Footpath stoush with cyclist

NsEs said :

So look like no one cares about the law?
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/move/cycling/cycling_and_walking_map/road_rules

What are you trying to say?

Everyone has discussed the law throughout the thread.

Everyone’s seemed to have overlooked the obvious solution here.

All pedestrians should just stay off the footpath at ALL times just in case a cyclist want to use it and ride past you. SIMPLE

😛

So look like no one cares about the law?
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/move/cycling/cycling_and_walking_map/road_rules

this would never happen if we got a monorail…

the ultimate lunacy in this department is when 1000’s of people are walking up the bikepath from Dryandra St to a Raiders or Brumbies game and inevitably someone comes along on their high horse (or mountain bike in this case) and rings the bell for everyone to get off the path and then swears and shakes their head the whole way up.

Used to be 1000’s anyway, not so much anymore…

Holden Caulfield said :

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.

I guess she is still waiting for a reasonable one…..

I’m only an occasional cycle user but I don’t “expect” anyone to get off the path for me. I ride a bike with tyres large enough to handle nature strip excursions and if there’s no room to pass then I slow down till there is.

From what I see it’s not the mode of transportation that makes the wankers. That affliction seems to cover the entire demographic in one way or another. I’m particularly fond of the cyclists who stop at the Cowper street lights where the bike path crosses over and they press the button then lean against the pole with their bike straddling the entire width of the path (no way around because of the fence around the stormwater bridge). They then stare at you as you approach (not intending to cross the road) with a pram containing a sleeping baby and make no effort to move out of your way unless you ask them to.

A lot of the people arguing that cyclists must give way (which they indeed must do so) forget that the signs on the shared paths also say that pedestrians must not block the path. So, no, its not a pedestrian’s choice whether or not they move to the left – when there is a bike, a pedestrian should be moving to provide space on the path. That is what the signs on the path indicate is expected of them.

Essentially, pedestrians must keep to the left when there is a cyclist, and cyclists mustn’t ram their way through and must always give way at times such as when pedestrians going both ways on the path, or pedestrians crossing over the path at a path intersection.

I always try to be polite. Ring my bell from a distance I think people should hear from but is far enough away for them to react, slow right down to pass, etc, but I would say more than 50% of the time pedestrians simply do not respond to the bell. Quite a few turn around, see you and continue walking in the very middle of the path, seemingly because they believe they have a right to do this, when they would in fact appear to be breaking the rule not to block the path. As I said on a previous thread last week, courtesy works both ways. The paths are to be shared and no one user group has more of a right to them than others.

GardeningGirl said :

Was that really supposed to be a legitimate explanation for why whooshing past out of nowhere with no warning is preferable?

Yes, it’s a damn good explanation and I’ve never hit anyone on my pushie even with regular rides around Lake Burley Griffin at mum o’clock.

toriness said :

johnboy said :

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.

+1000000000

+1 more from me. Common sense and good manners actually work pretty well in my experience.

Rawhide Kid Part3 said :

Ho Hum……. Here we go again. Pushbikes, pedestrians, cars, roads and paths.

Au contraire. Take a stick with you and shove it between her spokes next time you see her.

thy_dungeonman said :

“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.”

Bloody cyclists can give way like they’re supposed to. End of story. Nothing to do with it whether a pedestrian “could” move over easily. It’s entirely up to the pedestrian. I have had enough grief from rude and aggressive cyclists that I will NEVER accommodate a cyclist waiting for the crossing lights to change (as if they ever do that in any case). They can dismount. Or wait. Like cars have to at the lights.

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.

johnboy said :

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.

+1000000000

phenderson said :

Cyclists… Beware i’m about to stereotype. They all wear lycra for no particualr reason. (If you are going to correct me by saying it’s to make them more streamline, please….) They clomp around the cafes and move all the tables together so the rest of us are forced to navigate our way through the maze of helmets and sweaty lycra!

Bike riders should have more respect to other users on the walk/ride raths. They dont pay tax, they are unlicenced and in my opinion, should have to pay a small registration fee. It’s only fair! I have no time for Cyclists. Get the f*#k outta my way….

That is all…..

Someone kick you out from under the bridge?

Gungahlin Al said :

Bussie said :

The problem with ringing the bell at pedestrians is that they all too often turn their head over their right shoulder to see what’s coming which usually leads to their body going to the right as well thus cutting the cyclists space even further rather than simply stepping to the left. Given this I tend not to ring the bell if I can squeeze through.
.

Bussie if ringing your bell causes such problems for you then you are not ringing it early enough to evade those problems in the event of inappropriate behaviour. It’s like complaining that you ran into the car in front when they stopped when every police officer will call you for not being far enough back.

