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#1
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Riding on footpaths
What are people's views on riding on footpaths (I'm talking about ordinary
suburban back streets)? In some states (e.g. ACT I believe), it's legal. In Vic, it's ok for kids and adults supervising kids. Also seems to be ok for old people on their electric buggies. I often ride on footpaths to avoid going round parked cars when there is traffic about. I've nearly been skittled a few times going round a parked car when there was another opposite and some speeding 4wd tries to get three cars abreast plus a cyclist on a narrow suburban road. Yep there's some danger of being hit by a car reversing from a driveway and also some danger when crossing side streets, but surely kids are much less cognisant of these dangers than adults so why is it ok for kids only? Also these dangers are significantly less than being hit up the arse or head-on at 50 kph. |
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#2
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Riding on footpaths
In general, it aint good. for cyclists, peds and others Of course the alternatives are what force most to ride on the footpath in the first place! The kids only legislation was (I'm assuming) a try-and-please-everyone solution by Vic Govt. Peds (fairly enuff) wanted bikes off footpaths. Of course no pollie/person would support forcing kids (with little road knowledge, spacial awareness in younger years, etc) into riding on the road. Dangerous for the kids, dangerous to other road users too. AND thy dont know the road laws (That's an entir eseparate thread I'm workin on with others coming soon...). Of course they had to allow guardians to ride with em on footpath too. As long as they are over 18! NO riding on footpath with younger sibling for you. Get in mummy's taxi!! There are 2 components to this: Allowing kids to ride in a safe environment. (until such time as they are able and capable enought to ride anywhere) and Cyclists on roads being given respect, rights and allowed to get from A-to-B in safe, lowcost, non-polluting, blah, blah, blah, way -- flyingdutch |
#3
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Riding on footpaths
My -2cents - on riding on footpaths for adults is that it’s OK for very short distances of extremely low speeds (similar speed to a 4yr old on a tricycle) . We are talking suburbian streets here. Beyond this you’ll be either get bowled over , or bowl over peds etc. On the footpath your’e approaching driveways & some street intersections almost blind. A lot of driveways do not offer the driver to opportunity to check the footpath for oncoming ‘traffic’ due to the angle. -- Marx SS |
#4
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Riding on footpaths
Marx SS Wrote: My -2cents - on riding on footpaths for adults is that it’s OK for very short distances of extremely low speeds (similar speed to a 4yr old on a tricycle) . We are talking suburbian streets here. Beyond this you’ll be either get bowled over , or bowl over peds etc. On the footpath your’e approaching driveways & some street intersections almost blind. A lot of driveways do not offer the driver to opportunity to check the footpath for oncoming ‘traffic’ due to the angle. Was thinking the other day that perhaps there should be some design standards for fences/entryways. IE if the street frontage of a property has to involve a driveway apply the same lines-of-sight you do a tintersections, roundabouts etc and not have solid or high structures that block the ability of a driver to see what they are potentially hitting! Of course, drivers could be less lazy and reverse in, thus leaving forwards and not hitting as many kids/peds -- flyingdutch |
#5
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Riding on footpaths
Tom N Wrote: What are people's views on riding on footpaths (I'm talking about ordinary suburban back streets)? I am not in favor. I often ride on footpaths to avoid going round parked cars when there is traffic about. A cyclist is traffic, do you think it's reasonable for traffic to use the foot path? I've nearly been skittled a few times going round a parked car when there was another opposite and some speeding 4wd tries to get three cars abreast plus a cyclist on a narrow suburban road. Sounds to me like your road skills are lacking. If a vehicle thinks that it can get past you then you're not riding wide enough. How do you approach parked cars? Do you wait till the last meter then go around? Or do you do what your supposed to do, move out early with plenty of warning and signals to other road users? I do the latter and NEVER have problems. Yep there's some danger of being hit by a car reversing from a driveway and also some danger when crossing side streets, but surely kids are much less cognisant of these dangers than adults so why is it ok for kids only? Also these dangers are significantly less than being hit up the arse or head-on at 50 kph. Really? You have evidence of this or is this a conclusion you reached in your own mind? Cyclists fare best when they operate and behave as regular vehicles on the road. I suggest you do a bit of research on vehicular cycling. -- EuanB |
#6
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Riding on footpaths
Tom N wrote:
What are people's views on riding on footpaths (I'm talking about ordinary suburban back streets)? In some states (e.g. ACT I believe), it's legal. In Vic, it's ok for kids and adults supervising kids. Also seems to be ok for old people on their electric buggies. I often ride on footpaths to avoid going round parked cars when there is traffic about. all depends really, I try and use the road most of the time, cars parked near shops are the ones to keep an eye on, I try and see if anyone is in the car and go wide just in case the twit pops the door open without looking as they are suppose to, I have already bent one door by slaming into it fortunately for me there are more shared paths appearing in the area so I tend to use those and not too many peds use them at the moment there are a couple of spots I refuse to use the road and take the footpath, one is a short hill with a curve to the left where some moron motorist decide the traffic is too slow for them and shoot up on the curbside lane, bit of a blind spot near the top so these idiots would be on top of you before they realise it. the other is when I go to the local shops, I use the road on the way down no probs, coming back I use the footpath for 2 blocks, otherwise I have to cross 6 lanes of heavy traffic just to get back to my street, I know its not legal but I slow down and give way to any peds on the path. |
#7
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Riding on footpaths
Tom N wrote:
