Cycling Traffic thru Delta Park

[Judge]

I have tried to check if this has been a topic recently but it doesnt look like it has.It involves the traffic of cyclists thru Delta Park and what is happening there.

 

There has been an explosion of MTB traffic thru the Park.I ride mtb and I walk my dog thru the Park and things are getting a bit sillyFor example I have seen a group of cyclists screaming down a hill between some horses and some walkers absolutely flat out.In addition walkers cant always hear an approaching cyclist. Add to that what happens when a dog crosses the trail and the owner did'nt even hear the approaching cyclists.I have started training my little brown mongrel to sit when he sees cyclists approaching.(you may have seen us).

 

A friend recently recounted how his girl friend was threatened in Delta Park by a cyclist who nealry crashed into her labrador.He dropped his bike after approaching her and threatened to #uch her up.Come on guy, you know who you are.Shame on you.

 

My point is there is increasingly heavy cycling traffic in Delta and there is a increasingly heavy incidence of walkers use the park. Why antagonise each other? Be considerate of the users of the park and things should be okay (although I doubt it).

 

Maybe this blog can be the start of an educational drive to highten awareness of the problems and if necesary signs should be erected drawing the attention of cyclists to the fact they share the park with others.Make no mistake if the current trend continues cyclist will eventually be banned from the Delta.

 

There you are.

[markgc]

+ , agreed

[Agteros]

Comes down to one thing: respect.

it is not something deserved. It is shown to others out of courtesy, without expectation, and is earned by actions.

[mrbaker]

Fair enough- but dogs should be on leads.

I'm not at all justifying the general behavior of the cyclists- but when I've had problems with walkers it has been because their dogs are off the lead and either in the path or running towards / around us...

[Judge]

Fair enough- but dogs should be on leads.

I'm not at all justifying the general behavior of the cyclists- but when I've had problems with walkers it has been because their dogs are off the lead and either in the path or running towards / around us...

Guy the walkers have been walking there for years -do you require them to adjust to the incresed traffic by putting there dogs of leashes.Perhaps the problem is worse then it seems.

[Agteros]

Guy the walkers have been walking there for years -do you require them to adjust to the incresed traffic by putting there dogs of leashes.Perhaps the problem is worse then it seems.

Respect... two way street.

Cannot claim "always", because then we can walk/hunt where we want because we've always (in the past - 10000 years ago) walked where we wanted.

 

Increased traffic leads to increased controls removing the fun out of an activity/area for all

[sometime]

I've been riding my bike in Delta Park for 10+ years. I've been walking my dogs in Delta Park for 20+ years.

 

I do my best to make walkers aware that I am behind them just as I slow down to a safe speed when there are dogs present - you cannot predict that they are going to do and I don't want to injure myself or a dog by crashing into one. As for leads - I do not walk my dogs on a lead and I will not - I think that applies to 90% of dogs walkers in Delta. The park gives our dogs the freedom to run around and do what dogs do and I love watching them play freely as much as I love cycling in the park. BY the same token my dogs are obedient and will walk to heel when commanded to do so.

 

Cyclists cannot impose themselves on the rest of the public that are using the park - if they do and behaviour like that described above continues, then it will be a matter of time before cyclists are banned from the park.

[Danger Dassie]

Isn't Delta a leash free area though? .... Some riders could definitely do with a bit more etiquette on the Spruit and surrounding parks.

Nothing justifies this "He dropped his bike after approaching her and threatened to #uch her up." He needs a pump in the front wheel!

Respect is a two way thing though, generally overall I think everyone acknowledges the other.

[DR ◣◢]

Similar situation at Emmerentia. Lots of dogs and families with kids. Some riders have zero regards for others and bomb down the trails like they own them.

 

Respect is indeed a two way street. Sad that some riders are massive jerks.

[mrbaker]

If it is a leash free area then city parks should put some signs up. The more awareness there is the better. It will also lead to less animostity...

And in the same respect the general cyclist should learn that we don't have exclusive rights to the trails we ride...

[King_Crispy]

Similar situation at Emmerentia. Lots of dogs and families with kids. Some riders have zero regards for others and bomb down the trails like they own them.

 

Respect is indeed a two way street. Sad that some riders are massive jerks.

Emmarentia is NOT a leash free environment. Quite the contrary: ALL tthe entrances state clearly that ALL dogs have to be on a leash. I cracked a wrist riding into a German Shepherd after it ran out the forest in Emmarentia, and had the stooopid owner shouting at me for it. I nearly thumped her husband for the outburst of his wife. Took weeks out of my training schedule recovering from that mishap that was clearly an infringement of the law

[TheV]

My two cents...

 

If you are walking your dog, why dont you walk on the open grass or feld, there are 1000's of squeare meters of it in/around delta and the spruit and the parks.

 

I think it's easier for a dog and a person to walk off the beaten track than on the MAIN walking/commuting/cycling "trail".

 

But no, you get these stupid people who have to walk their dog in the 15cm singe track path? that is pathetic.

 

Get out the way or i'll ride over you!!!!!

 

If I take my kids/dog to the park, which i often do, I go to the open feld around the dams and let my jack russel and kids run their asses off without bothering anyone commuting or cycling in the track/trail.

 

- this is such a stupid thread.

 

Who cares if you walked in the park for 20 flippen years.. Strange there is only one "path"/track then because the way you guys make it sound is that the entire park should be flattened.... there is a single track....l

Edited May 6, 2012 by TheV

[Agteros]

My two cents...

