One for the collective

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Tue 25 Sep 2018 15:23
One for the collective - skidpan

Just walking back from town and near home on a narrow pavement I heard a shout from behind "MOVE". Turned to look and hit a cyclist who was trying to pass me on the pavement a glancing blow that ended up with him going onto the road. Luckily there was no traffic and all he did was shout a stream of abuse and carry on.

Now this is a footpath, its not a cycleway of any description. Local combined footpaths are signed as such and have a demarkation line, there are none on this plus its too narrow. Just ahead of me walking towards me at the time were a couple with a double buggy, it filled the pavement. The cyclist would have been unable to pass those pedestrians.

So my question is what would have happened if the cyclist had been unfortunate (probably too mild a word) and have come off the pavement in front of a car or worse still a lorry. Could I have been held in anyway responsible for the obvious disasterous consequences that could have ocurred.

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Tue 25 Sep 2018 15:41
One for the collective - Avant

I don't think so, if all you did was turn round. He shouldn't have been on the pavement - end of story.

If a pedestrian pushed a cyclist deliberately (not that I'm suggesting you did!), it might be different, but even then the cyclist would probably be deemed to be part-author of hs own misfortune (contributory negligence).

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Tue 25 Sep 2018 15:51
One for the collective - skidpan

If a pedestrian pushed a cyclist deliberately (not that I'm suggesting you did!), it might be different

Would love to give some of the local cycling terrorists a push but in this case I did not get the chance, he was going to fast.

The worst are those that come down the road past our house on the pavement (again not a cycleway) at very high speed since its a steep hill. You cannot see those coming down since the neighbours wall is very high (much higher than current planning would allow). I think I posted about one last year sometime. The cyclist had to swerve onto the road to miss me, again if a car or lorry had been present he would have been wiped out. I last saw hi about a mile later swerving in and out of traffic, on and off the pavement ending up crossing a busy light controlled junction on red. Probably been on one of those ambulance chasing TV shows by now. Cyclists and horse riders make up most of the victims.

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Tue 25 Sep 2018 16:41
One for the collective - Bromptonaut

Much as I'm keen to defend cyclists those who ride on the pavement, or worse ride fast on the pavement drive me up the wall. If as a man of 58 I've got the balls to ride on the road what's stopping testosterone filled young blokes? I see it most often round the office, a square that doesn't really go anywhere, and on a street that's buses and taxis only.

Riding in slow traffic isn't difficult.

I don't think OP has anything to worry about though if the lad had gone under a truck and died I'd expect him to be properly questioned and witnesses accounts compared.

Personally I avoid the shared use paths in town (Northampton). I'd rather mix with traffic than pedestrians. Had to brake hard yesterday for a pedestrian who stepped out from in front of a stopped bus and didn't consider possibility that it might be overtaken. Not even a near miss and she was very apologetic.

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Tue 25 Sep 2018 18:35
One for the collective - skidpan

if the lad had gone under a truck and died I'd expect him to be properly questioned and witnesses accounts compared

Nothing new there, been interviewed in a murder investigation before. Its great asking for time off work for a Police interview, think they wondered if they would ever see me again. At least they didn't start raffling off the stuff from my desk.

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Tue 25 Sep 2018 22:46
One for the collective - Vitesse6

And cyclists wonder why they have a bad name. Sounds like an ill mannered character. If anyone shouts MOVE at me he is going to be very disappointed when I don't. A polite 'excuse me' would get a much more positive response.

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Wed 26 Sep 2018 00:18
One for the collective - bathtub tom

A cyclist got very short shrift on local media here when they complained about a £60 penalty for cycling up the High street on the pavement.

If I see them approaching, I pretend I've got a mote in my eye, lower my head, rubbing the eye and walk directly towards them.

If one comes up the pavement while I'm getting the car out, I'll block the pavement I'm crossing with the car.

I've been known to drive directly a cyclists on a zebra crossing with my hand on the horn - it's a PEDESTRIAN crossing.

I'm a cyclist!

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Wed 26 Sep 2018 17:39
One for the collective - concrete

Most of this is simply down to basic manners. If you wanted to pass someone on narrow pathway while on foot the normal curtecy would apply. A simple 'excuse me while I pass' does it without problem or offence. However put someone on a bike or in a car and all rules of poilte behaviour are suspended. There was nothing to stop this particular cyclist from slowing right down, making his prescence known by speaking to skidpan and requesting to pass.

I have some sympathy with cyclists because the roads seems very dangerous sometimes so the pavement is a nice option, but surely if decent manners and common sense were used the problem would not exist. However the cycling 'gestapo' do not do the cyclists cause any good at all. Seemingly expecting a complete free hand because they are saving the planet, yeah right!! Extremism in any form is just that. Not a nice trait.

Cheers Concrete

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