Does a cyclist have right of way through a crowd?

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CensorTheologiae@reddit

Sounds like careless setup to me. If it's a public park with a cycleway running though it and the council approved the fair, they should have closed the cycleway too.

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I dont think it's necessary to close the path. Pedestrians and cyclists can easily stop, turn around, or just go on the grass around the outside. It's not like a road where you can get traffic jams and vehicles unable to turn around. "Oh, there's a thing in the park and loads of people. I'll go around. Or I'll get off and walk my bike 50m" . Both reasonable actions. Ringing a bell and hitting a child and tutting because "*gosh* I'm trying to *cycle* here akshually" is stupid behaviour.

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FloydEGag@reddit

True, but if the path was crowded the cyclist should have used a bit of common sense too.

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NikaCknits@reddit

My definition of common sense also includes controlling your kid in a crowd.

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RevolutionaryDebt200@reddit

Pedestrians have right of way. Cycling on a shared path with lots of pedestrians is negligent

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Decent-Treat-1896@reddit

Hierarchy of road users still applies to cyclists. So a cyclists owes an extra duty of care to pedestrians the same way that a car owes them more care.

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Stinkinhippy@reddit

he was right that he was allowed to be riding on a cycle path.. that's about as far as it goes.. shared spaces you respect the other users and don't just ride through people. Unfortunately there's a subset of cyclists that just do everything in their power to give the rest of us a bad name.

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Underwritingking@reddit

The cyclist is an idiot

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MJ-Franklin@reddit

Absolute nob, common sense would dictate that if there's a crowd you fucking get off and walk though.

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Gwyllithar@reddit

if its a shared pedestrian and cycle way, why are stalls being set up there? Sure you should not ride into people, but equally, you should not blindly walk out in front of bikes....

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CrackersMcCheese@reddit

Cyclist should have been aware of the situation and be cycling in accordance with what’s going on, and pushing bike it necessary. Child shouldn’t have stepped in front of cyclist. Even going slowly they may not have had time to stop. Probably fault on both sides with heat of the moment arguing ensuing. Hopefully 3 people have learned a lesson.

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GnomeMnemonic@reddit

How dare you be so reasonable? Downvoting immediately.

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GreekVicar@reddit

There's no such thing as "right of way" in the UK but there is "priority". Details can be [in the Highway Code](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-code-8-changes-you-need-to-know-from-29-january-2022) So, no cycles have no "right of way" over pedestrians. In fact, they have a duty of care to look after them

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TheLoneEcho@reddit

There is a heirachy of road users. Pedestrians are at the top. The most vulnerable of all road users and it is for the rest of us to look out for them. Cyclists are on the next rung down. They are obliged to look out for pedestrians and give way - even if the pedestrians are somewhere they shouldn't be.

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MarkCairns67@reddit

Missing an SUV layer

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On_The_Blindside@reddit

That's cars and taxis.

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Master-Trick2850@reddit

this, pedestrians almost always have priority for obvious reasons

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On_The_Blindside@reddit

Guy was an idiot but you should look at your own reaction too. what kind of example are you setting for your kid if you "become furious" at the smallest thing?

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Queasy_Culture3897@reddit

No, on shared use path cyclist should give way to the most vulnerable users...

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Psychological-Fox97@reddit

Props for not lamping the guy one round his head mate, I may not have had your strength.

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ManOfTheBroth@reddit

Learn to parent, I bet you go to restaurants and they're there screaming and running around while you blissfully sip your drink.

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ukbot-nicolabot@reddit

A top level comment (one that is not a reply) should be a good faith and genuine attempt to answer the question

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kool_kats_rule@reddit

Right of way doesn't give you the right to carelessly clatter into anyone anyway. He's a twat.

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SKScorpius@reddit

What part of OP's post suggests that the cyclist was being careless? It's far too light on detail to draw a conclusion. The cyclist could have been carelessly traveling at speed, in which case they definitely hold at least some responsibility - possibly all. Equally they could have been cycling slowly and the child ran in front of them, in which case they would have no responsibility for the incident, and OP would be the twat for not watching their kids.

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budapest_budapest@reddit

It’s a busy park hosting a funfair with 50+ people wandering around. The cyclist at minimum should have been cycling slowly enough that they could react in time if a hazard presented itself. Whether OP/his kid was also in the wrong doesn’t really matter. It’s careless to cycle in a busy place without the ability to stop suddenly if necessary.

