AIBU re cyclist on pavement/cyclist going wrong way down one-way lane?

[blueberryporridge]

Just wondering, genuinely, if IWBU (I know I was a bit assertive) and also WWYD next?

Background (sorry, a bit lengthy): we live on a short stretch of narrow lane off a busy main road. The lane is one-way due to its width, and the direction of the one-way is because drivers coming off the main road are faced with a blind corner so, if anyone is on the road coming in the wrong direction, a car turning into the lane would be at great risk of colliding with him/her. Despite this, cyclists regularly cycle at speed the wrong way up the lane to join the main road. I always slow right down when turning into the lane in the car as I know there is a good chance there will be a cyclist (or a few of them) coming up the wrong way. There is a narrow pavement on one side of the lane (which is on our house's side of the lane and passes in front of our driveway).

Anyway, today, driving home at teatime rush, I was just about to turn into our driveway when I saw a cyclist heading up the lane in the wrong direction and just coming up to our drive. I normally stop to let any pedestrians past before I turn into our drive, but I must admit I was slightly fed-up by yet another cyclist heading in the wrong direction, and turned the car into the driveway making him stop. I also (and wouldn't normally do this but was feeling a bit exasperated after a hard week at work) rolled down my window and said "it's one-way". I noticed in passing at that point that the cyclist was actually on the pavement rather than on the road itself.

Cyclist proceeded to continue up the lane against the one-way flow, then turned round to come back and shout at me that he had been cycling on the pavement, not the road, and therefore it didn't matter what direction he had been heading in. I said that I felt it was inconsiderate and potentially dangerous to be cycling on the pavement, thinking of small DC or elderly mother possibly stepping out of our driveway unable to see cyclist about to whizz past our gate, and being knocked over. (Due to neighbour's mature trees, shrubs etc, visibility when coming out of our driveway (in the car or on foot) is not great.)

I also said that he shouldn't be cycling up the lane in the wrong direction due to the danger of the junction, and that approaching it on the narrow pavement wasn't any safer for him and made it more hazardous for pedestrians coming round the corner on the pavement.

He then told me that I didn't know anything about cycling. I explained that I do cycle quite a bit (well, I used to in my younger days) at which point he looked me up and down and said "I doubt it". (Obviously doesn't think I'd look good in black lycra, which is, unfortunately, correct....) He then went on to say that there was absolutely nothing in the Highway Code to say that cyclists couldn't cycle on pavements, and that he would be continuing to do this when he cycles home up our lane (in the wrong direction) every evening.

Well, I've checked up my Highway Code since and see, as I thought, that it states quite categorically that cyclists must not cycle on pavements. (It also contravenes a certain paragraph of the Road Traffic Act whose reference details I can't remember just now.)

So (1) WasIBU to tell him he shouldn't be cycling the wrong way up a narrow one-way lane with a blind junction and (2) that he shouldn't be cycling on the pavement?

And (3) Would IBU to print out a copy of the relevant Highway Code and legal paragraphs and hand them to him the next time he whizzes along the pavement in front of our house?

Or is it none of my business (unless, of course, I end up knocking the down or being knocked down by him as I come out my gate on foot one evening?

Why are, I mean.

The feeling is mutual pan, hopefully you will develop the required skills to converse with other people.

Ha! Thanks for the tip.

I do not hate cyclists and believe everyone using the road should abide by the same set of rules. It matters not one jot to me who else is using the road as long as they behave courteously to other road users. A pedestrian crossing a road I would also class as a road user btw.

I was just thinking today how annoying the rise of pavement cyclists is. I push a pushchair and hold a three year old's hand. I don't at all mind pulling us over to let pavement traffic pass or overtake, but I do resent the ever growing number of cyclists who ride straight at us and expect us to accommodate them in time. I also, to be even handed, resent the huge amount of drivers who are unable to notice well marked zebra crossings.

I don't hate motorists either but whilst there are those that see fit to cut me up, whizz right pass me at close range or overtake because they just can't bloody wait, sorry, I'm on two wheels doing all the work, I don't have the benefit of motor, I'll cycle on the pavement from time to time if it feels safer illegal or not.

And I'll repeat myself again. I don't go fast enough on the pavement to harm anyone.

I don't 'hate' drivers either - after all, I am one!

I do though recognise that many many drivers have absolutely no grasp of what it's like to ride a bike in heavy traffic, and are 'cultured' into believing that car is king, when it isn't.

