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Pavement Cyclists

248 replies

fiftiesfresh22 · 31/07/2023 13:05

Probably done to death.

Pavement cyclists are a menace on the street on which I live (reasonably busy road, narrow footpaths (not shared) wide verges both sides. There are several alternative quieter roads very close by which cyclists could use if they feel unsafe/not confident to ride on the road down here, all of which end up on the same main road at the end, literally a minute away from each other. But still some choose to ride on the even narrower pavements down those.

So todays offering...walking my dog on the footpath, on his non-extendable, standard lead as always, from behind me come two cyclists who I did not see or hear approaching obviously, who ''buzzed'' me {passed very close at speed) and made me jump. Thankfully my dog was on the other side of me, and as I startled I said ''FGS''. To which one of them turned & said ''FGS? you should have your dog on a very tight lead...'' along with something else which I could not hear as they continued riding away. I guess it was probably along the lines of ''so that we can pass''.

The arrogance of some cyclists (who we are led to believe are in the minority) who believe that the footpaths are their domain if they see fit, pedestrians are in THEIR way, and it is the pedestrians responsibility to walk looking over their shoulder/with eyes in the back of their head etc in order to facilitate the cyclists illegal journey., all without challenge. So many times I see elderly/mobility scooter bound/parents with toddlers & prams/dog walkers being passed at speed & close quarters. This of course is facilitated by the fact that the law is interpreted, not upheld, and pavement cyclists are completely ignored, even when witnessed by passing police, both on foot or in a vehicle and now of course we also have electric scooters.

OP posts:
Radiatorvalves · 31/07/2023 13:09

That would annoy me too. And I’m a cyclist. Very very rarely cycle on shared routes snd never on pavements, but when I do I consider it the pedestrian has right of way.

Peony654 · 31/07/2023 13:12

I mostly cycle, and it’s shame that a few spoil it for the majority who follow road rules. I’ll use shared routes if available and clearly marked as shared, and the road is busy. But do remember it’s car drivers doing the most damage to humans in our society-on their phones, drunk, speeding.

gingerguineapig · 31/07/2023 13:44

I really couldn't give a toss. Every time I go out for a walk, I will be forced at some point into the road by some a*sehole who decides to park on the pavement. I rarely come across a cyclist, and if I do, there's space for both of us.

I really don't understand all the cyclist hate. That doesn't mean that individual cyclists can be annoying, because they are human, and humans are annoying, but it doesn't mean that as a class they cause even a small percentage of the harm caused by drivers.

As I've said before, a lot of conflict is caused by a lack of pavement discipline. Stay on the left hand side of the path and keep aware of what is going on around you and people can get by whether on two feet, four feet or two wheels.

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CopperSeahorses · 31/07/2023 13:50

Stay on the left hand side of the path and keep aware of what is going on around you and people can get by whether on two feet, four feet or two wheels.

How do people with a visual impairment fit into that? If you are blind in the kerb side eye it can be daunting to walk close to the edge of a pavement, it can also be daunting to have a cyclist suddenly appear out of nowhere. Children cycling on pavements is one thing but lots of adults do it too and a number of them have no regard for other users of the footpath.

SoupDragon · 31/07/2023 13:52

Stay on the left hand side of the path and keep aware of what is going on around you and people can get by whether on two feet, four feet or two wheels.

Alternatively, cyclists simply shouldn't ride their bike on what is a space for pedestrians.

SoupDragon · 31/07/2023 13:55

There's an arrogant twat of a cyclist near me who insists it's a "shared path". Clearly the signs proclaiming this fact are invisible though.

Another twat rode into my DS the other day on a very narrow stretch of pavement. Muttered sorry and rode off.

hettiethehare · 31/07/2023 13:57

I have no hatred like the hatred I feel for cyclists cycling on the pavement who ding their fucking bell at me to move out of their way.

Crunchingleaf · 31/07/2023 14:01

There are some stretches of road that I can’t blame cyclists for cycling of footpath instead. However, they don’t have right of way. TBH I find children have far better common sense cycling of pavement than adults as adult cyclists usually believe they have right of way.
Yes cars are way more dangerous than bikes. Hence why cars have to be segregated away from vulnerable pedestrians. Many older people do have declining hearing or sight. Many young children lack sense. Hence cyclists should proceed with caution on a pavement.

SoupDragon · 31/07/2023 14:02

Hence cyclists should proceed with caution on a pavement.

no, they should get off their bike and push it whilst walking.

Soapboxqueen · 31/07/2023 14:05

We have a lot of shared spaces where I live and there are a lot of cyclists who are arseholes.

