Collision : cyclist v pedestrian

[Sara_H]

@Hip Priest I am travelling between 12-25mph, so unless I want to spend all day following peds and their dogs (on extendable leads) that are filling the lane walking abreast at 3mph, I therefore would like to pass. A bell ringing is recognised as an alert that a cycle is there. I slow down to pass, I don't barge past. I don't approach silently and just whoosh past. I do what I believe is the correct approach?

I don't know what your comment 'make them move' is supposed to mean, but perhaps you'd like to explain how you would get past politely?

I found you're doomed what ever apprach you take. A polite "excuse me" is often met with "why haven't you got a bell?" a "ting ting" on the bell is often met with a resentful glare or a complete over reaction where they jump in the ditch and drag compnions in as if you're about to axe murder them all.

I don't know what the answer is. (well I do, segregate cyclists from pedestrians, but thats never going to happen).

 

[Hip Priest]

I don't know what your comment 'make them move' is supposed to mean, but perhaps you'd like to explain how you would get past politely?

Simply move into the other lane and overtake them.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Simply move into the other lane and overtake them.

What part of 'filling the lane walking 3 abreast' don't you understand? There is no other 'lane' they have filled the full road width. There's nowhere for me to go other than onto the raised/rutted verge/ditch or hedgerow.....

 

[Hip Priest]

What part of 'filling the lane walking 3 abreast' don't you understand?

You never mentioned it was single-track.

 

[BentMikey]

You never mentioned it was single-track.

He did, actually.

 

[downfader]

I frequently come across peds on country lanes (paging @Fnaar) but have yet to hit one.

I see them a mile off walking along taking in the country air, oblivious (seemingly) to their surroundings.

Ding, ding....nothing. I roll closer...ding ding....nothing.

Now less than 10m away...ding ding.....bingo the penny drops, they hear me and look round and pull each other to the side of the road.

No bother to me. I was aware of them, and was prepared to stop anyway. I share the road. It's not mine by right, they have as much right to be there as me. They are not inconveniencing me in any way, however no matter how I do it I always seem to get a comment as I pass like: 'Don't you have a bell?'

I've had the same a few times. Any my bell is bloody loud. I even usually call out.

 

[Dan B]

IIRC of the subset of cyclist/pedestrian collisions, pedestrian fault is 60% vs cyclist fault 40%, and that cyclists mostly tend to come off worse than pedestrians.

Legally maybe, but morally the cyclist is going faster and (IMO) therefore bears the greater responsibility for avoiding collision. If they leap into the road with no warning directly in front of you then ok, that was daft, but if they're standing on the pavement looking across the road it shouldn't be such a surprise if they step out

 

[Hip Priest]

He did, actually.

Not as far as I can see. What has it got to do with you anyway?

 

[BentMikey]

Recheck your comprehension skills mate. It's obvious from the post, although it is an implication.

 

[downfader]

Not as far as I can see. What has it got to do with you anyway?

TBH I assumed he meant a single track lane. He often speaks on here about his country lane riding.

 

[Hip Priest]

TBH I assumed he meant a single track lane. He often speaks on here about his country lane riding.

Just a misunderstanding.

I ride in the countryside all the time, on what I consider to be 'country lanes' and less than 10% of them are singletrack. So when CP said the peds filled the lane, I assumed he could've gone into the oncoming lane (traffic being quiet in the country) to pass them. No big deal.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Just a misunderstanding.

I ride in the countryside all the time, on what I consider to be 'country lanes' and less than 10% of them are singletrack. So when CP said the peds filled the lane, I assumed he could've gone into the oncoming lane (traffic being quiet in the country) to pass them. No big deal.

CP's idea of a country lane:

Hip Priest's idea of a country lane:

 

[Hip Priest]

Yes, of course.

There is no middle ground between a single track road and a motorway.

 

[ComedyPilot]

CP sees this:

Hi Priest sees this:

CP may just be:

 

[GrasB]

CP's idea of a country lane:
Hare_in_Country_Lane.jpg
Hip Priest's idea of a country lane:
the-deserted-m5-motorway-between-junctions-3-and-4-329657194-143003.jpg

In reality most country lanes are more like this:

Wide enough for a car & transit van to pass if they slow down & are careful but certainly not single track.