Cyclists Vs Walkers

[triples]

This has been bugging me for a little while now, and wanted to see if others are having similar experiences.

I put it in this thread as it seems the maturity level is higher than other threads.

Do you say hi to walkers and other cyclists whilst riding? Im a pretty friendly guy and say hi to everyone I pass, but over the last few year I have noticed alot of people brushing me and being anti social.
This week in particular I have been abusied, ignored, stared at all for no apparent reason.

Anyone else finding this trend?

[Lanky Love]

Are you wearing an offencive shirt ( eg racist, sexist etc), because your problem might start there.

BUt on a more serios note, is it walks or riders aswell being anitsocial

[triples]

No offensive shirt here:p
I don't even own an offensive shirt.

It's mostly walkers but sometimes riders.

[toml]

Yea I usually give a nod, and i have noticed more and more people that just pretend they didn't see you. I don't understand it, don't you automaticly say a quick hey back? Unfriendly people grumble grumble...

[jackass'd]

I try to be socialable but stop short of telling how my day has been in exquisite detail.

I do find though when you come up on couples who are out walking - one will say hi and the other will give you the death stare! I always find that funny

[RCOH]

if i catch someone's eye I say "hi" or give 'em a nod. Most people return it.

[Plow King]

I don't ride a road bike or do track cycling but I still commute so I thought I should add my 2C. Most of the people I pass I say a friendly "Hi" Or "How's it going to"

What really shits me off though is that you let people past or give way to people you don't have to, but you do anyway and they don't even say thanks.

[Blas4me]

I get the same treatment and I look positively harmless!
On the other side of the coin though I used to get 2 guaranteed (pleasant) acknowledgements of existance on my way to and from work. On the way I got a very warm and genuine "good morning darling" from two lovely ladies on their regular morning walk, then on the way home there would always be a smile and nod from a guy walking his dog (always with a longkneck in hand too - not that this is bad, in fact it made me very thirsty). It really made my day when I saw these people and all it took was a brief word or two or just a facial expression.

[Ham]

i find walkers ok (not that i go near them often) i find other road cyclists to be more rude and less likely to say hi, one of the reasons i train by myself most of the time.

[andrew_o]

Yes I have had a couple of those experiences, the worse people for ignoring you are riders I reckon, like the 'locals' when you turn up at dirt jumps for the first time I have noticed or when you make the effort to give way to people, they don;t even give you a second glance or a nod

[SMIIISH]

i find, on that note, that people commuting in cars can be extremly hot and cold. got the thumbs up from a bloke today in his ute. smiling. the lot. good on him i say! need more people like him on the road. Then just last week this bastard in his red MPV honked his horn at me and shouted abuse at me. ruined my afternoon... and its dangerous - made me jump out of my skin. the cars can be the same as walkers, i find.

[Tallman]

Any fellow riders I always say a hey or gday to if I catch their eye. Most reply. Walkers on the other hand seem to reply less.

['Ross]

Its way to difficult to even contemplate saying hi to everyone I ride past while cycling. If someone says hi or nods I will try to nod back, but sometimes you are focussing on what you are doing and the conditions on your side of the road, not trying to be friendly to everyone you come across.

I give a nod to every fixie I see, most of the time I get it back, but like I said Im usually focussing on what the drivers and pedestrians around me are doing, and am not looking across the other side of the road.

[Christo]

The demographics of the area you ride in impact this.

I tend to give a smile, nod, wink or hi if I'm on a bike path (not very often anymore) when I was living in the inner western suburbs, I had a perfectly good bike path to the CBD which I rode daily, I reckon perhaps 10% of people acknowledged me?

Now I live way out in (what I consider) a semi-rural area (I pass cows in a paddock on my daily commute) and although I don't ride the bike paths here often, when I do I reckon 70-80% of people acknowledge my hellos and smile/nod back.

Perhaps they're only nice because they're planning on making me 'squeal like a pig'? Can't trust these hill folk! Perhaps I shouldn't wink at them anymore...?

[mattwahh]

i always say gday to people i pass on the trail & usually get a reply ,its usually on the road bike that other riders will ignore u as u ride past them i never even bother to give a nod or wave to someone on the other side of the road anymore .years ago u would barely see another cyclist on the road so when u did u always waved & would always get a wave back now the road is full of joe averages who think they r too good to say hi

[No Skid Marks]

YOU not U.:p

[triples]

If I'm out on the trails, then most say hi. It's more when commuting. Maybe it's just Canberra, where alot of folk are anti cyclist.
There are regulars I see each morning and have done for years and they say hi, but it's the people that are infrequent. I try not let it get to me, but how hard is it to be polite.

