The people in my area know absolutely nothing about kiting and I am maybe 1 of 15 kiters total in the central NY area, and only a couple of people actually know what it is. The bad thing about this is that there is no awareness of how dangerous a kite can be. The people obviously aren't stupid just oblivious to what I am doing. Is there any way to get people to not go under my kite and lines forcing me to stop flying. What do you all do to raise awareness or at least keep people from walking right around me and the kite?

Not really much you can do..... try to aim for more deserted fields. Depending on time of year/time of day... maybe the ESF quad or South Campus.

You might also be able to get permission to fly in the back fields of Oakwood Cemetary, and long as you aren't messing with the fields where they are actually plots. I know they used to rent out the caretaker's house as student housing.

PKF member Snowspider is pretty much within a stone's through of you.

ATB,
Sam

ya man people get curious , can be very frustrating at times..... like indigo said try to find empty places or i like to put up either orange cones or some sort of orange caution marker ... seems to keep people aware of my space.....

You can do fairly little about your problem....but...

As you see folks approaching from a distance... you might send the kite all through the wind window.. but SPECIFICALLY touch it to the ground...kind of mark your territory and line distance...see if they veer around or start to give wide berth. This may help them better judge distance to stand clear of... or maybe not.

Curiosity..not understanding danger...sure...that too.

Otherwise YOU must steer clear of them...Zenith the kite til they get past.

Also, there are some people who are, indeed, not stupid, and do kind of understand. They just are passively challenging you as you have made it inconvenient for them to veer off their intended walk line.

Kind of a territorial pissing ...

Yes it's a problem, but I find more based on curiosity, I usually land it have a quick chat and where children are concerned tell the adult to keep them away from the lines etc. Problem is in a public park everyone has a "right" to be there so I tend to be on my best behaviour. Dogs I just dive bomb if the owner has no control over them :D Yappy dogs around your feet are a real issue when trying to fly!!!

Kites are cool. You fly them because they're freakin' cool. People are drawn to em just like you were at some time. And they don't recognized the potential risk. After all its just a kite, just some string and fabric.

I'm with SMW. If you're handling skills allow you to do so safely a hot spin across the window at ground level makes an impression. Works on people and most dogs.

Also, don't be afraid to shout out and/or wave them off. Even get them to come over to you so you can talk to them and explain the risk. Once people know they tend to be good about it. There's always a risk that someone will react poorly to the fa t there's risk and try to get you banned but its rare.

People just don't know. Not stupid, just oblivious,

Cones around the perimeter if your flying static might help. Or might cause a soccer game to break out. Best is to just be safe and as Sam said find a quiet spot. It's not always easy to be nice but sadly we have to.

Motion is friend . If ur moving they stop and watch. If u stop they are coming for u. Had a bugger the other day , knowingly hindering a launch , I was in no hurry so I stretched him and smothered him in kindness and insisted he continue to chat with me well beyond his hinderence initiative...I did give a bit of direction that took him 6 miles upwind, perhaps a bit out his way, but just felt right ... Thought the view would do him good.

"There's always a risk that someone will react poorly to the fact there's risk and try to get you banned but its rare."

^^^this^^^...it sucks but really it's their world and we are just living in it
do everything to protect your access including packing up...once its gone it aint coming back

Quote: Originally posted by PHREERIDER

Motion is friend . If ur moving they stop and watch. If u stop they are coming for u. Had a bugger the other day , knowingly hindering a launch , I was in no hurry so I stretched him and smothered him in kindness and insisted he continue to chat with me well beyond his hinderence initiative...I did give a bit of direction that took him 6 miles upwind, perhaps a bit out his way, but just felt right ... Thought the view would do him good.

:D

I don't have problems with people generally. If I go to the park, I'm not riding but just flying static, so I don't mind curiosity. There is a sled hill that I fly at the bottom of and I put on a show for people sitting at he picnic tables on top of the hill. I actually fly really close to them as long as they are paying attention and like what I'm doing. I often wish I could trade places with them to get a birds eye view of the kites in action.

If I'm riding, I'm usually well off the beaten path with nobody around. I did have a drone following me last time. unfortunately I didn't catch the pilot to talk to him

Having the same issue, I'm considering a sign/caricature showing a person bleeding limbless strangled in front, and happy smiling behind me kiting on a beach.

I usually avoid people in general. Most of the time I shoot for spots that are deserted, or with only a few people around. I always defer to "civilians" and just leave if there are more than a few. I don't have many spots I can fly from and the last thing I want to do is lose those as well. I do have the luxury of being able to go to places during weekdays and don't mind going when its freezing cold and generally miserable outside. I will make some exceptions at places where there's plenty of room (e.g. at lake or beach) where kites are not too far out of the ordinary.

