I was walking along a footpath in Ainslie this morning (Wise Street) and a cyclist coming up behind me shouted at me to get out of her way. I was a bit startled and jumped onto the grass verge when it occurred to me that I had right of way.
As she rode past me I shouted that she should be riding on the road and not the footpath.
She yelled back that she was allowed to and that I needed to learn the rules. I checked the TAMS website and cyclists are indeed permitted on footpaths but they must give way to pedestrians: http://www.tams.act.gov.au/move/cycling/cycling_and_walking_map/road_rules.
What do people think? Was she out of line? Am I being a princess?
Note that I have nothing against cyclists but feel it would have been easier for her to go around me (on the verge) than expect me to move.
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Ho Hum……. Here we go again. Pushbikes, pedestrians, cars, roads and paths.
Don’t reckon it’s a big deal. The cyclist lady probably just needs to get laid.
Sadly, it’s a rare day where one doesn’t encounter at least one unreasonable prick.
You’ve answered your own question. Moving right along, nothing to see here.
They are indeed supposed to give way but seldom do.
Here we go again…
It was kind of her to alert you to her prescence, it was unkind of her to demand that you get out of the way (is that how it really happened?), it was nice of you to move off the path. The edges of paths can be treacherous for cyclists, especially those who aren’t very competent, so just leaving the path and getting back on may not be as trivial as it sounds and I’d suggest that if she was riding on the footpath then she wasn’t particularly confident with her skill level. Is moving out of the way that big a deal? It never bothers me but maybe I’m just a relaxed kind of guy.
Sometimes it sounds like a cyclist is angry when really all they want is to make sure you have heard them, don’t be too precious about it.
I will be interested in others opinions as I was once walking around Mt Rogers (dirt track used by many pedestrians and cyclists). While tentatively walking down one of the narrow turreted sections, used to get to and from the main wider paths, I met a mountain bike rider coming up the same section. I was keeping to the left of the narrow path and he demanded I move to the right as he did not want to damage his bike on the uneven part. I can’t remember my reply (it was a while ago now) but I was surprised that a mountain bike rider did not want to use his bike for what it was intended and expected me to walk in the uneven section for his bikes sake.
I enjoy both riding and walking but find some people only think of their own interests and do not think sharing is something they have to think about.
she was out of line. and you said the wrong thing. at least you’ll know next time. just keep walking and let the next cyclist get around you.
Dilandach said :
A comment that could be applied to the majority of Canberra road or path users regardless of their mode of transport.
probably a VEGAN
Holden Caulfield said :
Best comment for a long time
“Note that I have nothing against cyclists but feel it would have been easier for her to go around me (on the verge) than expect me to move.”
Not to excuse her rude behavior in this case but I think you are wrong here if a pedestrian can see bicycle all they have to take one step to the side whereas a bike has to veer off over rough terrain for a long stretch. I find it particularly annoying when pedestrians at intersections take up all the space around the gutter lip (which they don’t need to cross since they don’t have wheels) and then stare at you because you are riding so close to them but only so you don’t hit the curb. It’s not just cyclists but people with wheelchairs and strollers who need this space whereas pedestrians can simply take one step up the curb with no trouble and it saves them getting run over by a bike.
When she shouted at you did she say “Get out of the way!” or did she say “Excuse me!”
I think you are a princess, you were in the wrong about the rules, and I think it is about time people get over this whole fascination of thinking that because they are doing something different to other people then they are in the right.
Fark. Pedestrians, bikes, dogs and horses can walk and ride anywhere, cars are only allowed on the road.
SHARE PEOPLE! There is plenty of room for everyone!
For the OP, if this is the worst thing that has happened to you and you think it is worth complaining about, you have the best life ever!
As a cyclist and pedestrian if I see someone coming I’m happy to step off the path to make life easier for everyone.
but that’s a choice I make.
Point taken, I definitely over-reacted and will graciously move aside next time. As several people have asked I can assure you she really did yell “get out of the way” but I shouldn’t have yelled back and escalated the situation.
buzz819 said :
No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no no
*There is only room for ME
ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME
NO INDICATING!
Cyclists are allowed onthe footpath… What’s the issue? She was being as selfish and you were.
Ever read “the Zax” by Dr Zeus?
You are required to keep to the left of the path and allow the cyclist to pass on the right.
However, if they cannot pass on the right (in the case of oncoming traffic or obstructed path), cyclists are required to give way to foot traffic.