The safety odds are heavily stacked against riders, so in order to remain safe, esp at very tight pressure points, I will go through the required red lights and hop on an empty pavement to avoid being squished by lorries. No apols for those things whatsoever.

Same here. Although my route to work and back it isn't heavy with traffic nor are there many pedestrians. It's just the roundabout close to wear I live and the main road outside of work I avoid at all cost.

Where not wear. Jesus! Bad grammar or what!

As a disabled person, it fucks me off no end when people cycle on pavements (obv not talking about cycle lanes on pavements). You may think you're not going fast but many cycle faster than walking pace and I am unsteady on my feet.

I suspect that no one wants to hurt another person whether cyclist or driver, but neither at times helps the other out.

From the description, the cyclist had no intention of stopping but was forced to do so by the OP.

The only safe speed on a pavement where there are people or driveways (which often have obscured vision) is one where you can come to dead stop. This is walking speed. It is difficult to cycle at walking speed.

I wouldn't generalise about cyclists or car drivers. I come across so many of them that of course sometimes some of them are idiots. However, if you cycle on a pavement and get in people's way you can expect to receive harsh words.

merrymouse the OP came back on to disambiguate and to make it clear that she did NOT force him to stop. Either way it seems SWBU - if she forced him to stop then she was using her vehicle aggressively and in anger to bully a vulnerable road user (roads including pavements as she was driving across the pavement as much as he was riding on it). If he stopped quite happily then he was hardly a threat to anyone and didn't deserve an ear bashing.

I do agree that cyclists on pavements are not behaving well and should be walking (although it is a minor infraction compared with drivers talking on their mobile phones or texting). OTOH it is not another car driver's place to "police" this breach of road traffic law using her car as a weapon, at worst, or obstruction, at best, across the pavement.

Surely the answer is better road design to minimise the conflict between different users - cyclists. pedestrians, riders and drivers. Along with education. On the OP's road there is clearly something very wrong that is encouraging cyclists to risk their lives cycling the wrong way round a blind corner on a one way street or taking to the pavement. It cannot be beyond the wit of the local council to engineer a solution.

Apparently he was a danger to himself and other road users as he wasn't aware of the law.

"He then went on to say that there was absolutely nothing in the Highway Code to say that cyclists couldn't cycle on pavements, and that he would be continuing to do this when he cycles home up our lane"

With a bit of luck, following the OP's actions he will have gone home in high dudgeon, googled the highway code to verify that he was right and found out that he was wrong.

With a bit of luck, following the OP's actions he will have gone home in high dudgeon, googled the highway code to verify that he was right and found out that he was wrong.

That's what I'm hoping too.

And, for the last time, I would like to say that I did not drive my car at him or use it as a weapon, I did not put him in any danger whatsoever, and I did not berate him. I just made him wait for less than a minute as I turned into my drive and pointed out that the lane was one way. There was no raised voice or shouting by me, no bad language, just a brief exchange of views and a gratuitous questioning of my cycling physique/credentials by him... Some of the posts here make me sound like some sort of vicious, car-wielding harpy. It really wasn't like that, honest.

Having read all the responses and thought about things, I think I'll retreat back to the moral high ground and not say anything to any offending cyclists in the future. I don't like being confrontational, and it isn't going to sort out the more general safety issues in the lane. As someone said, it's not my job to police irresponsible behaviour. So, I might raise the problem generally with the local community policeman or councillors and ask if there are any practical solutions which might help keep everyone using the lane a bit safer. And, in the meantime, keep my fingers crossed that there are no nasty accidents in the lane (or on the pavement) caused by cyclists ignoring the Highway Code.

I do think that cyclists should have to sit a road safety test, be licensed, and possibly even pay some sort of road tax but that's a different thread...

I agree with you Rudymentary. If no cyclist embarked on a journey where not all of it was on a cycle path then there would be almost no cyclists eg there is no cycle path on the road outside my home so I wouldn't be able to cycle anywhere for starters. I have cycled very very few routes where there is a single continuous cycle path (? maybe not ever). Cyclists have an absolute legal right to use the roads. Car drivers are afforded the privilege of doing so after passing a test and getting a licence (which may be taken away from them at a later date).

Ah, OP, there was that sort of whiff about your presentation - 'lets not look at ways of making the obv benefits of riding to more people by reducing barriers, but lets put up even more barriers than exist already, even if they make no sense ('road tax') whatsoever.'

