Shared path etiquette



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R

Russell

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Sorry if this has been done before but..

I normally avoid shared cycle/pedestrian lanes but there is one I use as the alternative road is
horrendous at busy times. The thing is nobody really seems to know which side they should be on
(there are no signs to indicate). So far it *mostly* seems if cyclists are passing each other, each
stays to his/her left, but, if I'm passing pedestrians, they seem to expect to stay on their right
so I do the same on my bike. Is there a general rule here I should know about? Oh and if I'm passing
a dog walker, invariably the owner stays on one side and the dog on the other with the lead
stretched firmly across, until I sprint upto 30mph that is:)

thanks Russell
 
Russell <[email protected]> wrote:

> Is there a general rule here I should know about?

Does it matter? Even if there is, it will be ignored by the pedestrians.
 
On Tue, 4 Feb 2003 23:59:29 +0000, [email protected] (Marc) wrote:

>Russell <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Is there a general rule here I should know about?
>
>Does it matter? Even if there is, it will be ignored by the pedestrians.

Just shout 'Banzai' and stick your elbows out.

J
 
"Russell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Sorry if this has been done before but..
>
> I normally avoid shared cycle/pedestrian lanes but there is one I use as
the
> alternative road is horrendous at busy times. The thing is nobody really seems to know which side
> they should be on (there are no signs to
indicate).

On all shared-use paths, pedestrians have absolute right of way. They can walk anywhere, and
cyclists /must/ be prepared to stop is necessary - even if the brain dead ped step sideways into the
side of you, you are the responsible party (sound familiar). Highway code, rule 48

Dogs are a different matter. They should at all times be under control on a short leash when on a
pavement or path shared with cyclists. Highway Code rule 42.

Those are the rules, but they are far more honoured in the breach than the observance.

E
 
"Russell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Sorry if this has been done before but..
>
> I normally avoid shared cycle/pedestrian lanes but there is one I use as
the
> alternative road is horrendous at busy times. The thing is nobody really seems to know which side
> they should be on (there are no signs to
indicate).
> So far it *mostly* seems if cyclists are passing each other, each stays to his/her left, but, if
> I'm passing pedestrians, they seem to expect to
stay
> on their right so I do the same on my bike. Is there a general rule here I should know about? Oh
> and if I'm passing a dog walker, invariably the
owner
> stays on one side and the dog on the other with the lead stretched firmly across, until I sprint
> upto 30mph that is:)

Dunno. All ours are either well separated as here:
http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.mason/J2.JPG

or so wide as they are converted from railway lines that peds are no problem.
http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.mason/J16.JPG

--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net
 
Eddie Dubourg wrote:
> "Russell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Sorry if this has been done before but..
>>
>> I normally avoid shared cycle/pedestrian lanes but there is one I use as the alternative road is
>> horrendous at busy times. The thing is nobody really seems to know which side they should be on
>> (there are no signs to indicate).
>
> On all shared-use paths, pedestrians have absolute right of way. They can walk anywhere, and
> cyclists /must/ be prepared to stop is necessary - even if the brain dead ped step sideways into
> the side of you, you are the responsible party (sound familiar). Highway code, rule 48

It depends very much on the width of the path, but this generally means that it's not possible to
keep up a reasonable constant speed when using these paths, and any desire to do more than
trundle along will involve slowing down to a standstill pretty often, and then accelerating off.
On wider straighter paths with less frequent access points, such as converted railways, river and
canalside paths, then it's possible to keep going without having to slow almost to a stop every
100 metres or so.

A
 
Tony Raven wrote:
> John <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> Just shout 'Banzai' and stick your elbows out.
>>
>
> Must try that with cyclists when I'm driving
>
Don't forget to open your windows first: wouldn't like you to bruise your elbows now, would we.
 
John <[email protected]> said:
> On Tue, 4 Feb 2003 23:59:29 +0000, [email protected] (Marc) wrote:
>
>>Russell <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> Is there a general rule here I should know about?
>>
>>Does it matter? Even if there is, it will be ignored by the pedestrians.
>
> Just shout 'Banzai' and stick your elbows out.

Shouting "A thousand years" doesn't make much sense...after all no-one could ride a bike for
that long :)

Regards,

-david
 
On Wed, 5 Feb 2003 15:33:17 +0000 (UTC), David Nutter <[email protected]> wrote:

>John <[email protected]> said:
>> On Tue, 4 Feb 2003 23:59:29 +0000, [email protected] (Marc) wrote:
>>
>>>Russell <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Is there a general rule here I should know about?
>>>
>>>Does it matter? Even if there is, it will be ignored by the pedestrians.
>>
>> Just shout 'Banzai' and stick your elbows out.
>
>Shouting "A thousand years" doesn't make much sense...after all no-one could ride a bike for
>that long :)

I suppose it means "I've been stuck behind this pedestrian for ages - it seems like at least a
thousand years"

Tim
--

fast and gripping, non pompous, glossy and credible.
 
