Wondered if other forum members have any "difficulties" with the lady in the Fluo yellow & orange coat who walks alongside 1, sometimes 2 children every schoolday morning between around 07:45 - 08:00. (I'm assuming she's a crossing - patrol lady judging by the coat she wears and the timing.)
Although I'm fully on board with mutual consideration on shared paths etc, this patrticular lady never moves out the way, even after a "polite" bell ring - ie stays outboard of the child she accompanies. That's fine but when another pedestrian or cyclist is approaching there is no room to pass her but she point blank won't budge.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
School Crossing Patrol Lady - NEPN between Crewe Toll & 5 ways junction
(25 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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The you just have to wait until it is safe to pass her.
Just like I wouldn't move out of the way of someone driving up behind me and sounding their vehicle's horn if I didn't think it was safe to pass.
You may be slow and considerate, but she's obviously had problems with other cyclists who are not.
Just like most drivers are capable of driving safely around me, but I have to cycle as though I'm dealing with one of the minority who are not.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Plus she may be accompanying a child with additional needs who needs a bit more space?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Given the amount of dog's-abuse that lollipop people receive from motorists, I'd cut her some slack
Posted 6 years ago # -
Strict liability on shared paths should be the watchword
I always give peds as much time as the want, even though it can be a wee bit infuriating at times.
Cyclists squeezing by me and then the peds both impatiently and aggressively really gets on my thruppennies.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Never understand why cyclists try to pass if there's a ped in front of them and an oncoming cyclist. Just wait and overtake after the oncoming cyclists has gone. It's 5 seconds of your life.
EXACTLY as if you were a car behind a cyclist, with another car in the oncoming lane.
It's not difficult people.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I have started alerting those ahead of me on the towpath that I am coming along by ringing my bell then when about to pass, talking to them by saying I am just about to pass you on the right (or left if they have decided to veer etc).
Most people move in a bit but some stand their ground and therefore do need to be passed with care.
Posted 6 years ago # -
As has been said, she's merely walking defensively, same as a cyclist on a busy road.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Hi guys. My concern is not that she's walking on the path as he has every right to do, it's the fact that she stays alongside the child and doesn't move to single file on that busy path as considerate cyclists do on busy or narrow roads as advised by the Highway Code
Posted 6 years ago # -
Maybe she doesn't feel it is safe to walk single file with the children? I've given space to cyclists when walking with my children and dog and have still been hit a couple of times. Nothing nasty - just clipped by a pedal or a handlebar. But it gave us all a fright.
As SallyHinch says maybe the children have additional needs - perhaps why they have a carer in High Viz.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Maybe we should all just start cycling 2 abreast on all shared paths??
Posted 6 years ago # -
@bigjack but why are you trying to overtake pedestrians when there is an oncoming cyclist? can't you just wait and pass? or is she so wide that she and child take up the entire width?
Posted 6 years ago # -
SRD,
She effectively does take up the whole width which is my point as seems to have been missed by most. I wouldn't dream of overtaking others whether they be on bikes, foot or horses when it's not safe to do so and also get annoyed by overtaking cyclists who don't give way where needed.
Once again , my point is that the lady does not even acknowledge a polite ring of the bell or "excuse me"Posted 6 years ago # -
I refer you to your first post: "That's fine but when another pedestrian or cyclist is approaching there is no room to pass her but she point blank won't budge.".
Have you considered that she might have hearing difficulties?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Posted 6 years ago #
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I am not sure you could get a job as a lollipop person if you have hearing difficulties?
Maybe you can?
Though there is no mention of the actual lollipop in this slightly edgy thread, I cannot help but imagining that she is carrying a large lollipop
If she is blocking the entire path then cyclists would hAve to stay behind her all the way to her destination? Which is of course What gets drivers' goats about cyclists in pelotons.?
Posted 6 years ago # -
I don't see how two people could block the NEPN. I would agree that 3 can.
It sounds like someone in a heavy duty HiViz type outfit. which I have seen in various settings. and which might be worn by someone worried about traffic, and possibly with a hearing problem?
The original problem was posed was not being able to overtake when another cyclist was coming from the other direction. I - and most contributors above - have little sympathy with that.
If the problem is not EVER being able to overtake, then I think we might be more sympathetic, although my solution would be to go off-piste, as I do in the links on narrow paths. But I suppose if you're riding with narrow tyres, that might be challenging.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I'm sure I've encountered the same person on the Ferry Road path. She does seem very reluctant to move even slightly to the side when you approach her from the front too, so the hearing difficulty thing doesn't apply.
Posted 6 years ago # -
If she is blocking the entire path then cyclists would hAve to stay behind her all the way to her destination? Which is of course What gets drivers' goats about cyclists in pelotons.?
So if she is walking in the opposite direction then presumuably the cyclist needs to get off and reverse his/her course until a suitable gap in the path can be found?
sighPosted 6 years ago # -
Perhaps if you dismount and bow she will move in a wee bit and flatten her enormous lollipop to her side?
Posted 6 years ago # -
There are a few militant walkers out on the "shared use" paths now and again. They usually have dogs on extendable elastic strings too, but not always.
Perhaps she's one of those. Or maybe she's a blind deaf mute like Tommy the pinball wizard. Which would explain why when you shout "Hear me, see me!" at her she doesn't budge.
"my solution would be to go off-piste, as I do in the links on narrow paths. But I suppose if you're riding with narrow tyres, that might be challenging."
Especially on the stretch of path described, where there's a ruddy great drainage ditch, deep and full of stinky stagnant water, to the side of the path. No safety elves in attendance either.
Posted 6 years ago # -
This could be the definitive CCE thread.
In so many ways.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I'm afraid your initial post did give the impression that you were having to wait until oncoming traffic had cleared, rather than that you found it difficult to pass at all; I have more sympathy with the latter problem.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I see this lady and her kids sometimes at the red bridge so she walks a fair bit to school I guess. If I have ever encountered her she always waits at the top of the stairs.
I respect her for wanting to protect her kids, always remember peds may have had a experience that taints the view of other cyclists.
Posted 6 years ago # -
I knew exactly who you meant just from the behaviour (luminous coat aside).
In recent memory they don't seem to have a dog with them but my main beef was that for a while, not only did they ignore the presence of cyclists for moving aside purposes (which I don't care about, I don't constantly move aside when I am walking or indeed cycling either), BUT one thing I really hate is people who have a dog running amok and still don't react to them presence of others at all :(
At the moment I pass every day and can't say it's something I particularly notice.
Posted 6 years ago #
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