askchapo

Pedestrians don't always have the right of way. A cycle path is like a road for cyclists. No matter what speed a vehicle or bike is traveling at, there will be a minimum stopping distance. If you as a pedestrian just throw yourself in front of a bike or vehicle without thinking, then you are responsible. There is no speed they can travel at that someone couldn't get hit if they just walk out directly in front of them. Hell, you as a pedestrian have a stopping distance. If you're walking at normal speed and someone just jumps right out in front of you, you're going to run into them.

Was the cyclist traveling at a legal speed for that path? If so, then the liability is likely on the pedestrian. The cyclist needs to not be going so fast that they won't hit someone up ahead of them using the path, whether walking or biking. That is something they can and should be reasonably prepared for. If there is a blind turn, they need to not be going so fast that they can hit someone around the bend. But that is a reasonable hazard that can be prepared for. Or if there is a marked crossing, cyclists also need to not be going so fast that they can't stop in time for people crossing there. But on a straightaway, and someone just comes out of the brush at a random location, not looking, and throws themselves into your path? No, you have no liability there as a cyclist. That isn't a hazard you can reasonably prepare for.

You are basically arguing that it should be illegal for people to ride bike at all, as there is no minimum speed that you can avoid a collision if someone is just going to throw themselves out in front of you.

I recommend not visiting Amsterdam.

Not sure about other places, but a bike lane is for bikes. If you cross it, its your responsibility to check if you can cross, just like when crossing a road for cars outside of an official crossing (and I recommend being careful then as well).

You were wrong, but the cyclist sounds like an asshole.

Here's a guide on being a pedestrian in the Netherlands: #6 - How to survive Dutch people on bikes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLurEnjOeMo

The only sort of pedestrians I dislike are drivers, since they seem to imagine a forcefield around them when they just walk out of blindspots and the like.

You're sounding like one of those types, tbh.