EvanandSue
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- (2013)
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Yeah, I have yet to have any kind of accident with a walker, but I have had five friends killed on the road. One was hit last week, and is still in a coma.We cycle the path as we feel safer.
Yeah, I have yet to have any kind of accident with a walker, but I have had five friends killed on the road. One was hit last week, and is still in a coma.
Davroos, I can totally understand your frustration. I also like to cycle, but have only walked the caminos. Sounds like you have found the common sense approach to doing both.I hear you Rickster.
My main issue is the pilgrims who insist on wearing headphones and when I ride along, ring my bell, yell out buon camino, and then they abuse me as they could not hear me !!! In the end I threw my bell away as I found it a waste of time !!!
I have walked and cycled so I have seen both sides, some of us don't have the time as we are not students or retired and the only way to complete a long one is to ride it. And after seeing the amount of walkers on the Frances, maybe this is why I have never done this route and kept to the smaller ones when I have walked and the VDLP when I have ridden a longer one
guys u are so right, walking the camino for most people is a break from having to be alert /on your guard, its such aWe are cycling the Camino Frances on the road and have heard many stories about disrespectful cyclists on the walking path. If you must cycle the path (and we are not sure why), make sure you use a bell to warn the walkers of your presence. Also, slow down! A bike hurtling past at more than three times the speed of the walker is most distressing for them.
Cheers
Sue and Evan
And for everyones safety, walkers, please walk without headphones so you can hear the cyclists with the bells
So maybe cyclists can scare walkers, but does this give walkers the right to openly abuse and take the whole road?
There is blame for everyone. I have been surprised by cyclists trying to be polite. Ears generally detect noise from in front, so with a pack and a hat, even a bell may not alert me. Pilgrims walk four abreast oblivious to the chaos they can cause, and far too frequently walk on the right side of the road. I have watched parked cars for a hundred meters, only to have them pull out just as I got to them, nearly running me over. My standing personal joke is that drivers in Spain lie in wait to make me break stride!This is a debate without a resolution
Pedestrians are the softest of the soft targets. They get the most rights.
Ask yourself how you would feel if a heavy truck driver didn't put the safety of cyclists ahead of his?
Ok, I might be the odd one here but ...
Why do cyclists need a bell in the first place? Do you really expect foot pilgrims to make place for YOU? Why not the other way round? If bicigrinos would adjust their speed so that they would be able to share the camino with others WITHOUT the need to warn them of them approaching - wouldn't that be so much more in the spirit of the camino??? Anyway, Buen Camino, however you do it, by foot, on a bike, on the back of an elephant ;-) SY
As you know all pedestrians that includes peregrinos should walk on the left side of a road one behind another . Some do yet others don´t.
Ok, I might be the odd one here but ...
Why do cyclists need a bell in the first place? Do you really expect foot pilgrims to make place for YOU? SY
Really? Common sense should answer that question.Of them approaching? Why don't foot pilgrims have / need a bell? They do sometimes walk faster than other pilgrims ... Just food for thought as I said. SY
There are signs all along the Camino telling pilgrims to walk on the left side of the road.
Never heard this rule in life before !!! Please show me where this is stated?
Riding may cause you to miss the signs. Most of the Porto route is in Portugal. Maybe they don't put up signs. Trust me, the signs are there. I have even had French and Spanish drivers open their car window and tell me to walk on the left (occasionally, my right ankle needs a different path slope to be comfortable). Regardless of signs on the Camino, it is a universal safety rule that one walks facing traffic. I confess to being a bit stunned that you might not know this! You have my congratulations on surviving out there. You do know to ride with traffic on a bicycle, right?Having walked from Porto, walked from Oviedo, ridden twice from Oviedo and ridden from Seville
I totally agree with you. We just finished the Camino Frances last week and couldn't understand why the cyclists were on the walking path and their speed was something else. I have to say though that a few give all the others a bad name. We met some very nice respectful bikers during our walk.We are cycling the Camino Frances on the road and have heard many stories about disrespectful cyclists on the walking path. If you must cycle the path (and we are not sure why), make sure you use a bell to warn the walkers of your presence. Also, slow down! A bike hurtling past at more than three times the speed of the walker is most distressing for them.
