Bicyclists and Right-of-Way on the Camino?

[InOrlando]

Hello,
I walked the Camino Frances during the Holy Year of 2010, and it was somewhat crowded. But not overly so: the people were wonderful, and we never lacked a bed. But the bicyclists were dangerously high in numbers: At least once per day we would be crowded off a narrow path--often at great risk--in order to let the bicycles ride by.

So I'm wondering: What are the rules for bicycles on the Camino?

One hospitalera said that bicycles were not allowed on the narrow paths; however other forum members have disagreed. What's the policy about bicycles on the Camino?

[geraldkelly]

There isn't an official policy on bicycles on narrow tracks (and they're a pain, especially the guys - and they are invariably guys - who whistle at you to get out of their way). 2010 was particularly bad in Galicia.

[Covey]

There is apparently a law/rule in Spain that cyclists using the same path as pedestrians should use a bicycle bell to warn walkers that there is a bicycle coming up behind.

Very few cyclists on the Camino Frances appear to have a bell and even fewer use it!!

There is a designated cycle route for the Camino Frances, but the cyclists prefer to use the walkers route because it is off the main roads and they think it is the "genuine route".

Being generally grumpy, especially at dawn, I will not leap into the ditch to make way for the cyclists. On the walkers track, we have priority, and the cyclists can wait.

There is one problem however and that is the increasing number of walkers who are plugged in to their music player and who cannot actually hear anything coming up behind.

[joe]

Im on the camino now and i can say that cyclists should use their own path! There are very well waymarked signs that points to a road for cyclists and a path for walkers... however you get idiots on bikes riding past you and sometimes they dont even warn you they are coming... but then i laugh when i reach a rocky steep climb and they have cut their leg trying to get up it, serves them right for taking the wrong path

[unadara]

Oh Joe that is not kind! Hope your feet are well. Any blisters? How you feel now you on last week ?
Una

[Gazza]

We were on tha Camino last year as well & agreed, Cyclists are a pain in the bum. The lack of forewarning & then the pace at which they pass you can give you a real fright at times & removes your mind from that happy place you had gone to.
They should stick to the roads, & considering some the tracks they were on, i reckon they are are few sandwiches short of a picnic.

[Covey]

The odd cyclist never seems to present much of a problem, but when you get a cycle club "doing the Camino" you can end up with 20 riders in a bunch and they seem to assume that us baggage mules enjoy standing in the ditch watching them ride by.

The efforts of some local authorities to smooth the path for the walkers merely increases the speed at which the cyclists go, which is not so good.

[Lipka149]

I don't recall ever being bothered by the bikers on the trail. A lot of them used their bells and I became adept at listening for the sound of their tires. Those wide, knobby tires make quite a distinctive hum. In passing, they would wish us buen camino, and we always returned the sentiment.

I do recall enjoying their many-colored outfits. What a fashion show !

One gripe though ... man, could they SNORE !!!

[HuskyNerd]

I narrowly missed being clipped by bikers a couple of times on this year's Camino, usually on the most difficult paths. It's good to remember a couple of things:

First, there are local bikers and pilgrim bikers. Local bikers seem to consider walking pilgrims an annoyance on "their" bike paths. They may or may not shout "buen camino" or care at all about your lovely walk in their country! These bikers turn out late in the day or on weekends and can be distinguished by their lack of paniers and scallop shells. Although they're less polite, they should still be respected since they are actual locals who are out enjoying themselves. We are the strangers and guests in their country and we're walking some of their best pathways.

Second, on some steep downhill sections pilgrim bikers find it very difficult to take their hands off their grips and politely ring a bell. Clearly some of these paths are too challenging for the abilities of some of the bikers and they sometimes find themselves careening down a difficult pathway with a heavy bike, poor traction, pack-laden walking pilgrims in their way, and only a rocky slope to welcome them if they fall. If you get a "buen camino" from them on the way down you're lucky. The wiser pilgrim bikers avoid the most difficult downhill stretches and take the road through these parts, even though it often is longer and filled with annoying switchbacks.

