tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post7703544513200893862..comments2024-03-18T08:41:35.438-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Sharing Space with PedestriansVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-50371350667440574972014-02-12T11:33:10.223-05:002014-02-12T11:33:10.223-05:00I love it! Roger Miller lives!I love it! Roger Miller lives!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-84203386376894626522014-02-11T15:00:53.431-05:002014-02-11T15:00:53.431-05:00I'm a guitarist and use stuff that I'm pra...I'm a guitarist and use stuff that I'm practicing to whistle while passing peds. It's usually Django Reinhardt stuff--I'm a crummy Gypsy Jazz musician but a good evangelist for it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-18936295779974845912013-06-22T23:51:20.874-04:002013-06-22T23:51:20.874-04:00Yes, Anonymous is absolutely right: if you come ac...Yes, Anonymous is absolutely right: if you come across a horse suddenly (on a bike or on foot)do TALK so that the horse will recognize you as human. And stop riding till the horse is gone.Adriennenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17582253743327500742013-03-03T21:22:59.036-05:002013-03-03T21:22:59.036-05:00The very best thing for bicyclists to do when appr...The very best thing for bicyclists to do when approaching horses: TALK! Horses don't always perceive bicyclists as people on bikes, they often see them as some alien creature, so the sound of your voice can help them figure it out. Horses are prey, so anything unfamiliar might be a predator, and if their only defense is to run away, they prefer to start sooner rather than later, which can obviously be dangerous to them, their riders, and you if you're in the way of their escape route on a bike. <br /><br />I would also remind you that horses have a far more ancient claim to shared trails than do bicycles, so have a little patience, please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-72152783429317985362013-01-28T21:21:14.619-05:002013-01-28T21:21:14.619-05:00Nice post! I agree with the posters who suggested...Nice post! I agree with the posters who suggested whistling. Downside to that is I bike to my classes and many of the younger students are wearing headphones and gazing at their phones intently. I haven't hit anyone yet but I have fallen off my bike while trying to avoid people.<br /><br />As someone who just got on a bike a few months ago (after nearly twenty years as a pedestrian and public transportation fan) I'm having to learn a whole lot in a short amount of time. Your posts have been very instructive, thank you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07357816407480174098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-1522435934409205902012-11-29T10:44:13.350-05:002012-11-29T10:44:13.350-05:00There's a nice path straddling NY Bay in Bay R...There's a nice path straddling NY Bay in Bay Ridge with separate lanes for pedestrians and bikes turning into an MUP then a path with separate lanes for peds and bikers. It's useless: not only pedestrians routinely ignore "bike territory", but many times bikers take the ped lane too. So I avoid it like the plague--unless I'm riding in the early morning--or just take my chances and ride in traffic with all the cars and trucks and buses. They're less dangerous and unpredictable than people taking a leisurely stroll, in my experience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-79853818092426298782012-08-21T11:54:47.597-04:002012-08-21T11:54:47.597-04:00I completely agree that peds and cyclist do not mi...I completely agree that peds and cyclist do not mix well. There is too great a speed difference even when cycling slowly. But, I don't think there is much chance of separate facilities. And where there are such facilities and they are adjacent peds go where they please anyway. judynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-52857737965122718152012-07-30T15:10:29.136-04:002012-07-30T15:10:29.136-04:00Eccentric courtesy is always more agreeable than d...Eccentric courtesy is always more agreeable than discourtesy. it is very pleasant to be surprised by charming civility. It makes me melt and smile back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-47174405254752976052012-06-28T15:55:50.459-04:002012-06-28T15:55:50.459-04:00If your bike makes that gentleman not want to walk...If your bike makes that gentleman not want to walk the area, it sounds like you're doing your community a favor. You handled it well.<br /><br />I agree that it's best for us to be accustomed to the various modes of transportation used in our society, and to learn to share the spaces where it overlaps.Christyhttp://www.betterbombshell.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-20014744331935931912012-06-28T03:47:40.658-04:002012-06-28T03:47:40.658-04:00I ride in Los Angeles / Santa Monica.
