Dangerous MTB Riding in Parks

[iluvatar]

Hi All

 

It seems that some of the MTB riders in many of the Jozi parks are putting pedestrians in the parks at risk.

 

There seems to be little regard by SOME MTBikers for people walking on or near the paths the MTBers wish to ride.

 

From personal experience, some of the bikers are bombing past people walking in the park, passing dangerously close and not adjusting their riding to minimise risk to pedestrians.

 

The vehicle with the highest energy, in this case the bikers, which would pose the greatest risk in a collision, should yield.

 

Further, when a rider approaches a pedestrian from behind, shouting "Get off the ******* path", goodwill, respect and other civilities are minimised. Pepper spray comes to mind...

 

What should the pedestrians do? What should the riders do?

[Ham]

I agree. Guys must behave.

[Jigghead]

100% to the OP.

 

At the same time however, I must also make mention of public parks where pedestrians fail to control their dogs adequately. Most of the time the pooches are off the leashes and their owners fail to even try and control them thus causing a lot of danger to both cyclists and pedestrians alike. Even when slowing down for both dogs and peeps, I've come really close to coming off due to uncontrolled dogs.

 

I think the name of the game here for everyone is mutual respect for all other park users be they on foot or on the bike!!!

[Meentb]

I have noticed it not only towards pedestrians but towards other cyclist as well.

 

This whole track shouting business. Guys have shouted track to me where I had no where to go. Got agro as I didn't move into the bushes and just bombarded me out the way.

[iluvatar]

Thanks for the comments guys.

 

Looks like even polite behaviour isn't enough! And even other cyclists get treated with aggression. Aggressive behaviour is the issue?

 

How about we take photos of the aggro riders - its never acceptable to behave like this - post the photos here - and contact their bike clubs/shops/kit sponsors and let them know the behaviour going on. Might not help much, but could have an effect.

 

Dogs and children running about are a feature of park riding - how about a code of riding conduct - slow right down, call out a loud greeting - 'howzit!' or 'hello!' and ride as if the dog/child will run in front of you.

 

If you're in the park for serious downhill training, you are in the wrong place, surely?

 

Again, this behaviour is not from the majority of riders.

[G e r h a r d Odendaal]

Let a few of us get together and walk the pathways as pedestrains. As these guys come from behind and shout "get off the ....ing path" we can turn around and knock them off their bikes with a baseball bat

[G e r h a r d Odendaal]

Promise you guys they wont do it again. Its simple, just take back your park

[Capricorn]

stravassholes...

[DR ◣◢]

Sadly you will never eradicate the inconsiderate people on the trails. Be it walkers, riders, dog walkers, runners etc.

 

I will admit that I have in the past ridden a little bit more out of control than I should have but I stopped, turned back and appologised for being a dick on the trail. It has not happened since.

 

When you see a slower person on your path, slow down or go around them leaving enough space for you to pass safely. With dogs... I tend to go wide or slow down to a crawl. I've had the unfortunate encounter with 2 dogs attacking me in Delta Park before. The owner seemed less interested in the law around leashes in public parks. Emmarentia is rife with people who disregard this.

 

It is up to us as cyclists to be on the lookout for potential accidents waiting to happen as well as being considerate and polite. It is not a race.

[Little Fish]

Sadly you will never eradicate the inconsiderate people on the trails. Be it walkers, riders, dog walkers, runners etc.

 

I will admit that I have in the past ridden a little bit more out of control than I should have but I stopped, turned back and appologised for being a dick on the trail. It has not happened since.

 

When you see a slower person on your path, slow down or go around them leaving enough space for you to pass safely. With dogs... I tend to go wide or slow down to a crawl. I've had the unfortunate encounter with 2 dogs attacking me in Delta Park before. The owner seemed less interested in the law around leashes in public parks. Emmarentia is rife with people who disregard this.

 

It is up to us as cyclists to be on the lookout for potential accidents waiting to happen as well as being considerate and polite. It is not a race.

Ja Maxxis, I have seen you out riding & you are pretty considerate - one of the few times I couldnt get to my dog to hold him off the track in Delta when I saw a cyclist coming, happened to be in front of you - and yes he walked right in front of you & you were really nice about it & were going slow enough to avoid him.

I was really embarrassed by it, as I always make a point of checking where my two are if i see cyclists coming & if they are too close to the track, I grab their collars & just hold them till the guys/girls are past us.

I have never had a bad experience with a cyclist in Delta or down the spruit, probably because i try to be aware that they are there for everyone to use & they are two of the things I love most about where i live.

Its a great feeling walking or riding through there & seeing everyone smile & greet each other & just chat to people they dont know.

[FrancoisC]

Why cant we all just get along?...

[Zook]

I generally consider each interaction with a pedestrian an opportunity to un-*$#% the reputation riders have. Greet them, ride around them, slow down, etc. Some won't greet you back but that's ok - they've probably repeatedly had to deal with some jerk bombing past them.

 

Riding past a pedestrian at speed is just like a super-bike caning it past us.

[BigDL]

There is also an issue at bike parks that allow trail runners on the cycle tracks e.g. Big Red Barn. I can imagine some real risk bombing around a corner at speed and there is a runner on the trail just in front of you. Maybe I'm just highlighting a non issue, but ended up connecting a tree in June in Ireland when I came around a corner on a steep downhill at speed and found some hikers on the cycle only track. As one of them was a kid, I shudder to think of the consequences if I had stayed on the path.

[Tjokkits]

fact is despite the spruit fairy working hard (and effort appreciated here) the spruit and parks are not cycling parks, they are public parks. It is sad that some cyclist just dont have the intellectual capacity to get it, and carry on as if the whole spruit and parks is build just for cycling, and then one gets the tjop who even think this is where he needs to race, not realising many beginner cyclist use the spruit.

 

Having said this, most cyclist are decent and nice, it was quite nice taking a beginner out and i could tell her most cyclist will find their way around her, especially if she tels them she does not have a "licence", but helaas there was the two occasions where guys tries to just blast her out the way. we must erradicate these idiots along with the litterbugs.