Best not to raise any awareness of the dangers because you'll always be the first one to fly out of the park / beach / etc.
No yelling, signs, catching attention. Just stay clear of the people and make sure you don't endanger them in any way. If that's not possible then you'll have to quit kiting there and look for a less populated place.

Once upon a time many years ago there was a group a school kids who decided to take my buggy for a spin. They poured off the school bus and ran towards the bug. One lad climb in while the others pushed him nearly all the way across the field. What I did next still disturbs me to this day.

I fly on public beaches all the time, and when I see 'em getting close ,I take it to zenith and just chill until they go by. Always be polite! (I can't even believe I said that :o ) Like was said earlier. It's their world ,we're just kitin' in it.:alien:

Agreed. They outnumber us by millions to 1. Odds are not with us. Better if they don't know we are around at all.

Quote: Originally posted by RedSky

Once upon a time many years ago there was a group a school kids who decided to take my buggy for a spin. They poured off the school bus and ran towards the bug. One lad climb in while the others pushed him nearly all the way across the field. What I did next still disturbs me to this day.

Go on please tell what you did Redsky???????????

A couple of years ago I was on my wee local beach with my buggy when a couple tourist that where watching me decide it be a great idea to stand between my buggy and kite I ask them politely to move back. They gave me a funny look and just didn't move. So got a bit piss off and told them in very loud voice to get the f**k away from there! It was then that the lassie spoke in a foreign language to the lad! I got very embarrassed but at least they fecking moved on!

polite and avoidance , use accordingly and by far the only respectful choice , keeps you rolling and them safe distance

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

Quote: Originally posted by PHREERIDER   Motion is friend . If ur moving they stop and watch. If u stop they are coming for u. Had a bugger the other day , knowingly hindering a launch , I was in no hurry so I stretched him and smothered him in kindness and insisted he continue to chat with me well beyond his hinderence initiative...I did give a bit of direction that took him 6 miles upwind, perhaps a bit out his way, but just felt right ... Thought the view would do him good. :D I don't have problems with people generally. If I go to the park, I'm not riding but just flying static, so I don't mind curiosity. There is a sled hill that I fly at the bottom of and I put on a show for people sitting at he picnic tables on top of the hill. I actually fly really close to them as long as they are paying attention and like what I'm doing. I often wish I could trade places with them to get a birds eye view of the kites in action. If I'm riding, I'm usually well off the beaten path with nobody around. I did have a drone following me last time. unfortunately I didn't catch the pilot to talk to him

love my solitude! as well taking advantage of darkside.... lotta concern with WHERE, its always same, my experience is defined by WHEN ....in constant change, i find nocturnal intense with no one around. man, best when we are not blinded!

Quote: Originally posted by alasdair macleod

Quote: Originally posted by RedSky   Once upon a time many years ago there was a group a school kids who decided to take my buggy for a spin. They poured off the school bus and ran towards the bug. One lad climb in while the others pushed him nearly all the way across the field. What I did next still disturbs me to this day. Go on please tell what you did Redsky???????????

Haha, I was testing to see if anyone reads my posts. What I did next was nothing too exciting. Back then I owned a Mitsubishi 4x4 with a row of roof lights, it looked kinda menacing but I never actually went off road in it...until now. :D I gave chase. They soon gave up the buggy but I wasn't done having fun. I kept chasing them. The look of terror in their eyes. :D

That sounds pricless. Wish I could easily just chase people away. Right now I just have the 3m and it is probably not as terrifying as a huge 9m which hope will scare the crap out of them. I actually had a guy come up to me the other day and ask if he could give it a try. As much as I hate talking to people I actually really enjoy trying to teach people to fly. But anyways I said yes and he didn't wait a second and just snatched the handles while the kite killers were still attached to me and he started trying to pop the kite up. Luckily I was able to stop him in time.

Quote:

Haha, I was testing to see if anyone reads my posts. What I did next was nothing too exciting. Back then I owned a Mitsubishi 4x4 with a row of roof lights, it looked kinda menacing but I never actually went off road in it...until now. :D I gave chase. They soon gave up the buggy but I wasn't done having fun. I kept chasing them. The look of terror in their eyes. :D

You shoulda pulled the sword out and gave chase with it held high overhead yelling 'there can be only one'.....

Quote:

You shoulda pulled the sword out and gave chase with it held high overhead yelling 'there can be only one'.....

Now, that just shows how old this lot is. Makes me feel... at home.

nice one redsky, i don't take the bait but felt sure someone would.

Quote: Originally posted by wolphy

Quote: You shoulda pulled the sword out and gave chase with it held high overhead yelling 'there can be only one'..... Now, that just shows how old this lot is. Makes me feel... at home.

...its the quickening

.... There is FB page for CNY kiters ..... not sure if you seen it .....
https://www.facebook.com/groups/353484838125341/