Make room for cyclists

[Duke Fame]

It's about time cyclists had to take driving tests and pay road fund licence, she sa' darkly.

like horse riders do!...not to mention the cleanup of horse manure when I try and cycle or run along middlewood way.

Horseriders should pick up their chariot's mess, whilst on the bike and have a steamer in my path is a dangerous unexpected obstacles.

[Djmell]

And I honestly can't say I've ever experienced a real problem in Marple due to a horse rider not dismounting and clearing up manure.  I don't think there's an abundance of it about and don't find it particularly disgusting anyway.

Do you ride a motorcycle? If not then it won't effect you as you won't tip your vehicle on it's side causing potential serious personal injury to yourself if you run over it at the wrong angle!

You probably don't notice how much of it is on the road, but to be fair you see a lot more in and around Marple Bridge and Mellor.

[JMC]

any chance the cycleists could use the cycle/pedestrian lane propperly comming up dan bank ? dont know how many times the whole rds clogged up because one decides to stay on the rd at 2mph wobbling around in the road so no one can overtake safetly! even after they have made a big wide pavement for you/us to ride on

I really disagree with cyclists being able to ride down the pavement there. Surely it is dangerous with school kids coming up and down there at the same time!

[Lisa Oldham]

My dad used to love it when the horses visited on Bowden lane... Shovelled up and placed on the garden b4 it was cold

[marple_syrup]

I think there is a general feeling that while car users have to be curteous to cyclists, it isn't expected the other way round.  I often wait to pull out onto Stockport Road, when otherwise the road is clear but a cyclist is coming up Dan Bank.  I'll wait just to put the cyclist at ease so as not to nip out in front of them, but it will always take a long time due to the slope and generally I'm left stuck as cars start passing again.
None of them ever even acknowledge me waiting for them, and while you can't expect it, it does feel like 'why do I bother?'.  Not one has even indicated for me to go first, as they are moving so slowly.  Any slow moving car would flash you out, but the cyclist - probably still smarting from another car driver who cut them up down the road - give no quarter whatsoever to the car driver.
There are clearly generalisations on both sides.

And I honestly can't say I've ever experienced a real problem in Marple due to a horse rider not dismounting and clearing up manure.  I don't think there's an abundance of it about and don't find it particularly disgusting anyway.

[rotten john]

any chance the cycleists could use the cycle/pedestrian lane propperly comming up dan bank ? dont know how many times the whole rds clogged up because one decides to stay on the rd at 2mph wobbling around in the road so no one can overtake safetly! even after they have made a big wide pavement for you/us to ride on

[Djmell]

Its fair to say that there are good and bad examples of just about every type of road user.

In my past I have been a cyclist and have ridden horses on the road and am still a car driver and a motorcyclist. Whatever we may think of individuals and their skills/manners, I have yet to see a horse rider dismount and clear up the horse manure left behind them on the road as they ride along the public highway.

On at least 3 occasions over the summer I have ridden around a bend on my motorcycle to find the mess all over the carriage-way. In each case it was almost impossible to miss the mess and one occasion, rather than just a bit of a wobble I very nearly lost complete control of my bike.

Can't think for one minute that any rider really does care about other road users as they would do something about this. Truth of the matter is that everyone is quick to look at their individual needs and very rarely is any consideration truly given to alternative points of perspective.

[chicken lady]

I have watched this with interest. I walk my dog down the Middlewood way almost daily, although she is off the lead a lot of the time, if I see or hear a cyclist (or indeed a horse) I will hold onto her because I know she is fairly stupid, and also because I am concerned that she would be injured if hit by a bike, and also I don't want to be responsible for causing injury to a cyclist. Most cyclists thank me as they pass, but some are incredibly arrogant and rude, one in particular delights in sneaking up on me from behind in wet weather when I have my hood up and riding past so close that I nearly die of fright.
I do consider myself a considerate driver (and have been a cyclist in the past) but the arrogance of some is astounding. 2 weeks ago I was coming up dan bank when an ambulance came up behind, all the cars tried to pull in to the side to let it pass, the cyclist behind me banged on my car tailgate and when I wound my window down, shouted abuse at me for pulling in and blocking his path (he could have been on the cycle path but chose to be on the road). lets hope the ambulance isn't for him next time.

[rsh]

I suspect Adrian is right - I'm 48, use the Middlewood Way and have a bell fitted!   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_My_Bell

I'm in my 20s, cycle down Middlewood Way almost daily and always use my bell. So why does it have to be an "age thing"? Can't it just be that some people are considerate and some aren't?