VelvetEmbers Arguments over cycling always end up dragging up the fact that other countries have better cycling provision. Not a relevant argument here. Cycling has only become a big thing in the last few years and our infrastructure really isn't set up to cope with it.

Cycling has been popular in the UK for decades, but roads have got busier and more people are commuting by bike now. What on earth is wrong with comparing provision with other countries? How do you think planners should learn? Comparison is an invaluable tool.

LittleMissMaths buggypilot agreed absolutely on both fronts. My DDs were nearly run down walking to the school bus stop 300 metres along a pavement when a car travelling at speed (? 30mph) mounted the pavement and was driving straight at them. DD1 said she literally didn't have time to move and that the car missed them both by a whisker. I know anecdotes are not data but I put the data in my last post

If there were more urban cycle paths separated from the road not only by a kerb but by a cycle path and another kerb, it would be safer for everyone. I was also nearly hit by a car mounting a pavement when out running, the driver wanted to park on the pavement but skidded on the snow and nearly pinned me against a wall!

All anecdotal, but what is not anecdotal is some of the more embarrassing mumsnetters on here who seem to think they inhabit Victorian times, where people are supposed to perambulate as slowly as possible, listening to lectures on road safety from bossy women. The "I'll scweem and I'll scweem until I make myself sick" response one was my favourite. Please, please, never let me turn into one of these stuffy creatures!

I want to see these pavements where crazy pb obsessed cyclists are..and I quote "mowing down children and old people"

That sort of thing sounds like it should be national news, I'm a little upset this daily slaughter is going by unnoticed.

Funny thing is that my real world experiences are nothing like this. I must see 10 or so cyclists each day on my walk to work, and without fail each one of them is no problem. Some of them pass me by on the pavement, some on the road. But at no point do I feel endangered by them and wilfully wish harm on them.

Driving a car at someone only proves one point...you're a cunt.

As for the op, I got no issue with a cyclist on a b pavement providing they are respectful to pedestrians and are aware. Sounds like this bloke was aware of the traffic hence him stopping. The gradual drip feed of the story makes it seem alot less drama than the op first posted.

It's infuriating. My dog was actually hit by a child on a bike on saturday morning. We had been for a run and we were walking home - there is a wide area outside a row of shops and then the pavement narrows to go past a garden hedge. Dog was slightly in front of me as we got to this narrow bit. Child and mum came along at normal speed - not slowing at all - and child hit my dog - ran over his foot. Dog yelped a bit and then looked apologetic as is his wont. Child wobbled but recovered and rode on. Mum tutted at him and just cycled on past us after her boy. No apology at all for going too fast and being on the pavement.

I don't mind cyclists on pavements at time. I don't blame them TBH as roads are scary places but IMO they have to make a choice:

1. Take their chances on the roads - many cyclists do this and I have the utmost respect for them and totally accept their right to ride defensively at times.
2. Use the pavements but accept that they don't have right of way and should be considerate at all times to pedestrians - and that means slowing down and sometimes getting off and walking their bikes if they may pose a risk to pedestrians.

ChelsyHandy, has it ever occurred to you that you will be perambulating slowly yourself, one day? I missed the posts you refer to, by the way, but when you are managing toddlers, or a dog, or you are post-operative, or chronically sick, or you are old, you too will be a vulnerable pavement-user.

Do you suggest that vulnerable pedestrians' rights should be secondary to those of pavement cyclists?

Cycling on pavements wouldn't be a problem if people were considerate whilst doing so, didn't ride too fast and gave way to other people. Unfortunately there are some who don't do this and so it needs a rule.

"I guarantee that if I stood at a busy junction and monitored the biggest violators of the highway code then cyclists would outdo motorists by about 10 to 1."

How about you go on a motorway at 70mph and count how many people overtake you. Or see how many motorists don't give way to pedestrians crossing (rule 170 of the highway code). Of course, the difference between a motorist driving unsafely and a cyclist is that the motorist is likely to kill someone else whereas the cyclist is primarily putting themselves in danger.

And the reason that people on these threads always bring up the fact that motorists are just as bad (or worse due to the potential consequences) is because cyclists seem to draw far more ire for some reason. I see it on the roads too - some people just don't like cyclists at all. And they use cyclists 'breaking the rules' as a stick to beat us all with.

Now if I was to tie my dog a bike and ride down a pavement does that guarantee me more abuse?

Would it make it better if I wore bright clothing? Maybe I could dig out the fruit shoot promo tshirt, that's nice and bright.

Tie a dog to my bike handlebars...