The Dumb Cyclists and Pedestrians thread...

[am50em]

Currently in China and everytime on the road I notice the difference in driving. Traffic here flows like blood cells in an artery or a vein. Lane switching constantly but it flows and with the minimum of aggression. What I haven't figured out is the rules for cyclists or scooters. In some intersections there are specific bicycle lights which is clear but at other intersections cannot work our when the cyclists can go or not. But very smooth, feel safer here than in Sydney.
Spent 18 days touring around Xinjiang, every major town had streets split into cars, bike and pedestrians. All separated by median strips 1m to 3m wide usually with plants and trees. Really impressive infrastructure.

[Retrobyte]

Currently in China and everytime on the road I notice the difference in driving. Traffic here flows like blood cells in an artery or a vein. Lane switching constantly but it flows and with the minimum of aggression. What I haven't figured out is the rules for cyclists or scooters. In some intersections there are specific bicycle lights which is clear but at other intersections cannot work our when the cyclists can go or not. But very smooth, feel safer here than in Sydney.
Spent 18 days touring around Xinjiang, every major town had streets split into cars, bike and pedestrians. All separated by median strips 1m to 3m wide usually with plants and trees. Really impressive infrastructure.

Yes, I've experience that at well - I rented a bike in Beijing one day in the 1990s to experience what it's like to be part of all that, back when the only motor vehicles on the roads there were buses and trucks. It worked very much like you describe - at times I felt part of a school of fish or a flock of birds moving in unison.

In contrast I lived in Jakarta for two years a few years back -which was chaos in comparison

[am50em]

Yes school of fish or flock of birds is a good description. But very much car dominated now.

[g-boaf]

Completely mad guy walking his dog this morning down the southern end of the M7 cycleway, absolutely screaming his head off at any bicycle that went past.

Don't know what he was on, but it must have been some pretty powerful stuff.

He didn't look young either, seemed to be middle aged.

[redsonic]

I'm calling out the pedestrian as the dumb one in this case. News article about cyclist hitting a dog in Centennial Park. Owner had her 6 month old Dachshund puppy off leash when it got run over.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/dog-r ... 5c4dd3d371

Is there really an unfenced dog park in Centennial Park? What a dumb idea. Also dumb expecting a 6 month old pup to be under control off leash.

[nezumi]

I'm calling out the pedestrian as the dumb one in this case. News article about cyclist hitting a dog in Centennial Park. Owner had her 6 month old Dachshund puppy off leash when it got run over.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/dog-r ... 5c4dd3d371

Is there really an unfenced dog park in Centennial Park? What a dumb idea. Also dumb expecting a 6 month old pup to be under control off leash.

I love the closing line about them not trying to get anything out of the cyclist - if anything it would be the other way around!

[find_bruce]

I'm calling out the pedestrian as the dumb one in this case. News article about cyclist hitting a dog in Centennial Park. Owner had her 6 month old Dachshund puppy off leash when it got run over.

https://www.9news.com.au/national/dog-r ... 5c4dd3d371

Is there really an unfenced dog park in Centennial Park? What a dumb idea. Also dumb expecting a 6 month old pup to be under control off leash.

Big chuncks of Centennial Park allows dogs off leash "Dogs are allowed off-leash outside of Grand Drive, on sporting fields (when not in use) and must always be under effective control". Emphasis added. BUT dogs also have to be on leash "on all roads, shared pathways and cycle lanes"


I'm with you, there is no way a 6 month pup was ever under effective control

[Retrobyte]

Bikes are scary things. The look of terror on the adult's face is priceless .....

[Retrobyte]

Not sure that a shared path is the best place to train your dog not to attack people. Here's the same little yapper, three times in less than a week ....

I tried a silent rear approach and the little bugger still went me

Still hates cyclists ....

[jasonc]

And the owner has Zero control

[blizzard]

Bikes are scary things. The look of terror on the adult's face is priceless .....

As a parent of 3 year old runner, my reaction on shared paths isn't that different. He is just as likely to try and break my grip and run into the path of my bike.

Took a different route home today that involved more riding on protected bike lanes and less on the road... Almost got taken out by a Uber Eats riding jumping off the kerb into the bike lane without looking.

[JPB]

I have just spent a week in Singapore.
The footpaths through the city centre have bike lanes and walking lanes, people ignore them and walk and ride wherever. Some people riding sensibly, others riding like idiots.
Rust buckets right through to very flash bikes everywhere. I had to giggle at the fella on the BMC in full kit with clipless shoes riding on the footpath through pedestrians, and then dropped his chain while sitting still waiting for the pedestrian lights.
And a bike lane that diverts through a shopping mall.

[jasonc]

And a bike lane that diverts through a shopping mall.

Sounds like zwift

[g-boaf]

I wish people wouldn’t assume that just because you have overtaken them it’s an invitation to chase.

I had that today so just backed right off and turned around and went the other way.

