The Pedestrian is King?

[gaz]

Look out for vulnerable road users, they may behave in a manor that is not seen as acceptable by those faster and heavier but you should read the situation and come to a stop if that is the safest thing to do.

 

[fossyant]

It's human nature to take shortcuts.

Unless you ride a bike

 

[Sara_H]

Just keep going and shout "Get out of my wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy". Or not.

 

[Davidsw8]

Just keep going and shout "Get out of my wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy". Or not.

I'm sorry to say that sometimes, my language isn't anywhere that polite It just comes out though - must bite my lip!

 

[Sara_H]

I'm sorry to say that sometimes, my language isn't anywhere that polite It just comes out though - must bite my lip!

I was only joking!!!
I ride at snails pace as a rule, so I don't usually have a problem with peds, my commute passes through two public parks so mix it up with dog walkers ad small children, generally just slow it right down and stay well out of the way.

 

[Dan B]

I like to say that pedestrians have priority no matter what. but I don't really believe it 100% as such

What I *do* believe, though, is that, road users have a "natural right" to an area of road the size of a pedestrian and to move at the speed of a pedestrian, and that if you are taking up more space than that - either by sitting in or astride a vehicle which is excessively sized for the people it's carrying, or by moving so fast that you require a clear 'stopping distance' ahead of you, you are impinging on others' use of the highway and should be prepared to give way, slow down, or generally tiptoe around the other more considerate road users who have a smaller roadspace footprint.

Put it this way, if you were carrying a blackboard and running down a crowded street at 20mph, you would not expect everyone else to git out of your way just because you were bigger and faster. And I have seen no justifaction from vehicle users for expecting to have priority over pedestrians that doesn't come down to that belief

 

[Linford]

I'm glad you are not in anything bigger than a cycle

 

[Davidsw8]

[QUOTE 2284447, member: 1314"]Tooting Broadway, that's all I'm saying. I don't have a bell - I whistle. At the moment I whistle The Bunnymen's intro to Rescue, if I need to get their attention.[/quote]

I see your Tooting Broadway and I'll raise you a Walworth Road

 

[snorri]

. He got a good stare and head shake.

That is so much better than shouting and gesticulating Matthew_T

 

[Electric_Andy]

Bracing myself for a bit of an attack on this one but I've got a bee in my bonnet this morning so I'm throwing caution to the wind

I'm not sure I would go out of my way to use a proper crossing either, but I must agree with you when it comes to pre-occupied or just plain stupid pedestrians. The rules are simple, stop look and listen. The following angers me: When a Ped steps out in front of a car, they apologise for nearly getting themselves killed, but when they do the same to a bike they assume it's our fault for "going too fast". Older people are the biggest culprits, they seem to think that bikes belong on country paths with a Butcher's sign attached to them, and that we should all be going at 3mph whilst ringing our bells and shouting "Hello Mrs Bickerstaff, excuse me, coming through, I've got your order of bread 'ere, nice and fresh just like always".

 

[Sittingduck]

Older people are the biggest culprits, they seem to think that bikes belong on country paths with a Butcher's sign attached to them, and that we should all be going at 3mph whilst ringing our bells and shouting "Hello Mrs Bickerstaff, excuse me, coming through, I've got your order of bread 'ere, nice and fresh just like always".

 

[Davidsw8]

I'm not sure I would go out of my way to use a proper crossing either, but I must agree with you when it comes to pre-occupied or just plain stupid pedestrians. The rules are simple, stop look and listen. The following angers me: When a Ped steps out in front of a car, they apologise for nearly getting themselves killed, but when they do the same to a bike they assume it's our fault for "going too fast". Older people are the biggest culprits, they seem to think that bikes belong on country paths with a Butcher's sign attached to them, and that we should all be going at 3mph whilst ringing our bells and shouting "Hello Mrs Bickerstaff, excuse me, coming through, I've got your order of bread 'ere, nice and fresh just like always".

If a road was empty or if it was clearly gonna be safe to cross, I would just cross anywhere too.

I wouldn't stand in the middle of a busy road with a constant stream of buses, coaches, taxis, vans etc. rushing by within feet either side of me - I'm too much of a coward

 

[benb]

The trouble is, pedestrians have been utterly marginalised when it comes to meeting their needs in the road network. They are either corralled into tight crossings with metal fences, given wholly substandard crossing infrastructure, or ignored entirely.

Because of that they often have no choice but to cross in sub-optimal locations.

Pedestrians should be given way to in all situations, IMO.

Stepping out without looking is obviously a bit silly though.

 

[MisterStan]

with a Butcher's sign attached to them,
I've got your order of bread 'ere, nice and fresh just like always".

Do you always buy your bread at the Butchers?

 

[Davidsw8]

The trouble is, pedestrians have been utterly marginalised when it comes to meeting their needs in the road network. They are either corralled into tight crossings with metal fences, given wholly substandard crossing infrastructure, or ignored entirely.

Because of that they often have no choice but to cross in sub-optimal locations.

Pedestrians should be given way to in all situations, IMO.

Stepping out without looking is obviously a bit silly though.

Not any more Ben, they've removed most of the railings from the roads in Central London. So now, instead of knowing that a pedestrian can only really appear in front of you unexpectedly at certain points, they can now appear in front of you anywhere.

I especially love the new shared road/pavement thing they've introduced round Sloane Square and South Kensington so it's now harder to tell what's road and what's pavement and who's meant to be where. I hear this is exceptionally problematic for folks depending on guide dogs as there are no kerbs.