Third, some local or pilgrim bikers have learned that ringing a bell or shouting a warning will sometimes cause a pilgrim to suddenly turn and/or jump out of their rut. These bikers believe, sometimes correctly, that it's best just to slip by us rather than cause us to make an unpredictable jump that we believe will put us out of their way, but that actually makes their job of trying to get around us a little more difficult.

I'm not sure there's really any way to fix the problem inherent in sharing pathways with bikers. I just hope we'll all be patient with each other and remember the joy of each doing the camino in his/her own way.

[Lipka149]

Local bikers seem to consider walking pilgrims an annoyance on "their" bike paths. They may or may not shout "buen camino" or care at all about your lovely walk in their country!

Oh Sandy ! This was so not true when we walked. I vividly remember some young bikers giving us directions when we lost our way.

These bikers believe, sometimes correctly, that it's best just to slip by us rather than cause us to make an unpredictable jump that we believe will put us out of their way, but that actually makes their job of trying to get around us a little more difficult.

One of the things I tried to do as I made my Way, was to LISTEN. Not just to people talking, or my Inner Voice, but for the sound of those bikers coming up behind me. Maybe my good experience was because I made way for them in advance so that they didn't have to worry about jumping unpredictably !

I'm not sure there's really any way to fix the problem inherent in sharing pathways with bikers. I just hope we'll all be patient with each other and remember the joy of each doing the camino in his/her own way.

I think you offer half of the solution, Sandy. Patience, yes. Add to that a spirit of generosity. One of the joys of the Camino is knowing that one has made another pilgrim's journey a little easier. After the first few bikers passed, I thought about them, and the challenges they faced along the Way. Watching bikers who had traveled twice or three times the distance I had walked being turned away at albergues because space was being saved for us hikers helped me understand one of the unique difficulties they faced. It made me acutely aware of them as fellow travelers, and worth the recognition as such. My Camino became, in part, a matter of making it easier for them to do it their way. It worked for me ...

[HuskyNerd]

Thanks for your note, Lipka. I realize now that I implied all local bikers find pilgrims to be an annoyance. It's surely not true always -- but sometimes it is. I had 4 local bikers nearly run me down as they enjoyed a downhill stretch of the camino at top speed. All I could do was step off the trail and get out of their way. No "buen caminos" from this testosterone-fueled group. On the other hand I also had several local bikers offer me water as I climbed the hill outside Castrojeriz late one hot day. When they passed me at the next rest stop they were very kind in asking me again if everything was ok.

[katkin]

i can't complain too loudly about the cyclists on route. There was one lovely man, singing at the top of his voice as he came down a nasty, rocky stretch. You could hear him well before he/or we became an obstacle. i believe his death grip on the handle bars was preventing him from using his bell and he had a lovely loud singing voice, so problem solved!

Then there were the group, who obviously didn't have bells and so cried out "Bling Bling" as they came close! Made me smile.

The only other reason I really can't complain is because, to be quite honest, there's something quite satisfying about watching a group of young, fit Italians ride past with their tops off!

[Lipka149]

The only other reason I really can't complain is because, to be quite honest, there's something quite satisfying about watching a group of young, fit Italians ride past with their tops off!

You go girl !!!

[Covey]

So thats why so many of the female walkers have such big smiles on their faces!!!!!!!!!!!! And I thought it was because they were so happy at the thought of meeting us Recycled Teenagers in the evening for a cold beer!!

Life is but a snare and a delusion!

[Gazza]

Women can be so shallow..... lol

We men wouldn't even notice a topless lady riding by...............

[katkin]

Women can be so shallow..... lol

We men wouldn't even notice a topless lady riding by...............

Too busy watching where you're putting your feet?

[Gazza]

Well we can't do two things as once, except drink beer & eat hamon rolls

[Lipka149]

Too busy watching where you're putting your feet?

Staying mum on this lest I put foot in mouth ...