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Thank you for this post. On my first Camino in 2006 (Port route), most cyclists were on the road, and not sharing dirt paths with walkers. 2008 on the Fr route and 2009 on the Sanabres route were also not bad-- cyclists seemed respectful. By 2010's Holy Year and again in 2014, sheer numbers of cyclists interferred badly with walkers. I realize that different times of year mean more or less of such a problem. Just saying... I now don't look forward to walking sections with great increases of cyclists. They pose more of a danger than other vehicles, and seem to forget that their bike is indeed a vehicle.When riding a bike on Camino paths which also have pedestrians on them
1. Assume the pedestrian pilgrims cannot hear you approaching. Bad hearing, conversation, self absorption, focusing on the scenery, traffic noise nearby.... there are a lot of reasons that don't include headphones and music. Given the nature of a Pilgrimage, it should be of no surprise that there is a lot of internal focus for the pedestrian pilgrim.
2. Give a loud enough warning, when you are far enough away, so as not to not startle pedestrian pilgrims. A startled pilgrim is an unpredictable pilgrim and could bolt right into the bicyclists path, causing injury to both. Additionally, it is quite unpleasant to be suddenly frightened.
3. As you approach a pedestrian pilgrim(s), slow down. This helps minimize the large difference in weight and momentum and makes everyone safer.
4. In general, except for those who somehow feel entitled differently, most rules of a shared pathway are based on what is written above and are simply normal commonsense to keep all pedestrians and bicyclists safe: Bicycles and Pedestrians yield to horses. Bicyclists yield to Pedestrians.
5. While it may seem advisable for a pedestrian walking along a pathway to be aware of bicyclists, and it is something one should try to do, pedestrian pilgrims are not responsible for your behavior on a bicycle. They cannot make a warning for the bicyclist, nor use the brakes, nor steer the wheel.
6. Pedestrian and Bicycle Pilgrims are on Camino for a shared goal. Each is there to gain some sort of fulfillment and experience the Camino spiritually or physically, or culturally, or religiously or all of the above. Loving, caring, and respecting one another requires accommodation of differences and nurturing an attitude of giving. Pedestrians can assist the bicyclist by standing aside when you know they are approaching, offering to help with mechanical breakdowns (if knowledgeable), and grabbing a piece of the bike -- with permission -- to help the bicycle peregrino make it up a steep slope or extra muddy path.
Bicycle Peregrinos can be of similar attitude by simply observing the points above.
God Bless Us All; And Let Us Love One Another.
@Marilyn G , based on my experience I would commend and then add to the notes @davebugg has penned above.
Many of the sections from Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire to Santiago de Compstela are indeed sufficiently wide with adequate surfaces to be easily shared by walkers and cyclists.
Equally many sections aong that 1,600 km route are just not suitable as a shared path. The impediments include:
The issue is these are not sign posted ahead and are in the middle of paths that may begin in a promising way. A case in point is the path from Hontanas to Catrojeriz. This is literally a sheep / goat track along the hill side. But you dont know this as you start.
- bridges less than 0.5 metres wide with sharp approaches
- narrow rutted paths
- smooth uneven natural stone surfaces
- rubble strewn steep descents
My strong advice is ride on a road. In Spain:
N135 from Valcarlos to Pamplona
N120 from Logrono to Astorga
There are many regional / provincial options to cover the "gaps"
These are in reasonable proximity to the walkers route. And in many cases these roads would have been the route pilgrims walked before the roads took over. And in nearly all cases where those two roads do not immediately bypass a "camino" town with food or accomodation there is a link road.
In my view it is the journey that matters and what you hope to achieve. Annoying the great majority of walkers you pass, again in my view, is not an achievement to be proud of.
Having said that, I do wish my cycling skills were as they were nearly 60 years ago so I could have a more flexible pilgrimage. Especially on routes such as from Canterbury to Rome. And I was somewhat envious of the several cyclists I encountered on the LU633 west of Sarria as all pulled up the various hills in that region.
It behoves me, @Marilyn G , to say kia kaha (take care, be strong, get going)
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