 

If you are walking your dog, why dont you walk on the open grass or feld, there are 1000's of squeare meters of it in/around delta and the spruit and the parks.

 

I think it's easier for a dog and a person to walk off the beaten track than on the MAIN walking/commuting/cycling "trail".

 

But no, you get these stupid people who have to walk their dog in the 15cm singe track path? that is pathetic.

 

Get out the way or i'll ride over you!!!!!

 

If I take my kids/dog to the park, which i often do, I go to the open feld around the dams and let my jack russel and kids run their asses off without bothering anyone commuting or cycling in the track/trail.

 

- this is such a stupid thread.

 

Who cares if you walked in the park for 20 flippen years.. Strange there is only one "path"/track then because the way you guys make it sound is that the entire park should be flattened.... there is a single track....l

 

Dumbass! (sadly)

 

Not as stupid as some of the comments in your post.

 

You are on your own one way street here...

[TheV]

Dumbass! (sadly)

 

Not as stupid as some of the comments in your post.

 

You are on your own one way street here...

 

Sorry Heman... didn't mean to offend anyone.... just trying to illustrate that if your cycling at delta park it doesn't automatically make you an inconsiderate human being with no right of being there or enjoying the great public spaces....

 

The point I was trying to make is that the "walkers" can also be more considerate and I must admit I really find some of them quite spitefull in their behavior.

 

And just so you KNOW, I dont ever actually hunt down old ladies walking their poodles... I use my suspension and go OOOOF the track and pass them nicely...

 

 

And if they are HOT tannies then I usually follow them around until they notice me and then I greet them and pass them...LOL

Edited May 6, 2012 by TheV

[sometime]

My two cents...

 

If you are walking your dog, why dont you walk on the open grass or feld, there are 1000's of squeare meters of it in/around delta and the spruit and the parks.

 

I think it's easier for a dog and a person to walk off the beaten track than on the MAIN walking/commuting/cycling "trail".

 

But no, you get these stupid people who have to walk their dog in the 15cm singe track path? that is pathetic.

 

Get out the way or i'll ride over you!!!!!

 

If I take my kids/dog to the park, which i often do, I go to the open feld around the dams and let my jack russel and kids run their asses off without bothering anyone commuting or cycling in the track/trail.

 

- this is such a stupid thread.

 

Who cares if you walked in the park for 20 flippen years.. Strange there is only one "path"/track then because the way you guys make it sound is that the entire park should be flattened.... there is a single track....l

 

So the people who have been walking (either on their own or with their dogs) for literally decades, must now walk through tall grass that is often wet, sometimes has thorns, often has blackjacks, possibly has snakes, also has concealed holes and rocks, all so that you can exclusively enjoy the trails that have existed there for decades on your bike?

 

Don't bother answering - it's a rhetorical question. Do you understand how uneducated, intolerant, selfish and juvenile you sound when you write stuff like this? Do you understand that attitudes like yours is what gives cyclists the terrible reputation that they have with the general public. Cyclists use public parks at the pleasure of City Parks. I can assure you, if you intentionally ride into some who is excercising their right to use these public parks, then you (who represent the 5% of cyclists giving the rest of us a bad name) will be the direct cause of the 95% who do respect other's rights, being denied access to ALL City Parks?

 

Don't worry - it's another rhetorical question.

 

2c indeed.

[TheV]

So the people who have been walking (either on their own or with their dogs) for literally decades, must now walk through tall grass that is often wet, sometimes has thorns, often has blackjacks, possibly has snakes, also has concealed holes and rocks, all so that you can exclusively enjoy the trails that have existed there for decades on your bike?

 

Don't bother answering - it's a rhetorical question. Do you understand how uneducated, intolerant, selfish and juvenile you sound when you write stuff like this? Do you understand that attitudes like yours is what gives cyclists the terrible reputation that they have with the general public. Cyclists use public parks at the pleasure of City Parks. I can assure you, if you intentionally ride into some who is excercising their right to use these public parks, then you (who represent the 5% of cyclists giving the rest of us a bad name) will be the direct cause of the 95% who do respect other's rights, being denied access to ALL City Parks?

 

Don't worry - it's another rhetorical question.

 

2c indeed.

 

Wow - did you reach zone4 in your response there?

 

You guys take this thread way too seriously, simply because even if we all agreed on our little community "thehub" to do the "right" thing and respect each-other and behave perfectly while on the parks then you will STILL find people who out of either spite or stupidity behave like idiots, just because its the south african way....it's our mentality. You can substitute the walkers, the dogs, the cyclists, the park, with many other similar issues such as road, traffic, queues, movie cinemas's, shopping malls, business, and SA life in general.

 

We dont care about each-other and we all act selfishly and righteously because we think we are entitled to something because of our skin colour, age, size, looks, associations or many other reasons...

 

You giving me your little speech doesn't make you any better because I bet you are not perfect yourself Mr.

 

So when I said "stay out of my way or I ride over you" -- I was actually just baiting you and you hooked like the pretentious fool that most of us are. because instead of trying to engage me in a friendly way you immediately became the perfect one and scolded me for the "uneducated, intolerant, selfish and juvenile" I am.

 

How lucky am I to be addressed by you the Tolerant, Educated, Generous and Mature cornerstone of our society?

Edited May 6, 2012 by TheV