[aaron01]

Don't seem to have that problem in Toowoomba, the majority of cyclist are very pleasant to each other and will give a wave or nod when they are passed, tarmac walkers are pleasant enough when I'm riding with the kids but usually I tend not to have much to do with them as I steer clear of the foot path, off road walkers are usually stop and have a chat and you tend to find they will know of trails that you haven't seen so they are a great source of info.
All in all I find generally treating people how you want to be treaterd works for the most part but there will always be a bad apple here and there.

[Sekt]

I don't really understand the idea that cyclists should always acknowledge each other. If I'm out riding, I don't want to spend half my time nodding and waving to everyone I pass when I should be concentrating on my surroundings or just riding.

[Christo]

You may not want to but fostering a sense of camaraderie between cyclists can't be a bad thing can it?

I for one remember being a nooB cyclist and having other riders say g'day or smile made me realise what an awesome community the cycle scene is. I for one want to keep this going and spread the infectious disease that is cycling.

[hillrider]

I do a lot of road and MTB kms and I always nod or acknowledge on coming cyclists, though not always getting a reply. I find roadies the worst, even when I'm on my road bike in full road gear. One thing I have almost given up on is saying hello when overtaking people, had a few funny comments when saying hi on my way past.

It always puts a smile on my face when passing a oncoming MTB rider in off road gear, when I'm in lycra on the roadie. They nearly always look shocked as if they are thinking 'gees I wasn't expecting him to say hello' as they wave back :)

Walkers seem to range from pleasent, too wanting to kick you off your bike ;)

[Sekt]

You may not want to but fostering a sense of camaraderie between cyclists can't be a bad thing can it?

Yeah, but it sucks when you're judged to be anti-social or rude just because you don't wave/wink/greet/nod to every man and his dog.

[Giant_de_la_comp]

maybe there the drivers that you block on the road

[Ham]

maybe there the drivers that you block on the road

having a dig at the roadies eh?

Have you ridden in traffic on a road bike? a lot of the time when i get in the way of cars its only for the smallest time possible and only when i have no other choice.

Saying that though there are some dickheads who deliberately annoy driver id like to think they were the minority though.

[Giant_de_la_comp]

mate after the stuff i have seen them do i have a fair right to have a go at the bad ones, it really annoys me when they DONT travel single file..

and may i ask whay half of you shave your legs? :confused:

always wanted to know that one :)

[Giant_de_la_comp]

And by the way mate no bad feelings ay, least most of you ride MTB too

[Elbo]

i find walkers ok (not that i go near them often) i find other road cyclists to be more rude and less likely to say hi, one of the reasons i train by myself most of the time.
Same here mate, I am always being snobbed by other road riders. I don't know why, maybe it's because I ride a 20 year old road bike and don't wear lycra. I do however use SPD pedals (MTB ones) on my road bike and maybe that contributed to the warm hello I got from a female roadie that I passed tonight, or maybe it was because of something else.. anyway it made my day :D

[Ham]

mate after the stuff i have seen them do i have a fair right to have a go at the bad ones, it really annoys me when they DONT travel single file..

and may i ask whay half of you shave your legs? :confused:

always wanted to know that one :)

well we have the right to travel 2 or 3 a breast again i only do that when necessary ie when in a bunch.

i shave my legs because when i come of it helps stop infection and also road rash isn't as bad when you come of.

[Elbo]

mate after the stuff i have seen them do i have a fair right to have a go at the bad ones, it really annoys me when they DONT travel single file..

and may i ask whay half of you shave your legs? :confused:

always wanted to know that one :)
Riding 2 abrest is not illegal. In fact, cyclists are allowed to take up a whole lane riding 2 abrest under law.

Regarding the shaved legs, I believe it's so you can bandage 'road rash' more effectively and also means it doesn't hurt as much when pulling the bandages off. Nothing to do with aerodynamics like a lot of people think.. :D

beaten to it by Ham, but it still stands

[Ham]

Riding 2 abrest is not illegal. In fact, cyclists are allowed to take up a whole lane riding 2 abrest under law.

