Stupid Pedestrian!

[Bugbait]

Still, it's unusual for me to make it to or from home (about 20 minutes) without at least 3 or 4 morons wandering into the very clearly marked cycle lane without looking.

Still fewer than the number of cyclists I encounter riding at speed on footpaths and failing to stop and give way on pelican/zebra crossings on my daily travels to and from work. So we can all point the fingers at each other.

[scaryjim]

I cycle to a from work every day, and this is through The Hague, a major city in probably the most bicycle-orientated country in the world. Still, it's unusual for me to make it to or from home (about 20 minutes) without at least 3 or 4 morons wandering into the very clearly marked cycle lane without looking.

They're just British tourists on a day trip from Amsterdam... wouldn't know a bike if hit them

I have long since abandoned cycle paths in this country as the councils that put them in quite clearly don't understand the concept of a cycle path which (IMNSHO) should be to make biking easier and more attractive. Obviously I'm wrong though, and the point of a cycle path is to keep cyclists out of the way of motorists, regardless of the inconvenience that causes to said cyclists. And then the motorists drive and park in the cycle lane anyway.

Cyclists on pavements is one of my biggest bugbears (as is cyclists driving blythely through red lights), and both me and my wife do play chicken with them, with some positive effect (we're both pretty solid ) - always accompanied by a "Get on the road!" as they bike past, occasionally embelished with some choice descriptors (as long as the kids aren't with us)!

I quite fancy an air horn for my bike, although I'd probably go for something a little less raucous than that - the one or two times I've tried ringing my bell at people recently I've actually been embarrassed by how pathetic it is (rather like the last time I had to "horn" someone in a hire car - it sounded like blowing a party hooter - not what you want as someone speeds towards you on your side of the road...). Something with just enough oomph to make people look up would be good though...

[Behemoth]

Is there an easy way to fit an air horn to a car ? The one in my Vectra could be a bit louder.

[Kata]

Still fewer than the number of cyclists I encounter riding at speed on footpaths and failing to stop and give way on pelican/zebra crossings on my daily travels to and from work. So we can all point the fingers at each other.

I was pointing fingers at the morons, actually. Unless you're a moron, you remained un-pointed-at. Crap cyclists annoy me just as much as crap pedestrians and crap motorists; even crap pilots!

[TheAnimus]

sometimes road junctions don't help, especially in the UK.

for example this:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&so...14.63,,0,16.95

An un marked cycle path runs right in the middle of that road worked area.

Only there is nothing segregating peds from riders, many of whom are un willing to dismount.

[Bugbait]

I was pointing fingers at the morons, actually. Unless you're a moron, you remained un-pointed-at. Crap cyclists annoy me just as much as crap pedestrians and crap motorists; even crap pilots!

I just wanted to make sure the blame was shared between all . I do agree however, you will always encounter the pedestrian/cyclist/motorist who believes they have right of way at all times.

[stavroshamster]

I just wanted to make sure the blame was shared between all . I do agree however, you will always encounter the pedestrian/cyclist/motorist who believes they have right of way at all times.

That's why I used the singular 'pedestrian' instead of the plural in my post title - wasn't wanting to offend pedestrians as a whole. I too get pissed off by people jumping red lights and riding on pavements.

I am definitely not cycling that way again (I remember why I gave up that route now!), but I thought it might be a bit quicker than cycling on the road during rush hour in York as there are some complete bottle-necks even for cyclists (unless you hop on the pavement which I don't do ). Actually it probably was still quicker.... but more painful.

The air-horn wouldn't have done much good in this case as they literately gave me no time to do anything except for fall off. Looks a good product though - I might consider it, although I don't want to give old people a heart attack...

[Lee H]

Car-drivers can be just as worse.

Why is it some of them park on the fuggin' pavement so close to their wall/fence/privets that to get passed you have to actually walk around the car on the road to get passed?

It seems some car owners do not give a diddly about people with prams or buggys walking on the pavement as they think they own the road just because of the road tax levied upon them.

[Kata]

Given the high road tax, and then the huge fuel taxes, I can somewhat see their point.

[mycarsavw]

Duct tape a lance (the jousting type, not the cyclist) to your crossbar - problem solved

[Behemoth]

Car-drivers can be just as worse.

Why is it some of them park on the fuggin' pavement so close to their wall/fence/privets that to get passed you have to actually walk around the car on the road to get passed?

It seems some car owners do not give a diddly about people with prams or buggys walking on the pavement as they think they own the road just because of the road tax levied upon them.

Not that I'm defending their actions but alot of car owners do that to stop their cars from getting damaged.

[neonplanet40]

Pity you didnt get their name and address. I would have amde them pay for the phone and damages. If people are going to be stupid - then they can pay to be stupid.

[stavroshamster]

Pity you didnt get their name and address. I would have amde them pay for the phone and damages. If people are going to be stupid - then they can pay to be stupid.

Yeah, I wish I had realised at the time that the phone was broken - I didn't discover that until about 3 hours later.

[Lee H]

Not that I'm defending their actions but alot of car owners do that to stop their cars from getting damaged.

Well they should use the driveways then instead of leaving them empty all time, thats what there bloody there for. They're all too damn lazy to open the gates, drive their cars in and then close them behind them.

What are we supposed to do when pushing a child home in a pram/buggy? Walk down the middle of the road holding up traffic? I'm sure they'll complain about that even more wouldn't they if I started to do this on a daily basis.

[badass]

Well they should use the driveways then instead of leaving them empty all time, thats what there bloody there for. They're all too damn lazy to open the gates, drive their cars in and then close them behind them.

What are we supposed to do when pushing a child home in a pram/buggy? Walk down the middle of the road holding up traffic? I'm sure they'll complain about that even more wouldn't they if I started to do this on a daily basis.

That's what a set of keys is for. I'm sure after the 3rd/4th respray they'll start using their driveways again

[Behemoth]

Well they should use the driveways then instead of leaving them empty all time, thats what there bloody there for. They're all too damn lazy to open the gates, drive their cars in and then close them behind them.

What are we supposed to do when pushing a child home in a pram/buggy? Walk down the middle of the road holding up traffic? I'm sure they'll complain about that even more wouldn't they if I started to do this on a daily basis.

In which case they have no leg to stand on, when I posted above I was not in possesion of the full facts, so you are indeed very much justified.