Bloody iPods

Like a number of others on this board, I'm rather partial to taking a turn on my cycle most mornings.

I am fortunate to live in an area with many tens of kilometres of very pleasant bikeways, and similarly some fairly special walking paths so the bikepaths are relatively free of pedestrians. Nonetheless, they do exist.

Pedestrians think they own pathways, and I used to get abused reasonably regularly for "sneaking" up behind them, then I bought a loud horn, and got abused even more for scaring the crap out of them.

Eventually I did the terribly uncool thing, and got a bell. My pedestrians and I have survived very well for the last several years as I gaily tinkle my bell, barely disrupting their perambulation in a "cheerio" sort of way. Some of them even look forward to it.

Today, I nearly killed three of them.

I rang my bell, I RANG MY BELL, THEN I RANG MY BELL but they just kept going in their own little world.

Bloody iPods!~

What am I to do now?

P
:( :( :(

What am I to do now?

Bullbars on the push bike

I always find it ironic that many people who complain about the 'hectic, noisy' modern pace of life, go back to nature to 'escape' it and promptly whack on a walkman/discman/ipod with loud music blasting their eardrums.

nature not cool enough I guess

Cattle prod mounted on front of bike.:rolleyes:

I fell very sorry for the up and coming generation. With all these new personal entertainment devices (iPods - sony PSP - diskman - new cell phones with everything in them etc...) their social skills are not developing all that well. You see them on the public transport and walking the streets in their own world totally oblivious of everyone around them.

get a golf club and do a "happy gilmore" as you woosh past.

how about a squirt to the back of the head with a water pistol

I take it you are passing from behind them?
Simple solution, get a white T-shirt and print on the back clearly in black,
"If I surprised you, it is because you weren't paying attention!" or
"If you didn't hear me ring - your music is TOO LOUD!"
or similar........

Ratbag

When you find a solution let me know. I nearly ran over someone with a walkman who decided to change lanes as I approached. I go pretty slow past peds when I'm on the bike path.

I prefer to ride on the dirt roads. Only have to deal with cars and you can hear 'em a mile off.

Anthony,

What's a cell phone? :rolleyes:

Dan

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Originally Posted by DanP

What's a cell phone? :rolleyes:

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It's what the watchouse boys let you use to make your one phone call.

P

:D :D :D

I put a bell on my bike last year (they tried to sell me this big silver thing with an Aussie flag on it - I said putting a bell on my bike is enough of a leap, believe me. There's no way I'm putting 'Big Ben' on my handle bars. So they sold me an inconspicuous little black one). The reason was because shouting didn't appear to have the desired affect.

My problem down here is not the iPods because no-one can afford to buy one. It's the deaf old dears out for their constitutional who can't hear the bell. Trouble is, they're the ones most likely to keel over from a heart attack as I go whizzing by.

Oh, and the 3 year olds on their trikes who sudden'y dart across in front of you. And then there are the horses. Still, I can't say my daily rides aren't exciting.

I've often felt like writing a letter to the paper about it. One ding means "I'm coming up behind you, please do not be startled or make any sudden course changes". Two dings means "I'm really close to you now and you're still meandering about with no fixed purpose in mind". Thirty or so dings in rapid succession means "Get out of the ####ing way, you geriatric old phart". Do you think it would help? No, neither do I.

Took SWMBO down to the Big Smoke a few weeks ago to see Macquarie St specialist about her smashed finger, and I felt left out because we seemed to be the only ones without something jammed in our ears.

Of course we know why the blondes have one.:D

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Originally Posted by DanP

Anthony,

What's a cell phone? :rolleyes:

Dan

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Sorry - still stuck using phrases from south africa. I think you guys call it a mobile phone?? Cell phone is short for cellular phone so named because the phone network works in cells...

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Originally Posted by anthonyd

Sorry - still stuck using phrases from south africa. I think you guys call it a mobile phone?? Cell phone is short for cellular phone so named because the phone network works in cells...

