Comments on: Sharing the shared paths http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/ Work is just something I do between bike rides Tue, 03 Jan 2012 06:01:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chris L http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/comment-page-1/#comment-1535 Chris L Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:58:41 +0000 http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/#comment-1535 <p>This is why I absolutely refuse to use "shared" paths, even when it IS the best option (which is probably less than 0.01% of the time anyway). If motorists get upset that I'm riding on the road when there's a path nearby, I say Good! Hopefully they'll have a public whinge about it, and then some attention might actually be drawn to the fact that 1. most shared paths are totally substandard and usually far more dangerous than sharing the road with cars, and 2. virtually nobody who uses the "shared paths" has any idea about the concept of sharing.</p> This is why I absolutely refuse to use “shared” paths, even when it IS the best option (which is probably less than 0.01% of the time anyway). If motorists get upset that I’m riding on the road when there’s a path nearby, I say Good! Hopefully they’ll have a public whinge about it, and then some attention might actually be drawn to the fact that 1. most shared paths are totally substandard and usually far more dangerous than sharing the road with cars, and 2. virtually nobody who uses the “shared paths” has any idea about the concept of sharing.

]]> By: eccles http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/comment-page-1/#comment-1536 eccles Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:24:53 +0000 http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/#comment-1536 <p>I think that there's no one mode of transport that consists entirely of angels or jerks (ok, maybe suburu drivers). I've had pedestrians yell at me for going around them on the grass... what? I veered 2m away to pass you because you are walking down the middle of the lane with your dog off the leash and I'm the bad guy? But I've also found people who were paying attention and walking to one side, and willing to stop and give way to let bikes past when they technically could have assumed they had the right of way.</p> <p>I think the point you made in a previous post - “Why is 5-10 seconds so precious out of your life" applies to everyone, not just drivers who zoom on past cars. Its also the same for cyclists, and also for pedestrians. It just also needs to be balanced by "Could you step to one side and let someone else get on with their day?"</p> I think that there’s no one mode of transport that consists entirely of angels or jerks (ok, maybe suburu drivers). I’ve had pedestrians yell at me for going around them on the grass… what? I veered 2m away to pass you because you are walking down the middle of the lane with your dog off the leash and I’m the bad guy? But I’ve also found people who were paying attention and walking to one side, and willing to stop and give way to let bikes past when they technically could have assumed they had the right of way.

I think the point you made in a previous post – “Why is 5-10 seconds so precious out of your life” applies to everyone, not just drivers who zoom on past cars. Its also the same for cyclists, and also for pedestrians. It just also needs to be balanced by “Could you step to one side and let someone else get on with their day?”

]]> By: Jonathon http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/comment-page-1/#comment-1537 Jonathon Sun, 15 Mar 2009 05:15:27 +0000 http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/#comment-1537 <p>Having recently returned from Canberra where bike paths are part of the cycling and pedestrian culture, I find it sad that pedestrians in Sydney and Melbourne cannot share the paths as they do in the ACT. It has to be something cultural. Your experiance with "BASTARD" reminds me all too much of an incident I mentioned on Sydney Cyclist. What is the difference between Canberrans and Sydneysiders and Melbournians?</p> Having recently returned from Canberra where bike paths are part of the cycling and pedestrian culture, I find it sad that pedestrians in Sydney and Melbourne cannot share the paths as they do in the ACT. It has to be something cultural. Your experiance with “BASTARD” reminds me all too much of an incident I mentioned on Sydney Cyclist. What is the difference between Canberrans and Sydneysiders and Melbournians?

]]> By: jimmay http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/comment-page-1/#comment-1538 jimmay Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:19:12 +0000 http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/#comment-1538 <p>What next? Mandatory dog traps on shared paths to protect pedestrians from potentially dangerous unleashed dogs?</p> What next? Mandatory dog traps on shared paths to protect pedestrians from potentially dangerous unleashed dogs?

]]> By: Think Different http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/comment-page-1/#comment-1540 Think Different Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:55:47 +0000 http://treadly.net/2009/03/12/sharing-the-shared-paths/#comment-1540 <p>Nice, balanced coverage. Thanks. This is the opposite to a recent TV current affairs coverage in NSW which, while appearing balanced, ended with the impression that cyclists caused their own problems by breaking the law e.g. going through traffic lights or riding between the lanes of stopped traffic. A more balanced approach would have shown that all road users - cars, cyclists and pedestrians - all break the rules, often because we can determine independently of traffic lights etc that we can do it safely. One thing I've experience often on shared paths around Wollongong is walkers spread across the full breadth of the path. Ringing bells in this situation often results in confusion in the walkers and a path blocked longer. My solution has been to warn of my approach only if the path is totally blocked.</p> Nice, balanced coverage. Thanks. This is the opposite to a recent TV current affairs coverage in NSW which, while appearing balanced, ended with the impression that cyclists caused their own problems by breaking the law e.g. going through traffic lights or riding between the lanes of stopped traffic. A more balanced approach would have shown that all road users – cars, cyclists and pedestrians – all break the rules, often because we can determine independently of traffic lights etc that we can do it safely. One thing I’ve experience often on shared paths around Wollongong is walkers spread across the full breadth of the path. Ringing bells in this situation often results in confusion in the walkers and a path blocked longer. My solution has been to warn of my approach only if the path is totally blocked.

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