Allow riding on footpaths

User avatar
Xplora
Posts: 8272
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:33 am
Location: TL;DR

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby Xplora » Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:20 pm

il padrone wrote:
Xplora wrote:I'm in favour of a paradigm shift for various speeds.
I'm in favour of a paradigm shift for various speeds....... whereby a child riding a BMX or kids bike at 12-15k kmh, or an elderly person cruising along on their city bike at 10 kmh are entirely acceptable on the roads, and drivers of other vehicles overtake safely and with plenty of room (ie. preferably full lane), so these cyclists feel safe on our roads.

Call me a dreamer :mrgreen:
I guess I accept that cars are there to make things better for us - they help us do things a lot faster than if we were trying to do them via cargo bike or horse. I think cars and bikes can easily coexist, and I think the delineation of various speeds have not been dealt with particularly well. I would agree a lot of the issue is that Australian drivers in general have incredibly unreasonable expectations about how they should interact with other people on the road - but this goes both ways as well, slow dopey people frustrate fast alert people and this makes the whole thing frsutrating. I think the most aggravating thing as a cyclist is realising that car drivers falsely believe that cyclists are dopey and slow, when we are more likely to be switched on than any car driver, and at least we won't kill people in the process of using our vehicle :roll:

User avatar
il padrone
Posts: 22931
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
Location: Heading for home.

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby il padrone » Mon Dec 26, 2011 9:47 pm

Xplora wrote: but this goes both ways as well, slow dopey people frustrate fast alert people
You see, this statement just highlights the fallacies of the motorist outlook - slow people are 'dopey'... maybe even mentally disabled........ :?: :? , fast drivers are 'alert' :? :shock:

Often it is just as likely to be the reverse in reality :roll:

I'd like to think that my friend who is 74 years old and rides quite a lot, but now no longer keeps up the pace of many younger riders, would not be discarded and devalued as a person by motorists who think he is dopey :x

BTW, he rides on the roads virtually all the time, never on footpaths.
Mandatory helmet law?
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."

high_tea
Posts: 1494
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:10 pm
Contact:

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby high_tea » Mon Dec 26, 2011 10:19 pm

Xplora wrote:
il padrone wrote:
Xplora wrote:I'm in favour of a paradigm shift for various speeds.
I'm in favour of a paradigm shift for various speeds....... whereby a child riding a BMX or kids bike at 12-15k kmh, or an elderly person cruising along on their city bike at 10 kmh are entirely acceptable on the roads, and drivers of other vehicles overtake safely and with plenty of room (ie. preferably full lane), so these cyclists feel safe on our roads.

Call me a dreamer :mrgreen:
That sure would be nice. That's compatible with current legislation too, just not current attitudes.

The paradigm shift I favour, BTW, is one where we start with the premise that human beings have an inherent dignity including, relevantly, the right to freedom of movement and go from there. I don't know exactly how this would pan out, but I bet it'd be better than the current motorists-have-an-inherent-dignity paradigm.
Xplora wrote: I guess I accept that cars are there to make things better for us - they help us do things a lot faster than if we were trying to do them via cargo bike or horse. I think cars and bikes can easily coexist, and I think the delineation of various speeds have not been dealt with particularly well. I would agree a lot of the issue is that Australian drivers in general have incredibly unreasonable expectations about how they should interact with other people on the road - but this goes both ways as well, slow dopey people frustrate fast alert people and this makes the whole thing frsutrating.
This isn't the expectation I find problematic. The expectation that I find problematic is the expectation that slow traffic should do everything possible to avoid slowing fast traffic. Nope, sorry, the obligations mostly rest with the overtaking driver and rightly so. This is often the context in which cycling on the footpath comes up - a problematic solution to a non-problem with nothing more than a misplaced sense of entitlement driving(excuse pun) it. My experience of legalising footpath cycling, as a Queensland cyclists, can be summed up as follows: meh. It hasn't done any harm, AFAICT, but nor has it helped.