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Anthony, you were sucked in mate.:D Dan strikes again.:p

Go back to a generator run by the back wheel running air horns, should be suitable for air heads. or change you bell sound for a mobil phone ring tone they all dive for their phones when one goes off no matter what the noise level, so they must be attuned to hear that noise above all others. :D



Rgds


Ashore

You could go for the sound of a machine gun firing - that get's people's attention, and for added realism, you could use a real machine gun ... with real bullets :D

Richard

I'm a grumpy old bastard who hates all this new fangled technology crap and I'll sit here on my computer and use the internet to tell anyone who cares and a few who don't so there:rolleyes:

ok I am pretty confused - is this some joke I am just not getting??

Nope.

iPod users get in my way and can't hear my bell. How long till the iPod causes an accident?

Hope that's clearer,

P
:D :D

Don't worry Anthony, well not until you do get it, then it's too late to get it, cos you already got it, get it? got it ? good. :cool:

I think Anthony is referring to the 'cell phone' exchange, not the iPod problem.

Anthony, if this is so, I think Dan was having a tongue-in-cheek shot at you for using the Seppo term 'cell phone', instead of mobile. I'm sure he's well aware of what a cell phone is but it's part of the seppo-isation that is going on and I'm sure kids will be calling them cell phones soon if not already.

Doh!!!

I'm spending too much time during the day thinking about work!!

P
:D :D :D

Now you know I'm not like Dino or StuartLees flogging my own products but really, we've just completed a major report for Austroads called Pedestrian-Cyclist Conflict Minimisation on Shared
Paths and Footpaths
http://www.abc.dotars.gov.au/project...eractions.aspx

The final report hasnt been uploaded to their website yet but here are some interesting snippets. Unfortunately thre isnt any data on causes of cycle/ped crashes so I cant give any figures. Would be interesting though.

The reality and perceptions of conflict on paths may not be the same, particularly as people often generalise from limited personal experiences – the single upsetting incident will remain in the mind much more clearly than the large number of uneventful occasions.

Cyclists may not slowdown when overtaking pedestrians, or pedestrians may not move over to let the cyclist pass. The conflict may be exacerbated by inattention by pedestrians using earphones and portable music players, hence
unable to hear the cyclist.

Concern was consistently expressed about the lack of use of warning devices by cyclists to alert pedestrians of their approach. At the same time, it was recognised that pedestrians’ responses to a warning may themselves be unpredictable, for a range of reasons, including that the pedestrian may not hear the warning (eg due to hearing impairment or earphones), leading to uncertainty and conflict. This may be best addressed by advice that cyclists exercise caution (including slowing down) when approaching pedestrians, particularly from behind, especially if there is no indication that the pedestrian is aware of their presence. It was also stated that warning devices such as bells are sometimes used as a form of aggression, with the cyclist assuming right of way once the warning had been given.

I didnt do this report so I'm not an expert but it seems that the focus is on what can be done to the physical infrastructure to prevent c onflict between cyclists and peds. There really isnt much you can do about human behaviour. Codes of conduct, education campagins, they realyl only reach those who are courteous anyway.

Unfortunately its up to the cyclist. But we need to provide cyclists with the infrastructure to allow them to handle situations, eg, wide paths, with a good dirt shoulder to allow them to scoot around the ipodded power walkers.

Some of the solutions you cna buy a quite interesting. Theres this device that you allows you to create a car-like vibration in the pavement which alerts peds in front of you. Air horns work too!

Another good idea is signs along the path saying something like:

"Consider that you cant hear the cyclists coming if you've got earphones and stay on your side of the path"

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This may be best addressed by advice that cyclists exercise caution (including slowing down) when approaching pedestrians

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Unfortunately its up to the cyclist

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See, this is the type of unhelpful advice we get from the government all the time. They're all on about 'shared pathways' but when it comes to apportioning of responsibility, there is no sharing going on at all. Why not tell peds that if they are going to use the pathway they need to :

1. Be aware that cyclists use it too
2. Keep left so that they can be overtaken
3. Keep their kids under control
4. Not get the sh!ts when they have to move over to let you pass

I don't know about the majority of paths, but ours has a nice white line up the middle, just like they do on the road. If they kept to the left of it, there'd never be a problem.

