In respond to the issue “Whether
cyclists and pedestrians can co-exist in the same space” by the
Straits Times - Mr Johnny Seto, 39, a technical officer, said some
cyclists shouted at him when he refused to give way on the
footpaths. “They kept sounding
their bells but I deliberately blocked their way,”
he said. (The Sunday Times 17 Feb 08 - Readers
say “no” to shared footpaths)
Are you like Mr Johnny Seto, a
pedestrian who seems to own the footpaths?
What will you do, as a cyclist, if
you meet one like Mr Johnny Seto on the footpath?
Both cyclists and pedestrians need
to share the blame. But first of all, let’s get one thing straight:
Pedestrians have the right of way on footpath. Period.
Having said that, it is easier for
pedestrians to give way to cyclists than it is the other way round.
All a pedestrian need to do is to walk to one side. Conversely, for
a cyclist to give way, they sometimes need to dismount from the
bike, push the bike past the pedestrian, remount the bike, and
cycle on etc.
The problem is that cyclists must
recognize that pedestrians make way for them out of courtesy, not
because cyclists have the right of way or that cyclists can bull
their way through pedestrians. Accordingly, every time a pedestrian
make way for a cyclist, it is an act of courtesy when must be
returned. A simple "thank you" will do nicely.
But how often do pedestrians get
this basic courtesy returned from cyclists? They ring their bell
incessantly as though they own the road, and when pedestrians give
way to cyclists, they just cycle past as if they have the right of
way. This action will cause some pedestrians (like the
aforementioned Mr. Johnny Seto) to take a hard stance against
cyclists, which in turn makes cyclists even more reckless. It is a
downward spiral which could be avoided if cyclists will just ease
off the bell a bit, and say “thank you” whenever a pedestrian make
way for them.