I think the most aggravating thing as a cyclist is realising that car drivers falsely believe that cyclists are dopey and slow, when we are more likely to be switched on than any car driver, and at least we won't kill people in the process of using our vehicle :roll:
[/quote]

Dopey, slow road users have exactly the same rights as everybody else. True, many motorists don't seem to get this, but the problem isn't imaginging cyclists to be dopey and slow, it's in imagining that dopey and slow means any fewer rights in the first place. To be fair, this vice isn't limited to motorists.

diggler
Posts: 645
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:23 pm

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby diggler » Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:11 am

high_tea wrote:This isn't the expectation I find problematic. The expectation that I find problematic is the expectation that slow traffic should do everything possible to avoid slowing fast traffic.
I used to think bicycles are a lawful vehicle and should just ride anywhere no matter how much they slow up the traffic. Nowadays I take bicycle friendly routes and avoid roads that I am likely to slow the traffic.

In any case, recent surveys of traffic on main roads show that they have slowed down to the speed of bicycles anyway.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/s ... 6210061436
Motorists hate cyclists and cyclists hate the motorists and the pedestrians hate the bikers and everybody hates the trucks.

high_tea
Posts: 1494
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:10 pm
Contact:

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby high_tea » Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:34 am

diggler wrote:
high_tea wrote:This isn't the expectation I find problematic. The expectation that I find problematic is the expectation that slow traffic should do everything possible to avoid slowing fast traffic.
I used to think bicycles are a lawful vehicle and should just ride anywhere no matter how much they slow up the traffic. Nowadays I take bicycle friendly routes and avoid roads that I am likely to slow the traffic.
Sure, I favour bicycle friendly routes too, because it makes for a more pleasant ride. That's not the issue. The issue is that I'm expected not to slow traffic down, ever. I'm expected to take risks (like riding in doorzones) to do it. This expectation stinks.

User avatar
Xplora
Posts: 8272
Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:33 am
Location: TL;DR

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby Xplora » Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:56 am

high_tea wrote: Dopey, slow road users have exactly the same rights as everybody else. True, many motorists don't seem to get this, but the problem isn't imaginging cyclists to be dopey and slow, it's in imagining that dopey and slow means any fewer rights in the first place. To be fair, this vice isn't limited to motorists.
I put this equally salient point to you - slow dopey road users do NOT have a greater right to the road than the faster road users, and that means subverting the reason the road is there. The road's sole intention is to be a faster safer thoroughfare than just a grass field.

Everyone has a right to use the road, even the imbeciles who drooled in the cereal as they pulled their licence out of the cornflakes box, within the rule of law, BUT everyone also has a responsibility to treat the road as a thoroughfare for traffic. Yes, the overtaking vehicle bears responsibility for overtaking safely, but 95% of traffic participation is staying within one lane behind someone else. You, me, your mum, we all have a responsibility to make life easier for other people when possible. Be thankful to the Lord if you don't have to deal with too many knuckledraggers on your commutes, but I do. I have no interest in holding up traffic, I will not pootle along a major Sydney road to prove a point. I do ride 500m in the right hand lane along Victoria Road as part of my commute, because it is reasonably clear that I'm there for a reason and I'm not trying to hold people up - even though I DO hold them up a bit.

Your post seemed to imply that *&^kers and knuckledraggers need a pat on the head and we shouldn't offend them. NO. This just isn't right, and ignores the reason the road exists! We can't focus on rights. Slower traffic has the RIGHT to expect to be treated in a nonviolent, nonaggressive way. They have a right to get to their destination in one piece. But they also have a responsibility to GTFO of the way, because if you want to go slow, leave the car at home and walk on the footpath (segue to original thread topic LOL). Breakdowns and abnormally slow traffic are extraordinarily rare events with modern cars *1% of trips?*, GPS makes it easy to navigate as well... there are no excuses, if you want to be on the road, wake up, smell the fumes and pay attention. X isn't here to do all the heavy lifting for you so you arrive in one piece! :roll:
:mrgreen:

Don't get me wrong - I'm talking about people making a choice to drive poorly and make life miserable for others. I think that most of us will get off the main lane when it is safe and practicable while riding. I am probably one of the most arrogant lane hoggers out there (hence my decision to take the lane on Victoria Road LOL) but I recognise that I don't need the whole lane once it is safe to move over. It's ALL about using your brains, switching on, and being an active road user. Too many drivers are not, and THEY are ones that will make life hard for the rest of us. I live in the busiest, most hardcore traffic city in the world. I want everyone else to realise this as well, because somehow they don't! :shock:

PB12IN
Posts: 269
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:34 pm
Location: Gold Coast

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby PB12IN » Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:31 pm

I will NEVER ride on the road when i have my kids in the trailer. The other week i was to pick them up and i rode with the empty trailer down the bike lane, and nearly got hit twice, once be someone cutting the corner on a roundabout and the other someone just drifting into me on a straight road, both times I was sitting in my green lane. I was wearing a nice visible white shirt, had a flashing light on the back of the bike and the back of the trailer, a bright blue trailer and an orange flag on the trailer.
There is no way anyone could convince me to ride on the road with my kids in the trailer, I value their lives more than that so I’ll quite happily stick to the footpaths, going at a relatively slow (about 12-15kph, slowing around pedestrians) speed. I also stop when crossing intersections and pay as much attention as i possibly can to driveways. It’s all just riding to the conditions and not acting as though it is my god given right to be where I am and to hell with everyone else, as some drivers/cyclists/pedestrians do.

User avatar
letmeride
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:52 pm

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby letmeride » Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:23 pm

[quote damhooligan"]
riding on footpath should not be allowed, but there are exeptions.. ;

So technically your saying that the only exception is to have some sort of disability? Bit hypicritical isn't it, not to mention an insult to disabled cyclists. ( cyclists as in anyone who rides a bike )

User avatar
Mulger bill
Super Mod
Super Mod
Posts: 29060
Joined: Sun Sep 24, 2006 2:41 pm
Location: Sunbury Vic

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby Mulger bill » Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:02 pm

Why?
...whatever the road rules, self-preservation is the absolute priority for a cyclist when mixing it with motorised traffic.
London Boy 29/12/2011

GraemeL
Posts: 1290
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:47 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby GraemeL » Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:11 pm

People should be able to ride on the footpath. Kids have been doing it since Adam was a boy, not everyone wants to ride at the speed of light and others are not comfortable riding on the roads.

How many riders have been killed in the last 30yrs riding on the footpath?

Graeme
***Looking For Information About Bicycle Cameras ***

* Bicycle Camera FAQ's *** Mounting FAQ’s & DIY Mounts *

high_tea
Posts: 1494
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:10 pm
Contact:

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby high_tea » Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:45 pm

Xplora wrote:
high_tea wrote: Dopey, slow road users have exactly the same rights as everybody else. True, many motorists don't seem to get this, but the problem isn't imaginging cyclists to be dopey and slow, it's in imagining that dopey and slow means any fewer rights in the first place. To be fair, this vice isn't limited to motorists.
I put this equally salient point to you - slow dopey road users do NOT have a greater right to the road than the faster road users, and that means subverting the reason the road is there. The road's sole intention is to be a faster safer thoroughfare than just a grass field.
I'm not sure what you mean by "equally salient point". ITYM "blindingly obvious corollary".
Everyone has a right to use the road, even the imbeciles who drooled in the cereal as they pulled their licence out of the cornflakes box, within the rule of law, BUT everyone also has a responsibility to treat the road as a thoroughfare for traffic. Yes, the overtaking vehicle bears responsibility for overtaking safely, but 95% of traffic participation is staying within one lane behind someone else. You, me, your mum, we all have a responsibility to make life easier for other people when possible. Be thankful to the Lord if you don't have to deal with too many knuckledraggers on your commutes, but I do. I have no interest in holding up traffic, I will not pootle along a major Sydney road to prove a point. I do ride 500m in the right hand lane along Victoria Road as part of my commute, because it is reasonably clear that I'm there for a reason and I'm not trying to hold people up - even though I DO hold them up a bit.
Restating your argument with different perjoratives hasn't improved it one bit. I betcha there are people who see no compelling reason for you to do what you are doing. As far as they are concerned there is no difference between you and the "*&^kers and knuckledraggers" that you complain about. I betcha that a lot of the people you're irritated at have what are, as far as they are concerned, perfectly good reasons for doing what they're doing.
Your post seemed to imply that *&^kers and knuckledraggers need a pat on the head and we shouldn't offend them.
No need to put words into my mouth. I stated that they have a perfect right to be there. Whatever question-begging perjoratives you choose to label them with, I stand by that.
NO. This just isn't right, and ignores the reason the road exists! We can't focus on rights. Slower traffic has the RIGHT to expect to be treated in a nonviolent, nonaggressive way. They have a right to get to their destination in one piece. But they also have a responsibility to GTFO of the way,
An unreasonable expectation. I can think of plenty of cogent reasons for going slower than some random in a car expects. I've heard this argument used to justify too much loutish behaviour (up to and including actually hitting someone with a car) to take it at all seriously.