And please consider whether using this as an excuse to stop ringing makes you part of the problem and helps get us all a bad name?

If everyone uses a bell politely and considerately, then pedestrians will quickly become familiar with what is the most appropriate/safe behaviour from them, as their part of the whole shared path deal.

Was that really supposed to be a legitimate explanation for why whooshing past out of nowhere with no warning is preferable?

patrick_keogh said :

I find that a verbal warning, normally “bike behind you” from as far back as I think it can be heard is most reliably acted on. As someone else observed, a significant fraction of pedestrians will veer to the right when you ring a bell behind them. My guess is that the little “ting” of a bell when heard from behind is hard to place in terms of direction, distance and speed, hence the turning around to identify the hazard.

Thank you, I appreciate riders like yourself letting me know you’re there.
I don’t know if I veer when I glance back but I try to move across promptly.

Ainslie. Cyclist. That says it all.

I dunno if you can win as a cyclist. I don’t yell at people, I ring my bell if the terrain is such that I can’t really ride around pedestrians – but I’ve had two people go off at me for surprising them by riding around them from behind. If they are nice enough to move for me I say thank you.

john87_no1 said :

Ahhh the irony in your request. Cyclists who use congested roads when a bike path is much less than 50 meters away could use that message too.

except it’s not illegal for a cyclist to ride on a road while it is illegal for dogs to be off lead in a not-off-the-lead area.

patrick_keogh said :

The debate about the value of ringing your bell versus a verbal warning will probably never be finally resolved, however, FWIW here is my experience. I have been riding on Canberra’s roads and paths since the early 1970s. Sometimes I am riding fast, sometimes slow. I find that a verbal warning, normally “bike behind you” from as far back as I think it can be heard is most reliably acted on. As someone else observed, a significant fraction of pedestrians will veer to the right when you ring a bell behind them. My guess is that the little “ting” of a bell when heard from behind is hard to place in terms of direction, distance and speed, hence the turning around to identify the hazard…….

+1

A simple “Bike behind, passing on your right” always works for me. Even works for the iPod-people. Bells, not so much.

Cyclists… Beware i’m about to stereotype. They all wear lycra for no particualr reason. (If you are going to correct me by saying it’s to make them more streamline, please….) They clomp around the cafes and move all the tables together so the rest of us are forced to navigate our way through the maze of helmets and sweaty lycra!

Bike riders should have more respect to other users on the walk/ride raths. They dont pay tax, they are unlicenced and in my opinion, should have to pay a small registration fee. It’s only fair! I have no time for Cyclists. Get the f*#k outta my way….

That is all…..

The lady on the bike was in the wrong. It’s that simple. She was required to give way and didn’t. She also sounds like a serial offender. Would be a shame if someone didn’t give way to her next time and knocked her off the bike.

patrick_keogh said :

As to dogs which can be problematic: two requests to dog owners.

1. Please don’t use shared paths with a dog off the lead unless your training and control produces equivalent discipline. This is particularly annoying in places like Lake Ginninderra when the off-lead area is only 50 meters away.

Ahhh the irony in your request. Cyclists who use congested roads when a bike path is much less than 50 meters away could use that message too.

The debate about the value of ringing your bell versus a verbal warning will probably never be finally resolved, however, FWIW here is my experience. I have been riding on Canberra’s roads and paths since the early 1970s. Sometimes I am riding fast, sometimes slow. I find that a verbal warning, normally “bike behind you” from as far back as I think it can be heard is most reliably acted on. As someone else observed, a significant fraction of pedestrians will veer to the right when you ring a bell behind them. My guess is that the little “ting” of a bell when heard from behind is hard to place in terms of direction, distance and speed, hence the turning around to identify the hazard.

There is no safe distance, especially for pedestrians in groups. They can take up to about five seconds to process the sound of the bell and to react so they are like little time bombs. Many times I have warned two people walking together and have the one on the right leap to the left, and the one on the left leap to the right.

In terms of dealing with cyclists and pedestrians as hazards on shared paths, I have developed my own system based on trial and error, and it mostly depends on who I am warning:

– single pedestrians already keeping left a small warning that is not too alarming. This group (regular walkers and joggers mostly) are fairly reliable. Especially if they have headphones and may not hear me I look for body language that might indicate a change in direction but in general I’m not too afraid to pass them even if they didn’t hear.

– single cyclists similar, but probably “passing on your right” in case they have a higher level of comprehension. My closing speed is less anyway because they are mostly travelling a little faster than the pedestrians.

– groups of pedestrians with increasing hazard levels: level of distraction (groups talking, headphones), lack of maneuverability (prams, elderly), lack of discipline (dogs, children, especially on scooters etc.) get louder warnings from further back and I typically don’t try to pass unless I’m fairly certain that I have been heard.