As with the...I ride in Los Angeles / Santa Monica.<br /><br />As with the above, a regular bell doesn't work unless you're going very slowly. As I'm a speedy cyclist, I usually just call out "Hey there!" to peds in the bike lane or about to step into my path. If they persist I tend to stop in front of them and repeat until they wake up and look around. Embarrassing them usually works pretty well. Otherwise, I move into the street to go around. <br /><br />The issue I want to rise is the wonderful beach bike path along the ocean. It's a bike path, not a MUP, and it's an ongoing struggle to keep it. There is an adjacent ped path - yet they wander into the bike path anytime it looks available. When there's a critical amount of cyclists - it's a bike only path. At other times it's a dangerous horrible place to ride with just enough zombie walkers to get you. Any walker that blocks the path used to get the air horn a close range. Didn't work - I'd see the same people on the return, though I didn't collide with them. I'm now trying "Bike road!" Get out of the road!" with modest success. Other cyclists (with road bars) just ride close enough to brush the shoulder as they pass. Seems rude, dangerous and creates some resentment of the speed of cycling.<br /><br />What do you think? Is there a way to "take the lane" on a bike path?EricWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07289502761949060827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-67062047485267736222012-06-27T23:45:16.775-04:002012-06-27T23:45:16.775-04:00I use a distant bell, then a nearer bell if they h...I use a distant bell, then a nearer bell if they haven't reacted. I also greet everyone I meet on shared paths. I get more repsones from dog walkers & pedestrians than other cyclists. I think that we have a responsibility to integrate with walkers, and showing them that we are normal human beings is the best way. Dressing as a lycra lout & wearing aggressive looking body armour & shades when on a mixed path does more harm than good - as these riders grow older they may take other people into consideration more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-41735273322350481672012-06-27T20:35:26.639-04:002012-06-27T20:35:26.639-04:00I use an air horn. I found that most pedestrians i...I use an air horn. I found that most pedestrians ignored the petite ring of a normal bicycle bell. So when a see a group of people taking up a line or straddling both sides of the bike path. I lightly press my air horn and 99% of the time they move over. I find that on the bike/walk path on the lakefront Chicago most pedestrians and bikers are so self absorbed that they don't care about sharing the space.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-90503112685772670842012-06-27T08:50:25.776-04:002012-06-27T08:50:25.776-04:00Try being a skateboarderTry being a skateboarderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-28359667116676756642012-06-25T23:33:39.561-04:002012-06-25T23:33:39.561-04:00I agree with Anon 12:23 (23 June). I usually feel...I agree with Anon 12:23 (23 June). I usually feel safer on trafficked streets than on paths I have to share with pedestrians, dog walkers and such. I think "aware" is the key word in Anon's comment. Pedestrians--and runners in particular--tend to "zone out" while motorists, for all that I complain about some of them, have to notice their surroundings, if for no other reasons than the possible legal consequences of failing to do so.Justine Valinottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852069587181432102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-22844812523097736992012-06-25T20:09:39.879-04:002012-06-25T20:09:39.879-04:00We have this ingrained human tendency to resent th...We have this ingrained human tendency to resent the other despite the fact that we might be the other on the next day. Today I ride my bike so I swear at cars. Tomorrow I drive so I swear at cyclists. Can you think of other examples? Anyway, I try to go by the idea of granting right of way to the lesser or slower vehicle because that's what I learned to do when sailing. It works wonders for my sanity. That said I also avoid mixed use trails. There is such a huge disparity in speed between bikes and pedestrians that it is nearly impossible to ensure safety. Dogs stretch leashes out in front of you. People stop suddenly to tie their shoe. They decide at the last second to change course without looking over their shoulder. When you warn them they startle and scatter. Rollor bladers stride back and forth across the trail.... One thing I never do is try to get a workout on a mixed use trail. I love riding fast on my road bike but I grimace every time I see a rider on a trail hauling along over 20 mph.John LaVerehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00181380581959990131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60009551277786837212012-06-25T19:11:15.139-04:002012-06-25T19:11:15.139-04:00I live in Canberra, Australia, and there are lots ...I live in Canberra, Australia, and there are lots of bike paths here. (I love it!) There are rules about signalling on the paths, and there are signs all over the place which state the 4rules: Pedestrians have right of way, cyclists must sound their bell to warn of approach, Pedestrians are not to block to path and to keep their dogs under control. As a result, Canberra people are quite well-trained, and no one gets freaked out by a bell, they just continue walking and move over to the left to allow cyclists to go round. Works a treat (except for ipods! LOL) and because the signs are literally everywhere, you rarely get cranky pedestrians. