Twelve Spokes
Time to say goodbye again...
- Location
- CS 2
Shared paths, 'haven't you got a bell?!'
- Thread starter Guyincognito76
- Start date
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Cyclopathic
Veteran
- Location
- Leicester.
Shared paths are all well and good but why don't the people who get in my way realise that it's my turn to have the path? 
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
Just out of curiosity, is there a speed limit for bikes on shared paths or cycle paths?
We have a shared path along the Norwich Road, going out of Wymondham. I rarely use it as its a pavement and is in constant use by pedestrians and dog walkers, kids on skates etc. It also crosses a lot of side streets. When I have used it, I tend to just pootle along at 8 or 9 mph or so unless I am passing peds, dogs or kids and then I slow down. I have seen a lad bombing down it fairly regularly, dashing over the side roads - He will meet a sticky end one day, I am sure.
I have been yelled at by car drivers for not being on the cycle path when I am cycling at 18 mph or so. I have been bawled out by ped when on the shared cycle path when pootling at 8mph too. I have told car drivers that I am riding over a cyclepath speed limit, even though I don't know if there is one.
We have a shared path along the Norwich Road, going out of Wymondham. I rarely use it as its a pavement and is in constant use by pedestrians and dog walkers, kids on skates etc. It also crosses a lot of side streets. When I have used it, I tend to just pootle along at 8 or 9 mph or so unless I am passing peds, dogs or kids and then I slow down. I have seen a lad bombing down it fairly regularly, dashing over the side roads - He will meet a sticky end one day, I am sure.
I have been yelled at by car drivers for not being on the cycle path when I am cycling at 18 mph or so. I have been bawled out by ped when on the shared cycle path when pootling at 8mph too. I have told car drivers that I am riding over a cyclepath speed limit, even though I don't know if there is one.
I've heard that 18mph is the recommended maximum speed for shared use paths, but I think it's just guidance. I generally keep to more-or-less 10mph when amongst pedestrians (which is generally only when I'm cutting through a park or the university), and never use shared-use paths unless there's no road alongside it - had no hassle from anyone about that sort of thing so far.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Oh to see us as others do....
Got shouted at, a veritable volley of obscenities, last evening for having the temerity to longboard on a shared use path. Regrettably the shouter was a lycra clad cyclist on an mtb. Not one of the several pedestrians I passed and repassed several times uttered a word or even crooked an eyebrow....
Got shouted at, a veritable volley of obscenities, last evening for having the temerity to longboard on a shared use path. Regrettably the shouter was a lycra clad cyclist on an mtb. Not one of the several pedestrians I passed and repassed several times uttered a word or even crooked an eyebrow....
ComedyPilot
Secret Lemonade Drinker
- Location
- The Kingdom of Yorkshire
That's just one cyclist Greg. Besides MTB'ers in Lycra are wierdos of the highest order.
If I'd seen you I would have stopped for a chat, because I too am considering adding a longboard (for cruising) to my stable....
Longboard? Cruising? Why have I got an image of a large man with a moustache and a surfboard under his arm in a park at dusk whilst wearing very short shorts???
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Who you callin' a weirdo!
(tbh only under baggies)
Buy one, you won't regret it. Huge fun, though ideally you need one for cruisin' and another one for tricks and generally falling on your r's. n+1 and all that.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Lolz. Long shorts, silly 'tab' beard, and the board has wheels. But yep, you'll find me down the park at dusk most evenings.Longboard? Cruising? Why have I got an image of a large man with a moustache and a surfboard under his arm in a park at dusk whilst wearing very short shorts???
Frood42
I know where my towel is
- Location
- Magrathea, Horsehead Nebula
I cycled along Lee Valley Way canal towpaths today. Ringing the bell (one ding from distance) had people jumping for cover, or moving right over and stopping. I wasn't going at speed and I was a little baffled by it all. When I didn't use the bell I had people jumping at the sound of my disc brakes (no squeak or metallic sounds, just pad rubbing against disc). All very strange, or it could be fair weather idiots on MTB's causing the over reactions (saw a couple of idiots like that). I always nod the head or say thanks to be polite. A few times when I didn't use the bell and hung back until it was safe, they apologised for holding me up, which I found quite embarrassing as I don't think I look that scary and I was in no rush. I also a lot of the time follow the bell ring with a coming left or coming right shout, so they don't suddenly dart in odd directions. I did have a slight annoyance in the form of 2 female cyclists in the dark (after sunset) taking the whole path up, with no lights, ignoring the bell and I had to shout "COMING RIGHT" rather loudly as they were not paying proper attention to what was going on around them, I really hope they were not going to join a road to get home like that with no lights...
OP
OP
Guyincognito76
Senior Member
- Location
- Llandudno, North Wales
Summer cyclists! It's the ones coming towards you that you have to worry about; two abreast, deep in conversation. On more than one occasion I've had to take averting action to avoid one of them crashing in to me. They're not even the most dangerous, it's the ones that aren't paying attention and suddenly swerve from one side of the path to the other as they a) are too out of shape even for the shortest, slowest ride, and/or b) haven't been on a bike in ten years and are on a one man/woman quest to debunk the, 'you never forget how to ride a bike' theory.
