Ignorant Cyclists in the Park

[Medley]

Manda Wrote:

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I got knocked down by a cyclist

> last year when he jumped a light and he cycled off

> without saying a word, despite almost coming off

> himself. It winded me and I couldn't get up for

> several minutes. It's made me view them as a

> danger and they really don't like to hear that

> they are dangerous. I think they are battling

> through traffic all day and just see pedestrians

> as another thing to battle. In the pecking order,

> pedestrians are at the bottom of the pile.

I'm very sorry to hear you got knocked down. I'm a cyclist and I certainly wouldn't leave the scene of an accident like that. The one time I've been involved in one - a pedestrian looking in the opposite direction to the flow of traffic marched quickly across the width of the pavement and into the road - I stopped.

But that takes me to the point I was going to make. I'm afraid to say pedestrians are the biggest danger I face as I cycle through 8 miles of London each way each day. They do the daftest things with no warning whatsoever. So many of them are plugged into ear-wrenching music that ringing your bell (and mine's loud) makes not a jot of difference. It's pretty much every day that I see a very near miss involving a pedestrian and some kind of wheeled transport.

None of that justifies careering around frightening people, blazing through red lights, leaving the scene of an accident. I just wanted to point out that as a cyclist I view pedestrians with extreme suspicion and try to always be on the watch for what they might do next. It's a reason not to whistle past them at close quarters!

[DJKillaQueen]

Also a cyclist that leaves the scene of an accident is committing the same offence as a driver who does so. There is no excuse for any cyclist jumping red lights, hitting anyone and then cycling off, as I think every one would agree.

On the London roads though, cyclists do have to be assertive and ride defensively.

[Applespider]

Not just on roads, we should cycle defensively pretty much everywhere. Since Dulwich Park was quiet tonight, I did a few laps of it just for the fun of it. On one of the laps, I spotted a guy walking along the edge of the road with a dog lead in his hand but no dog in sight... so I slowed down just in case his dog suddenly came bounding along.

On my commute, I know the roads where pedestrians are likely to behave unpredictably (near stations primarily) just as I know the junctions where drivers are more likely to go through on amber and you tailor your riding accordingly.

Cowbells? Hmm.... perhaps we should convert D-locks into bells - would have the advantage not only of alerting others but acting as a useful theft deterrent when locked up.

[rifleman harris]

Just something that I have to put up with; I usually use the Greendale Cycle path when out riding it and always gets me that people walk on the cycle path instead of the footpath and then when I announce that I'm coming up behind them I get moaned at even though they are walking on the cycle route.

Pearson- you wear Rapha??? I could only dream of affording Rapha. I'm afraid its Decathlon cycle clothing for the likes of me!

[Pearson]

kerrrrching!!

Rapha sample sale, it's full of win!