Groups of cyclists I tend to move into the group and slowly pick my way through it as they each in turn become aware of me.

Examples of a worst case are:
– two mothers with prams side by side chatting, with a dog
– groups of young joggers with Apple thingies

Most places as a last resort I take to the bush, but that is not possible in all cases and if I am riding one of my more road-specific bikes it could destroy two $50 tyres and perhaps do even more expensive damage so it really is a last resort.

As to dogs which can be problematic: two requests to dog owners.

1. Please don’t use shared paths with a dog off the lead unless your training and control produces equivalent discipline. This is particularly annoying in places like Lake Ginninderra when the off-lead area is only 50 meters away.

2. Please walk with your dog on your left. Pretty obvious why. The same goes for small children.

What if the lady in the post was pregnant or elderly or physically disabled is she still expected to “get out of the way”?

True it is shared, but when I drive my car down a road I give way to pedestrians/bikes as im heavier and going faster. I would have thought this would have carried over to the shared path.

From TAMS:

Please respect all users and be prepared to give way to cyclists and pedestrians as necessary. When cycling, warn of your approach by sounding your bell; if you are cycling or walking, keep to the left. Cyclists should pass pedestrians on the right. Cyclists should give way to pedestrians and other users at all times. If you are a pedestrian, keep a look out for cyclists and give them room to pass. Dogs must be on a leash at all times.

Note that I have nothing against cyclists but…. -JazzyJess

Well, there is your problem. You should have kicked ten types of sh*t out of here.

I’m currently teaching my 5 year old on how to ride a bike, and one of the lessons I want to drum into her is that the path is a shared resource. So I am drumming into her to use the bell to notify oncoming pedestrians that she is heading towards them…more for their safety at this stage 🙂

Bussie said :

The problem with ringing the bell at pedestrians is that they all too often turn their head over their right shoulder to see what’s coming which usually leads to their body going to the right as well thus cutting the cyclists space even further rather than simply stepping to the left. Given this I tend not to ring the bell if I can squeeze through.
.

Bussie if ringing your bell causes such problems for you then you are not ringing it early enough to evade those problems in the event of inappropriate behaviour. It’s like complaining that you ran into the car in front when they stopped when every police officer will call you for not being far enough back.

And please consider whether using this as an excuse to stop ringing makes you part of the problem and helps get us all a bad name?

If everyone uses a bell politely and considerately, then pedestrians will quickly become familiar with what is the most appropriate/safe behaviour from them, as their part of the whole shared path deal.

“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.”

Aren’t you meant to get off your bike to cross at intersections (without a cyclist light) anyway?

madamcholet said :

In the spirit of sharing, shouldn’t it be thus….PEDESTRIANS: .if you see a bike coming towards you, ensure you are on the left hand side of the path. If you hear a bike coming along behind you – hopefully from the bell they have kindly rung to alert you – stay on the left hand side and they can then pass you easily on the right if it’s clear. BIKE RIDERS: If you see someone walking in the opposite direction to that in which you are heading, remain on the left, but perhaps be conscious of slowing down in case they have children, pram, dogs etc etc. If you are approaching someone from behind, please kindly ring your bell, and again, slow down until such time as you have safely passed them on their right hand side. No point in veering to their left as that’s a bit surprising and could end in all sorts of horror.

I know that I don’t really appreciate it when a bike rider just maintains their hair raising speed – it’s hard to know really what to do for the best if you have a dog or pram and the cyclist is not giving any ground in terms of extra care as they pass a pedestrian.

I have also been out on my bike, puttering along and still been passed at breakneck speed by serious cyclists which can cause you some surprise as those types mostly don’t signal their approach. They have to understand that sometimes they might just have to slow down a bit.

The problem with ringing the bell at pedestrians is that they all too often turn their head over their right shoulder to see what’s coming which usually leads to their body going to the right as well thus cutting the cyclists space even further rather than simply stepping to the left. Given this I tend not to ring the bell if I can squeeze through.
.

You’re all nuts. I’ve ‘encountered’ this rogue footpath cyclist, walking to work, on a number of occasions now. She’s not right in the head and I don’t appreciate her attitude that, as a cyclist, the path should be hers. I WAS walking on the left hand side of the footpath … she wanted the WHOLE footpath. It’s just not right, I tells ya! If I she tries to run me over again tomorrow, I’m going to throw a fig at her@!

JazzyJess said :

bitzermaloney said :

Cyclists are allowed onthe footpath… What’s the issue? She was being as selfish and you were.

Ever read “the Zax” by Dr Zeus?

I have indeed. It’s one of my son’s favourites. As are the Hairy Maclary books which I’m guessing inspired your moniker?

