Helly Welly Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I just had an argument with someone at my daughters school as they always ride on the pavement whereas i never do. His argument was that it was safer and that if i got hit by a car i would wish i had ridden on the pavement. I countered that if i was in a car accident i wouldn't wish i had driven on the pavement and that riding on the pavement was illegal. He then implied that i was insane Why is it that if you obey the law and actually think about people other than yourself you are insane I know cycling on the road can be hairy but i always take the safest route, even if its not the most direct, i always wear a helmet and reflective gear, which of course the person i was arguing with also never does. I just feel that we don't need more people giving cyclists a bad reputation as this makes it more dangerous for all of us. Car drivers fume at cyclists that don't obey the laws of the road and then don't drive as safely when passing them. Sorry about the rant, but i'm still fuming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 No I don't cycle on the pavement and like you always try to take the safest route, I did cycle along the canal bank last night but was always careful to stop if somebody was on foot infact i only saw one other person so it wasn't a problem...................... If somebody is cycling on the pavement I can't say it bothers me as long as they keep out of pedestrians way, I wouldn't be very happy if I had to stop to let them past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 No because as you say it's illegal! Although I have been know to take shortcuts (there are a lot of ginnels where we are) and will ride slowly and carefully - but ONLY if there are no pedestrians about. Otherwise, I get off and push. But other cyclists also use these alleys, and some do not bother about pedestrians, children, pushchairs and seem to think they have right of way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I get VERY annoyed when adults cycle on the pavement as it means that car drivers expect all cyclists to ride on the pavement. I will NOT be pushed off the road. Even when Layla was tiny I took her on the road around town as you can't make progress on the pavement (if you want to show consideration to other users). She now travels on a trailerbike and we always go on the road, except when crossing our main river bridge if it is busy, as it is quite narrow. I have to admit that as an ex-racing cyclist I am very confident about my bike handling and my ability to accelerate when needed! I do understand that some people might find traffic intimidating - and the great car culture we have means that people do use their cars as a weapon sometimes (eg when they are in slow moving traffic and are being overtaken by a child on a trailerbike, I kid you not). However, most of the time, most people are considerate to us and many have a little smile at our contraption. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Dan it is legal for children up to a certain age to ride on the pavements isn't it? I have no problem with children riding on the pavements. I too think it is a shame that with the traffic the way it is we have no choice, as responsible parents. to encourage them to stay on the pavements as long as possible. Its the same as the walking to school thing - if there were more of them doing, it it would be safer for all. I have not been to Holland for years but when I was there they seemed to have it right. Bikes had priority and there were so many of them at peak times there was almost no point in trying to drive into town! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I can't believe this has been posted today - I almost knocked over a pavement cyclist last night I was pulling out of Sea cadets at night time onto an unlit road with no lamps or anything, & this cyclist with NO LIGHTS cam whizzing along the pavement in frount of my car. I literally missed him by inches One thing that makes me mad about cyclists is when there is a bunch of them & rather than being single file they are all 2 or 3 abreast On the bendy country lanes around my house there are no pavement, but to take up a third of the road with your 2 bikes is just as bad (& the polo stables down the way do this too,with their horses) It is so dangerous, & I think its illegal too (isn't it?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 It may be illegal, but there is "Ooops, word censored!"ody around in Alcester so why not? If it is crowded I ride on the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Sarah I appreciate your problem about bunches of cyclists on country roads. Unfortunately if they do get into single file you might still have a problem as they make a long line and there would be visibility problems so you may not be able to overtake anyway. When I used to go out, the etiquette was to get into a line if it meant a car could pass safely and wave them through. (I think that is what good horse riders do too). Large groups should separate into smaller bunches if they are holding up the traffic. As with all road users there are good uns and bad uns though! Most cyclists are also drivers (and yes as such they pay road tax too!) so they do know how you feel. But remember they are much more vulnerable so they may sometimes ride defensively. Remember the big group that got ploughed into with several being killed a few years ago? There is NO excuse for riding without lights, on or off the pavement. Sorry, I have strong feelings about cyclists getting a raw deal but I do know there are some stupid ones out there. Just as there are many inconsiderate drivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 It does very much depend upon where you live as to whether or not you take the risk doesn't it? I would say we are pretty fortunate round here. Having said that in the last 12 months two teenage boys from this area have been knocked off their bikes and killed whilst riding very sensibly on the road. Don't know what the answer is