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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

for telling a young girl off for cycling on the pavement??

244 replies

lottiejenkins · 09/08/2011 15:57

I went shopping in our local market town this morning with my ds Wilf (profoundly deaf). We stopped at the florists where my cousin works and as we were leaving Wilf went out of the front door ahead of me. He then suddenly stepped back and i saw that girl (aged about ten) had nearly knocked him over as she cycled past on the pavement!! Hmm I called after her and said that Wilf was deaf and that is one of the many reasons why she shouldnt be cycling on the pavement. I didnt see any parent with her. Surely if shes that nervous of traffic she shouldnt be out on her own???

OP posts:
4madboys · 09/08/2011 20:07

that should be ROAD, why is there not an edit facility?!

happybubblebrain · 09/08/2011 20:09

YABU, if you had actually been knocked down then YANBU. I think there's nothing wrong with people cycling on the pavement as long they are taking care, it's often much safer that they do, especially children.

Popbiscuit · 09/08/2011 20:13

Agree, Sardine, but would you let your 10 year old child cycle on the road alone? Like a lamb to the slaughter for the sake of observing the law? FGS, I was hit by a car whilst cycling on the road as a thirteen year old (went flying and landed on a grass verge...lucky) and had a car door opened in front of me whilst cycling as a university student (again lucky, fell into road where fortunately no cars were travelling at the time). In this case, I don't care what the law says, there is no way I'm letting any of my children ride on the road. It is my absolute responsibility, however, to teach them to observe the safety of pedestrians, first and foremost, while they are using their bicycles on the pavement. That means dismounting in shopping areas and / or when approaching people on foot and not careening around the neighbourhood like maniacs.

NorthernChinchilla · 09/08/2011 20:14

YANBU. It is illegal. And whilst the roads are dangerous- I completely agree with all who have made that point- that doesn't mean that cyclists can therefore make the pavements dangerous for pedestrians.
If it's not safe to cycle on the roads, then don't. I do not cycle round here, nor would I let any children, because it is dangerous. I don't like that fact, and think we should campaign for more cycle ways, but wouldn't dream of cycling on a pavement to get round the issue.

FWIW, I have been run over by a cyclist on a pavement, in Manchester, and ended up in a tearful bloody heap (was about 11 at the time). Funnily enough I've always been rather against it ever since.

Tortington · 09/08/2011 20:16

cyclists should all be put on a desert island and bring the army in

Kladdkaka · 09/08/2011 20:16

Sardine, you're missing an important part of what is written into this law and that is 'discretion'. Not all laws have that, this one does. It means it isn't black and white. Individual officers are required to apply the law in accordance with Department of Transport guidelines, that is what the law says. Department of Transport guidelines say safety of all parties MUST be factored in to application of the law.

In my daughter's case I was worried because the only route from our place to school would have meant cycling down a 70mph dual carriageway and across a 6 lane motorway gyratory. It would be sher madness to expect any cyclist of any age to use that road instead of the footpath. That is why the law is written in such a way as to allow wriggle room for common sense.

SardineQueen · 09/08/2011 20:22

I love the way that people find ways to wriggle out

Oh but our local copper says it's OK
Oh but it's too dangerous
Oh but they can't prosecute under 10 anyway
Oh but
Oh but

It is illegal to cycle on the pavement. It is illegal and selfish to cycle on the pavement in the vicinity of pedestrians or places where pedestrians are likely to be eg near shops.

While I personally, and many police officers I'm sure, don't give a monkeys about people of any age cycling carefully on pavements which don't have pedestrians on, the fact is that it is illegal.

And this thread is about someone cycling on the pavement outside shops and nearly running over a child. The OP is absolutely NBU and the girl was acting illegally.

niceguy2 · 09/08/2011 20:23

To be honest I'm amazed at how many people are of the opinion that a 10 year old should ride on the road and run the risk of being knocked over just so other people don't need to use their senses when walking around.

Perhaps I should have brake lights attached to my arse so if I stop walking down the street, others can be warned. Oh wait no....that would imply the other person has to use their eyes to see my lights. And obviously they own the pavement so of course they shouldn't have to.

All kids should be rounded up and forced to obey every law no matter how stupid. It's illegal don't you know and there's no excuse! 10 years old?!?! Breaking the law! Sheesh! We should round them up and put them in prison with the other criminals.

LineRunner · 09/08/2011 20:27

My local policeman asks children who are cycling on pavements in busy shopping areas to dismount and push, actually.

SardineQueen · 09/08/2011 20:27

Niceguy people should dismount when in the vicinity of pedestrians or places pedestrians are not likely to be. It is basic manners.

It is not a case of saying 10 year olds must cycle in amongst the lorries, it is a case of saying they must not cycle where pedestrians are.

Not too difficult is it? Apparently so.

I love the way so many people bang on about how entitled other people are and how terrible it all is.... And then go around doing stuff like this. Just because you think it's a stupid law doesn't make it optional - that not how it works.

LineRunner · 09/08/2011 20:29

My local shopping centre doesn't let people cycle through it. They have to get off and push.

