Bells! The Pedestrian's View
Rich House 17 June 2018
Many of our cycle paths in Romsey are shared with pedestrians. As a historic town there is sometimes not enough room to allow otherwise. Our cash starved local councils can't always afford dedicated cycle paths. In fact we have only about 20 metres of cycle only paths! So we have to share.
As generally nice people I would encourage all cyclists in the town to share with courtesy. Please cycle past pedestrians and pets slowly. Please ring your bells when approaching those on foot (please buy one if you've not got one - they're very cheap). Please make sure they've aknowledged you before passing (they may be deaf). Please say thank you when walkers step to one side to allow you to pass. Please pass young children and animals with special care, as their movements may be erratic. As well as being just good manners it is in our own interest to improve still further our image in the town and become even more popular for the good we do for local traffic, cleaner air and a better environment. New signs will be coming to the Canal Path soon to help remind cyclists and pedestrians of the common courtesies of sharing.
One of our readers, Julian Jones, shared his concerns with me. I suggested he write an article explaining these. He and his wife Sue Jones have kindly written the following article for us. He makes many good points. Personally I agree with Mr Ward, although I may have worded it differently. My view is that pedestrians should also share courteously, thanking cyclists for ringing their bells and moving to the side to let them pass.
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There was an article in a recent Romsey Advertiser (1 st June 2018, page 35) about use of bells by cyclists in the New Forest. A Mr Ward of the New Forest Cycling Club says "Yes we [cyclists] need to watch where we are going, but pedestrians have a duty to do the same".
My wife and I felt strongly about that remark. We regularly walk to and from Romsey along Canal Walk. We walk side by side and adjust to single file when approached by other pedestrians, baby buggies, electric mobility carts and cyclists. Even with the current profuse undergrowth there is room to pass. As pedestrians, we look where we are going while walking forward, but cannot also look behind us to see what is overtaking us. It is this situation where use of a bell by the overtaking cyclist would be appreciated so that we know that we need to change from walking two abreast to Indian file to allow a cyclist to pass. It is certainly a daily occurrence on Canal Walk that many cyclists just appear at our shoulder and expect us to do something. A bell gives warning. One loud ting is sufficient. I hope you would consider this pedestrian's view when the bell/no bell discussion comes up in your circles.
Thanks
Julian & Sue Jones