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ToriaLyons@reddit

If it's a shared use path, they are able to cycle there. Dismounting may not be an option. An alternative route may not be an option either. (Love how many are falling for this ragebait...)

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worldworn@reddit

Poor you, are you so starved for attention that this is your only outlet? Feels less like "ragebait" and more of a cry for help. I'm sure there are services and charities you can reach out to.

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SKScorpius@reddit

Even if the cyclist was crawling along, if the kid ran in front of the bike from the side then there's nothing they could do. Again, we don't have all of the facts and I find OP's lack of detail suspicious. You can continue with your blind hate of cyclists if you want, I'll wait until all the facts are presented before judging.

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ShineAtom@reddit

Exactly. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Also pedestrians rank higher than cyclists in the Highway Code's hierarchy. Although all should be aware of the Code and not abuse it. From the Code: >Cyclists should give way to pedestrians on shared use cycle tracks and to horse riders on bridleways. >Only pedestrians may use the pavement. Pedestrians include wheelchair and mobility scooter users. >Pedestrians may use any part of the road and use cycle tracks as well as the pavement, unless there are signs prohibiting pedestrians.

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GFoxtrot@reddit

Choosing also to omit > People cycling, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle should respect the safety of people walking in these spaces, but people walking should also take care not to obstruct or endanger them. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-code-8-changes-you-need-to-know-from-29-january-2022

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frumentorum@reddit

There's a lot of people jumping to a lot of conclusions that don't coincide with what OP has said. Cyclist is proceeding along shared use path. It is not stated that he is going at speed, so assume that he is travelling at a safe and cautious speed. (I'm sure OP would have mentioned it if the cyclist was travelling at high speed) Op's child ran in front of cyclist and was hit. If this was a child running in front of a car on a road we would be having a much more tragic conversation, but it still wouldn't be the driver's fault that a child ran out unexpectedly and was hit. It sounds like no real harm was done, child has had a shock and will likely be more cautious moving through crowded areas, and OP can talk to them about looking around before running across paths, and, crucially, roads.

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Pip1710@reddit

Nobody has the right of way under the highway code. Instead, it instructs people on when to yield. You should always yield to avoid a potential accident. It also places emphasis on when a vehicle operator should take steps (no pun intended) to avoid collision with pedestrians. Like if you're driving down a narrow street in a residential area and it's in a 30 mph zone, you don't drive 30 like a knob, you slow down in case a kid runs out. If there was a market placed over the pathway, blocking the use of the cyclist, and the market hadn't applied to the council to be allowed to do that, then as the cyclist I would be annoyed. But the correct and reasonable response is to still dismount your bike so you don't hit anyone.

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Beartato4772@reddit

A cyclist never has right of way over pedestrians.

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RufusWorld@reddit

This is why cyclists need to be taxed and insured and have licence plates

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FreddyFrogFrightener@reddit

Priority is given based on risk, pedestrians are at the highest risk and cause the least so they have highest priority, above cyclists. It's in the cyclist to make sure they don't crash into any pedestrians. Obviously that doesn't mean pedestrians shouldn't pay attention but the cyclist is in the wrong here

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ruu_throwaway@reddit

>On such shared use routes, you should always take care when passing pedestrians, especially children, older or disabled people, and allow them plenty of room. Always be prepared to slow down and stop if necessary That’s the Highway Code on shared cycling and pedestrian spaces.

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PennyBunPudding@reddit

A bicycle is a vehicle. So OP ask the question again but imagine you were talking about a car or a truck instead. Then the answer becomes obvious you plough through any pleb that gets in the way of your beautiful sixteen wheeler.

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davehemm@reddit

I would be pretty disturbed if a 44t artic was proceeding along a shared use cycle/pedestrian thoroughfare

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AddSomeSpice@reddit

Except this happened on path through a park you donut

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PennyBunPudding@reddit

Right? So if a car was driving along a path would you expect them to stop? I hope the answer is yes unless you are driving a beautiful sixteen wheeler obviously.

