Advocacy: Why We Do What We Do
Mike Watson | Advocate Coordinator , Pedal Power ACT
Chapter Seven: Human Behaviour at Human-Powered Speeds
This chapter looks at two things:
How we avoid collisions when we are moving slowly enough to rely on instinctive human behaviour.
How we manage to avoid collisions when travelling too fast to rely on instinct alone, by using well-designed paths, clear signage, and consistent, rules-based behaviour to keep everyone in a safe system.
From there, we connect these behaviours to the Share the Path guidelines, showing how they reflect the way people naturally move and react, and how they work even better when everyone plays their part.
The Rules in the ACT Today
But here’s the thing: these Share the Path signs appear roughly every 500 metres on main and principal cycle routes in the ACT, but almost nobody can explain all the statements on them if you ask. If more people understood and applied these rules, they would be far more effective.
How Your Instincts Work to Avoid Collisions
As discussed in Chapter 5, your eyes and brain are remarkably good at predicting potential collisions. You instinctively judge whether someone is moving sideways relative to distant stationary objects in your view.
No sideways movement? You are on a collision course unless someone changes speed or direction.
Sideways movement? You are on track to pass each other safely.
Usually, both people in a “conflict pair” make small adjustments to increase separation, signalling without words that they have agreed on the avoidance manoeuvre.
Why the Faster Person Has More Responsibility
When overtaking, the faster traveller can see more of the situation, so they should take primary responsibility for avoiding a collision.
The faster person adjusts their path or speed.
The slower person cooperates by holding their line and not changing speed unexpectedly.
It is cooperation. One person may be doing more of the work, but both have a role.
How Can You Improve on the “See and Avoid” Technique?
“See and avoid” works, but it can be improved by using attention-grabbers that make you more visible or audible to the other person in your conflict pair. Hazards can be missed not only because someone is distracted, but because there is too much to process in too little time, a hazard is hidden in a crowd, or it blends into the surroundings.
That is why deliberate alerts matter.
Motorbikes have engine noise.
Emergency vehicles use sirens.
In the Netherlands, cyclists ring their bell when overtaking and get told off if they do not.
Quiet vehicles, like most bikes, benefit more from this deliberate alert. You might not need it if you are sure the other person has already noticed you, but if you are not sure, do not rely on them hearing you by chance.
The Importance of Safe Passing
If you are approaching a situation in a way that makes others feel unsafe, something is wrong. It does not mean a collision will happen, but it does mean they are not confident you will avoid one. That doubt comes from margins of safety being too close.
The solution is to increase the margins of safety by:
Giving generous space.
Adjusting your passing speed.
This applies not just when overtaking, but also when converging or approaching head-on. Larger safety margins build trust and make the path feel welcoming for everyone.
Building Cooperative Behaviour
On country roads, drivers often nod or wave to acknowledge each other. The same courtesy can work between path users. Even a quick “morning” or “hiya” builds a cooperative environment and makes it more likely you will work well together next time you meet.
How Instincts Link to the Guidelines
The Share the Path rules reflect instinctive behaviours.
Bikes give way to pedestrians → The faster vehicle yields in a conflict pair.
Pedestrians do not block the path → Cooperation with every potential conflict pair.
Sound your bell or warn on approach → Alert the other person to your presence.
Control your dog → Because unpredictable dogs and extendable leads can be hazardous for everyone.
The Reality of the Active Travel Network
Compared with roads, active travel routes see far more variety.
People of different ages, abilities, and attentiveness levels.
A mix of pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooters, mobility devices, trikes, and even shopping trolleys.
A wide range of speeds, from strolling to near-road-bike pace.
Many people are not as focused on traffic as they would be on a road. They might be chatting, listening to music, on their phone, or just enjoying the view. Some may have hearing or vision impairments you cannot see.
Rights, Not Licences
On the road, a licence is required and can be taken away for unsafe behaviour. On the active travel network, no licence is required, and it is open to anyone walking or using a legal device.
That means:
Do not assume others will behave predictably.
Nobody has an absolute right of way.
The safest approach is to expect diversity, expect unpredictability, and act in ways that accommodate both. Hope for cooperation, but do not rely on it. Be the person who makes the path safer for everyone.