Regarding the shaved legs, I believe it's so you can bandage 'road rash' more effectively and also means it doesn't hurt as much when pulling the bandages off. Nothing to do with aerodynamics like a lot of people think.. :D

beaten to it by Ham, but it still stands

in fact the aerodynamic advantage is only about 1-3 percent increase on the road.

[Elbo]

in fact the aerodynamic advantage is only about 1-3 percent increase on the road.
I didn't know that, so there is merit to that train of thought.

[Giant_de_la_comp]

Riding 2 abrest is not illegal. In fact, cyclists are allowed to take up a whole lane riding 2 abrest under law.

Regarding the shaved legs, I believe it's so you can bandage 'road rash' more effectively and also means it doesn't hurt as much when pulling the bandages off. Nothing to do with aerodynamics like a lot of people think.. :D

beaten to it by Ham, but it still stands


well does this mean i can go riding in front of a police car with my mates taking up the whole road without getting a beep?? or do i have to have a duel chain ring, no suspension and razor thin tires pumped up to a billion psi to get a nice wave? what is the Govornment thinking with that one?

Also what happens if you are going down a steep hill (with cars in front and behind you) and some cyclist come wizzing down fast right next to you which forces you to creep across the line to save them from Falling off the cliff to the left of you? but wait theres one last thing.. there is a car coming from the opposite derection? I have seen and been in situations close to these because of two friendly cyclist next to each having a chat not wanting to slow down and go from the behind..

In the end i reakon its ok to ride on the road but you rude cyclist please respect drivers and dont get in there way because amazingly they will win when it comes to hitting you.


Why not get a Cyclotron Trainer?

[Ham]

well does this mean i can go riding in front of a police car with my mates taking up the whole road without getting a beep?? or do i have to have a duel chain ring, no suspension and razor thin tires pumped up to a billion psi to get a nice wave? what is the Govornment thinking with that one?

Also what happens if you are going down a steep hill (with cars in front and behind you) and some cyclist come wizzing down fast right next to you which forces you to creep across the line to save them from Falling off the cliff to the left of you? but wait theres one last thing.. there is a car coming from the opposite derection? I have seen and been in situations close to these because of two friendly cyclist next to each having a chat not wanting to slow down and go from the behind..

In the end i reakon its ok to ride on the road but you rude cyclist please respect drivers and dont get in there way because amazingly they will win when it comes to hitting you.

Why not get a Cyclotron Trainer?

mate you really are lacking in the brain department please refrain from posting this uninformed drivel.

and by the way cyclists were there first perhaps some drivers need to show respect it is a 2 way street after all.

[|Matt|]

mate you really are lacking in the brain department please refrain from posting this uninformed drivel.

and by the way cyclists were there first perhaps some drivers need to show respect it is a 2 way street after all.

Be careful, his MSN is hi.ya.fuk.face@hotmail.com and hes 15...you could be asking for trouble.

[Ham]

Be careful, his MSN is hi.ya.fuk.face@hotmail.com and hes 15...you could be asking for trouble.

oh dear god im in trouble now ;)

[Christo]

mate after the stuff i have seen them do i have a fair right to have a go at the bad ones, it really annoys me when they DONT travel single file..

and may i ask whay half of you shave your legs? :confused:

always wanted to know that one :)

I just love it when 15 year olds get all proprietorial over the use of the roads by cyclists. What stuff have you seen them do in your oh-so-wise 15 years on this planet?

Perhaps some nasty roadies have held him up on a driving lesson? More likely he's just regurgitating something his (probably redneck) parents have said about cyclists when he was in his car seat?

And anyway, isn't this thread called 'cyclists vs. walkers'???

[Angry Atheist]

Cyclists vs Walkers

Bike Paths
- Slow right down if your behind and don't scare the crap out of them. You could flick gear levers to sound off or use your bell!! eek! If they are deaf, roll right up behind them and pass when safe.
- If in front, move to the side and get ready to slow down. Only slow right down (walking speed) if their have a loose dog or children. Use your brain and don't blast past them at 50km/h. Running speed is good.

Footpaths
- Stay away from the shop front walls. A person walks out of the store and gets collected by you, not good. Ride slow (never over 15) because they don't expect it, and kids are feral!
- Use common sense (seriously lacking in teeenagers these days) and ride at a speed which lets you pull up quick if need be. Obviously if its a suburban footpath or a just plain empty one then you really should be on the road.

