Melbourne Cyclist

Cycling in Melbourne Australia

Bike track etiquette

Riding home from work tonight along a bike track somewhere in Melbourne.  

I was hanging behind another guy 20 ft ahead. There was a woman walking her dog up ahead, oblivious to our approach. As we approached, I realised that he didn't intend warning her. So close in fact that if she was startled and accidentally moved into his path, he wouldn't be able to avoid her. 3 feet away and she heard him coming and jumped in the right direction, luckily. She hurled some nasty expletives in our direction (guilt by proximity). He called back "you've got a shoulder, look over it occasionally!" Pretty rude, when he was approaching from behind.

As cyclists, if we demand respect from other road users then we have to earn some as well. While there are so many ignorant and aggressive car drivers, it's difficult to hold the moral high ground when clowns like this make us all look like arse holes.  Apart from road rules there is also etiquette that needs to be observed when mixing it with other users of roads and paths.

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Permalink Reply by Gissy57 on February 22, 2011 at 9:07pm

This was interesting.  On my comute to work, I nearly got kknocked over by a car coming out of 107 Whitehall St. Survived that one by veering onto the road with on coming traffic.  On the way home some twerp decided he could pass me on the left as I approached the curb on the AppletonDock Overpass.  Does no one read Bicycle Vic's guide lines for shared paths etiquette http://www.bv.com.au/general/bikes-and-riding/10772/.

Especially, the male breed seems to take great delight in ensuring my travel is full of possibilities for getting injured.  I'm not in a peleton so why cut in an inch in front of my wheel. Dont say your passing, verbally or via bell, dont have lights etc etc

Permalink Reply by The Domestic on February 23, 2011 at 3:01pm
I ride the main yarra trail most mornings and I am surprised by how many cyclists coming from the other direction overtake slower riders when going around a corner. As I am going the opposite direction to most of the traffic (I ride away from the city in the morning) I see this happening a lot, and I count myself lucky that I haven't been cleaned up yet - though I have had many close calls. I know we are all rushing to get to work, but the dangerous cycling I see on the MYT is getting out of hand! Women with dogs aren't the problem for me - it's other cyclists!
Permalink Reply by DJ on February 24, 2011 at 3:32pm
I have just taken Gissy57's advice and read Bicycle Vic's guidelines for shared paths etiquette.What an eye opener ! Do they really expect cyclists to keep to a maximum of 20-25kmh on shared paths ? Speed is not the issue.I race frequently and feel safe when doing so.It is more dangerous riding to work. The Yarra Trail has become more and more crowded with cycling commuters over the last 15 years.In my experience the biggest danger is closer to the city when there are frequently veering and wobbling slow cyclists, with very little skill, and no awareness, riding short distances into and out of the CBD.Perhaps Bicycle Vic could dedicate some pages in its magazine to teaching these people how to ride in a straight line, ride around a bend,keep left and to desist from braking for no apparent reason.
Permalink Reply by Cory on February 25, 2011 at 10:50am

You should always ride to conditions.

 

That means, at times, a speed that allows you to deal with slower, less-skilled riders.  It's called 'traffic'.

 

Having said that, keeping to the correct lane and not passing on blind corners seem to be beyond some ppl. :S

Permalink Reply by The Domestic on February 25, 2011 at 12:21pm
Yep, totally agree Cory - that's pretty much what I was getting at... though I didn't say it quite as concisely!
Permalink Reply by David_G on February 25, 2011 at 2:51pm
I'll third those comments :)
Permalink Reply by DJ on February 25, 2011 at 3:24pm

Riding to the conditions on the Yarra Trail ? Does that mean getting off your bike at every bend or corner so you don't get taken out by someone riding on the wrong side of the path or overtaking recklessly ? There is no speed that allows you to deal with unskilled and ignorant riders and it is naive to think otherwise.How many times have you seen riders go down on the tram tracks on Swanston Street because they are totally unaware of how they should cross them ?

The point I was trying to make - perhaps not clearly - is that speed in not the reason for most bike "accidents". Lack of commonsense or basic understanding of how to ride a bike safely is.

There was an earlier post complaining about being overtaken on the inside.Whilst only a moron would do that, why was the person complaining about that riding so far to the right which enabled it to happen ?.I can only assume that the overtaker did that out of frustration because there was no other way of getting around.

Apparently those that drive in the right lane of a road doing 70 kmh in the 110 kmh zones ride bikes as well.

Permalink Reply by stib on May 9, 2011 at 4:07pm

I've been overtaken on the left a few times while riding on on-road bike lanes, because I tend to stay out of the dooring zone. So some whippersnapper (or someone old enough to know better) will decide to pass me by riding inches from parked cars. Annoying not only for the whole passing on the left business, but also because when he gets doored I'm going to end up going straight over the top of his mangled corpse.

Permalink Reply by Etienne de Brignell on February 26, 2011 at 2:34pm

Very well put Flyboy. I actually had a very similar situation yesterday on the Park Street shared pathway when a female cyclist thunderbolted past me and then had to skid to avoid an elderly lady. I was then left to cop this poor woman's tirade against unruly cyclists as the culprit made a quick getaway. Happy, not.

Permalink Reply by greg on February 26, 2011 at 3:44pm
I'm actually surprised at how many morons go through red lights in the CBD. Considering the fine is around $299 is it worth it to save a few seconds. And pedestrians are no better. Going up Swanston the number of times somebody jaywalks and you have to hit the brakes or swerve to avoid them. I could make some serious money if I were a cop.
Permalink Reply by David_G on February 26, 2011 at 8:54pm

It all comes down to individual responsibility, we love our freedom to do what we want, but there is a need to comply with the relevant conditions regardless of the regulations. Say it's a 60k speed limit in Flinders Lane, doesn't mean it's ever safe to go that fast there, or legal for that matter. But when regulations come out to try and put some order into a situation there are always those who think the regs apply to some one else.

If I was a cop paid only on commission, I'de want the mobile phone while droving booking franchise. I think 5 minuutes would be the record time I go between seeing it happen.

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