The only thing which bothers me down there are people who insist on letting dogs off their lead when they've clearly got no control of them. It's a nightmare trying to get past these suicidal dogs seemingly intent on running toward your front wheel. Luckily a majority of dog owners are very courteous and this probably doesn't apply to anyone here, but if you really can't control them - please keep them on a lead!

[Barbara]

Some cyclists on the canal towpaths are absolutely lethal!  And as for sounding their bells (which I thought were a legal requirement on bikes) a lot of them don't even have them fitted.  I am sure it is only a matter of time before somebody walking along the towpath gets knocked into the canal.  Sorry to all the polite ones who use the path - it is the thoughtless ones who get everybody a bad name. 

[My login is Henrietta]

Havn't encountered any such problem, they always seem polite and prepared to move when on MWW. I do have concerns tho when horse riders are on our highways, un-taxed, uninsured and "in charge" of large unpredictable animals holding up the traffic.

Most horse riders have public liability insurance either through their horse and rider policy or through British Horse Society "Gold" membership - mine covers me for up to £10 million. And boy, do we pay tax - VAT at 20% on everything to do with our animals short of fresh air - feed, bedding, stable fees, insurance, tack and other horse clothing, shoeing, vet's fees, medicines and, of course, car and horsebox fuel and tax. My horse costs me about £100 a week in general running costs and this attracts £20 per week in VAT - a great deal more than you spend on your road fund licence.

No-one with any sense takes a totally unpredictable animal on the road (yeah, well, there are a few idiots!) and most of us would like to ride our horses along bridle paths and never have to go on the road but unfortunately to get to the one we are forced to go on the other. (And, for the record, my horse has faced down a fire engine in full cry on a country road and patiently put up with a bus crawling along behind him on an otherwise deserted road, repeatedly applying its airbrakes along within inches his heels when it could have quite easily and safely passed us. His manners are considerably better than many other road users.) And of course, my horse doesn't create anywhere near the pollution that the average motor vehicle does.

[My login is Henrietta]

Please don't get me started about horse riders on the MWW.
They think the" All users side of the MWW" is solely for them to ride side by side and then become rude and obnoxious when you ask them to more over for to pass.

No excuse at all for rudeness but the MWW is a legitimate bridleway.

I do have to agree with you about the rudeness of certain horse riders. As a rider myself I know what mayhem can be wreaked when a car and half a ton of horse collide and I have also had to deal with a horse frightened by a car which passed so close that its wing mirror tore my stirrup off - another fraction of an inch and I would have followed it. Consequently as a driver I treat horses and their riders with respect and pass wide and slow but it really hacks me off when my courtesy is ignored and I am glared at for my pains. A smile and a nod cost nothing but a glare just might deter the driver from being careful around horses in future - it gives all other riders a bad name.

Horses are allowed on the road and the Highway Code has long held that motor vehicles should give way to horses (and other animals such as cattle and sheep). WWW.directgov.org paragraphs 214 and 215 state "When passing animals, drive slowly. Give them plenty of room and be ready to stop. Do not scare animals by sounding your horn, revving your engine or accelerating rapidly once you have passed them. Look out for animals being led, driven or ridden on the road and take extra care. Keep your speed down at bends and on narrow country roads. If a road is blocked by a herd of animals, stop and switch off your engine until they have left the road. Watch out  for animals on unfenced roads.

Horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when overtaking. Always pass wide and slowly. Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider. Look out for horse riders’ and horse drivers’ signals and heed a request to slow down or stop.

The answer to the manure problem is to carry a polybag and collect the poo to put on your roses and veg - it's cheaper than "Growmore" and considerably safer and less of a health hazard than dog poo. (Horses are regularly treated prophylactically for parasites but in any case horse parasites, unlike dog worms, can't be passed to humans.)

[bat man]

I wish some cyclists wouldnt wobble about as this is very dangerouse,okay if your in a race but not good on the public road

[marveld]

I suspect Adrian is right - I'm 48, use the Middlewood Way and have a bell fitted!   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_My_Bell

[Adrian Taylor]

Cyclists on Middlewood Way come in two categories, good mannered and bad mannered. Without doubt it is an "age thing".
Older cyclists (middle age plus) always ring their bell or call out in particular when coming up from behind a walker and are often thanked for it, the younger cyclists do not and can be abusive if you enquire why they did'nt ring their bell or call out when they silently sneak up behind the walker and then attempt to sweep by.
So come on you cyclists give us all a break and get a bell and when you do use it, not too much to ask is it?