Cycle path etiquette

Riding round Brockwell Park with my son at lunchtime today on the way back from his football training, a woman coming the other way on her roadbike instinctively went to the right instead of the left. My son managed to avoid her and so did I. She smiled apologetically and it wasn't that big a deal. My son said after, "She went the wrong way," and I agreed but added I wasn't that bothered.

They are public highways - so the highway code applies, even lights etc.

As any machinery drivers here will know, doesn't matter if you are off road, even in the middle of a field, always keep left and use the highway code - that way we all know what we are doing.

Whatever side you ride on, be aware that walkers are 'trained' to face oncoming traffic.

This can be a bit of a problem when a walker turns into a jogger, or runner. Going through Richmond Park the other day, I had a whole herd of runners coming directly towards me, at speed, on my side of the road.

Generally in the "treat it as a road" dept, but looking at that "tump" in Google Streetview from the road end there might be a natural inclination to take the right-hand route.

When I've ridden Watch House Hill, I go left at that point regardless of the direction I approach it. Once and only once have I gone straight across.

Tump is a great word.....we used to play on the coal tumps behind our house when I was little. Sledging down em in fertiliser sacks.

Ride over the tump mun..not around it

I would ride to the left, I was riding on the Spen valley greenway yesterday and one of the local plod was riding it on a scrambler bike, he was riding on the left.

It was nice to see the police patrolling it.

The temptation is to say, the same as the rules of the road. However, this is worth a little read first - https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2015/03/10/a-bicycle-roundabout-that-...

Yep, even the Dutch can build bad infrastructure when they put their mind to it! In this case, the answer probably would be to treat it as any other roundabout, but we shouldn't needlessly apply the rules of the road where they aren't needed. The Dutch are quite good at ignoring the direction of many cycle paths with little consequence.

Here in SW London with lots of people from all over the world, which way people move on a path is anybody's guess. I just slow down sit on the left as if it's a road but if the person coming your way is from Europe or elsewhere then they (I imagine) instinctively move to their right without cues from motorised traffic - sometimes they move, sometimes I do - never needed to shout, nor has anybody shouted at me.

Given that it's a 'path' you can really ride where you want. Etiquette suggests sticking to the left like on the road but essentially it's free-for-all.

My view is that these 'paths' need a re-brand and some basic rules. Let' call them 'motor-free roads' or something of that nature and have a few basic standards for their use, like riding on the left and yielding priority to pedestrians.

Here in Melbourne Aus' most shared routes have markings and posts like this at very regular intervals

my only conclusion is that the statement often used "most cyclists are also drivers" applies to the behavior of many cyclists on shared routes and many will take the shortest route around any obstruction...and remember most ped's are people that have managed to get out of a car for a short period of time

I tend to go with "treat it like a road". Similar to farrell, I used to go right for some reason, until someone shouted "Go left" at me on a trail. That got me thinking and I switched to a general go left policy. I don't think I'm right or left foot forward - I generally ride fixie, so it's moot really.

However, I always look and watch what the other cyclist is doing and what the various hazards around are. If they look like they're going to go right or are already there and not looking like they're going to change, I'll go right (easier than crashing!). If there's a lamp post, bench, dog, etc. on or near the path, I'll take that into consideration; is it easier for me to go right because it'll be easier for us both to avoid it (similar to the watch and see what the other cyclist is doing)?

Basically, I assume that everyone else is an idiot and will crash into me if I don't do something about it. That generally works.

Another one for 'Treat it like a road'.

If we all do this it cuts out all the doubt and uncertainty. Predictability is what we're after.

Maybe it was a cyclopath

i'll get my coat

Obviously just a dickhead, pay no heed. You're doing nothing wrong.

treat it as a road,

I get this, when on a cycle path or trail my natural instinct is to go to the right, the complete opposite of how I'd behave on a road.

I have to make a conscious effort/decision to keep left and I have no idea why this.

Definitely keep left. Treat it all as if it's a road.

I tend to ride the commuter paths near me as if they are a road, so keep to the left. Most, but crucially not all, other people seem to do the same.

I don't know if there are any rules other than Wheaton's rule, which shouting at someone would be breaking.