Dulwich Park - (dog) walkers and cyclists

[rendelharris]

Rosetta Wrote:

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> I meant the one through the bushes, at the back of

> the court lane house gardens and further round. I

> have seen quite a few mountain bikes there and it

> always surprises me.

Well, that's out of order I think - there's neither enough width nor long enough sightlines there for responsible cycling. Quite happy for all bikes to be confined to the perimeter road!

[rupert james]

As a matter of interest how did people manage to co exist in the past

Was it just old fashioned common sense?

4 pages on how to use a park. Magic

[rendelharris]

rupert james Wrote:

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> As a matter of interest how did people manage to

> co exist in the past

>

> Was it just old fashioned common sense?

>

> 4 pages on how to use a park. Magic

I and I'm sure all other commentators apologise for forcing you to open this thread and then comment on it. Several of the comments making up those four pages are your own, by the way - if the discussion is so pointless why did you feel the need to join in?

ETA: In the past, as you know, the road was open to motor traffic, so the question of how to share it nicely didn't arise.

[rupert james]

I accept your apology.

[rendelharris]

rupert james Wrote:

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> I accept your apology.

That's such a relief.

[rupert james]

I would hate you to have a heart attack and not be able to post any more.

[rendelharris]

rupert james Wrote:

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> I would hate you to have a heart attack and not be

> able to post any more.

Tasteful. Enough now.

[red devil]

rupert james Wrote:

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> As a matter of interest how did people manage to

> co exist in the past

>

> Was it just old fashioned common sense?

I'm afraid dear heart the Park has never been the same since those Penny-Farthing riders turned up.

Who do they think they are, looking down on us like that?

Never mind, I shall just have to console myself with reading Proust's ? la recherche du temps perdu ​​under the shade of my loved one's heaving, corsetted breasts...

[aerie]

rendelharris Wrote:

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> rupert james Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I would hate you to have a heart attack and not

> be

> > able to post any more.

>

> Tasteful. Enough now.

RH you don't happen to have a large black stallion you cherish and sleep heavily?

[aerie]

red devil Wrote:

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> rupert james Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > As a matter of interest how did people manage

> to

> > co exist in the past

> >

> > Was it just old fashioned common sense?

Time to lay off the Tilleul RD ??

>

> I'm afraid dear heart the Park has never been the

> same since those Penny-Farthing riders turned up.

> Who do they think they are, looking down on us

> like that?

> Never mind, I shall just have to console myself

> with reading Proust's ? la recherche du temps

> perdu ​​under the shade of my loved

> one's heaving, corsetted breasts...

[rendelharris]

aerie Wrote:

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> rendelharris Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > rupert james Wrote:

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> > > I would hate you to have a heart attack and

> not

> > be

> > > able to post any more.

> >

> > Tasteful. Enough now.

>

>

> RH you don't happen to have a large black stallion

> you cherish and sleep heavily?

Straight over my head that one - explain?

[rendelharris]

rendelharris Wrote:

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> aerie Wrote:

> > RH you don't happen to have a large black

> stallion

> > you cherish and sleep heavily?

>

> Straight over my head that one - explain?

In the cold light of day I now get it - good one. I don't have a black stallion, I do have a small black rabbit, I have increased security around its hutch in the face of these veiled menaces!

[wulfhound]

I don't see why not - it's a bridlepath for horses really, isn't it, but they seem to come into the park very rarely these days.

Sadly the case, due to a number of incidents involving poorly trained and supervised dogs, which chased or attacked the horses. Quite a nice surface for running on though - makes a change from endless unforgiving asphalt and concrete.

So why not stick to cycling on the segregated cycle paths that you "can't recommend too highly" and leave the rest of us alone to enjoy the park? You seem to want it all, but there again, you obviously have a strong sense of entitlement.

They're fantastic for getting from A to B - but still require pretty close supervision when using them with young / inexperienced riders. Don't get me wrong - until they went in, it was flat out impossible to ride with kids in central London, so it's a massive step forward - but the park is an altogether more relaxing situation, as it should be.

[rendelharris]

wulfhound Wrote:

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> Sadly the case, due to a number of incidents

> involving poorly trained and supervised dogs,

> which chased or attacked the horses. Quite a nice

> surface for running on though - makes a change

> from endless unforgiving asphalt and concrete.

Yes, Mrs.H's favourite ride from Dulwich stables, Gracie, was badly injured when in foal by a dog attack there.

