This morning's commute and other commuting stories

I had an interesting encounter with a ped this morning, at the junction of Horsell and Ronald Rd behind Holloway rd. I was walking with my girlfriend to H&I station, and pushing my bike so that when she got on a train I'd cycle off to work, and a flustered woman stopped me and asked me, as a cyclist, to explain who has right of way at the junction.

Pic of the junction here: http://imgur.com/XQHaEpQ

She was saying that she was walking from C to B to A, and cyclists travelling D to E and vice versa weren't giving her right of way. I realised I wasn't actually sure; since the cyclists are crossing an end-of-a-road line, they're supposed to give way to cars going along either of the roads, sure, but what about peds crossing? And complicating it, should cyclists take into account the safety of stopping suddenly for a ped when there's often a lot of bike and car traffic coming fast behind them?

mistertea is correct. We are very lucky that British law in this respect dates back to the days when the main conflict between road users was between drivers of carriages and people on foot. Sensibly, people on foot have to be considered first and foremost when they're in the carriageway.

http://i.imgur.com/XQHaEpQ.jpg

The modal filter shown is fairly old and a bit of a halfway house. We'd generally recommend the 'Culford filter' now, as seen at the junction of Culford Road and Northchurch Terrace/Road.

Hmm the cycle lane give way signs are there to give way to road users, not peds

Apologies for the pedantic point, but pedestrians are road users. The road or street is comprised of the footway and the carriageway. It's actually a very important distinction to keep in mind, especially if you're campaigning for cycling and walking.

When someone shouts 'get off the road'--you can't, not unless you have a convenient private house, public building or park to dodge into. The road or street is for everybody.