscation and crushing when far more deadly motorists still don't? And while we're dreaming up new punishments, can we have some punishment worth a damn for Cambs CC where they've built absurd shoot, please? Like it sounds like this:

Male cyclist out of leg of t-junction onto pavement across head of junction to access cycle parking.

may be due to daft siting of cycle parking. Or is it that people don't accept cyclists crossing pavements to access cycle parking when cars drive across/along pavements often?

 

[Dave 123]

I think that's basically the nub of it. Cambridge is a compact city where the highways authorities have been pretty late at even starting London-style modernisation schemes and they're still far too little IMO. There's a lot of shockingly bad motoring (cars, minicabs, lorries, buses...) there too and that's far more likely to kill or seriously injure you. Nonetheless, I quite like it but it's a lot less stressful once you realise you should expect pre-congestion-charge central London levels of traffic madness from pretty much everyone else and can regard it with detached amusement.


Who needs other people to flame cyclists when cyclists disown each other like that?


From what I remember, Cambridgeshire Police have a bad habit of clamping down in places like Milton Road where cycle tracks turn into footways without any discernable reason, rather than address the more troublesome problems like reckless cycling in the busy central area.

And why should cyclists suffer confiscation and crushing when far more deadly motorists still don't? And while we're dreaming up new punishments, can we have some punishment worth a damn for Cambs CC where they've built absurd shoot, please? Like it sounds like this:


may be due to daft siting of cycle parking. Or is it that people don't accept cyclists crossing pavements to access cycle parking when cars drive across/along pavements often?

Sorry I spoke. Do I send a private message to ask for permission to post in the future?

 

[PK99]

2. Similar. Male cyclist out of leg of t-junction onto pavement across head of junction to access cycle parking.
.

may be due to daft siting of cycle parking. Or is it that people don't accept cyclists crossing pavements to access cycle parking when cars drive across/along pavements often?

I don't accept a cyclist shooting off the road at speed with no waring putting me or any other pedestrian at risk. If he had hit me I would most likely have a very damaged acl graft.

What car drivers may do is irrelevant and you should be ashamed of dissembling in defence of unacceptable behaviour just because it was a cyclist.

Stop on the roadway and walk the bike across the pavement.

 

[Dave 123]

Occasionally Cambs Dibble hammer down on it, but they don't have the resources to do it all the time. A scheme of bike confiscating and immediate crushing would ram the message home.

I was thinking the other day as I watched people mount pavements to 'avoid' red lights that I'd not seen Mr Plod out pulling people for a while.
Oh dear, I just spoke out of turn again. Naughty me!

 

[mjr]

What car drivers may do is irrelevant and you should be ashamed of dissembling in defence of unacceptable behaviour just because it was a cyclist.

Not exactly in defence. I'm just pointing out that most people seem to accept it rather more when motorists shoot across the pavement without warning to access a car park.

Stop on the roadway and walk the bike across the pavement.

No, because I'm far more likely to drop the bike on you or clatter you with the offside bar, pedal or pannier while doing so. Personally, I'd signal and try not to go within 2m of someone walking, though.

 

[Drago]

I think that's basically the nub of it. Cambridge is a compact city where the highways authorities have been pretty late at even starting London-style modernisation schemes and they're still far too little IMO. There's a lot of shockingly bad motoring (cars, minicabs, lorries, buses...) there too and that's far more likely to kill or seriously injure you. Nonetheless, I quite like it but it's a lot less stressful once you realise you should expect pre-congestion-charge central London levels of traffic madness from pretty much everyone else and can regard it with detached amusement.


Who needs other people to flame cyclists when cyclists disown each other like that?


From what I remember, Cambridgeshire Police have a bad habit of clamping down in places like Milton Road where cycle tracks turn into footways without any discernable reason, rather than address the more troublesome problems like reckless cycling in the busy central area.

And why should cyclists suffer confiscation and crushing when far more deadly motorists still don't? And while we're dreaming up new punishments, can we have some punishment worth a damn for Cambs CC where they've built absurd shoot, please? Like it sounds like this:


may be due to daft siting of cycle parking. Or is it that people don't accept cyclists crossing pavements to access cycle parking when cars drive across/along pavements often?

I would crush motoring offenders vehicles too. Don't be worrying yourself thinking I'd make a special case for cyclists.

 

[PK99]

Not exactly in defence. I'm just pointing out that most people seem to accept it rather more when motorists shoot across the pavement without warning to access a car park.


No, because I'm far more likely to drop the bike on you or clatter you with the offside bar, pedal or pannier while doing so. Personally, I'd signal and try not to go within 2m of someone walking, though.

The twunt in question shot straight across a busy pavement with a constant stream of pedestrians forcing my wife and I, and others, to stop to avoid being hit.