It's like the bike vs. car conflict. I can guarantee that the majority of the problem is caused by the ignorance of car drivers but it's always up to the bike riders to overcome it.

No seriously Darren (first names now), what is it that you suggest governments should do?

How do you make you average power walker aware of these things. Education campaigns? Signage? TV adds, brochures? The problem with these measures is that the only people who take notice of them are those that do the right thing anyway.

If you've got a better idea, I'd love to hear it. (Really, not sarcastically)

I like my machine gun suggestion even more now

Richard

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Originally Posted by LineLefty

If you've got a better idea, I'd love to hear it. (Really, not sarcastically)

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Adam,

IMO Education campaigns, Signage, TV adds and brochures is the typical way our governments tackles any problem. They are willing to spend millions to advertise what they claim to have done but spend peanuts to actually fix the problems.

The trouble is they don't work and no one believes any of the advertising by the government any more. We immediately assume it is all lies based on past experience.

The only way to fix this particular problem is to separate the pedestrians from the cyclists like they do in other countries. Build separate paths for each and the problem is solved. Must be cheaper than all the government advertising.:D


Peter.

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Originally Posted by LineLefty

No seriously Darren (first names now), what is it that you suggest governments should do?

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Well, I reckon Darren had a point about cyclists not having a fair go anywhere.

No one has that problem in China, bikes are the kings, and pedestrians stay out of their way! If the bikeways had "pedestrians give way to bikes" signs instead of "cyclists give way to pedestrians" , that'd be a good start!

I've never been abused for my polite bell ringing (until today's iPod episode), but reckon that I should be able to travel at a safe (say 20k) speed without having to get off to go past a walker. I also walk from time to time, and hate cyclists who just sneak up without warning.

The traffic act requires bikes to be fitted with bells, yet they are all sold without them, so why not start there?

I agree with the quotes from the report by the way, except for the requirement to "slow down" which is a meaningless term. My own perception is that "speed" holds more danger for the cyclist than the pedestrian, but the perception of danger is greater for the latter, hence cyclists who don't have a man with a red flag in front of them are all bad!!!

cheers,

P (bells for all bikes)

:D :D :D

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If the bikeways had "pedestrians give way to bikes" signs instead of "cyclists give way to pedestrians" , that'd be a good start!

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Another good idea is signs along the path saying something like:

"Consider that you cant hear the cyclists coming if you've got earphones and stay on your side of the path"

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How about a sign that's gonna teach them they better wake up? Like...
"Keep left unless being run over"

<_<
Ratbag

This thread is becoming a little one sided for the pedal power people
How many of you could honestly say that you obey the road rules when your on the road
How many have
Not come to a complete stop at a stop sign
Never gone through a red light
Never ridden on a footpath when not in the company of a child under the age of 12
Never gone through a pedestrain crossing when someone was in it ( stoped and waited till they had crossed completely not just avoided them)
Never used a " cell" phone while riding
Never changed lanes without indicating
Never travelled in the wrong direction on a road
Never ridden without a helmet( though I think very few would ride without one these days
to name a but a few :D

So do your feelings towards pedestrains on walk/cycle ways mirror the feelings of motorists to you on road ways :rolleyes:



Just A thought to even the debate;)




The Trouble with life is there's no background Music




Ashore

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The traffic act requires bikes to be fitted with bells, yet they are all sold without them, so why not start there?

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Not in Victoria. I've been looking at new bikes and they all have them.

Even up the debate indeed! So how do the following impact on car drivers in any way at all? Well actually they don't, but car drivers get all high and mighty IN CASE a cyclist is breaking the law!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ashore

How many of you could honestly say that you obey the road rules when your on the road
How many have
Not come to a complete stop at a stop sign
Never gone through a red light
Never ridden on a footpath when not in the company of a child under the age of 12
Never gone through a pedestrain crossing when someone was in it ( stoped and waited till they had crossed completely not just avoided them)
Never used a " cell" phone while riding
Never changed lanes without indicating
Never travelled in the wrong direction on a road
Never ridden without a helmet( though I think very few would ride without one these days
to name a but a few :D

So do your feelings towards pedestrains on walk/cycle ways mirror the feelings of motorists to you on road ways :rolleyes:

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I have no problems with pedestrians, IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR EARS FULL OF MUSIC SO THEY CAN' T HEAR MY BELL!!

