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Old Walkers
on riding Manly Dam today I had to love the attitudes of the old walkers on riding past after slowing down i would greet with a hi or hello something along those lines and they would just ignore or huff at me. All the younger walkers below 40 were great all talkative, friendly etc just the oldies maybe next time when i see an old walker i will speed up and flick the rear wheel and spray them with dirt. Also what's with runners running in the wrong direction up single trails around the dam?
thats my little complaint for the day
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Lets not generalise. Not all old walkers are rude to riders. I have had plenty a friendly hello from all age groups. I sometimes don't however get a hello from a fellow young cyclist I might pass! Also, where is the rule book that says there is only one direction around the dam. During the week when it's not so busy, there is no issue with going in either direction. I and many of my friends both run and ride around the dam, in both directions. If we are running, we can hear a cyclist approaching and get out of the way. It's just about having a bit of consideration and common sense for all user groups of the dam. We all love using and being in the bush. Let's stop the antagonism, relax a bit, and just enjoy being out there!!!!
Mate... you are being friendly and don't like it when others aren't friendly in return.
Instead of allowing that to make you sink to that unfriendly level yourself, just shrug your shoulders and carry on.
Specifically, please don't go around being rude to every old walker just because most of 'em don't greet you... this is a sure fire way to get those few that might still say hello offside real fast
I wasn't saying I was going to be rude, I always greet everyone i pass and will continue to regardless of what they are doing i am simply just stating that since all this Dam stuff happened over the past month that as a majority the old walkers seem to have there nose out of joint and have lost basic manners this is just something I have noticed and maybe all the old grumpy's come out to play when I ride. I was only having a gripe.
In regards to walkers/runners going anti-clockwise (the wrong way) around the trail I think it is safer as they can see us coming rather than us running up behind them and scaring the crap out of them as they jump to the side in fear...
I have the same policy when walking on the road through suburban streets - best to face the traffic.
With regards to getting the grumps from walkers, I just give my best cheesy grin and "Isn't it just an absolutely awesome day!?"
Then it's absolutely clear that it is their choice to be grumpy.
So my advice is - make a game of it: leave them no room to move! Give 'em your best cheerful happy greeting. Smiles are free, after all. And if nothing else is clear, they need yours a lot more than you do, so be generous. LOL
you think THEY are miserable? try riding through Narrabeen Lakes, THEY are grumpy! I have started working from Dee Why rather than St Ives so thought I would come today via the wakehurst and round the lakes as its sooo pretty and adds some ks onto the way to work - not ONE person managed to even acknowledge me except with a most grumpy face and scowl... i cherrily shouted hello a second time as i went past and waved...gotta amuse myself I say!
Yep i know what your saying I live at narrabeen and ride around there probably 3 - 4 times per week and its the same thing a good 75% of the time.
On a sunny weekend it can get crazy with the number of people on the trail around the Lagoon.
I find the situation is worse when there's more people about - its just impossible to say G'day to everybody you pass every 2-3 seconds.....
It gets especially busy around the kayak shop & cafe's with people & kids milling about feeding the ducks & fish.
You just have to take it very slowly here - I had to laugh at a couple of serious MTB'ers there on Sunday, as they were scowling at all the people in their way on the path. (I was returning a kayak-hire to the shop).
I've noticed that in Warringah Council's Draft Bike Plan that this shared pathway is audited as requiring an upgrade.
Perhaps they intend to make it wider & mark it with cycle logos so that its clearer to pedestrians that cyclists are likely to be about.
Maybe it's the people who walk on the weekends that get a bit grumpy due to the amount of traffic. I regularly ride the Dam on weekdays and I get nods and smiles from nearly every walker I pass. I also make a point of thanking them when they move out of my way and they usually reply with a 'no worries'.
As for bikes going the opposite direction - that is a recipe for disaster and it should not be allowed. ESPECIALLY on weekends. The only time I would consider it is at night.