The Dumb Cyclists and Pedestrians thread...

[elantra]

Thank you all for your concern and replies - I really appreciate it!

My jaw wasn't feeling much better at all today, and after a couple of big yawns I could hear a clicking type sound. Fortunately I managed to get myself a GP Access/After Hours appointment after I finished my shift at work.

Whaddya know, elantra got it in one - a mandibular fracture.

Got told to fast just in case, and have a referral for tomorrow morning to see the specialist at the main hospital here in town.

Guess I will be making a police report now! Just not sure when I'll get to do it. Will see what happens tomorrow morning.

Thanks again all! I'm pretty peed off this has happened.

Really, really sorry to see that you have got a mandibular fracture.
Hope it doesn’t slow you down for too long !

If crash occurs while travelling to or from work, in some Australian states the medical management MAY be “available” through Workcover.
But i don’t think that this is the case in Victoria or NSW.
Probably best then to resort to the Public Hospital system - but be careful how you “answer the question” if they ask you if your injuries are as a result of a road accident.

Looking at the photos and geographic information that you posted is remarkable - how can any stretch of road be called a bicycle lane if there is a car parked over most of its width.

I share your exasperation at this happening.
Hope you get back on the bike relatively soon.

[warthog1]

Hope you recover quickly Ningnang.

[ningnangnong]

Thanks guys!

I'm back home now after surgery on Monday afternoon. Puréed foods for six weeks is going to be fun.

I've written up my recollection of events and loaded photos/video footage from my rear view camera onto a USB and will head down to the police station a little later this evening to make a report. I'm not sure what they'll be able to do, but someone disobeying the road rules has caused me a serious injury, so surely they can do something.

[nezumi]

I had another cyclist pass me today in fairly heavy traffic without a call of passing, and coming close enough that if I had given an elbow flick I probably would have made contact.

While I'm reasonably happy riding in a bunchie with people I know, "rubbing is racing" doesn't apply to city streets in peak hour!

[Retrobyte]

What red light?

[mikesbytes]

What red light?

As they were breaking the law it can be assumed that the communication was for themselves

[Mr Purple]

What red light?

There are some (probably many) pedestrians that believe because the law states that bikes must give way to pedestrians, that they can do absolutely anything they like and the bike has to give way to them.

Technically correct, but also stupid. Strangely enough these pedestrians don't often step out in front of cars despite the law being the same.

Because I'm 100% sure I will be entirely blamed on any collision with a pedestrian regardless of circumstances I ride very carefully around them. And won't say a word to a pedestrian unless a) they're on the 'bike only' path, and b) they yell at me first. Sadly, this does occasionally happen. If they're yelling at me for riding too fast on the clearly marked 'bike only' V1 Veloway then the gloves can come off.

[g-boaf]

Triathlon lady focusing going uphill on a bridge but not aware she was swerving over the centre line... Fortunately I was watching and would have slammed the brakes if I had to.

[Anrai]

What's the deal with everyone hugging the centre line on shared paths anyway? Usually joggers with airpods in, but today I also encountered two-abreast walkers where the leftmost had a good half metre between herself and the fence, and the rightmost was walking on the centre line. I've seen double-pram groups take up less space.
I'm very "guilty" of listening to music while walking shared paths myself but I don't have a problem keeping as far left as I can, and in the rare instances I'm on a path narrow enough for passing concerns (i.e. walking the Tasman Bridge) I take out the earbuds because I know I'm gonna get passed by 2-6 cyclists and have to make room.

[g-boaf]

I don't have a problem keeping as far left as I can.

Nor me, I have no problems keeping left on paths when walking, even with a slightly dodgy hip and one leg shorter than the other.

What excuse do these other walkers have? Also the runners going right down the centre line.

As a pedestrian, I expect that we should keep to the left for safety of everyone.

I don't use headphones when out walking. I have Airpods Max and they do have very good transparency mode to let other sounds through but I don't use them outside. Just prefer not to.

What red light?

Oh they always do it there, also at the George Street and Charles Street intersection. Crossing lights already gone red and they still run across against the red signal even though they can see cars or bicycles waiting to go. Side note, if this were about 4-5 years ago you'd get a 20 page argument here over the "jaywalking" term.

[jasonc]

G-boaf the problem is the expectations you, and most have relies on common sense. Sadly common sense is no longer common. It's a super power. I overtook a runner on the left as he was running on the middle line. He realised his mistake as I was on his left...