I just purchased a bike a couple of days ago. I appreciate you raising this issue which prompted me to read the rules
bitzermaloney said :
I have indeed. It’s one of my son’s favourites. As are the Hairy Maclary books which I’m guessing inspired your moniker?
you’re both wrong. you said she needs to be on the road, she said “get out of my way” when she doesn’t have priority.
Just move on with your life
I’ll step off the footpath 90% of the time, even knowing that I don’t have to. The exception being that if there’s wet grass or mud alongside then I’ll stay put. Better they have wet, dirty tyres than I have wet, dirty shoes.
by the way – you were probably on a shared recreational path
Regardless of the rules I don’t mind stepping off the path for a cyclist, it seems to me to be easier for me to step off for a moment than for a cyclist to have to go crosscountry over somebody’s nature strip (some naturestrips worse than others). But not all cyclists have the sense or the manners to give adequate warning of their approach and to slow down especially if it’s not clear where either of us should best go. Some of them act like the rules are they have right of way everywhere and the rest of us should just be prepared to instantly jump out of the way (into shrubbery or puddles of water if necessary). I sort of agree with nescius but the fact that the cyclist indicated her belief that “she’s allowed to” and it was the pedestrian who should check the rules makes me wonder if she’s one of those.
Saintly, I don’t know anything about mountain biking except aren’t mountain bikes built for rough terrain, so I would have been surprised too. Perhaps the rider wasn’t very experienced or had noticed something coming loose on his bike and wanted to be extra cautious? Seems to me just stopping on the left and waiting for you to walk past would have been a reasonable thing to do?
Something occurs to me about both these cases. Is it possible sometimes cyclists sound more impatient than they mean to because they are out of breath? A gasped request to move aside comes out sounding like a rude demand? Perhaps if pedestrians didn’t have experience of jerks who assume you’ll be happy to leap for your life as they woosh up suddenly behind out of nowhere, they wouldn’t be so ready to jump to conclusions about all other cyclists? I don’t know. I just know these days I don’t even walk in some areas any more because I can’t relax and where I do walk I tense up as soon I become aware of bikes and every time one rings a bell or calls out at a safe and polite distance I feel like running home to post about it on RiotACT because it seems like such a noteworthy event instead of something that happens all the time because we are civilised people who know how to share. [/rant]
Wow! Another anti-bicycle rant on the RiotAct, another day ending in ‘y’.
JazzyJess said :
Rude. What’s so hard about something like “coming through thanks” (at a polite distance and speed)?
On the plus side: someone else now knows that it is perfectly OK for a cyclist to use the footpath.
On the minus side: a cyclist got rude over a misunderstanding with which they should well have been familiar, and thereby helped give the rest of us cyclists a poor rep.
You don’t need to get off the path. Just move carefully towards the left. Although sometimes if there is overgrowing veg on their left, which could snag their handlebars and cause an incident, or some other form of hazard, it will be appreciated if you do make a little more room – I certainly do appreciate such consideration and situational awareness. If you can’t, then it is perfectly reasonable to expect them to just slow up for a moment.
But it’s a two way street. My pet hate is that there are far too many cyclists I see who don’t even have a bell let alone use it. (Really are 4 grams going to slow you up that much?) When passing other cyclists too. Even if they do have mirrors, doesn’t mean they’ve seen you. And cyclists should be well aware that as a cyclist you can do a quick weave at any moment to dodge a screw or something. So why cut so close unannounced? You’ll get just as messed up in a tangle as they will. Get a bell. Use it politely for pedestrians and other cyclists, and we can all get through our days with a little less aggro.
Far too many people hung up with their own self-importance in this town…
Thanks.
OMG! I was nearly run over this morning by the same woman in Ainslie. When I suggested she use a bell next time, instead of yelling “Watch Out!” to me, she shouted back that people wouldn’t move for a bell. What’s the problem with riding around a pedestrian who is in front of you and obviously isn’t aware that you’re approaching? Lucky I didn’t have my headphones in my ears, otherwise I’m sure she would have just run me over!
you used the word stoush – who threw the first punch? you or them? or do you mean you just had words?
ShongRiChee said :
Step 1: remove headphones from ears whilst walking on a shared path
Step 2: give self uppercut
Step 3: carry on.
carnardly said :
I meant a verbal stoush – no fisticuffs
Carry a stout stick, stick it in their spokes.