Re the running/walking on concrete business, I entirely agree, this is what somewhat confounds me about the desire of people without tricycled kids or buggies etc to walk on the road anyway, when we go to the park as pedestrians the first thing we want to do is get the feel of grass under our feet!

[Shaila Shah]

One reason why I prefer the road rather than the pavement: the road is far more evenly surfaced. If you have any mobility issues, walking along an even surface is not only easier but also safer.

[rendelharris]

Shaila Shah Wrote:

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> One reason why I prefer the road rather than the

> pavement: the road is far more evenly surfaced. If

> you have any mobility issues, walking along an

> even surface is not only easier but also safer.

For sure, of course it's better for that and wouldn't dream of asking people with those issues not to use the road - but then I haven't asked anyone not to, just asked if they could leave a little gap for cyclists! There are also lots of nicely paved paths away from the perimeter road of course, round by the lake and the caf? and the lovely American garden where bikes are (quite rightly) not permitted.

[binkylilyput]

rupert james Wrote:

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> I would hate you to have a heart attack and not be

> able to post any more.

WTF?!!!

[micky]

its hard for a dog walker to walk in dulwich park at weekends with organised running events and cycling events. Every weekend.

[red devil]

rendelharris Wrote:

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> There are also lots of

> nicely paved paths away from the perimeter road of

> course, round by the lake and the caf? and the

> lovely American garden where bikes are (quite

> rightly) not permitted.

The sign I've seen said hire bikes weren't permitted, nothing about everyday cyclists...

[rendelharris]

micky Wrote:

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> its hard for a dog walker to walk in dulwich park

> at weekends with organised running events and

> cycling events. Every weekend.

Cycling every weekend? I don't go in for organised events, but Googling I can find the London Cycle Sportive starting in the park June 26th and nothing else.

[rendelharris]

red devil Wrote:

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> rendelharris Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> > There are also lots of

> > nicely paved paths away from the perimeter road

> of

> > course, round by the lake and the caf? and the

> > lovely American garden where bikes are (quite

> > rightly) not permitted.

>

> The sign I've seen said hire bikes weren't

> permitted, nothing about everyday cyclists...

Hadn't noticed that - well it should say all cyclists, I wouldn't dream of riding amongst the throngs around the pond and caf?, that certainly would be wrong.

[red devil]

rendelharris Wrote:

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> Hadn't noticed that - well it should say all

> cyclists, I wouldn't dream of riding amongst the

> throngs around the pond and caf?, that certainly

> would be wrong.

There are other paths that circumnavigates those areas, with much less pedestrian traffic, so a total ban would be silly.

When it comes to cycling in any park, IMO it comes down to common sense and reading what's ahead of you. If you see a throng of people ahead of you, get of your bike and walk for a bit, or take one of the alternative paths etc etc...

[rendelharris]

red devil Wrote:

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> rendelharris Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> > Hadn't noticed that - well it should say all

> > cyclists, I wouldn't dream of riding amongst

> the

> > throngs around the pond and caf?, that

> certainly

> > would be wrong.

>

> There are other paths that circumnavigates those

> areas, with much less pedestrian traffic, so a

> total ban would be silly.

> When it comes to cycling in any park, IMO it comes

> down to common sense and reading what's ahead of

> you. If you see a throng of people ahead of you,

> get of your bike and walk for a bit, or take one

> of the alternative paths etc etc...

We most certainly would, all I asked initially and have been repeating ad infinitum (or nauseam, if you prefer) is that on such a wide carriageway as in DP perhaps if walkers see cyclists coming towards them they could just make sure, as far as possible, they/their kids/their dogs don't stray in front of them - which 99% of people do. There are just the odd one or two, as exemplified by certain posters on here, who don't think cyclists should be allowed anywhere, who either carelessly or defiantly don't show any courtesy or inclination to share even when there's plenty of room for all.

[red devil]

That's life rendel, where/when in life do you ever get 100% consensus? There's far more important things in life to rub your worry beads about...

[rendelharris]

red devil Wrote:

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> That's life rendel, where/when in life do you ever

> get 100% consensus? There's far more important

> things in life to rub your worry beads about...

True indeed, all I did originally was post a polite request that we could all share - but when people answer, one tends to reply...especially if they start accusing one of being/doing things which are anathema to one's true viewpoint!