[Mr Purple]

Triathlon lady focusing going uphill on a bridge but not aware she was swerving over the centre line... Fortunately I was watching and would have slammed the brakes if I had to.

I want to be sympathetic and inclusive towards triathletes (previously being one myself) but I really can't.

There's something 'odd' about them from the point of a cyclist. The whole riding TT bikes everywhere despite a lack of bike handling skills, the fact they get angry about drafting, their complete inability to climb and their weird costumes. It's a bit like the 'uncanny valley'. They're close to cyclists but somehow completely alien at the same time.

Mind you they probably say the same things about us

[g-boaf]

Triathlon lady focusing going uphill on a bridge but not aware she was swerving over the centre line... Fortunately I was watching and would have slammed the brakes if I had to.

I want to be sympathetic and inclusive towards triathletes (previously being one myself) but I really can't.

There's something 'odd' about them from the point of a cyclist. The whole riding TT bikes everywhere despite a lack of bike handling skills, the fact they get angry about drafting, their complete inability to climb and their weird costumes. It's a bit like the 'uncanny valley'. They're close to cyclists but somehow completely alien at the same time.

Mind you they probably say the same things about us

Personally I don’t mind them and used to train with a couple of them who were extremely strong. So I don’t get into the whole us and them mentality.

[Mr Purple]

Personally I don’t mind them and used to train with a couple of them who were extremely strong. So I don’t get into the whole us and them mentality.

That may have not come out as tongue in cheek as it was meant to. Triathletes are basically cyclists but slightly weirder about aero for obvious reasons. Mind you we're all pretty weird about aero.

[zebee]

What's the deal with everyone hugging the centre line on shared paths anyway?

Because people like space. Happens on footpaths, happens in open spaces. Look how they spread out on Pyrmont Bridge.

If they aren't scared of murder machines, they'll naturally give themselves plenty of room.

[Retrobyte]

Something for everyone - off leash dogs, wheelchair on the wrong side of the path on a blind corner ... this has it all

[g-boaf]

Something for everyone - off leash dogs, wheelchair on the wrong side of the path on a blind corner ... this has it all

If I remember right members of this forum used to argue very strongly that pedestrians should walk on the wrong side of paths.

I’m guessing that is the Parramatta river shared path which I stay away from - too crowded and too unpredictable.

[Cyclophiliac]

Something for everyone - off leash dogs, wheelchair on the wrong side of the path on a blind corner ... this has it all

Where's the blind corner? I can't see one in the video. Also, if I was on a wheelchair, I'd use the right hand side of the path also, it would probably be safer that way.

[Andy01]

Personally, if I was in a wheelchair, I would rather be hit from behind than the front (obviously, even better, not at all).

[Retrobyte]

Where's the blind corner? I can't see one in the video.

At the start of the video I can't see the guy in the wheelchair, which means he can't see me - because the path bends at that point.

[Retrobyte]

If I remember right members of this forum used to argue very strongly that pedestrians should walk on the wrong side of paths.

Maybe, but the guy in the wheelchair isn't walking

I’m guessing that is the Parramatta river shared path which I stay away from - too crowded and too unpredictable.

As you've repeatedly mentioned.

I don't really have a choice though - this is my commute, and the infrastructure along the river is really good other than some of the users

[g-boaf]

What else can you do on that path except for painting direction arrows on the path and putting signs everywhere saying "keep left".

And then someone will rip out the signs or put graffiti on them.

For others, that path has some narrow and blind sections on it with trees right close to the edge or other similar things blocking visibility. All you can do is go really slowly in those places and be ready to stop.

[jasonc]

What else can you do on that path except for painting direction arrows on the path and putting signs everywhere saying "keep left".

I've had occasions where I've unclipped and stopped. and waited for them to move on to the correct side of the path.

[Anrai]

In an effort to put more climbing into my route I went up the Domain on Sunday and had a where're they going next? moment with a runner roaming across the entirety of a busy path and back. No abrupt changes in direction at least, but had me on guard.

[g-boaf]

In an effort to put more climbing into my route I went up the Domain on Sunday and had a where're they going next? moment with a runner roaming across the entirety of a busy path and back. No abrupt changes in direction at least, but had me on guard.

I had one on the weekend staying left then as soon as I called out that I was passing on the right, she ran from the far left of the path to off the right hand side of the path.

Fortunately I wasn't going very quickly so I could swerve to avoid her. I politely asked her in future please to keep left for safety of everyone. She was apologetic so no harm done and she probably won't do that again.