I think that drivers of overtaking vehicles should assume good faith. The fact that there is no apparent reason for what another driver is doing doesn't mean there is no good reason for it.
because if you want to go slow, leave the car at home and walk on the footpath (segue to original thread topic LOL).
Which sits ill with the contention that everybody has a right to use the road. "Everybody has the right to use the road, just don't ever impinge on mine, even a little bit" scales incredibly badly.
Breakdowns and abnormally slow traffic are extraordinarily rare events with modern cars *1% of trips?*,
I've got two words for you: birthday paradox.
GPS makes it easy to navigate as well... there are no excuses, if you want to be on the road, wake up, smell the fumes and pay attention. X isn't here to do all the heavy lifting for you so you arrive in one piece! :roll:
:mrgreen:
There are plenty of cogent reasons for driving that bit slower. There are plenty of cogent reasons for taking the lane or otherwise delaying some motorist by some trifling amount. "GTFO the way" makes sense on a racetrack. I just wish people would take that attitude there and leave it there.

diggler
Posts: 645
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:23 pm

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby diggler » Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:36 am

Even though riding on the footpath is technically illegal for most people, I very much doubt anyone has ever been prosecuted for it. I'm riding more footpaths over time and have never had a problem. Of course I'm talking about 15 km/h. People doing 30 km/h have no business being on footpaths.
Motorists hate cyclists and cyclists hate the motorists and the pedestrians hate the bikers and everybody hates the trucks.

User avatar
il padrone
Posts: 22931
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
Location: Heading for home.

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby il padrone » Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:01 am

GraemeL wrote:How many riders have been killed in the last 30yrs riding on the footpath?
According to BNV's report of 2002, 16% of fatalities (the second largest cause) involve a cyclist "entering a road from a driveway or footpath". I'd guess that some percentage of these would have involved footpath riding*. Most of these cyclists were male, aged under 15.

By the standards of the helmet-mandaters 'any death is one too many' so we need to continue to outlaw footpath riding.


* when riding on the footpath you have to cross roads much more frequently than when road riding, and you usually loose priority. These are the danger points for footpath riders
Mandatory helmet law?
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."

GraemeL
Posts: 1290
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:47 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby GraemeL » Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:58 am

But compared to the road, riding on the footpath would be a safer option.

Graeme
***Looking For Information About Bicycle Cameras ***

* Bicycle Camera FAQ's *** Mounting FAQ’s & DIY Mounts *

User avatar
il padrone
Posts: 22931
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
Location: Heading for home.

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby il padrone » Fri Jan 27, 2012 9:11 am

I do not believe this is correct. According to accident data the greatest hazards, in urban areas, occur for cyclists at intersections and when entering the road. These are far more risky on the footpath where you lose priority at every minor crossing (pedestrians don't as drivers are required to give way to them - not to a cyclist). In urban areas, being hit from behind is a relatively minor risk, even though people are justifiably concerned about it. Riding on the road you are visible to drivers (especially if you appropriately claim lane-space) and retain priority at intersections the same as drivers. Lots of other good cyclecraft and strategies should be recommended before you resort to the GOTR response. Let the drivers be required to take correct actions first.

Where 'hit from behind' is a real fatality risk is on rural roads. High speeds, inattention, not expecting a cyclist. I have safe strategies for this as well.
Mandatory helmet law?
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."