though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Tina,don't think I am having a go at cyclists in general - that was not my aim at all I just don't like going around a sharp bed to find a bunch of 5 cyclists all 2 or 3 abreast coming towards me. It happens so often around here,& while I am aware that there may be a group of cyclists taking up a lot of the road around the next corner, someone who is not so local may not be. I have to dive into a bush to get out of their way, when if they had been in single file I could have passed them safely. It often seems that both cyclists & horse riders are in bunches so they can chat I am afraid, rather than thinking about the other road users out there. The horse riders do not get into single file to wave cars through here.There is a group of them from the Polo stables down the raod who ride a horse & lead up to 3 others at the same time to exercise them,4 at a time. So they are in a permenant "bunch" , & it is a nightmare sometimes when you just can't see ahead to know that they are there. Believe me,I am all for cycling,horse riding & so forth, but when it is done with due care & considertion towards others. Dan,I think I have heard that children up to a certain age can ride on the pavement too. I might go & have a look at my Highway code later to check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I don't think I would dare, as I teach safe cycling at my children's school!! althogh I have let my children do it when they were younger karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 Tina,don't think I am having a go at cyclists in general - that was not my aim at all I just don't like going around a sharp bed to find a bunch of 5 cyclists all 2 or 3 abreast coming towards me. It happens so often around here,& while I am aware that there may be a group of cyclists taking up a lot of the road around the next corner, someone who is not so local may not be. I have to dive into a bush to get out of their way, when if they had been in single file I could have passed them safely. It often seems that both cyclists & horse riders are in bunches so they can chat I am afraid, rather than thinking about the other road users out there. The horse riders do not get into single file to wave cars through here.There is a group of them from the Polo stables down the raod who ride a horse & lead up to 3 others at the same time to exercise them,4 at a time. So they are in a permenant "bunch" , & it is a nightmare sometimes when you just can't see ahead to know that they are there. Believe me,I am all for cycling,horse riding & so forth, but when it is done with due care & considertion towards others. Dan,I think I have heard that children up to a certain age can ride on the pavement too. I might go & have a look at my Highway code later to check You do seem to have problem riders, it's dangerous to ride and lead even one horse, but more is just stupidity. The cyclist with no lights I would ride on the road in theory but in practice I don't cycle as would be terrified of going on the road. I'm not sure how many drivers would check for a cyclist before turning. I'm not 100% sure I would see one on a very busy road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I was nearly hit by a baseball cap wearing oik on a bike yesterday in Sheffield city centre, on a paved area called Fargate. He missed me by a whisker, as he weaved among the pedestrians in a PEDESTRIANISED AREA. I have a lot of respect for people with green ideals who wish to cycle to work etc, and as a motorist, I always try to be considerate towards cyclists. Why can they not return the favour. IT IS ILLEGAL TO CYCLE ON FOOTPATHS. Just because the cyclist perceives it to be safer, (or because they secretly are aware that their cycling skills are inadequate)...it does not mean that it is acceptable. I wonder what the legalities are when a pedestrian is hit by a bike on a footpath or in a pedestrianised area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I don't cycle on the pavements, instead I tend to go cycling on the road whilst following Dad. It's safer that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 ooooh, don't get me started on cyclists riding on pavements! I will keep this as brief as I can, otherwise this will turn into a mini novel I can understand children riding on the pavement if it is a busy road - but they MUST be taught certain manners i.e. they DO NOT have priority over pedestrians, not to run over pedestrians and to get off and push the bike if the pavement conditions will cause them to wobble (e.g. if they are avoiding wheelie bins) or if there are loads of people around. Adults should not ride on pavements and if they insist on doing so they should also follow the above rules. I spent a while living on a one-way street off Mill Road in Cambridge and was soooo sick of careless cyclists. I have massive scratches down both sides of my car where cyclists have gone down the narrow pavements and wobbled and scratched my car with their handle bars or pedals. They also ride the wrong way down the road and when a car comes the other way they squeeze up to the parked cars and scratch that side as well........grrrr, grrr, grrrr, grrrrr, grrrrrr and why is actually buying and using a bicycle bell so flippin unpopular? [sorry I tried not to rant - but failed ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I think that cycling on the pavement is actually illegal whatever your age. But I do not advocate children riding on the roads before they are old enough to be safe. However the pavements are for pedestrians and ALL cyclists should respect that. The onus is on the cyclist to slow down/ get out of the way/stop etc and the pedestrian should always have right of way. If cyclists remembered this, I don't think there would be a problem. I too suffer with cycling clubs on narrow, windy lanes. They often cycle in 2s or 3s across the road and, if I am travelling in the opposite direction, the outside cyclist seems to make sure he cycles as close to the middle of the road as he can. (They seem to be men ). This means that I can't really