Towpath etiquette
Discussion
I recently started a new job and am commuting by bike when I can. The last 5 miles or so are along the towpath leading down into Uxbridge so it's a nice easy finish to the ride.
I'm still rattling along though (21ish kmh) and come across the usual towpath users; walkers, runners, dogs etc., and of course other cyclists.
I slow down to walking pace to pass and most are, of course, friendly and accommodating, moving over and saying "hello", but the other day there was one cyclist travelling the same direction as me who steadfastly refused to move over.
Now it's not that he was dawdling, but he was probably going 20-30% slower than I would have been. From first sight I caught him in about half a mile, he glanced round and caught sight of me after about another half a mile (I didn't use my bell, I figured I'd just let him see me then pass), but then he just sat there for the next 2.5 miles, refusing to move over or even slow down enough in the wider sections to allow me to pass. As it was I just sat 5m off his rear tyre and we trundled into Uxbridge before he turned off.
By chance he is also a Strava user and it was possible to see him on the flypast view. We're a lot alike; middle-aged professionals and mountain bike users who do the odd commute to and probably total 1-2,000 miles a year, so it's even more odd that he wouldn't even move over considering I would hate to be thought of as holding anyone up on the road, on trails or on a towpath.
At the risk of going a bit Mumsnet, am I being unreasonable to expect someone to move over to let another cyclist past in these circumstances?
Should I have tinkled the bell?
I'm still rattling along though (21ish kmh) and come across the usual towpath users; walkers, runners, dogs etc., and of course other cyclists.
I slow down to walking pace to pass and most are, of course, friendly and accommodating, moving over and saying "hello", but the other day there was one cyclist travelling the same direction as me who steadfastly refused to move over.
Now it's not that he was dawdling, but he was probably going 20-30% slower than I would have been. From first sight I caught him in about half a mile, he glanced round and caught sight of me after about another half a mile (I didn't use my bell, I figured I'd just let him see me then pass), but then he just sat there for the next 2.5 miles, refusing to move over or even slow down enough in the wider sections to allow me to pass. As it was I just sat 5m off his rear tyre and we trundled into Uxbridge before he turned off.
By chance he is also a Strava user and it was possible to see him on the flypast view. We're a lot alike; middle-aged professionals and mountain bike users who do the odd commute to and probably total 1-2,000 miles a year, so it's even more odd that he wouldn't even move over considering I would hate to be thought of as holding anyone up on the road, on trails or on a towpath.
At the risk of going a bit Mumsnet, am I being unreasonable to expect someone to move over to let another cyclist past in these circumstances?
Should I have tinkled the bell?
rhinochopig said:
You did actually say excuse me didn't you, and didn't just sit there hoping he would move over?
I wouldn't have thought that necessary, but I can see why you say that.Equivalent would be tractor on singletrack road with passing places. Would the tractor driver expect the driver behind to flash/beep before they pulled over at some point?
loudlashadjuster said:
rhinochopig said:
You did actually say excuse me didn't you, and didn't just sit there hoping he would move over?
I wouldn't have thought that necessary, but I can see why you say that.Equivalent would be tractor on singletrack road with passing places. Would the tractor driver expect the driver behind to flash/beep before they pulled over at some point?
I guess from your reply above that you didn't actually even say "excuse me"?
loudlashadjuster said:
rhinochopig said:
You did actually say excuse me didn't you, and didn't just sit there hoping he would move over?
I wouldn't have thought that necessary, but I can see why you say that.Equivalent would be tractor on singletrack road with passing places. Would the tractor driver expect the driver behind to flash/beep before they pulled over at some point?
Interesting one.
Sounds like he was being a bit of an arse, although I can't imagine why he would do it on purpose.
But - yes - get on the bell!
I always get ribbed if I turn up at a trail center and I've left my bell on. They may look and sound a bit 'less than manly' but on a towpath they are essential.
...as you say, always be polite after the pass: thumbup / 'thankyou'
Sounds like he was being a bit of an arse, although I can't imagine why he would do it on purpose.
But - yes - get on the bell!
I always get ribbed if I turn up at a trail center and I've left my bell on. They may look and sound a bit 'less than manly' but on a towpath they are essential.
...as you say, always be polite after the pass: thumbup / 'thankyou'
Steamer said:
Interesting one.
Sounds like he was being a bit of an arse, although I can't imagine why he would do it on purpose.
But - yes - get on the bell!
I always get ribbed if I turn up at a trail center and I've left my bell on. They may look and sound a bit 'less than manly' but on a towpath they are essential.