[Anrai]

Hey, I've got a big question after watching multiple runners in a particular spot on the way into Hobart:
If you're out running for time or distance training is there any reason at all to cut out onto the road when your path turns away from the most direct route? I've seen it twice now, and I'm going to be extra careful around the runners on that corner as I've seen them no-look cut across the other lane onto the road.

Ah, actually I found the reason. Thought I'd check the Strava running map and sure enough every Segment follows straight along next to the highway, which I assume is why all the runners are cutting across the side street.

Coming up to the same spot, had to brake for a mountain biker who had a little bit of a panic lockup going for the same cut across in front of me this arvo, seeing as it's a blind corner. No major incident, but a bit of a "wow, dodged that one" feeling. (yes, the Strava Ride segments follow straight down the highway too, but most people Going For It just take the road down the hill, I think.)

[Retrobyte]

My commute home today was into a bugger of a headwind. Which meant these guys had a super tailwind, and were trying everything to nail a KOM, even on blind corners

[Retrobyte]

I was waiting for a safe place to pass this guy. Didn't have to wait long though!

[elantra]

^^^ Perhaps he was looking at a pretty girl like one of those Paul Hogan skits where he is gawking at the pretty girl and rides up the ramp into the removals van !

[JPB]

Joggers are a menace. (light hearted)
I went for a walk this afternoon and on a very narrow footpath this jogger passed me from behind without ringing his bell or anything. There was a bit of traffic noise and I did not hear him coming. Honestly startled me as he brushed past my shoulder.
Then later on this pretty young thing in lycra passed me going up a hill then stopped jogging right in front of me - if you can't make it stick, don't make the pass. I did the gentlemanly thing and moved so I was no longer directly behind her until I had passed her.

[g-boaf]

My commute home today was into a bugger of a headwind. Which meant these guys had a super tailwind, and were trying everything to nail a KOM, even on blind corners

That corner is always dangerous, I’ve had a group of oldies cut that corner in the morning far more than these riders did. Fortunately I was going slow because of the sun glare.

[mikesbytes]

Joggers are a menace. (light hearted)
I went for a walk this afternoon and on a very narrow footpath this jogger passed me from behind without ringing his bell or anything. There was a bit of traffic noise and I did not hear him coming. Honestly startled me as he brushed past my shoulder.
Then later on this pretty young thing in lycra passed me going up a hill then stopped jogging right in front of me - if you can't make it stick, don't make the pass. I did the gentlemanly thing and moved so I was no longer directly behind her until I had passed her.

LOL

[Mr Purple]

Then later on this pretty young thing in lycra passed me going up a hill then stopped jogging right in front of me - if you can't make it stick, don't make the pass. I did the gentlemanly thing and moved so I was no longer directly behind her until I had passed her.

Back in my running days I managed a 1hr17 half marathon in the Brisbane Marathon.

Some dude passed me going up the hill in the Botanic Gardens. I shadowed him to the top at which point he ran off the path and started vomiting.

The definition of 'if you can't make it stick, don't make the pass'!

[TrikeTragic]

Snip...snip....

Some dude passed me going up the hill in the Botanic Gardens. I shadowed him to the top at which point he ran off the path and started vomiting.

The definition of 'if you can't make it stick, don't make the pass'!

[nezumi]

I was a dumb today. Crossing on a shared path at lights and a lady stepped out into the bike crossing instead of the pedestrian one. I went past and intended to lean in to say that she was in the bike only area, but inadvertently bumped her arm. Nothing came of it, but more of a shock than I meant

[elantra]

Another doggie interaction - this time a friendly one !

Pleasant early morning on a country road in Northern NSW.
Kyogle Rd weaves its way alongside the stream heading towards Murwillumbah.

I’m rolling along effortlessly thanks to the typical early morning tailwind and a decent shoulder (on this section)
A car glides past, giving me a wide berth, and I see the big head of a dingo fully out of the back window looking at me with a smile.

A bit further down the road is a red light at roadworks (actually rebuilding the road where the river undermined it in the 2022 floods)

As I proceed along the left side of the waiting traffic there is the smiling dingo, watching me with (his or hers) head fully out the window.
I get closer and then do what under normal circumstances you should never do - approach a dog on or in the side of its car/truck whatever.

I was now almost face to face with the still-smiling dingo. The driver of the car was looking forward and listening to a podcast or something and had no idea that I was there.
As the dingo looked at me I could see that it was gently wagging its tail. (Dingos usually have a pronounced curve of the tail so it “wags” a bit differently to most other dogs)

I decided it was time to say something.
So I said “your dingo is very friendly today” loud enough for the driver of the car to hear.
I didn’t startle the driver but she did get a bit of a surprise and quickly said “please don’t touch him he might get snarky”
The dingo maintained his friendliness completely and the only gesture he made was to continue smiling, continue tail-wagging and his little nose was working overtime sniffing me out.

Then light turned green and the car moved off.
But not before the dingo-owner said “I think he likes you. Have a good day. “

But I would normally recommend against approaching any dog that is within its motor vehicle or near its motor vehicle or property generally.