GraemeL
Posts: 1290
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:47 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby GraemeL » Fri Jan 27, 2012 11:34 am

I said it would be a safer option based on the idea that there are fewer accidents compared to the higher number on the road.

It seems the highest number are hit from behind and that is always the thing I worry about and it is the main reason I use a camera.

That report says most are under 15yrs, maybe it's because of inexperience. It also seems that its not because of cars coming out of driveways or at intersections, it is when they are on the footpath and ride onto the road either from a driveway or cutting across the verg onto the road with out looking.

All I am saying is that we should have the option of either riding on the road or the footpath, because there are times when one may feel it is not safe to ride on the road and would feel safer riding along the footpath. I am not talking about riding at speed on the footpath, I am talking about speeds of maybe 25k max but probably more like 15 - 20k. If you need to travel faster then you can do that on the road.

Just like the road there are risks, but at least on the footpath the impact speeds would be lower. There are people that are too scared to use the road and there are those who only ride now and then, for them it's not about speed, it's about pleasure. These people feel the footpath is the safest place and I would assume that most would be aware that cars come and go from driveways etc.

Graeme
***Looking For Information About Bicycle Cameras ***

* Bicycle Camera FAQ's *** Mounting FAQ’s & DIY Mounts *

User avatar
il padrone
Posts: 22931
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
Location: Heading for home.

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby il padrone » Fri Jan 27, 2012 12:06 pm

GraemeL wrote:It also seems that its not because of cars coming out of driveways or at intersections, it is when they are on the footpath and ride onto the road either from a driveway or cutting across the verg onto the road with out looking.
Sorry GraemeL, it says nothing of the sort. They are just collisions that occurred when the cyclist "rode onto the road from a driveway or footpath". This is quite likely to have been kerb-jumping in some cases. Equally likely to be riding across a side road from the footpath. Or some other scenario. As to the proportions, neither you nor I know that. Please don't speculate too much.
GraemeL wrote:All I am saying is that we should have the option of either riding on the road or the footpath, because there are times when one may feel it is not safe to ride on the road and would feel safer riding along the footpath......

......Just like the road there are risks, but at least on the footpath the impact speeds would be lower. There are people that are too scared to use the road and there are those who only ride now and then, for them it's not about speed, it's about pleasure. These people feel the footpath is the safest place and I would assume that most would be aware that cars come and go from driveways etc.
Feeling safe is one thing - entirely your choice. Actually being safe may well be a totally different thing - as suggested by the collision data for urban areas. I prefer to follow the road rules and place myself on the road, where I am visible and am able to ensure drivers give way to me according to the laws.
Mandatory helmet law?
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."

GraemeL
Posts: 1290
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:47 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby GraemeL » Fri Jan 27, 2012 12:42 pm

il padrone wrote: Feeling safe is one thing - entirely your choice. Actually being safe may well be a totally different thing - as suggested by the collision data for urban areas. I prefer to follow the road rules and place myself on the road, where I am visible and am able to ensure drivers give way to me according to the laws.
If it came down to it, I feel I would safer on the footpath than the road. I only have to contend with the occasional car in driveways and I am able to cross an intersection safely.
On the road you are only visible to the driver that is looking and even then you have no control over that drivers actions and you definately have no control over a distracted driver.Then there are those drivers that think we should not be on the road, again you have no control.

Graeme
***Looking For Information About Bicycle Cameras ***

* Bicycle Camera FAQ's *** Mounting FAQ’s & DIY Mounts *

diggler
Posts: 645
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:23 pm

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby diggler » Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:14 pm

il padrone wrote:
GraemeL wrote:How many riders have been killed in the last 30yrs riding on the footpath?
According to BNV's report of 2002, 16% of fatalities (the second largest cause) involve a cyclist "entering a road from a driveway or footpath". I'd guess that some percentage of these would have involved footpath riding*. Most of these cyclists were male, aged under 15.

By the standards of the helmet-mandaters 'any death is one too many' so we need to continue to outlaw footpath riding.


* when riding on the footpath you have to cross roads much more frequently than when road riding, and you usually loose priority. These are the danger points for footpath riders
If 84% of fatalities are on roads, do we outlaw cycling on roads?

