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lscdlscd | 2 years ago

As this is a UK based article, I'm assuming you mean the Cambridge in England. I happen to live in Cambridge, Massachusetts and the while cyclists can be reckless, the drivers pose a 1000x greater threat to safety than cyclists.

As a tip for dealing with cyclists: continue your movement as a pedestrian: they'll go around you. Most pedestrians have headphones in/little awareness of their surroundings, and as a cyclist I always assume I'm invisible to them and to cars.

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ClapperHeid|2 years ago

  >As a tip for dealing with cyclists: continue your movement as a pedestrian: they'll go around you. Most pedestrians have headphones in/little awareness of their surroundings, and as a cyclist I always assume I'm invisible to them and to cars...
This! I used to do a 10 mile commute to work through several areas that were designated as shared cycle lane / footpath. Every trip was a slalom of avoiding pedestrians dawdling along on the cycle lane side of the divide. Always either with headphones on, or their phone clamped to the side of their head. Completely oblivious to the world arund them. So I'd have to swerve round them. And then hear the involuntary gasp of surprise behind me, as I zipped past.

But much worse were the ones who'd wake up enough to spot you at the last minute and then suddenly jump to the side --usually the side I was just about to swerve round them on.

Just keep on walking in your own oblivious bubble. I saw you about 1/2km ago and have already planned to my route round you!

rootusrootus|2 years ago

You could just about rewrite this and substitute car for bike and bike for pedestrian, and have it still be true. It's like there is a hierarchy based on speed, and everyone thinks the level below them is a bunch of twats ruining their commute.

worik|2 years ago

> As a tip for dealing with cyclists: continue your movement as a pedestrian

As a pedestrian (I am not wearing headphones) please ring your bell if you are passing me on a shared path.

It is very frightening to have a cyclist suddenly appear in your field of vision, from behind, terrifying.

Xylakant|2 years ago

The problem is that a lot of people will jump to a random side if you ring. Another large fraction will yell at you.

Something that worked comparatively well for me it so shout “I’ll pass on your (left/right)”

rootusrootus|2 years ago

> continue your movement as a pedestrian: they'll go around you.

Please, please tell that to my local cyclists. Especially the commuters. The norm here is "ON YOUR LEFT!" about 1.5 seconds before blowing by at 25 mph with two feet of clearance.

How about when you're going to pass a pedestrian, you give them a lot of space and slow down to 5 mph.

bartread|2 years ago

Yes: Cambridge, UK.