• IN my experience where pedestrians and cyclists are sharing the same way, be it towpath, pavement, river path etc, if the cyclist is applying common sense, there’s no problem.

If the cyclist is respecting the pedestrian’s right of way, and travelling at no more than 5mph when passing or near to the pedestrian, very few pedestrians will object to the cyclist.

They can appreciate that a cyclist acting with common sense presents no more danger than if he or she were wheeling the bicycle along. Unfortunately, some cyclists do not conduct themselves according to the requirements of decency.

I was on the canal on my bicycle and following a woman through the tunnel under Kentish Town Road, going at her speed and keeping a respectful distance behind her.

As we were about to emerge, a cyclist travelling in the opposite direction – at some speed – came to a stop with half his bicycle inside the entrance of the tunnel and directly opposite me, where I had been forced to stop.

But instead of then proceeding to give way to me by moving past me on the side where there was space, he spoke. “Which way do you want to go?” I replied: “I don’t know; whatever.”

“You need to move,” he said. “No, you need to move,” I replied.

He then dismounted and went past me uttering under his breath some words doubtless expressing debased and degrading sentiments and intentions. What a disgrace he was!

ANTHONY ANDREA
Montpelier Grove, NW5