Cyclists Vs Drivers

Obey the rules of the road. Stop at red lights, ped crossings and ride predictably. If your an asshole, you'll get it back at you.

Shared Road
- * Single file if its a busy road. Who gives a shit if its legal to ride two abreast, if you piss off drivers they will get angry and tempted to do things which might not be safe - and you'll WILL come off second best. If its fast traffic, then top speed, porky!
- Quiet roads, two abreast definitely. Speed varies, so relax.

Bike lanes
- Fast traffic means you shouldn't ride right next to the road lane if you can help it. If parked cars prevent you, keep an eye out for drivers sitting in their parked cars. Get ready to stop if you spot someone. If you only have a metre of bike lane, then ride within it and predictably. The threat of open doors is too great? read this one *.
- Fast or slow, keep an eyeball on pedrestrians.

Anymore?

[triples]

well we have the right to travel 2 or 3 a breast again i only do that when necessary ie when in a bunch.

i shave my legs because when i come of it helps stop infection and also road rash isn't as bad when you come of.

I think you might find the law is 1m from kerbs edge. I think legally you may find it difficult to ride 3 abreast.

[triples]

- Stay away from the shop front walls. A person walks out of the store and gets collected by you, not good. Ride slow (never over 15) because they don't expect it, and kids are feral!

Not that anyone knows but its illegal for a cyclist to ride there bicycle within 10m of a shop front.

[Elbo]

Shared Road
Single file if its a busy road. Who gives a shit if its legal to ride two abreast, if you piss off drivers they will get angry and tempted to do things which might not be safe - and you'll WILL come off second best. If its fast traffic, then top speed, porky!
- Quiet roads, two abreast definitely. Speed varies, so relax.
I'm not sure what approach you're taking here. It's pretty obvious that you would ride single file when the road is busy. I was simply letting it be known that riding 2 abreast is not illegal.. That doesn't mean it's dangerous. To draw a comparison, it's legal to do up to 60km/h in a car in a 60km/h zone. If it's pouring rain, you can still go 60km/h, but it's pretty stupid and dangerous especially around other cars.

well does this mean i can go riding in front of a police car with my mates taking up the whole road without getting a beep?? or do i have to have a duel chain ring, no suspension and razor thin tires pumped up to a billion psi to get a nice wave? what is the Govornment thinking with that one?
Are you serious? A bike is a bike, you don't have to have a road bike to ride on the road, and you probably would get a beep from the police car, because they want to get past. If you are sticking to your legal rights on the road just to prove a point, then you've got the wrong attitude and will get a bit of attitude from other road users.

['Ross]

Sometimes when I ride home via the bike path on Footscray rd, there is a big number of dangerous and stupid riders.

This is a very busy path with lots of riders. The majority of ride at fairly casual speeds on bikes with 26 inch wheels and non slick tyres. Just your average people commuting to and from work.

If I am ever on this path, sure I will overtake 15-20 people (not bragging, its just my 700c+slicks+83 gear inch is generally a fair bit faster) Anyway, its a two way path, whenever I overtake I make sure there is know one oncoming and there is enough room.

Sometimes, there are dickheads who also are quicker than the majority, and they overtake in a very dangerous manner. They dont look and try to weave in and out, on thursday I was behind someone waiting to overtake (some chick was approaching from opposite direction) when some roadie hero flies past and totally cuts off the chick pushing her off the path, I see crap like this pretty often. Its all good and fine to overtake, but surely you can wait until the coast is clear to do so.

[Carlin]

Almost always get a smile from a pedestrian when I stop at a zebra crossing, or give way when they are jay walking.

In the city you can't wave at everyone without looking a little like Borat or Mick Dundee.

[biftek]

i don't smile/nod/wave/whatever , i figure its the same as walking down the street i don't smile/nod/wave/whatever to anybody that i might walk past on the street so why should being out on a bike make any difference

[DarrenHunt]

Depends the intensity of the ride. If i'm in the box, or concentrating for some reason, the last thing i'm going to worry about is acknowledging another rider, but if i'm cruising along i'll say hi to everyone i come across, as will most of the people i ride with.
If there's a walker on a mtb track or on the road (not commuting here) its the same deal.

I do find that many people are intimidated by my club, even when we're not in numbers. And other certain clubs seem to think that we're some kind of rich yuppy snobs, who are evil, and hence treat us like shit even when we take the time to chat/acknowledge them.

