Cyclists taking over paths!!

[Dulwich dweller]

On 27/09/2024 at 11:31, first mate said:

Earl, rules and etiquette around cycling are not clear and we see the negative results of this, daily. It is this aspect that must be addressed. Your sensitivity to what is obvious to many of us is beginning to remind me of the Dave Hill article.

As reckless as it is i do find the sight of a cyclist texting whilst in motion quite impressive. I never mastered doing no hands but could pull a mean wheelie for a good ten seconds.

On 30/09/2024 at 11:09, first mate said:

. Also all those cyclists without lights, at night and cycling on the pavement. Shocking!

The stretch from East Dulwich road to Barry road is bad for that. Both on the pavement and road. It's very dark there by the Gardens bus stop so you can't see them until they're very close. I don't understand why one would take such a risk and  leave themselves vulnerable by not being visible to both pedestrian and fellow road users.

[malumbu]

Thinking of the dexterity of cyclists who can text whilst riding, cycling on South Circus tonight a father with newish baby in pram was looking at his phone was trying to cross the road.  Quite disturbing and perhaps worthy of a separate discussion 

Looking back of my post this chap was a bit of a clown....

Edited October 10 by malumbu

[first mate]

2 hours ago, Dulwich dweller said:

On 30/09/2024 at 11:09, first mate said:

Also all those cyclists without lights, at night and cycling on the pavement. Shocking!

The stretch from East Dulwich road to Barry road is bad for that. Both on the pavement and road. It's very dark there by the Gardens bus stop so you can't see them until they're very close. I don't understand why one would take such a risk and  leave themselves vulnerable by not being visible to both pedestrian and fellow road users.

I know, it definitely needs addressing. On top of everything else many wear dark/ black clothing which would be fine if they used a fluorescent jacket or strips, but they don't. Crazy.

[KalamityKel]

On 27/06/2024 at 21:22, Hen123 said:

On 25/06/2024 at 23:48, Rockets said:

Just go and stand outside Dulwich Library for 10 minutes tomorrow around school drop or pick up and watch the flying cargo bikes as they cut corners, ignore red lights and fly along the pavements. Then go and walk around Dulwich Square on Sunday for the full kit wally flying down Calton Road stopping for no-one experience....because every ounce of weight is vital and aerodynamics are essential to Sunday hobbyists cyclists it's not only the leg hair that is gone but also the bell so the only warning you get is the sound of a load gear train as they chicane in front of the cheese shop.

On 27/06/2024 at 21:22, Hen123 said:

Ok I will meet you there for an hour and we can watch together. 

Just curious... what happened at the meet? 😉

[Earl Aelfheah]

3 hours ago, KalamityKel said:

Just curious... what happened at the meet? 😉

They got into a flying cargo bike and everyone watched as they ascended into the sky and receded over the horizon.

Edited October 10 by Earl Aelfheah

[Rockets]

Unfortunately whilst making my way to said meeting point I was crossing the road opposite the library and was hit by a cyclist pulling the manoeuvre seen by the lady at 2.25 in barybyonabike's latest instalment of bad cycling that he posted 3 days ago...

 

In all seriousness it is amazing how many times that junction features in his rogue's galley!!! 

 

Edited October 10 by Rockets

[Kathleen Olander]

On 04/10/2024 at 19:01, malumbu said:

As a cyclist why oh why do you spend so much time finding dirt on cyclists?  I find this really strange.  Meanwhile a good article on the number of motorists being prosecuted following web and helmet can footage.  I'll post this on an appropriate thread, this is not a cyclist Vs driver comment rather just pointing out the disproportionate interest in cycling, admittedly by a small hardcore, on this forum.

Grateful for an answer to my question 

Because so many cyclists ride on the pavement.

[malumbu]

So you detest ALL cyclists?  Feels like it.  Totally disproportionate and does not recognise the multiple benefits of cycling.

[Dulwichway]

The lycra mob need to be numberplated asap! simple as that, some are a menace! a danger to the walking public as well as terrorising car users swerving about here and there! breaking the rules left right and centre! 

[malumbu]

Branded would be a start.  Perhaps tagged as well.  

[alice]

Stop knocking people who wear lycra. 
Today it was a sweet lady with grey hair  and a lovely red wool coat speeding around a corner on the pavement only my speedy reaction saved me from injury. 