...as you say, always be polite after the pass: thumbup / 'thankyou'
I am constantly amazed by the number of people without a bell. There is nothing else you can buy for £1.49 from Tesco that improve your commuting times so massively...Sounds like he was being a bit of an arse, although I can't imagine why he would do it on purpose.
But - yes - get on the bell!
I always get ribbed if I turn up at a trail center and I've left my bell on. They may look and sound a bit 'less than manly' but on a towpath they are essential.
...as you say, always be polite after the pass: thumbup / 'thankyou'
A quick ding ding as you approach saves an awful lot of slowing down, coughing, and speeding up.
uncinquesei said:
I am constantly amazed by the number of people without a bell. There is nothing else you can buy for £1.49 from Tesco that improve your commuting times so massively...
A quick ding ding as you approach saves an awful lot of slowing down, coughing, and speeding up.
One ding on the bell, make sure he heard it, then pass on the right and say a cheery thank you/morning/evening as you go past. Works for me every timeA quick ding ding as you approach saves an awful lot of slowing down, coughing, and speeding up.
Piersman2 said:
loudlashadjuster said:
rhinochopig said:
You did actually say excuse me didn't you, and didn't just sit there hoping he would move over?
I wouldn't have thought that necessary, but I can see why you say that.Equivalent would be tractor on singletrack road with passing places. Would the tractor driver expect the driver behind to flash/beep before they pulled over at some point?
I guess from your reply above that you didn't actually even say "excuse me"?
It's the same as driving a car on a narrowish country road - sure, I might want to be doing 60mph but if someone else is doing 50 then as long as they're driving smoothly I see no reason to put both of us at risk until a pass can be effected safely. (Clearly there are also times when overtakes are performed surgically and with extreme prejudice).
I wanted to be mindful of not derailing this thread and although I've not had this same problem, I have recently encounter (on the topic of etiquette):
Grumpy Fisher men with their tackle all over the path - also two old boys that deliberately put their rods over the path and started 'bating up' while I could do nothing but stand and wait.
Dog owner with 4 dogs running wild around a lock (is it only a guide that dogs are kept on leads around locks?) and then shouted at me to stop.
Runners with both earphones in... no idea who was following them, no chance of hearing a bell.
Don't get me wrong - I'm well aware this is a shared travel / leisure route, and I do appreciate the slower pace of life that these paths attract. For the most part they are excellent and I really enjoy the fact virtually everyone you encounter on them is happy and friendly.
Grumpy Fisher men with their tackle all over the path - also two old boys that deliberately put their rods over the path and started 'bating up' while I could do nothing but stand and wait.
Dog owner with 4 dogs running wild around a lock (is it only a guide that dogs are kept on leads around locks?) and then shouted at me to stop.
Runners with both earphones in... no idea who was following them, no chance of hearing a bell.
Don't get me wrong - I'm well aware this is a shared travel / leisure route, and I do appreciate the slower pace of life that these paths attract. For the most part they are excellent and I really enjoy the fact virtually everyone you encounter on them is happy and friendly.
Edited by Steamer on Friday 19th September 14:50
I think the speed differential was such that I assumed he was just waiting for a decently wide bit to pull over safely, but by the time we'd passed two or three such spots I realised he probably wasn't going to do that.
British reserve had kicked in by that point and I would have felt silly pinging the bell 10 minutes after he saw me.
So I just sat there.
Then moaned about it on the internet later
British reserve had kicked in by that point and I would have felt silly pinging the bell 10 minutes after he saw me.
So I just sat there.
Then moaned about it on the internet later
I spend most of my time on towpaths and if I catch up with someone after going at full speed I might follow them at their (slightly) slower pace to recover for a while. He may have thought you were doing the same.
My problem is that I'll say 'excuse me' and the person will usually not hear. Either that or I inadvertently shout it too loud and they jump out their skin. I got the bell recently and it has made things more pleasant for myself and pedestrians
My problem is that I'll say 'excuse me' and the person will usually not hear. Either that or I inadvertently shout it too loud and they jump out their skin. I got the bell recently and it has made things more pleasant for myself and pedestrians
loudlashadjuster said:
....Should I have tinkled the bell?
Nah, just hit him with a 'burnie' like I did when I snuck up on my youngest son the other day.He'd left the house after I'd gone out, and on my way back home I met him out near a local lake. We rode together for a short while, then split again. After a little while, I dropped in on the path he was riding, and stealthily rode up behind him until I got close enough to 'touch tyres' with him. The resulting "Brrrrrrrrrp!" as the treads clashed was enough to almost have him jumping out of his skin. Although trying this on a complete stranger next to a body of water is fraught with risks, with potential outcomes ranging from a bleeding nose when he lands one on you, to death by drowning when you get pitched into the canal while still clipped in
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