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Master-Trick2850@reddit

cyclist being a self righteous arse? colour me shocked Pedestrians almost always have right of way

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GFoxtrot@reddit

> People cycling, riding a horse or driving a horse-drawn vehicle should respect the safety of people walking in these spaces, but people walking should also take care not to obstruct or endanger them. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-code-8-changes-you-need-to-know-from-29-january-2022

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Pedantichrist@reddit

Nobody has a right of way in the UK, only priority. The bicycle has to stop if someone is in the way, but if you run it into its path then that is on you, and the brief should not block the cyclist’s way. It is no different to a road, you show your car down to drive through a crowd, nobody should run it in front of you, and children should be controlled near roads.

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GFoxtrot@reddit

One of the few here giving the proper answer.

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dbxp@reddit

Right of way doesn't seem to be a factor here. He shouldn't have crashed into the kid but the kid should have also looked out for bikes. If anyone is to blame it may be the organisers if this is a busy cycle route

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Sea-Still5427@reddit

That's ridiculous on safeguarding grounds alone - we're all responsible for keeping children safe. Also the highway code says cyclists are lower priority than pedestrians.

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ARobertNotABob@reddit

It's what we used to call "a simple accident". They happen. It doesn't necessitate raised blood pressures and anger, and it's not a good example for your children. That said, I'm a parent too, and would likely have responded similarly, but you invited the judgement :)

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geeered@reddit

Cyclists should watch out for all hazards including pedestrians, even on cycle paths. Parents should ensure their children act responsibly when around cycle paths and not endanger themselves and others. Having "it was my right of way" on a gravestone or hospital report isn't a great consolation. Rule 14 of the highway code says this about shared paths... >Cyclists, horse riders and drivers of horse drawn vehicles should respect your safety, but you should take care not to obstruct or endanger them. Always remain aware of your environment and avoid unnecessary distractions. It sounds like the cyclists didn't respect your son's safety. It sounds like you and your son didn't take care not to obstruct or endanger them and didn't remain aware of your environment and avoid unnecessary distractions. There is a further question about a fair which puts stalls either side of a shared use cycle way - I guess they chose this location based on getting maximum punters looking at stalls, not based on safety.

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MathematicianOnly688@reddit

Very much like cars, cyclists are responsible for being able to stop in time in an emergency. Obviously sometimes people just step out and there’s nothing they could have done. Were the many other people around? If so, they should have reduced their speed to the point where they can essentially stop instantly. If it’s really crowded then they should stop get off and walk. Sounds like he was being an arse. As a regular road commuter myself I apologise on his behalf and say it may not seem like it sometimes, but we’re not all like that and actually most of us are just normal people with zero desire to annoy drivers. Some of us even stop at red lights. 😉

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ben_jamin_h@reddit

As a cyclist who regularly cycles through busy populated areas, absolutely not. You're using a vehicle around pedestrians. Pedestrians have right of way. The cyclist should have dismounted and pushed their bike, or at the _very least_ slowed to walking pace and been prepared to stop. That cyclist is an absolute prick. Sorry this happened to your kid, hope they are ok.

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veryordinarybloke@reddit

Unfortunately because drivers abuse cyclists, [some] cyclists like to act the victim and believe they can never be wrong. As a pedestrian in London I don't fear motorists because vehicles are predictable and stick to the road. Bikes come at you from any direction, on road or pavement, through red light or green.

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172116@reddit

>vehicles are predictable and stick to the road. Bikes come at you from any direction, on road or pavement, through red light or green. Oh, I must have been imagining the car that left the road and killed a family friend who was standing on the pavement. Or the one that jumped a red light at a pedestrian crossing and left my friend's sister off work for 3 months with concussion. Or the one that changed lanes without looking or indicating, forcing me and my bike off the road.

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Witty_Entry9120@reddit

I'm sure this was just a one off.

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motific@reddit

The highway code has a hierarchy of road users, and the most vulnerable are those who have priority. My management would absolutely bollock me for not doing a proper risk assessment for an event like that. The fair who set up should 100% have allowed for the fact that their event was blocking a shared cyclepath and either put suitable diversions in place or barriers to encourage the cyclist to dismount (and/or at slow to walking pace) through the site.

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BeaksFalcone@reddit

You're entitled to half the path each,and it must be shared in a friendly manner,cyclist was wrong as he should have given you time to move/fair warning he was coming past

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Fellowes321@reddit

They can have a right to cycle but they also have responsibility to cycle appropriately and with regard to other people. The cyclist is lucky. From my point of view you did nothing wrong.

