I had two moments on my ride this morning when I was told by a sign to dismount. The first was on the Regent's Canal, just West of the Zoo, where there's some work going on and you have to go on to a jetty thing to get round it. I made a judgement: the dismount sign was probably for my own safety - in case it was slippery on the jetty - or because if there are lots of people it could be a hazard. I looked carefully - there was no-one in sight - so I biked carefully over the jetty. No harm done.
Then I went through a residential area just above the canal. I would normally dismount as there's a bit of a blind corner. But this time I decided I wouldn't, as every time I had dismounted before, I'd literally never seen a single pedestrian coming my way. But this time, of course, there was a pedestrian and although I was creeping along slowly, she was clearly angry (I got the impression this was quite a regular local issue) and told me off, said there could be elderly people coming through, etc etc. I tried to explain that this was the first time I hadn't dismounted but she was clearly angry and didn't want to enter into a conversation.
I left feeling guilty and angry. I got to thinking about the hundred times I had dismounted, but no-one had noticed my good work (!), and how you can ruin cyclists' reputation by one moment like that.
I sort of think I should write a little note and leave it by the bike sign explaining my point of view and apologising if she was shocked when I appeared, and that perhaps I should shout loudly whenever next go through and do dismount, alerting everyone to the fact that cyclists do dismount ... but there's another part of me which says - just forget it, and next time you go through, dismount.
Anyone out there got on any views on whether we should always dismount when we see the sign?
3 comments:
What bad luck! Of course you were in the wrong but she was, understandably, giving you a harder time than you deserved because of previous encounters with cyclists not as considerate as you. It's a judgment call but I think the signs are usually there because of prior incidents and the locals feel strongly about them.
I say you were in the wrong, but admit I probably would have stayed on my bike too and just gone very very slowly (walking pace).
I face a similar dilemma every morning on my way to work. I cycle from Lambeth Bridge along the south bank of the Thames to near the National Theatre. If I ride by the letter of the law I should actually go along the horrible busy road. But if I'm getting to work before 09.30 I just cycle along the riverside. It's such a lovely ride, and safe, and I make sure I go slowly and considerately when I get to the busy bit (near the London Eye). I always feel really guilty but I see police officers every day and they've never told me to dismount so I just carry on. I figure that I'm doing my bit to save the planet and as long as I'm considerate I should be able to enjoy a lovely view on the way to work.
Thanks JJ and Nat - I think you're both right ... you have to use your judgement and normally it doesn't cause a problem. But JJ - I think you're bang on saying that I was in the wrong, and the more I think about it, the more I think that for a few seconds of inconvenience, you can make a big difference to someone's day. So, boys and girls - dismount! dismount! dismount!
Though I will still reserve the right to consider my options if I can see FOR SURE that there's no-one in sight, and I there's no way anyone can appear suddenly or unexpectedly.
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