To think if cars don't allow enough room for my bike, I have no choice but to go onto the pavement?

[Hammy02]

I cycle to work everyday but increasingly I've found that cars are so close to the pavement that I couldn't fit my bike inbetween. What am I supposed to do? I live in a city in which there are loads of bikes so locals should be used to cyclists. Unless it is tourists but still.

PigltJohn - she/he has said the exact opposite. The poster said they rode, carefully. If we all rode, drove, walked, cycled, carefully it would be a better place.

Pan Sat 29-Oct-11 11:28:18
"...on a pavement..." is what he said.

That is not the "exact opposite" of what I wrote.

PJ - FWIW, I don't risk injury - as I have said I am uber careful if I am on a pavement and there are people around. The balance of risk of anyone being injured leads to me riding on pavements from time to time, and will continue to do so. G'morning.

Me too (if I was a cyclist!) It's the being careful bit that counts.

No, it's the "not riding on pavements" that counts

Are you seriously suggesting that people like you, who consider themselves to be careful should be allowed to drive their vans on the pavement? How about mopeds? No?

No more are cyclists.

Our city has FOUR LANES on the roads and pavements:

The main roads are normally split into car lanes, and bus lanes

The pavement on main roads are split into pedestrian lanes and cycle lanes. There is a white painting of a person on the ground of the pedestrian lane, and a white painting of a bike on the cycle lane. They're not hard to miss.

Even with this amount of organisation, THERE ARE STILL CYCLISTS ON THE BUS/CAR LANES GETTING IN OUR WAY.

Piglet ...Pan said earlier in the thread about cycling slowly and with care on pavements.

And it isn't just bikes on pavements, as I mentioned up thread when I was hit by a car it was on a pavement not a road. I was hit not because of lack of care and attention but because this guy was in a hurry.

Like Pan, I don't ever expect to change the minds of people who think all cyclists should be off the road based on a couple of bad experiences.

I could argue all cars should be kept on roads based on my opinion and experience, but then people couldn't leave their driveways or homes and the roads would be worse because of the parking.

People are fallible, their is no such thing as a good pedestrian/driver/cyclist.....only careful and considerate ones.

Time and time again these threads show that most people are careful and considerate, but also reveal a few who have a naive prejudice against certain road users, Motor cyclists, Vans, Trucks, Buses, Cyclists, so they can sit and blame them, rather than accept that they have no more right to the road than anyone else and that to keep people safe they must not blame others and take responsibility for others safety.

When Pan was being tongue and cheek earlier in the thread about ruling the worls and cycling for two years before driving he had a point. It's too easy to be cocooned in your little metal box with the radio on and the coffee cup holders and sat nav telling you you have 35 minutes left of your journey to remember how vulnerable others are around you.

Any mode of transport other than your legs/wheel chair is a privilige not an absolute right.

OH, and they also use the pedestrian lane aswell!!!

PigletJohn - under the law most modern wheel chairs should not technically be on pavements

Under the law your car wheels should not be travelling on pavements as your wheel size and the potential speed of your car renders it illegal, so no driveway for you!

I am working with my local police force and council to make things safer, and I am cycling on the pavement, with the blessing of my local police force and will continue to do so. I have my child on my bike ...my baby and as long as I am safe, and careful and supported by the law I see no possible arguement over this issue. Especially if the pavement is 9 foot wide and often empty.

Seems to me that it's the male species (was going to say masculine however thought better of that) who are getting upset with cyclist "invading" their space.

I AM NOT A CYCLIST. I AM NOT A DRIVER.

You two boys obviously are finding it difficult sharing your space with others. TBH I don't think there's anything I can say on this forum that's going to change your sad mindset so I'm off to have fun. Signing off.

"People are fallible, their is no such thing as a good pedestrian/driver/cyclist.....only careful and considerate ones."

And you are suggesting that using vehicles on the pavement is OK?

I'm not part of the male species! I'm 100% woman and cyclists annoy the shit out of me!

The "male species"? FFS. Don't be ridiculous.

MrBloom - bless you - you are confused. The lanes aren't car lanes. They are for all types of vehicle. And you may notice, if you're extra observant, that some of the bus lane signs (you know, the big blue one), that has a picture of a bicycle on it too. Who knew?

As much as I get annoyed by some cyclists (and in interest of balance a lot of motorists annoy me to!) on the roads when there are no cycle paths then they should be on the road.

If they have to go onto the pavement they should get off and push the bike. A bug bear of mine is when cyclists approaching a junction speed down the pavement instead of stopping at the junction!

John seriously which part of me being fucked off by being hit by a car on the pavement did you miss

The law on vehicles on the pavement is to use common sense. Those who withold the law are advised to use discretion. Ergo common sense applys. People often have to drive over the pavent to get from driveway to the road, often as a pedestrian I have waited for them to reverse as they haven't seen me, but I have seen them as I am careful.

Should I shout at them for being menaces and call the police because technically they were driving on the pavement without due care snd attention, or shall I let them mouth sorry and wave as they drive on?

Oh and

You got called a Man, ner ner ner

saggar - I am not confused! The bus lanes where I live are JUST for buses. Why would there be a cycle lane on the pavement right next to the bus lane? The blue signs have NO picture of a bike for the bus lane. I'm not even talking about the blue signs - I am talking about white pictures painted on the ground so people who can't even read English know which lane they must walk/cycle/drive in!!!

'Why would there be a cycle lane on the pavement right next to the bus lane?'

Gosh - maybe because the cyclist may want to go somewhere other than where the cycle lane takes him? Or may not want to use the cycle lane at all? We don't have to use them. They can risky places to be honest - randomly littered with bins and bus stops and prone to coming to an abrubt end and launching you into the traffic.

I would check out the signs a little closer next time. You may be surprised.

Hungrydragon Sat 29-Oct-11 12:24:58
"The law on vehicles on the pavement is to use common sense."

Nope.

That's not the reason you are permitted to cross the pavement to get to a drive, garage etc.

I know! I can't believe I got called a man...

saggar - I think I should take pictures next time I see a cyclist using the bus lane and holding up buses, when there is a perfectly fine cyclist lane on the pavement.

If you have to go on the path can you not push your bike and walk? Bikes being ridden on paths are annoying and dangerous.

Cycle lanes on the pavement are the devils work because at every junction where you would normally have priority because you are cycling along the main road you have to stop.

I refuse to use the ones like this in my city for this reason and will be found in the 'bus lane'. Access to which is also permitted to cyclists and taxi drivers. The blue sign on the roadside makes this clear. The writing on the road only says 'bus lane'.

Seriously, the place that I (mostly) feel safest cycling is on the road. Off road cycle paths worry me as in my city they aren't heavily used and run along a disused railway line so I worry about being mugged.

pan you need to stop riding on the pavement. It is illegal (64
You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement.
[Laws HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A 1984, sect 129}) and gives all cyclists a bad name regardless of how 'careful' you are. I don't think that children should really be encouraged to cycle on the pavement either. They need to learn how to cycle safely on the road. Until they can do this segregated cycle paths or the park will do.

.

that poor NewYorker, obviously blind, kept bumping into things. Maybe he could get a cycling guide dog?

Luckily it was not a blind car driver, could have done even more damage.