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Billy_Rizzle@reddit

Sounds like that cyclist committed a criminal offence. Doesn’t matter that your kid walked across the path, the cyclist should have been paying attention and travelling at a safe speed near pedestrians. Glad to hear your kid was okay.

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SpinnakerLad@reddit

With fair stalls setup they should suspend the cycle access frankly (exactly how they'd close a road to cars for similar setups on a road). However that involves paperwork and money and needs people to enforce it etc so chances are no one wants to do it officially and just assume people will do the right thing (see there's a big fair and crowds of people over the cycle lane and either push the back or go at a walking pace ready to stop at any instant). Sadly you ran into a massive arsehole with main character syndrome!

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Boboshady@reddit

It's the organiser's fault for not sorting out temporary restrictions on a path running through a fair, tbh. Regardless, common sense dictates the cyclist should recognise the risk and either be very careful, or dismount whilst passing through. Further, 'right of way' doesn't mean 'in the right' (this is mistake so often made by all road users). It means they have a right to be there, but in all cases one should still exercise caution and common sense. They wouldn't be so cavalier if it was forklift trucks crossing randomly across the path. So no, the cyclist is in the wrong here, imho.

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ttocsy@reddit

I mean on the face of it, it sounds like the cyclist was using a path and your kid ran out in front of him. Now, should he have been more cautious of the risk? Probably, yes. But it does sound like he had 'right of way' in this case, yes, although that doesn't excuse him of negligence.

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Saltyspaceballs@reddit

Cyclist sounds a bit of a bell. I cycle a lot and regularly I have to nip through a pedestrian zone where cycling is allowed, I just go slow, like walking slow, cover the brakes and expect people to walk in front of me without looking. If we all just used some common sense we’d all get a long

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TartanGuppy@reddit

Afaik, No one has a "right of way. You can/should give way, and people or vehicles have priority over others but no-one has a right of way that can or should be assumed

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TheReadyredditor1@reddit

U do not get the right to run pedestrians over.

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WastelandWarks@reddit

Well it sounds like he was being an irresponsible tw@ to me, whether he had “right of way” or not. Was that the only way he could have gone? Glad your child was unharmed. Cyclist too. But it was his fault.

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Euphoric_Rough_5245@reddit

I would say if it was path that had a designated cycle side and a designated pedestrian side then it was the fair’s fault for setting up on both sides of the path and not spacing out the stalls so crowds didn’t form. If it wasn’t then they’re in the wrong. However they should have still dismounted when seeing a crowd of people.

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Queasy_Difference_96@reddit

Cyclist was a twat tbh

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Dry_Curve9126@reddit

Pedestrians have right of way over everything in England. Cyclist is a dicksplash and needs telling. Hope you have his details

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a_paulling@reddit

Not unless they're crowding on a dedicated cycle lane, but even then I'd suggest they exercise a modicum of sense and dismount. Sorry you encountered a proper knob.

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utukore@reddit

Its too subjective. Could you kid have stepped in front of them govong them no time to react? Yes. Could they have been travelling too fast and with not enough care? Yes. Could both of these have been true? Yes. Likewise neither could be true and it was actually caused by another crowd member pushing the cyclist or your kid etc.

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trmetroidmaniac@reddit

Cyclists have right of way through a crowd, red lights, and between moving cars.

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DarthRick3rd@reddit

And the Pearly Gates

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EconomicsAfraid7880@reddit

Cyclists have priority over literally no one. Always carry a sturdy stick.

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SemtaCert@reddit

It all depends on how fast he was going and if your kid walked into the bike without looking at the last minute.

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TrifectaOfSquish@reddit

No, the cyclist was being a dick. In terms of the highway code etc the idea is to protect the most vulnerable other than very specific situations where it's more dangerous to do so

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PrestigiousAide9162@reddit

Given the set up you have described there should really be signs telling cyclists to dismount as if it's a fair with stalls either side of the main path. Surely the main path would be heavily congested with pedestrians

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MurderedByRap@reddit

People on foot have priority over anything on wheels, in almost if not all circumstances.

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MGBGTLE@reddit

No, pedestrians have priority over cyclists.

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EyeAware3519@reddit

Of course not. Cyclist was being a dick.

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