The way other riders react all has to do with who they are and who they think you are. If you look intimidating (ie. Pro) many people will be scared to say hi, and it goes the other way around as well.

[Giant_de_la_comp]

Be careful, his MSN is hi.ya.fuk.face@hotmail.com and hes 15...you could be asking for trouble.


yep thats my address, my name is Josh Schmidt by the way :)

[Giant_de_la_comp]

Ah god its funny seeing you guys get all mature on me.. im the one getting a laugh out of this and not getting all defensive..

I was just trying to get in a say but i guess im young dumb and full of cum so no one wants to hear what i have to say because i dont know anything, anyway im just a passenger seat driver that knows no road rules :D

Boys will be boys :rolleyes:

[Accidentpronelol]

Guys sorry but i totally agree with what Giant_de_la_comp is saying, most cyclist i see or drive past are rude and never get out of the way when safe..

[Matt H]

I was just trying to get in a say but i guess im young dumb and full of cum

Ewww, you've totally put me off my finishancienthistoryassignmentredbull.

[Ham]

Guys sorry but i totally agree with what Giant_de_la_comp is saying, most cyclist i see or drive past are rude and never get out of the way when safe..

Mate you have to see it from our perspective as well just because you think its safe for a cyclist to move doesn't mean it actually is, a good example is round abouts we have to take a lane to stop stupid drivers cutting you off or hitting you.

the other day a driver changed lanes into me on a round about hitting my leg, i almoswt came off so i caught up to the car for a little chat and the driver claims to have not seen me despite me being almost directly in front of me.

trust me cyclist's don't want to ride in traffic any more than motorists want to but there is no other option sometimes than making a driver wait a few seconds.

anyway this tread is not about cyclists and motorists lets try and stay on topic.

[akashra]

Buggered if I'm going to say squat or try to wave when I'm doing 40km/h.

Come to think of it, maybe I should slow down a bit on the way to work in some bits :/

[mountain_man(1)]

i completely mis read this topic i just saw Cyclists and Wankers. I thought it was a wanker roadie bashing thread.

[DarrenHunt]

WOW! everyone here is so mature.

Roadies don't try and piss off motorists. They may appear to at times, as they are trying to be safe. Taking up a whole lane has nothing to do with annoying drivers, i do it, i know how annoying it is to drivers as i am a driver as well, but stuffed if i'm gonna ride in the gutter and get hit off the road.

[Angry Atheist]

WOW! everyone here is so mature.

...stuffed if i'm gonna ride in the gutter and get hit off the road.

First off, relax and read some of the posts.

No one is saying that cars are number one. If anyone one does then they are the immature ones.

The message once the thread derailed was that using the road in a manner that is safest is paramount. No one in their right mind would ride in the gutter just because the traffic is fast or full of green P platers in the mum's Subaru Forrester with fart cannon and fully sic chromed rims ... ! ... er, what, dunno where that came from! Anyways, safety is first. Using a whole lane will slow that traffic down and annoy because they have to drop 20km/h off their speed.

Too bad!!

Ride safe and use you head under that helmet.

[DarrenHunt]

First off, relax and read some of the posts.

No one is saying that cars are number one. If anyone one does then they are the immature ones.

The message once the thread derailed was that using the road in a manner that is safest is paramount. No one in their right mind would ride in the gutter just because the traffic is fast or full of green P platers in the mum's Subaru Forrester with fart cannon and fully sic chromed rims ... ! ... er, what, dunno where that came from! Anyways, safety is first. Using a whole lane will slow that traffic down and annoy because they have to drop 20km/h off their speed.

Too bad!!

Ride safe and use you head under that helmet.

you're my new best friend

[*morison*]

Don't worry about it, im new to road riding, and i always say hi or wave to others, i got a bit disapointed when they didnt wave back, i now relise some people arnt concertrating or just dont have time, even just a bit forgetful.


but on the XC trails i have never been brushed off, everyone is so friendly :D

[m_g]

hehehe....interesting thread...a little off topic:
I just got back from a road trip over in NZ, and found out the etiquette of campervan acknowledgement....I was in a Wicked van and always got a big wave/thumbs up from other Wicked freaks...However (strangely??) Spaceship, Backpacker, and Escape vans dont acknowledge you...I quickly learnt this and exchanged death stares with any rival van companies :) weird eh??