Cheers
Sue and Evan
Riding may cause you to miss the signs. Most of the Porto route is in Portugal. Maybe they don't put up signs. Trust me, the signs are there. I have even had French and Spanish drivers open their car window and tell me to walk on the left (occasionally, my right ankle needs a different path slope to be comfortable). Regardless of signs on the Camino, it is a universal safety rule that one walks facing traffic. I confess to being a bit stunned that you might not know this! You have my congratulations on surviving out there. You do know to ride with traffic on a bicycle, right?
As you know all pedestrians that includes peregrinos should walk on the left side of a road one behind another . Some do yet others don´t.
Our camping friends have an annual discussion on common sense. The end result? "If it were "common", everyone would have it! Prior to our camino this summer, I was becoming very frustrated by bikes whizzing past on a local mixed used trail. I started counting and out of 80 bikes that passed me, only 5 offered any sort of warning. So much for us "polite" Canadians! I was quite surprised at the numbers of cyclists on the Camino Frances. There was a higher percentage who offered warning (although still not close to enough) but often the shout came when they were already right upon us. I always yelled "gracias para ding! Ding! Ding!" I'm not sure what that did for people's perceptions of my language abilities, lol, but I wanted to encourage them to keep on warning anyone in their path. I am happy to share the trail but a number of times it seemed,that the expectation was,that I would fling myself and my pack right off the trail for the faster moving bikes! That I am not willing to do!Really? Common sense should answer that question.
I know this universal rule said:You could have fooled me.
Buen Camino!
This wouldn't work for me at home or where I am living. I am from Australia and live in London. If I was to follow this that all pedestrians should walk on the left said:The thing is we weren´t talking about where you are from nor where you live. We are talking about the Camino de Santiago. And here if there is no pavement people have to walk on the left facing the oncoming traffic. It´s the law. In Oz,UK and a few more countries like Japan where traffic flow in the opposite direction pedestrians have to walk on the right facing the oncoming traffic. Because it´s the law there as well.
In fact in London town on the pavement in some places it even tell you on which side of the pavement you have to walk.
Buen Camino!
The thing is we weren´t talking about where you are from nor where you live. We are talking about the Camino de Santiago.
As you know all pedestrians that includes peregrinos should walk on the left side of a road one behind another
This is a debate without a resolution, IMO. It is exactly the same debate that I see in my home town between and among pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. Cyclists complain about rude pedestrians and cars, car drivers complain about rude cyclists and pedestrians, and pedestrians complain about rude cyclists and cars.
But that was not the point, re-read the quote
The point is you ´re trying to wiggle out of it.
But that was not the point, re-read the quote
All pedestrians that includes peregrinos it says, so to me, this says, not just peregrinos, but if you are a pedestrian, you walk on the left side.
And that is about the only remark in this debate that has made any sense.
Personally, I believe that the original person who started this thread is in fact a walker and not a cyclist
In Australia it is law that you must have a bell on your bike. On the Camino, most cyclists didn't. .
Especially annoying were the cyclists who refused to use parallel roadways, instead insisting on endangering walkers on the narrow Camino earthen track.
If I were a betting man, I would bet the other thread will be locked soon! It is too assertive, and will eventually inflame passions. Keeping them separate will at least keep this one open (as long as we behave in it)!Maybe a good time to combine this thread,
Off topic but would they be scuba diving cyclists ? Or should that be Lycra clad ? I mean .....Donkeys and horses come next because they make messes and don't clean up behind themselves; oh, and all those pesky herds of sheep who jam up the path periodically and slow your pace and don't forget the farmers with their cows using the path to get to their pastures. Really! We are walking through their yards, property and fields. Please realize that many of these "neoprene clad" bikers are local clubs out for a ride in regions where they live and are paying income and property taxes which support the maintenance and up keep of the Camino. What did you pay?
, cyclists have right of way versus vehicles.
Bikes are a class of vehicle. You can get a ticket on your driving license while riding a bike.
If a path is marked pedestrian then bikes are already banned. Only paths listed for bikes allow bikes in addition to walkers.
a pair of pilgrims in front of me upon hearing my shouts (again from a distance and until I was upon them) chose not to share the road by allowing me room to manuever past them. The path had room for all three of us. They actually stopped in the road, spread their arms.
