Thoughtless Cyclists on Shared Path (Taff Trail)

[Banjo]

The council in Cardiff are considereing making part of the Taff Trail for pedestrians only due to all the complaints about cyclists going too fast .

I ride the path occasionally as its a pleasant and quite direct route from North to South through Cardiff. I have to admit to being embarrased to be a cyclists sometimes.

I know the pedestrians are a blinkin nuisance wandering all over the path instead of keeping to the edge and they walk 3 abreast and begrudge getting out of the way. I have been nipped by a loose dog and threatened to kick its owner into the river if he didnt get control of it BUT if we dont ride slowly and carefully then we cant complain about other groups .

I believe the limit on any shared path is 10 mph ,doing 10 I am constantly overtaken by allsorts of bikes doing double my speed in some cases.

Keep abusing it and we could well end up losing it.

 

[MontyVeda]

sometimes it's just easier to take the road route instead innit.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

That sort of sums up my objection to any cycling facilities.
We're expected to be pootling hobbyists, not serious transport users, to be given token regard.

Apart from that I'm happy!

 

[TheDoctor]

Why not just ban the pedestrians?
Makes as much sense as banning the cyclists...

 

[oldfatfool]

That sort of sums up my objection to any cycling facilities.

Yup, build a cycle route and it turns into a shoot house for dogs and horses. A nice place for the teenage louts to hang around smashing cider/ lager bottles. Soon as the sun comes out then the overweight joggers think they own the place, mums with double buggies walking three abreast kalling and ignoring anything in front or behind.......

 

[Dan_h]

I am also of the opinion that these shared use paths are a bad idea. If you are out for a cycle with your kids at 5mph then they are fine, but generally they are unusable due to peds / dogs / thoughtless people parking cars on them. When they are next to roads they also weaken the cyclists position as legitimate road users as many drivers think you should be on "your path" instead of "their road"!

 

[Banjo]

Normally I prefer to be on th road but this particular path takes a scenic route away from the road right through Cardiff then connecting to route 8 NCN.

With a bit of consideration theres room for everyone ,point I make is that if we dont behave sensibly its no use complaining about the other groups that use the path.

 

[TonyEnjoyD]

Same here - semi off-road route no issues at all this am apart from one shared route section 5 abreast with dogs, sa me coming I had to come to a complete stop!!
Bloody chimps

 

[Speedywheelsjeans]

I used the taff trail a few times on rides from my fiance's house in cathays, through bute park and to caerphilly to ride up that mountain by castell coch. I admittedly was riding to fast along there, I dont ride it anymore as its not really the type of path i should be using on training rides, I like riding +20mph, the path is always too busy to do this.

 

[steveindenmark]

This is another one of those threads that drives me nuts

"I know the pedestrians are a blinkin nuisance wandering all over the path instead of keeping to the edge and they walk 3 abreast and begrudge getting out of the way."

Why do cyclist have this thing for blaming all the ills of the world on everyone but themselves?

You can easily change the above for this sentence:

"I know the cyclists are a blinkin nuisance wandering all over the path instead of keeping to the edge and they ride 3 abreast and begrudge getting out of the way."

We need to look at the problem and see if we can do anything about it first and not expect other road users to sort it out. We share our bike paths with pedestrians and the most effective way to solve this path problem is to fit a bell to the bike and use it politely from a long way off. I have found it always works for me and I can ride at any speed I want. When they get out of the way I always say "Thank you" as I pass.

Problem solved....move on..

Steve

 

[summerdays]

I thought the speed limit on cycle paths was 18 mph (which I don't agree with).

I probably do cycle over 12 mph on some downhill sections but only when there aren't any pedestrians around at all. If there are pedestrians I don't have a problem waiting patiently behind them at 3 mph until it is possible to pass them with a polite and cheery thank you (I consider it a good chance to practice my slow cycling skills). Sometimes I have even made the pedestrian jump when they didn't realise I was there waiting patiently for a safe point for me to pass.

If I'm taking a cycle path then I'm not in my got to get there quickly mode, I'm instead enjoying the change of scenery and gentler pace.

 

[Banjo]

This is another one of those threads that drives me nuts

"I know the pedestrians are a blinkin nuisance wandering all over the path instead of keeping to the edge and they walk 3 abreast and begrudge getting out of the way."

Why do cyclist have this thing for blaming all the ills of the world on everyone but themselves?

You can easily change the above for this sentence:

"I know the cyclists are a blinkin nuisance wandering all over the path instead of keeping to the edge and they ride 3 abreast and begrudge getting out of the way."

We need to look at the problem and see if we can do anything about it first and not expect other road users to sort it out. We share our bike paths with pedestrians and the most effective way to solve this path problem is to fit a bell to the bike and use it politely from a long way off. I have found it always works for me and I can ride at any speed I want. When they get out of the way I always say "Thank you" as I pass.

Problem solved....move on..

Steve

Steve .You have quoted me out of context .

I dont agree with your idea that you can ride any speed you like. This is the crux of the problem on the Taff Trail peds feel frightened by bikes passing them at speed , they complain to the council who are now considering closing it to cycles.

I have to say I have some sympathy with the peds,on a quiet family walk it isnt pleasant to be passed closely by a a fast cyclist.If you want to go fast use the roads.

 

[Hip Priest]

I must admit I do go reasonably quick on the shared path I use, but I always slow for peds and give them the maximum amount of space. I slow almost to walking pace if I have to pass closely, yet occasionally a fellow pedaler will fly through the gap.

I don't like cars flying past me closely, and peds understandably don't like cyclists doing likewise.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

This is another one of those threads that drives me nuts

"I know the pedestrians are a blinkin nuisance wandering all over the path instead of keeping to the edge and they walk 3 abreast and begrudge getting out of the way."

Why do cyclist have this thing for blaming all the ills of the world on everyone but themselves?

You can easily change the above for this sentence:

"I know the cyclists are a blinkin nuisance wandering all over the path instead of keeping to the edge and they ride 3 abreast and begrudge getting out of the way."

We need to look at the problem and see if we can do anything about it first and not expect other road users to sort it out. We share our bike paths with pedestrians and the most effective way to solve this path problem is to fit a bell to the bike and use it politely from a long way off. I have found it always works for me and I can ride at any speed I want. When they get out of the way I always say "Thank you" as I pass.

Problem solved....move on..

Steve

The elephant in the room here are the NIMBYS and "Friends of Hailey Park" , fitting a bell won't help for this case because these people aren't really objecting to fast cyclists, dangerous cyclists, or even cyclists , they are really objecting to people who are not " them" using "their" park. "many residents who use Hailey Park, which the Taff Trail runs through, were concerned as it was a place "where children should be able to learn to walk and people walk their dogs"." There is a section of Hailey park set aside for "people to walk their dogs" ( We know what that that is a euhpanism for ) and the Taff Trail doesn't go through that area. and as for fitting a bell being an answer that's not going to appease Mr Davies ( of Windsor!!!!!!) because "Very few have a smile on their face" and if a bell is used it's seen as "ringing their bells and expecting pedestrians to leap out of their way." The Taff Trail is 55 miles long, and is populated by cylclists , walkers, horse riders , those taking their dog out for a crap , pedestrians and picknickers , the busiest part of it by far is the mile that goes through Sophia Gardens, how is it then that the vast majority of the ( not many) complaints come from the mile that runs through the area of the "Llandaff Residents Association " and Freinds of Hailey Park" ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15294323

 

[dandare]

Get off the paths and stick to the roads,a cycle is a vehicle and has no place sharing with pedestrians.