Kid’s will do that to you.

Ben_Dover said :

Carry a stout stick, stick it in their spokes.

But if you forget your stick I find a nice stiff arm applied to the neck as they go past just as effective as anything else for teaching cyclists some manners.

carnardly said :

you used the word stoush – who threw the first punch? you or them?

or do you mean you just had words?

I too was dissappointed at the lack of a physical confrontation in this thread.

There could always be more contact councilling going on.

In the spirit of sharing, shouldn’t it be thus….PEDESTRIANS: .if you see a bike coming towards you, ensure you are on the left hand side of the path. If you hear a bike coming along behind you – hopefully from the bell they have kindly rung to alert you – stay on the left hand side and they can then pass you easily on the right if it’s clear. BIKE RIDERS: If you see someone walking in the opposite direction to that in which you are heading, remain on the left, but perhaps be conscious of slowing down in case they have children, pram, dogs etc etc. If you are approaching someone from behind, please kindly ring your bell, and again, slow down until such time as you have safely passed them on their right hand side. No point in veering to their left as that’s a bit surprising and could end in all sorts of horror.

I know that I don’t really appreciate it when a bike rider just maintains their hair raising speed – it’s hard to know really what to do for the best if you have a dog or pram and the cyclist is not giving any ground in terms of extra care as they pass a pedestrian.

I have also been out on my bike, puttering along and still been passed at breakneck speed by serious cyclists which can cause you some surprise as those types mostly don’t signal their approach. They have to understand that sometimes they might just have to slow down a bit.

Ahhhhhhhhhh….

A rainy miserable Canberra day. Me, here at home with man-flu, trying to stay warm…

Was just thinking about some comfort food for lunch… Beans on Toast?? Boiled Eggs with Toast Soldiers??

And then I log in here to see the comfort food of Riot Act. Canberra Cyclists vs The World! 🙂

Feel better now…

That was an exchange, more than a stoush. While it was rude of her to yell instead of use her bell, it was just as rude of you to insist that an obviously insecure cyclist should use the road.

Expecting the cyclist to go off the path to give you the entire path to walk on is not just rude, but dangerous. The gap between the concrete and the grass can trap wheels and cause the cyclist to come off, if they haven’t learned how to safely transition between grass and concrete (i.e.: approach from a wider angle).

A more polite approach from the cyclist would have been to ring her bell as she approached, then politely ask you to move aside. A more polite approach from you would have been to move aside and say, “G’day!”

Sadly, the combination of lack of confidence on a bike and facing a precarious situation while on said bike, leads most people to act emotionally rather than rationally. Patience is usually the better part of valour in this case. That person who is yelling at you is obviously upset about something, so it’s better for all if you act with understanding and patience and consider letting your rights slide for a moment while sorting things out.

Principles and ideology are fine things, until they control your behaviour. “Rules are for the guidance of the wise, and the blind obedience of fools,” and all that jazz.

Yes, you’re being a princess.

You could both learn from this excellent Japanese experiment that shows how it is done properly…

But I guess in Japan it only works because pedestrians and cyclists have manners…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_MphtzCOEc

Carry a stout stick, stick it in their spokes.

carnardly said :

you used the word stoush – who threw the first punch? you or them?

or do you mean you just had words?

I meant a verbal stoush – no fisticuffs

ShongRiChee said :

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!

Step 1: remove headphones from ears whilst walking on a shared path
Step 2: give self uppercut
Step 3: carry on.

you used the word stoush – who threw the first punch? you or them? or do you mean you just had words?

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!

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.

JazzyJess said :

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.

Rude. What’s so hard about something like “coming through thanks” (at a polite distance and speed)?

Wow! Another anti-bicycle rant on the RiotAct, another day ending in ‘y’.

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]

by the way – you were probably on a shared recreational path

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.

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 🙂

bitzermaloney said :

Cyclists are allowed onthe footpath… What’s the issue? She was being as selfish and you were.

Ever read “the Zax” by Dr Zeus?

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 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 🙂

Cyclists are allowed onthe footpath… What’s the issue? She was being as selfish and you were.

Ever read “the Zax” by Dr Zeus?

buzz819 said :

SHARE PEOPLE! There is plenty of room for everyone!

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!

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.

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.

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!

“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.

Holden Caulfield said :

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.

Best comment for a long time

probably a VEGAN

Dilandach said :

They are indeed supposed to give way but seldom do.

A comment that could be applied to the majority of Canberra road or path users regardless of their mode of transport.

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.

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.

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.

They are indeed supposed to give way but seldom do.

You’ve answered your own question. Moving right along, nothing to see here.

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.

Ho Hum……. Here we go again. Pushbikes, pedestrians, cars, roads and paths.