I'm sorry your Logrono to Navarette experienced was so spoiled for you.I have previously been shouted down and bashed ( By Irate cyclists) on similar threads in which I have broached this 'Bell' issue.
This year ( I walk part Camino Frances every year) I chose to speak to cyclists and try to understand their side and was suprised to hear how many had taken bad tumbles. They had hearts and were nice peole too.
I noticed that most of them were not the problem - the problem were the local men on training runs , pushing themselvels to the limit - which means SPEED! They have little regard for the walker , if fact we are simply pests to them when they , heven forbid , have to slow down. Very few of these chaps have bells and I think this is where some walkers have developed a bad attitude towards the cyclist in general.
Logrono to Naverette was a nightmare , HUNDREDS of bikes in each direction . Pamplona , Estella and the outskirts of all large towns was one big mountain bike highway - it really spoilt it for me , constanly dodging and looking behind me. - I am seriously thinking of taking a taxi through these streaches next year. My beloved Camino ........under siege.
Even on my daily walks in the States, I walk on the left-hand side of the streets and roads. It's better to see what's coming than to be hit from behind! At least you have an opportunity to jump out of the way! Why don't people have the common sense to already figure that out is amazing to me! Ha!Riding may cause you to miss the signs. Most of the Porto route is in Portugal. Maybe they don't put up signs. Trust me, the signs are there. I have even had French and Spanish drivers open their car window and tell me to walk on the left (occasionally, my right ankle needs a different path slope to be comfortable). Regardless of signs on the Camino, it is a universal safety rule that one walks facing traffic. I confess to being a bit stunned that you might not know this! You have my congratulations on surviving out there. You do know to ride with traffic on a bicycle, right?
common sense is increasingly rare...Even on my daily walks in the States, I walk on the left-hand side of the streets and roads. It's better to see what's coming than to be hit from behind! At least you have an opportunity to jump out of the way! Why don't people have the common sense to already figure that out is amazing to me! Ha!
We are cycling the Camino Frances on the road and have heard many stories about disrespectful cyclists on the walking path. If you must cycle the path (and we are not sure why), make sure you use a bell to warn the walkers of your presence. Also, slow down! A bike hurtling past at more than three times the speed of the walker is most distressing for them.
Cheers
Sue and Evan
I have to agree with the above....Bikes hurtling past, often very close to the walkers because of the narrowness of some of the pathways, was very disconcerting for me, especially at times when I was walking along in my own little world. More than once, I was forced to move out of the way very quickly and at one point, twisted my foot quite badly as a result. I have no argument against folk riding bikes, horses or whatever, along the same paths as we walk, but, a little respect and plain comonsense would not go astray.We are cycling the Camino Frances on the road and have heard many stories about disrespectful cyclists on the walking path. If you must cycle the path (and we are not sure why), make sure you use a bell to warn the walkers of your presence. Also, slow down! A bike hurtling past at more than three times the speed of the walker is most distressing for them.
Cheers
Sue and Evan
I cannot let this one go unanswered. Bell/horns whatever have always been compulsory (and a legal requirement in Oz) and their purpose was to alert those walking ahead that you were approaching. Sadly the cyclist on the Camino are not giving sufficient warning. However this has to be a two-way street/Camino - in other words ALL pilgrims have equal rights. You have to be considerate of the other person. I've had runners almost knock me over when training on a designated walking path so its not just the cyclists who are too intense to see the person ahead. To conclude - yes the use of comonsense would be helpful. Cheers and Buen Camino to both those on foot and bike.Of them approaching? Why don't foot pilgrims have / need a bell? They do sometimes walk faster than other pilgrims ... Just food for thought as I said. SY
Bell/horns whatever have always been compulsory (and a legal requirement in Oz)
However this has to be a two-way street/Camino - in other words ALL pilgrims have equal rights.
Hola Davroos - when did you cycle the VDLP? I hope to ride from Salamanca starting in late Aug or early Sep this year. Any tips would be appreciated. CheersThe VDLP was mainly off road, so there were no signs, same with il Primitivo.
I know this universal rule, it just seems strange when it was stated
I cycle with the flow
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