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosrusspix/4317461736/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-16294134453041710352012-06-25T18:12:41.088-04:002012-06-25T18:12:41.088-04:00I always sing along with my headphones-- I never t...I always sing along with my headphones-- I never thought of it as a safety precaution, but after your comment I'm going to be much less shy (and potentially more obnoxious) during my afternoon commute!Jamienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-77319778255136671912012-06-25T17:11:21.873-04:002012-06-25T17:11:21.873-04:00Ah, MUPs - used to go to one along Clear Creek, Co...Ah, MUPs - used to go to one along Clear Creek, Colorado. Took my daughter along with me when it had just been revamped, and the watering of the new vegetation wasn't aimed correctly so watered the path. I was following local behavior to let pedestrians know with "on your left." So what happens but a guy on family outing with spouse a little kid in his pack and another little turns to his left and I can't stop quickly because my brakes are wet. I wipe out and am there bleeding. He asks "Are you OK?" As a woman I really wanted to embarrass him and ask "Do I darned well LOOK OK?" but being a nice person person and not getting the little kids, much less my teenager, upset I said "Yeah" biked the mile back. Then pulled out my drinking water, a bandana, cleaned up, stretched and swore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-30449974831750729772012-06-25T12:41:38.410-04:002012-06-25T12:41:38.410-04:00Hi I'm Patrick and I live in a samll town in F...Hi I'm Patrick and I live in a samll town in France "Bourg en Bresse" . Here when we ride bicycle on the pavment the police will give you a 100 dollars ticket.<br />A friend of my son, 16, got one last week.Patrick Sermetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-48042199363156797482012-06-25T12:03:08.850-04:002012-06-25T12:03:08.850-04:00Thanks for the great article! As is so often the ...Thanks for the great article! As is so often the case, you mirror thoughts I have been having for some time. I am a big believer in accepting that we live in an imperfect world and doing what we can to make it as tolerable for everyone as possible. My opinion is that dogmatic beliefs of any kind are rarely helpful. When riding on roads, I try to minimize the inconvenience I cause to automobiles by picking my roads and times and by how I ride. When riding on MUPs, I try to take responsibility for safely passing pedestrians et al. with minimal impact on their peace of mind. Accepting that we live in an imperfect world doesn't mean I don't try to improve it, and in that regard, the piece of bicycle infrastructure I am most enthusiastic about are bike lanes. I don't have any hard numbers to confirm this, but my intuition suggests this is a safe, cost-effective solution to accommodating a variety of transportation modes.Zombie Cyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17872180084900859905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-24984430368139485232012-06-25T04:39:14.876-04:002012-06-25T04:39:14.876-04:00My bike has an inborn breaking noise that does the...My bike has an inborn breaking noise that does the job sometimes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-40267793803379261492012-06-25T00:45:43.329-04:002012-06-25T00:45:43.329-04:00I have thought of dressing up as an English Bobby ...I have thought of dressing up as an English Bobby and riding my Raleigh Sports down the MUP here in Wenatchee dispensing nice biscuits/cookies to the well mannered folk I meet along the way.<br /> Of course this might be interpreted as impersonating an officer but seeing as I live in Wenatchee WA I doubt I would end up being arrested!<br /> Anyway having grown up in England I realize that everyone loves an English bobby on a bicycle and many around the world still know the old hit "England Swings" from the 60s! So the idea would be to whistle this popular melody on patrol whilst keeping time with my little brass ding ding bell.<br />Of course I would need to uphold a perfect example of bicycling etiquette along the way in hopes that it might become contagious!<br />Now to Google "English policeman helmet" and start getting my "kit" together!Threespeedernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-15870342657879946242012-06-24T23:25:42.899-04:002012-06-24T23:25:42.899-04:00I'm a cyclist and also a pedestrian with a dog...I'm a cyclist and also a pedestrian with a dog. When walking, I am frustrated by cyclists who stop within the crosswalk and block my egress. Same issue with motorists. I dislike riders who assume I should move out of the way when they approach (the exception being kids on bikes). I particularly dislike riders who continue at their full speed at the pass going in either direction, it terrifies my dog and makes her more difficult to control.<br />As a cyclist, if I am approaching a pedestrian, I get off my bike and walk if I can't pass with a decent (3-4") amount of space. I feel it is my responsibility to own the "pass" since I am moving faster. Does this sometimes slow my progress, sure, but it also helps to create goodwill especially if I offer a good morning/afternoon as I walk around them. Some idiot killed a pedestrian in SF recently as he raced his bike through a crosswalk. Does anyone know what courtesy is anymore?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-749718227784321792012-06-24T18:32:11.551-04:002012-06-24T18:32:11.551-04:00These days advocating civility may seem eccentric,...These days advocating civility may seem eccentric, but it is certainly a good idea. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-53035516343498815032012-06-24T16:21:36.940-04:002012-06-24T16:21:36.940-04:00I use a combination of bell, calling "passing...I use a combination of bell, calling "passing", and always followed by a thank you. Usually works, but I did recently fall in the lap of a woman whose dog lunged at me at the last second. (She was seated on a bench.)jl-lb.mshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11256610535397283682noreply@blogger.com