BTW, cycling on a footpath is legal (and often sensible) in Qld.

Cheers,

P (who drives more k's a day than he cycles, and often walks long distances without the aid of an iPod)

:D :D :D

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Originally Posted by Ashore

Just A thought to even the debate;)

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I actually do not ride at all, but my annoyance is these people who are oblivious to the rest of the world, be they walkers, cyclists, drivers, or anyone....
It drives me :mad: !

Ratbag

Bloody militant cyclists!

The bike isnt king in China, the car is. Thats why we're gettign so much work over there. The'yve nowwhere to park them :). The pushy is a symbol of the poor.

I agree that these advertising campagins dont work! I said it 3 bloody times.

There simply isnt enough money to build separate paths everywhere. Thats not being a greedy government, its a fact of life. (We want more hospital beds, schools, roads and police....and more tax cuts!!)

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The traffic act requires bikes to be fitted with bells, yet they are all sold without them, so why not start there?

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Thats not a bad point, seems a no brainer.

I dont think cyclists can escape responsibility here. Its not fair but they have the vision of the pedestrian so they need to take caution. I commute myself by bike sometimes and I'm sympathetic cyclist casuse, thats why I work in this area!

Now, we've also done a report on bikes in bus lanes and the prioritisation of bicycle infrastructure funding, shall we discuss those?

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Originally Posted by Grunt

Not in Victoria. I've been looking at new bikes and they all have them.

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Even the super triathlon models? I've only seen them on the K-Mart variety!

Maybe we need uniform road laws, and some Act of Parliament to stop your shops dumping their bell-less $10,000 bikes up here!

Rally cars get scrutineered to ensure road worthiness, why don't racing bikes?

Wouldn't it be the most fantastic sound to hear the boys on the Tour ringing their bells on the final sprint down the Champs?

Cheers,

P:D

My wife bought a $200 K mart bike, and was bragging when we got to the shops. Hers sat there nicely perched on a stand while I searched in vain for somewhere to lean my $1000 mountain bike.

Actually, here's yet another point of veiw.....
We obviously don't have bike paths out here, we average about 100km between towns. But we do have a number of narrow windy roads where cyclists like to train, but the council here has been intelligent about this, and left a few feet off the side of the road, identical quality to the rest of the road, just marked with a white line, and yet how often do we see these cyclists on the left of this line? Grrrrrr, it's like they have mental block, follow the line.......... follow the line...... Never mind looking up to see that there is a car coming in front, and listening to the one coming from behind! and the cars have no-where to go as there are cliffs, and drop-offs, the only spare space is the lane left for the bicycles, which is generally empty :(
On the rare occasion, it is even worse than this when a cyclist (usually a tourist) seemingly trying to prove a point, rides in the centre of the lane, this actually isn't legal, as the law says as close as practical to the left, and sometimes, I have had to follow at bicycle pace, while one of these arrogant @*&#*%'s leads me down the middle of the road around blind turns.
Now I consider myself a safe, and polite driver, and no, I have never even honked, though they annoy me terribly, but I can hardly beleive these people do not realise the danger they are causing, if nothing else, then to themselves!

Arrogance it would seem, is like russian roulette......

Yeah know your problem about bike riders, I followed this one for miles.



Al :D

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bell-less $10,000 bikes up here!

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I don't look at $10,000 bikes. :eek: I can tell you that saving 1kg of weight isn't going to make me go faster.

I've actually just bought Ms. Grunt a $750 Giant CRX 3 and me a bike for $750 which I can't remember the name but it has Shimano Tiagra running gear. Both are flat bar road bikes. Pick'em up on Wednesday. :D

Both bikes have bells. I want to get streamers on the handle bar ends and a basket on the front. Do you think pink suits my complexion?