Much nudging, goodwill needed for shared paths

As a senior who uses the recreational facilities here to both cycle and walk, I must confess that I dislike cyclists and pedestrians alike.

When I cycle, I do not like the many pedestrians in my way. When I walk, I do not like the cyclists who do not slow down and ring their bells frantically to insist on their right of way.

It is high time we had a code of conduct. However, the implementation and enforcement may be difficult.

From my experience, I see two main difficulties.

The cyclist sees pedestrians as obstacles rather than human beings, and seeks the best way to squeeze past and speed away.

Pedestrians in groups are a special nuisance because many of them talk, do not pay attention and do not keep left, as they are supposed to do, on a shared path.

Even though I understand cyclists' reluctance to slow down or dismount at bottlenecks and bridges, as a pedestrian, I often feel threatened and bullied by cyclists.

We need a lot of nudging and goodwill to develop a viable code of conduct on shared pathways.

Separate tracks are of little use, as too few people keep to their assigned path.

Active mobility patrols may help ("New scheme to promote safe sharing of pathways"; May 1), but volunteers need a thick skin, as many errant cyclists and pedestrians may react aggressively.

Wolfgang Sachsenroeder (Dr)

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