[Spartacus]

47 minutes ago, malumbu said:

Branded would be a start.  Perhaps tagged as well.  

Bit radical Mal, why not go the whole hog and make them wear lycra suits with arrows on to show them up as thw criminals they are ? 

[Earl Aelfheah]

4 hours ago, Dulwichway said:

The lycra mob need to be numberplated asap! simple as that, some are a menace! a danger to the walking public as well as terrorising car users swerving about here and there! breaking the rules left right and centre! 

Surely this is a parody post

[first mate]

12 hours ago, alice said:

Stop knocking people who wear lycra. 
Today it was a sweet lady with grey hair  and a lovely red wool coat speeding around a corner on the pavement only my speedy reaction saved me from injury. 

Agree with this sentiment. The careless behaviour runs across a range of cyclists, not just the hobbyists. There seems to be an emerging trend that any pedestrian space is seen as fair game and many cyclists prefer to weave in and out of pedestrians rather than dismount and walk.

[Earl Aelfheah]

What I find so weird about threads like this is that I walk almost everywhere. I spend a lot of time travelling the pavements of East Dulwich and surrounding areas. I can't recall a single instance when I've had someone cycle past me on the pavement. I'm not saying it's never happened, but it's certainly not something that has happened recently, or regularly, or that I felt sufficiently threatened or alarmed about to notice or recall.

I have never had anyone travelling by bike knock me over, or come close to it. All available evidence is that it's extremely rare for people to be injured by those travelling by bicycle. In terms of the risks posed to pedestrians safety (and over 400 are killed every year in the UK), push bikes are nowhere near the top of the list. 

So how can it be that some people genuinely believe that this is an endemic issue? That the pavements are literally being 'taken over' by 'cyclists' and that it represents a significant threat to pedestrian safety? 

Edited October 14 by Earl Aelfheah

[alice]

Your personal experience like my own is totally irrelevant

[Earl Aelfheah]

56 minutes ago, alice said:

Your personal experience like my own is totally irrelevant

...well perhaps. Except that if the pavements were literally being taken over by 'cyclists' then it would be an issue impossible to avoid for those who walk a lot. It would also be something one could observe objectively in the data. The fact that neither of these things are true makes me conclude that it's there is either a great deal of hyperbole, and / or some issues of perception / perspective at play.

 

Edited October 14 by Earl Aelfheah

[alice]

Oh, so what you’re actually saying is that your personal experience is perfectly valid but somehow mine is not. 

[Earl Aelfheah]

1 hour ago, alice said:

Your personal experience like my own is totally irrelevant

And yet you rely on your personal experience to claim that the paths are being ‘taken over’ by ‘cyclists’.

I invite anyone in East Dulwich to step outside, walk up and down their street and see how many experience someone flying past them on the pavement, on a bicycle. I would be willing to bet that the number that would experience such a thing would be close to zero.

I would also be surprised if you Alice, would challenge this as the likely outcome of such an experiment (?).

In light of this fact, I am suggesting that the claim that the pavements are being 'taken over' by 'cyclists' seems hyperbolic. That is not to say that you have not seen someone cycling on the pavement, which would be an entirely different claim of course.

Edited October 14 by Earl Aelfheah

[alice]

Aim your reply somewhere else I have never claimed any takeover. 

[Earl Aelfheah]

Fair enough. It's the title of the thread and you seemed to be broadly supporting the premise, but perhaps you didn't agree with that part of it.

[malumbu]

1 hour ago, alice said:

Your personal experience like my own is totally irrelevant

Personal experience is relevant, it informs are views.  Some perceive cyclists to be swarming the pavements.  Others that this is not an issue at all. Some the middle ground, like me, yes it happens, it is an annoyance, not a particular danger, but the benefits of cycling far outweigh the harm.

Not really sure why you are picking a fight.

 

 

[alice]

Why do you say I’m picking a fight? That’s ridiculous. I’m just stated a fact.
 

[Earl Aelfheah]

The most important fact is that 'cyclists' are not 'taking over paths'. Something that you seem to accept. So why do we have 18 pages discussing it as if it were true?

We have multiple threads railing against what is objectively one of the most benign forms of transport bar walking.

Edited October 15 by Earl Aelfheah

[alice]

Well, every time you post you’re perpetuating this ridiculous ‘discussion’

But I take your point and I won’t post any more on this thread.