What are people's views on riding on footpaths (I'm talking about ordinary suburban back streets)? Generally I don't. Various reasons like reverseing cars, roughness, slower, etc, etc. Places where I do include 1. 100 metres on Blaxland Road where there is only two lanes either way and I'm usually passing at peak hour or late at night, which is through a sea of neons signs. This is a nice very wide foot path (20'+?) with a concrete strip. It also allows me to make a right hand turn to say another 100 metres of main road. 2. Chamberlain St to Warby Street going to town. 3. Shared bicycle- pedestrian pathway for 500m metres out along Georges River Road. It is a narrow concrete path in 50' of grass with a yellow line up the middle. The few pedestrians can be easily ridden around. It is just so much more pleasant that riding beside the traffic on a broken edge with bogans who try to over take on the left at the drop of a hat. 4. In the past, occassional job delivering junk mail or community brochures on certain streets. Usually it is just easier to walk. It isn't an issue in my books so long as peeps take it easy and use a speed appropriate for the situation. |
#8
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Riding on footpaths
EuanB wrote:
Tom N Wrote: What are people's views on riding on footpaths (I'm talking about ordinary suburban back streets)? I am not in favor. I've nearly been skittled a few times going round a parked car when there was another opposite and some speeding 4wd tries to get three cars abreast plus a cyclist on a narrow suburban road. Sounds to me like your road skills are lacking. If a vehicle thinks that it can get past you then you're not riding wide enough. How do you approach parked cars? Do you wait till the last meter then go around? Or do you do what your supposed to do, move out early with plenty of warning and signals to other road users? I do the latter and NEVER have problems. That could be it. I also now recall that I don't like looking back because I am worried that I'll wobble into the path of the car I can hear behind me. I previously thought that I'd "solve" that by getting a rear view mirror (which is surprisingly difficult to find), but having read up as you suggest (Wikipedia on vehicular cycling), it seems that looking back performs an additional function of being a signal to following drivers that you are likely to move laterally in the direction you turned your head. Yep there's some danger of being hit by a car reversing from a driveway and also some danger when crossing side streets, but surely kids are much less cognisant of these dangers than adults so why is it ok for kids only? Also these dangers are significantly less than being hit up the arse or head-on at 50 kph. Really? You have evidence of this or is this a conclusion you reached in your own mind? Partly a conclusion of being hit up the arse in my car by a guy who didn't even hit the brakes and who wrote off 3 cars (mine, his and the car in between). I am a bit nervous about being hit up the arse now. Cops gave him a ticket for travelling too closely (1 point and $70), but clearly it was worse than that as he didn't even hit the brakes. This was is Melbourne on a sunny day in summer, little traffic, straight road, 4 lanes, me stationary waiting to turn right. Someone I know had a minor bingle up the arse of someone at a give way sign in NSW (both cars were repairable) and got done for negligent driving IIRC (which apparently is/was automatic for rear-enders in NSW). Cyclists fare best when they operate and behave as regular vehicles on the road. I suggest you do a bit of research on vehicular cycling. Thanks for the tip. |
#9
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Riding on footpaths
"Tom" == Tom N Tom writes:
Tom I also now recall that I don't like looking back because I am Tom worried that I'll wobble into the path of the car I can hear Tom behind me. The ability to look behind you without deviating is a skill that's pretty much essential for safe riding. You really should be able to look in any direction without the course of your bicycle changing. Take yourself to a quiet car park or similar and play with your bike. Come to a stop, determine how it leans and get going again. Really learn how it reacts to shifts of body weight etc. The more comfortable you are with the control of your bike the better you'll ride. Also these dangers are significantly less than being hit up the arse or head-on at 50 kph. Really? You have evidence of this or is this a conclusion you reached in your own mind? Tom Partly a conclusion of being hit up the arse in my car by a guy Tom who didn't even hit the brakes and who wrote off 3 cars (mine, Tom his and the car in between). I am a bit nervous about being hit Tom up the arse now. OK, so you've had bad experiences in a car and you know someone else who's had bad experiences in a car. The last time I heard of a cyclist being hit in the rear by a car it made national news. That's how rare an occurrence it is. Cars being hit up the rear don't make the news because it's not news worthy. That should tell you something. Cyclists fare best when they operate and behave as regular vehicles on the road. I suggest you do a bit of research on vehicular cycling. Tom Thanks for the tip. You're welcome :-) -- Cheers | ~~ __@ Euan | ~~ _-\, Melbourne, Australia | ~ (*)/ (*) |
#10
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Riding on footpaths
"Tom N" wrote: What are people's views on riding on footpaths (I'm talking about ordinary suburban back streets)? Ride-on-the-road. Make it safer for us all! Peds benefit from lessened risk of being clobbered by a cyclist. Motorists benefit from a more pedictable traffic environment, with them being forced to take account of slower road users ans _slow down_ themselves. Cyclists benefit from a greater use of the road by other cyclists, leading to slower speeds and more 'cyclist-savvy' motorists. Also much lessened risk of being cleaned up by side trsaffic coming out of driveways and side streets. In some states (e.g. ACT I believe), it's legal. In Vic, it's ok for kids and adults supervising kids. Also seems to be ok for old people on their electric buggies. Only recently introduced under the new 'National' road rules. For some reason the ACT and Qld have copped out and allow all to ride on footpaths. A serious retrograde step IMHO. I often ride on footpaths to avoid going round parked cars when there is traffic about. I've nearly been skittled a few times going round a parked car when there was another opposite and some speeding 4wd tries to get three cars abreast plus a cyclist on a narrow suburban road. Ride wider. Plan ahead and claim your road space. The car drivers have to deal with it, and they _know it_, but if your give them an inch.... Yep there's some danger of being hit by a car reversing from a driveway and also some danger when crossing side streets, but surely kids are much less cognisant of these dangers than adults so why is it ok for kids only? Also these dangers are significantly less than being hit up the arse or head-on at 50 kph. Acgtually the reverse. The greatest proportion of accidents are from cars turning across oncoming cyclists. Cheers Peter |
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