Riding very fast, no bell, no indication they are coming up behind. My Ds can be unsteady on his feet so I have to keep my head on a swivel in order to keep him safe.

And these arsehole cyclists are exclusively men.

Women cyclists either slow down as they pass or aren't going at break neck speeds to begin with. Children tend to be making more noise anyway or have a bell or say excuse me.

There's no excuse for it.

Rainbowbaby13 · 31/07/2023 14:07

hettiethehare · 31/07/2023 13:57

I have no hatred like the hatred I feel for cyclists cycling on the pavement who ding their fucking bell at me to move out of their way.

Amen to that

ItsNotRocketSalad · 31/07/2023 14:08

hettiethehare · 31/07/2023 13:57

I have no hatred like the hatred I feel for cyclists cycling on the pavement who ding their fucking bell at me to move out of their way.

Same. No, I'm not moving for you and your fucking bell.

SoupDragon · 31/07/2023 14:09

I feel I should say that my utter hatred of pavement cyclists does not extend to children.

Vettrianofan · 31/07/2023 14:12

Bells are cheap to buy. We got one before cycling - £3. Invest in one these cyclists who just creep up on you. It's awful.

Happened twice today. Cyclists just suddenly there. If they rang a bell it would at least give me warning.

kitsuneghost · 31/07/2023 14:12

The only thing I hate more than cyclists on narrow pavements are dog walkers on narrow pavements.

Deathbyfluffy · 31/07/2023 14:14

hettiethehare · 31/07/2023 13:57

I have no hatred like the hatred I feel for cyclists cycling on the pavement who ding their fucking bell at me to move out of their way.

I just don't move - it'll hurt them more than me if they choose to ride into me (I'm a larger man) and even the impact of them coming off the bike won't hurt as much as the stern word I'd have afterwards!

CrackerAndPudding · 31/07/2023 14:14

kitsuneghost you hate someone with a legitimate right to be using the footpath than someone who shouldn't be there?

Deathbyfluffy · 31/07/2023 14:14

Vettrianofan · 31/07/2023 14:12

Bells are cheap to buy. We got one before cycling - £3. Invest in one these cyclists who just creep up on you. It's awful.

Happened twice today. Cyclists just suddenly there. If they rang a bell it would at least give me warning.

Bell or not, I'm not moving!

CrackerAndPudding · 31/07/2023 14:17

There was an incident near my old home where a cyclist "dinged" at a woman to move out the way on a stretch of road known to be incorrectly used by cyclists. She didn't move fast enough, was hit and then he was knocked into the road into the path of a car. All were OK in the end but could have easily been avoided if he'd just used the cycle path on the other side of the road.
It's sheer entitlement a lot of the time.

brokenlore · 31/07/2023 14:18

Too many people not enough space. If the gov. Really wanted to improve air quality they'd look at putting in more cycle lanes so pedestrians and cyclists don't come into conflict, but that's comes with a heavy price tag.
Cyclists are stuck between a rock and a hard place, driving standards are awful now, so cyclists don't want to go on the roads, but agree the pavement isn't suitable either. And of course some cyclists are just nobs who cycle recklessly without any thought for other road uses, but then some dog walkers are also nobs, and some car drivers are mega nobs,
No easy answers really. People just need to share space and be more respectful of each other, but like that's ever going to happen😂.

CrackerAndPudding · 31/07/2023 14:18

*stretch of pavement.

Abra1t · 31/07/2023 14:21

Can we be clear that we mean pavement, not footpath?
(Though cyclists are usually not permitted on footpaths either.)

SoupDragon · 31/07/2023 14:22

Cyclists are stuck between a rock and a hard place

And pedestrians are supposed to just suck it up? Bollocks to that. Pavements are for pedestrians.

StephanieSuperpowers · 31/07/2023 14:23

Personally, I would find the adult pavement cyclist community less aggravating if they were less self important about the tremendous good they are doing by their act of cycling which makes any behaviour permissible.

WeWereInParis · 31/07/2023 14:36

SoupDragon · 31/07/2023 14:22

Cyclists are stuck between a rock and a hard place

And pedestrians are supposed to just suck it up? Bollocks to that. Pavements are for pedestrians.

Agreed.

I cycle a reasonable amount. If it's a route that I don't want to cycle because I don't think the road is safe for whatever reason, I just don't cycle (either I don't cycle the whole route, or I push my bike for that particular stretch). I don't decide to just cycle on the pavement instead.

I also agree with the PP about hating cyclists who ring their bell on the pavement to get you to move.