A busy pavement in a shopping area is comparable, shirley?

welliesandpyjamas · 09/08/2011 20:34

"cyclists caught riding on pavements, over the age of 16, can immediately be issued with a fine. "

Also, I believe bikes of 16" and under are allowed on pavements. (Which might be why you see those annoying young adults in skinny jeans riding kids' bikes on the pavements...but that's another threadGrin)

DoMeDon · 09/08/2011 20:34

Gah - cyclists- bane of my life. Cycle path next to the beach here is like a racing track - they care not that LOs are running about enjoying beach and park.

Cyclists should not be on the pavement and there should be a speed limit on pavement cycle paths. DC can ride bike in the park and push the fucking thing there if too young to be on the road.

Awomancalledhorse · 09/08/2011 20:36

wellies, you can't fine an under 16yr old for being on the pavement, and no copper in their right mind would ever ask one to cycle in the road!!

As long as the cyclist is being careful, and not doing it down Oxford Street on Saturday afternoon, I can't see the problem.

SardineQueen · 09/08/2011 20:38

The Highway Code makes no such distinction, wellies.

Awoman no the coppers ask the cyclist to go in the road or dismount.

These threads are always so tricky and full of people who just want to do what they want to do and sod everyone else.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 09/08/2011 20:39

For someone who doesn't personally mind, you're getting your knickers in a big enough knot.

So children can't cycle in the road, they cant cycle on the pavement. I've just bought my 3yo a little bike with stabilisers. That was a waste of money wasn't it? As I don't live slap bang in the middle of the park, where would you suggest she learns to ride it? Or maybe I'll just let her sit in front of cbeebies all day instead.

WellIShouldNever · 09/08/2011 20:40

Yabu. I am partially sighted so I always always take extra care when leaving shops etc to avoid such accidents. How is someone else meant to spot a hearing aid on someone at a quick glance? You can't. As someone with a disability that is not obvious, I feel it is up to me to be extra vigilant. Sorry. And I do have a White stick but won't use it as every time i have I have been attacked.
Hope your boy wasn't hurt though.

Popbiscuit · 09/08/2011 20:41

Absolutely right woman. Can you imagine a policeman telling a child to cycle on the road? They wouldn't. They would tell them to dismount and walk their bicycle through pedestrian areas. Easy-peasy. Even my 6 year old can understand this and put it into practice.

Awomancalledhorse · 09/08/2011 20:44

SardineQueen, speaking from personal experience, working within Central London, I've never seen/heard a Copper/PCSO telling a child to get in the gutter.

Basically told at Hendon that it's not worth it, as the childs safety is more important than acting like a jumped up power mad shit.

ghosteditor · 09/08/2011 20:48

domedon - there was once a speed limit for cycle paths. Now, as I understand it, there is an advisory limit of 18mph. I would not want to be hit by a cyclist (or, as a cyclist, hit someone!) at 18 mph. It's not unreasonable to expect people to check cycle paths for traffic as one would a road. I agree with others that while I would quickly scan a pavement before stepping out, I wouldn't be expecting to see someone moving at the pace of a bike...

SardineQueen · 09/08/2011 20:51

No they tell them to cycle in the road or dismount.

These threads are always the same.

The girl in the OP was breaking the law and also not adhering to normal standards of courtesy and nearly hit someone coming out of a shop in a perfectly normal fashion.

Cue loads of people piling in to say that pedestrians are doing it all wrong by being on the pavement and of course 10 year olds should be cycling through the shopping centre nearly hitting people and what's wrong with that.

Exactly the same phenomenon as people who take chances around pedestrian crossings when driving, talk into their mobile phones when driving and park wherever they fancy. A disregard of the law when it doesn't suit them, and a selfish attitude.

Anyone who thinks that girl in the OP was NBU to be cycling on the pavement in the vicinity of shops is plain wrong IMO. It was illegal, and it was selfish, and it was dangerous.

smilesy · 09/08/2011 20:53

YANBU. I appreciate that people are concerned for childrens' safety when they cycle but unfortunately accidents can and do happen to pedestrians. My mother was knocked over by a child of about 9 cycling on the pavement near where she lived. Her arm was so badly broken that she had to have it plated and pinned and she banged her head on the ground. She had x-rays but no mri scan on her head. Unfortunately she died of a brain bleed two years later. It could well have been connected to the accident.

StopRainingPlease · 09/08/2011 20:54

When you see the vitriol aimed at cyclists who cycle on the roads, I think you are definitely BU.

Having said that, when my kids were of an age to cycle on pavements we made them go slowly and check for doors opening on parked cars, people coming out of driveways, etc.

FabbyChic · 09/08/2011 21:02

Surely you walk out of the shop before your son if he cannot manage on his own. Get a grip, Im sure it is not illegal to ride on the pavement. Just not socially acceptable.

Chocamochalatte · 09/08/2011 21:09

Right Sardine so now I should tell my DTs to do the opposite of what the Policeman told them?? Hmm