to wonder about the law on cyclists?

[lovemydogs]

hello I am not a cyclist but am a runner and dog owner. Are cyclists required by law to have lights on their bikes in the dark and is it lawful for them to ride on the pavement (I don't mean shared pavements/cycle paths but pure pavements)?
I find alot of cyclists are riding on the pavement when I am running or walking my dogs and they are not children but adult riders. I have had a near miss where one of my dogs (both of whom are on leads) was almost mown down by a female cyclist riding on the pavement who then physically assaulted me and told me to F off. I was terribly shaken and upset. Thanks

Lots of dogs now have lights on which i really appreciate when I am cycling . Police normally pull over cyclists who don't have lights

As far as I know, while it's a legal requirement to sell a bike with a bell, it's not actually illegal not to have one . Not that the pedestrians who are walking in the middle of the cycle path (left half green, with bicycles painted on it, right half red, with people painted on it) ever react to the bell - I end up having to shout "EXCUSE me!!" and then they jump and look at me accusingly

FFs @ insurance.

So do pedestrians also need to get third party insurance for when they're out walking?

FWIW - I do happen to have insurance through my CTC membership.

I really think it should be illegal for pedestrians to be texting/fiddling withIplayer/ reading a book whilst walking, particularly whilst walking in cycle lanes. Pedestrians also need 3rd party insurance

I cycle to work along a busy dual carriageway early in the morning. I am lit up like a Christmas tree. Eight cyclists passed me last week all in black, no lights. Why would a sane adult do this ? As for pavements, dd is a large five yr old (think eight yr old size). She rides a teens bmx on the path. She is careful but she cant go on the busy road at school pick up time as its stupidly busy. Shes not had stabilisers since she was three so rides well and safely. Where would she stand legally then ?

The mechanism for punishing cyclists on pavements is Fixed Penalty Notices (on the spot fines), but these are only empowered for persons age 16+.

So children on pavements, effectively, legally, can cycle without penalties.

I think the police have the power to stop cyclists on pavements otherwise & tell them to get off pavement, but obviously they wouldn't normally bother for a child.

It's at discretion of police, also, to issue FPN as they see fit (or not, as it were).

There are lots of times I cycle on pavements in an effort to be considerate to drivers and ensure a safer environment for all present. Can't make everyone happy.

row your dd is 5. Therefore she is legally allowed to ride on the pavement, and she should do

Insurance - Pedestrians don't walk in the road - or shouldn't.

All road users should have third-party insurance, that includes cyclists and horse-riders. Many sensible riders do, of course. But if you are in the traffic you should have insurance for any liabilities that you incur.

So if a cyclist only ever cycles on cycle paths and shared use pathways, would they need insurance? They're not sharing the road.

Should pedestrians be allowed to cross roads anywhere but at a traffic light, zebra or toucan crossing without insurance? But not all streets have such crossings. They're "sharing" the road with road users otherwise?

Should a 5 year old cyclist have insurance? They'd normally be with an adult. OK then, what about an 9 year old cycling to school?

What about runners running with earphones oblivious to those around them? They can be dangerous too. Should they be insured?

Gets ridiculous - and unmanageable.

As a cyclist I'd like to confess to cycling in the dark without lights many times. Mostly unintentional, the batteries go flat, the rear lights sometimes fall off and go unnoticed and sometimes the lights are nicked if left on the bike. I have taken to using two sets due to the unreliability and difficulty checking if the rear one is working all the way home. My latest dynamo set failed on me on Friday and I cycled home amongst busy traffic oblivious until I got home and the kids asked why the lights weren't on! I did have second set on though.

I often wonder if the other cyclists without lights have lost them on the way or they have failed...

At university the police used to do on the spot fines (£20) for travelling without lights for cyclists. Usually just after the clock change in the autumn. You knew when it was happening because as you walked towards their usual spot you'd see lots of grumpy cyclists wheeling their bikes along...

One day someone I knew saw the grumpy cyclists and decided he (on bike with no lights) could get round this by riding on the pavement. After all, he reasonned there's no rules about having to have lights if you're riding on the pavement .
The police stopped him and politely informed him that the fine for riding on the pavement was £200, so he'd better take the light (no pun intended) fine before they gave him the bigger one.

I am a funny bugger and always move as little possible for adults on bikes on the pavements. It's up to them to steer past me, not vice versa. It's my right of way not theirs. Don't mind kids though.

I cycle on the pavement sometimes where I feel it is unsafe to be on the road, particularly if I have a child on the back. I cycle very slowly though and get off and push if necessary.

I always have lights and reflective clothing in the dark though, but I don't have a helmet.