In message <[email protected]>, Russell <[email protected]> writes
>Sorry if this has been done before but..
>
>I normally avoid shared cycle/pedestrian lanes but there is one I use as the alternative road is
>horrendous at busy times. The thing is nobody really seems to know which side they should be on
>(there are no signs to indicate). So far it *mostly* seems if cyclists are passing each other, each
>stays to his/her left, but, if I'm passing pedestrians, they seem to expect to stay on their right
>so I do the same on my bike. Is there a general rule here I should know about? Oh and if I'm
>passing a dog walker, invariably the owner stays on one side and the dog on the other with the lead
>stretched firmly across, until I sprint upto 30mph that is:)
>

I use a couple of stretches of Thames towpath on my commute, which are also used by a lot of
runners, they always seem to run on the right hand side.

Graham
--
Graham Glen
 
Russell wrote:
> So far it *mostly* seems if cyclists are passing each other, each stays to his/her left, but, if
> I'm passing pedestrians, they seem to expect to stay on their right so I do the same on my bike.

We should all have learnt to walk on the right when on a road without a pavement (except when that
would mean walking on the inside of the bend). Such habits die hard, so it's only natural to walk on
the right when on a shared use path. It took me a while to get used to it as a cyclist, but now that
I expect it I no longer find it a problem (BTW schoolkids usually seem to walk on the left - I guess
kids today aren't taught how to walk safely along country roads).

> Is there a general rule here I should know about? Oh and if I'm passing a dog walker, invariably
> the owner stays on one side and the dog on the other with the lead stretched firmly across,

Yup, that is a definite general rule :-(

--
Danny Colyer (remove safety to reply) ( http://www.juggler.net/danny ) Recumbent cycle page:
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/recumbents/ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." -
Thomas Paine
 
Danny Colyer <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Russell wrote:
> > So far it *mostly* seems if cyclists are passing each other, each stays to his/her left, but, if
> > I'm passing pedestrians, they seem to expect to stay on their right so I do the same on my bike.
>
> We should all have learnt to walk on the right when on a road without a pavement (except when that
> would mean walking on the inside of the bend). Such habits die hard, so it's only natural to walk
> on the right when on a shared use path. It took me a while to get used to it as a cyclist, but now
> that I expect it I no longer find it a problem (BTW schoolkids usually seem to walk on the left -
> I guess kids today aren't taught how to walk safely along country roads).
>
> > Is there a general rule here I should know about? Oh and if I'm passing a dog walker, invariably
> > the owner stays on one side and the dog on the other with the lead stretched firmly across,
>
> Yup, that is a definite general rule :-(
>
> --
> Danny Colyer (remove safety to reply) ( http://www.juggler.net/danny ) Recumbent cycle page:
> http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/recumbents/ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." -
> Thomas Paine
>
>

Thanks Danny, that brings the total of sensible answers upto ..... 2! Russell
 
Danny Colyer wrote:
> Russell wrote:
>> So far it *mostly* seems if cyclists are passing each other, each stays to his/her left, but, if
>> I'm passing pedestrians, they seem to expect to stay on their right so I do the same on my bike.
>
> We should all have learnt to walk on the right when on a road without a pavement (except when that
> would mean walking on the inside of the bend). Such habits die hard, so it's only natural to walk
> on the right when on a shared use path. It took me a while to get used to it as a cyclist, but now
> that I expect it I no longer find it a problem (BTW schoolkids usually seem to walk on the left -
> I guess kids today aren't taught how to walk safely along country roads).
>
ISTR being told that large groups should walk on the left. Can't see why it makes a difference,
maybe it's to do with large groups being unlikely to stop in the face of oncoming motor vehicles, so
it makes more sense for them to be passed more like a bike would be.

A
 
"Ambrose Nankivell" <[email protected]> wrote: ( ISTR being told that large groups should walk on the
left. Can't see why it ) makes a difference, maybe it's to do with large groups being unlikely to (
stop in the face of oncoming motor vehicles, so it makes more sense for them ) to be passed more
like a bike would be.

Highway Code, rule 5, which also says carry lights.

5 Organised walks. Groups of people should use a path if available; if one is not, they
should keep to the left. Look-outs should be positioned at the front and back of the group,
and they should wear fluorescent clothes in daylight and reflective clothes in the dark. At
night, the look-out in front should carry a white light and the one at the back a red light.
People on the outside of large groups should also carry lights and wear reflective clothing.

A march is vehicular walking.
 
"Eddie Dubourg" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Russell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Sorry if this has been done before but..
> >
> > I normally avoid shared cycle/pedestrian lanes but there is one I use as
> the
> > alternative road is horrendous at busy times. The thing is nobody really seems to know which
> > side they should be on (there are no signs to
> indicate).
>
> On all shared-use paths, pedestrians have absolute right of way. They can walk anywhere, and
> cyclists /must/ be prepared to stop is necessary - even if the brain dead ped step sideways into
> the side of you, you are the responsible party (sound familiar). Highway code, rule 48

A very sensible rule. Now, can we have that for shared-use roads as well?
 
On 7 Feb 2003 05:09:41 -0800, [email protected] (Rory) wrote:

>> On all shared-use paths, pedestrians have absolute right of way.

>A very sensible rule. Now, can we have that for shared-use roads as well?

I think we already do.

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. http://www.chapmancentral.com (BT ADSL and
dynamic DNS permitting)
NOTE: BT Openworld have now blocked port 25 (without notice), so old mail addresses may no longer
work. Apologies.
 
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