If some people choke on ham sandwiches, do we ban ham sandwiches?

I agree with the other post. Males aged under 15 are inexperienced, can be dare devils etc. Are there many adults killed entering a road from a driveway or footpath?
Motorists hate cyclists and cyclists hate the motorists and the pedestrians hate the bikers and everybody hates the trucks.

User avatar
il padrone
Posts: 22931
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
Location: Heading for home.

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby il padrone » Fri Jan 27, 2012 1:16 pm

Video is a bit OT, but this shows how it is very easy to ride busy roads....... and how poorly designed bike lanes (or maybe any bike lanes) can stuff up cyclists' safety.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV3gfabm ... detailpage[/youtube]
Mandatory helmet law?
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."

diggler
Posts: 645
Joined: Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:23 pm

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby diggler » Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:05 pm

Those stats appear to be people entering the roadway from a footpath or driveway rather than just riding on a footpath. I wonder how many are hit just riding on footpaths.
Motorists hate cyclists and cyclists hate the motorists and the pedestrians hate the bikers and everybody hates the trucks.

GraemeL
Posts: 1290
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:47 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby GraemeL » Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:11 pm

It may show how to ride on busy roads, but they leave out the part where you are being abused and shaved etc for taking up too much room on the road.
Riding on a footpath may have it's risks, but at least people don't have to put up with being abused or threatened by idiots that think the world owes them a favour and there is no danger of being hit from behind because the driver was'nt paying attention.
If it were allowed it may ecourage more people to take up cycling and no matter how many that is, it's a win for cycling as a whole.

Graeme
***Looking For Information About Bicycle Cameras ***

* Bicycle Camera FAQ's *** Mounting FAQ’s & DIY Mounts *

User avatar
il padrone
Posts: 22931
Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:57 pm
Location: Heading for home.

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby il padrone » Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:18 pm

GraemeL wrote:It may show how to ride on busy roads, but they leave out the part where you are being abused and shaved etc for taking up too much room on the road.
I ride pretty much like this on my commute - 10kms each way in the middle suburbs (car-centric travel) and yet I find I get next to no abuse. Just does not raise itself as an issue. The only times I get close-shaves are when I vague out and go too close to the kerb. Riding wide I force drivers to make the decision to change lanes to pass, with no grief from them.

Try it one day........it works :idea:

Aushiker didn't believe me...... until he tried it too :o

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAJUHoIQ ... detailpage[/youtube]
Mandatory helmet law?
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."

GraemeL
Posts: 1290
Joined: Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:47 pm
Location: Perth

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby GraemeL » Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:38 pm

I tend to ride not in the gutter but not in the middle either, probably somewhere in between. I claim the lane specially coming to a roundabout and have copped my fair share of abuse because of it.
There will always be those that have no regard for anyone's safety and it wouldn't matter if we rode on the moon, they still wouldn't be happy.

Both locations have their advantages and disadvantages, but for those inexperienced, the footpath is the safest option. I really don't understand why people are against the idea, it's not going to impact them and if it gets more people on bikes then it's all good.


Graeme
***Looking For Information About Bicycle Cameras ***

* Bicycle Camera FAQ's *** Mounting FAQ’s & DIY Mounts *

PB12IN
Posts: 269
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2011 8:34 pm
Location: Gold Coast

Re: Allow riding on footpaths

Postby PB12IN » Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:40 pm

il padrone wrote:I ride pretty much like this on my commute - 10kms each way in the middle suburbs (car-centric travel) and yet I find I get next to no abuse. Just does not raise itself as an issue. The only times I get close-shaves are when I vague out and go too close to the kerb. Riding wide I force drivers to make the decision to change lanes to pass, with no grief from them.

Try it one day........it works :idea:

Aushiker didn't believe me...... until he tried it too :o
I don't envy you that ride, my commute I have a lane wide shoulder to ride in for the whole 10km except for about 50m on the way in and about 150m on the way home (50 m of which i take the footpath as the lane is so narrow a car bearly fits in it.)
GraemeL wrote:I tend to ride not in the gutter but not in the middle either, probably somewhere in between.
Same here

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users