Crazy PEDESTRIAN!

[doctorfrau]

If there's not room to get past I usually just call out "excuse me" and ride through whatever gap gets created. It seems to work most of the time.

YES!! This drives me mad! There have been times when I've been *walking* my bike as close to one edge of the path possible and they still don't move! Do they think I'm going to jump over the edge into the river or simply vanish before they get to me? Once or twice I've even had dirty looks for being in their way! WTF?!?

Well, I'm glad it's not just an "American pedestrians are idiots thing" Sounds like it's universal.

I did have one "travelling circus" actually ASK me which side they should go to and I told them with a smile that it was just like the highway - You stay right and pass left. (at least in the U.S) Of course some can't figure it out on the highway either!

[Deborajen]

Around here, the big problem on bike/jogging/walking trails is roller bladers who wear headphones. When you come up behind those and they're zigzagging the entire width of the path, deaf to the world around them, good luck getting past safely. Once earlier this year, I was behind one of these gals and called out to her twice - no response. Since she was swinging her arms really wide, I tried to reach out and tap her arm to get her attention - I mean, since she couldn't hear, what else is there to do? Of course, trying to tap a flailing arm ended up being more than a tap, but still not a bruiser. You'd think I'd whacked the tar out of her - her head jerked up and her eyes were glaring, nostrils flaring . . . I told her, "Sorry -- I tried three times . . ." and held up three fingers. It didn't calm her in the least. I doubt she heard the apology, but hey - nobody got hurt.--

Deb

[bikerz]

Around here, the big problem on bike/jogging/walking trails is roller bladers who wear headphones. When you come up behind those and they're zigzagging the entire width of the path, deaf to the world around them, good luck getting past safely.

I totally agree about the roller bladers - scary! Yesterday I did a ride on a nice multi-use path, and had to pass 4 roller bladers at different times - I was afraid I would be body-checked into traffic or the bay - there was no way to make contact - I could hear their music blasting out of the earphones as I passed. Generaly the peds and runners were pretty good - the only other hazards were the super-cyclists - passing at top speed (25+mph ) with no calling out - just wearing those little biker caps, not even helmets - it makes me so mad - when I get my breath back, I usually yell out - "call out please!"

[Trekhawk]

I totally agree about the roller bladers - scary! Yesterday I did a ride on a nice multi-use path, and had to pass 4 roller bladers at different times - I was afraid I would be body-checked into traffic or the bay - there was no way to make contact - I could hear their music blasting out of the earphones as I passed. Generaly the peds and runners were pretty good - the only other hazards were the super-cyclists - passing at top speed (25+mph ) with no calling out - just wearing those little biker caps, not even helmets - it makes me so mad - when I get my breath back, I usually yell out - "call out please!"

I think you girls that live in San Fran are mighty brave. We took our sons down your way to the exploratorium and after took a nice drive along the water front and around the Presidio. I saw some paths running parallel to the road and thought is that great and then I saw what the cyclists had to dodge. I felt a tad stressed and I was in the car. Then we head back thru the city to go home and there are cyclists going fast all decked out in snazy gear weaving in and out of cars and trams and yep you guessed it Im feeling stressed again and the cyclists mind you are looking calm and happy as larry. I think I better stick to the country roads - all that mentally dodging traffic and pedestrians for the cyclists in San Fran wore me out.

[DirtDiva]

Well, I'm glad it's not just an "American pedestrians are idiots thing" Sounds like it's universal.

Not at all. In the area I was thinking of when I wrote that it's more than likely a case of "tourists are idiots" so who knows which country gets to claim 'em as their own.

[nuthatch]

Today, I was thinking about this thread while I rode a very popular local limestone loop trail in a forest preserve. As I came upon a group of two families strung out all along the trail, one of them turned and saw me (well before I was close enough to call out and pass), "BIKE, BIKE" and all the kids scattered and ran pell mell into the woods, arms akimbo! I thought I'd fall off my bike it was so funny. It felt like I was t-rex or something!

[Trekhawk]

Today, I was thinking about this thread while I rode a very popular local limestone loop trail in a forest preserve. As I came upon a group of two families strung out all along the trail, one of them turned and saw me (well before I was close enough to call out and pass), "BIKE, BIKE" and all the kids scattered and ran pell mell into the woods, arms akimbo! I thought I'd fall off my bike it was so funny. It felt like I was t-rex or something!

Jurassic Nuthatch I love it.

[bikerchick68]

nuthatch... OMG I can just pciture it... I had to stop laughing before I could type this...

and trek- "Jurassic Nuthatch"... bwahahahahhahahaa

thank you ladies, for the laugh!