proceed as I am risking knocking them off their bikes. It feels deliberate and makes me really cross. The horse-riders are fine and seem to respect the car traffic. Everyone has a right to be on the road and no user is superior. I frequently trail along behind a cyclist on the lanes because I can't overtake. It doesn't bother me at all, I just get worried in case the cyclist is feeling pressured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I do on a particular road because it is a 50 limit but "Ooops, word censored!"ody sticks to it and the path is never used by pedestrians. However as soon as I reach the village I use the road Something I really hate is when cyclists creep up behind you on pavements Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I think that cycling on the pavement is actually illegal whatever your age. It's not...You just have to cycle on the roads once you reach 12 years old. Therefore if you're 11 or under it's fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I think it is! 22 Nov 2005 : Column WA201 Cycling on Pavements Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government: When the Home Office intends to reply to questions on the level of enforcement of the law in respect of cycling on pavements raised with it by the spokesman on transport matters in the House of Lords, the Lord Davies of Oldham, following representations he received from the Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 31 March relating to danger to pedestrians. [HL2226] Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The "Ooops, word censored!"le Lord's concerns were raised in correspondence which unfortunately appears not to have been copied to the Home Office. Cycling on the pavement is an offence under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835. Its enforcement is an operational matter for the police. Individual chief officers of police are best placed to decide on the level of priority given to this offence in the light of its perceived seriousness, other demands on police time and resources, and local circumstances. To help the police with enforcement we introduced the option of a £30 fixed penalty notice for cycling inconsiderately or irresponsibly on the pavement. We have also made it possible for community support officers (CSOs) and persons accredited under the Police Reform Act, a swell as police officers, to issue such notices. Particular local problems can be identified by local crime and disorder reduction partnerships and addressed in their strategies. As with other offending, we would encourage members of the public to inform the police of specific problems and of particularly dangerous behaviour to help them target their responses effectively. The cycling infrastructure and environment are currently under improvement as part of the national cycling strategy. We expect this improvement to reduce the incentive to cycle on the pavement for reasons of safety and convenience. Since the introduction of the fixed penalty notice in 1999, when one person was killed, no other person has been killed in such an accident between 2000 and 2003 and the total number of casualties has declined from 87 in 1999 to 51 in 2003. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolinep Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cycling_and_the_law.php This is a pretty good website & has a lot of relevant info regarding the law & children on the pavement. I was always led to believe that it was down to wheel size? My youngest ( always cycles on the pavement & is very aware of pedestrians. If cycling on the pavement were illegal for all then what about small children on bikes with stabalisers etc. Where do you draw the line, according to the info on the site under 16's can't be prosecuted.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 I think that's the point. It is illegal for all, but as long as there's no nuisance value, people (and the law) don't mind. If some inconsiderate cyclists are causing a nuisance, however old they may be, the law can be enforced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolinep Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I really do agree with you Ginette. It's one of those laws that should be enforced when required, trouble is who's around to do that. If you say anything to alot of todays children about what they are doing you get a foul mouthful back....or in some cases worse. Not sure what the answer is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted March 16, 2007 Author Share Posted March 16, 2007 I'm teaching Abi to ride her bike this year and then i will allow her to ride on the pavement where appropriate, until she is more skilled. There is an organisation in Leicester called CycleMagic who do training courses for riding on the roads which i think i'll enrol her in once she can ride well. My gripe is with adults who do it. Our roads are quite busy and i ride an adult tricycle and so take up a bit more room than a bike, but i still always ride on the road. Anyway, there's less dog muck on the road! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I used to cycle a lot ( on the the road). I mean a lot it took me everywhere and I used to go youth hostelling with my dad 80-100 miles a day. I don't ride a bike anymore. I wouldnt ride on the pavement but drivers are so so inconsiderate and after having some very flukey escapes from accidents I'm too scared to. Some cycleists I know ride more than one abreast so that cars have to take notice of them. They have to slow down before they overtake and so are much more wary about pulling back in. All it does for the cyclists is make them as wide as a car so in a drivers eyes as noticeable. I'm sad about it to be honest I used to love it but my life is much more important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 I am far from convinced that it is safer to cycle on the pavements - for the cyclist. cycling on the pavement means having to cross all the junction roads which is where most accidents happen, surely?? Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
