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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Saw a cyclist on the pavement today...

145 replies

CarcerDun · 13/12/2014 18:24

...being reprimanded by a policeman. Most probably because its illegal.

AIBU to have smiled at the policeman as he walked past me afterwards?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 13/12/2014 18:27

That's a really strange question

ilovesooty · 13/12/2014 18:28

Are you really going to lose any sleep over whether or not you should have smiled at the policeman?

Original poster
CarcerDun · 13/12/2014 18:33

Ha ha. No. It just winds me up being cycled past while I'm on the pavement, so many people seem to think its ok to do this. I smiled at the policeman as I don't think they normally bother with this kind of stuff, but he did.

They only got a talking to, but hopefully that's one more cyclist off the pavement.

I know, small things. The world probably won't stop turning.

OP posts:
Mrsmorton · 13/12/2014 18:34

YANBU.

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 13/12/2014 18:37

You should move to Munich Carcer, yyou'd be smiling at policemen on a daily basis :o But woe betide you If you walk on the cycle path (which, to the uninitiated is not immediately distinct from the pavement. ..)

RoundRobinSparkles · 13/12/2014 18:42

YANBU.

Every so often when I'm walking to school with DD1, on the pavement, a bloke (always the same guy) comes behind us at full speed (as it's down hill) ringing his bell at us! It's no good ringing your bell mate - I'm deaf and we're walking along a noisy road. Get on the fucking cycle path that's on the other side! Xmas Angry

Sallystyle · 13/12/2014 18:44

I get it all the time. I live near the UEA and so many students ride on the path. One came round the corner so fast the other day he ended up swerving me and fell off and looked at me like I was wrong for being on the path.

I have the urge to kick them off their bikes. Now I wouldn't but I get the urge.

And ring your bell to get past me? not happening. If you have young kids with you then I will.

ScarlettOHaraHamilton · 13/12/2014 18:46

yanbu. Parents with young kids on the path is one thing, grown adults really gets my goat.

TimelyNameChangey · 13/12/2014 18:47

YANBU as long as you're prepared to report all the cars that park on the pavements.

AwkwardSquad · 13/12/2014 18:47

I have had shouting matches with the fuckers because I don't give way to them on the pavement. Always young men. Every single time.

lljkk · 13/12/2014 18:50

I live near the UEA and so many students ride on the path.

Which road?

JaneFonda · 13/12/2014 18:52

Honestly, I have no problem with cyclists on the pavement - I've found all of them to be very careful. I'm sure there are exceptions, as there are with literally everything ever. :o

It's funny seeing a thread like this, and a few days ago seeing one about a driver being annoyed that a cyclist is riding in the middle of the road (where they have the right to be).

I think until a proper cycling infrastructure is created, there will always be places where cyclists feel unsafe to cycle on the road, and I would never mind them cycling on the pavement.

If people are very against cyclists on the pavement, surely they should also be against micro scooters, rollerblades, etc.

WorraLiberty · 13/12/2014 18:54

This happened not too far from me a couple of months ago...4yr old boy nearly blinded by a pavement cyclist, who only got fined £30 and is still being seen riding on the pavement Angry

Warning, the second pic down is quite graphic

MiddleAgeMiddleEngland · 13/12/2014 18:58

I sometimes cycle on the pavement. I'm always really careful, and always get off when there are pedestrians. But sometimes the roads are really not safe for cyclists and it's better to cycle safely than to cause an accident.

Inconsiderate cycling anywhere is not acceptable. I've seen plenty of bad cyclists on roads and cycle paths. Parents who let their children ride scooters in an out-of-control manner are worse than careful cyclists in my opinion.

meglet · 13/12/2014 18:59

I have no problems with sensible cycling on pavements, slowly and with bells. Obviously not through town centres or city streets though. There are too many bad drivers and many roads are too small for cyclists. And, yes, we walk 90% of the time.

We have a duel carriageway through town, the paths next to it are usually totally empty of pedestrians. It's much safer to cycle on the path than take their chances in traffic.

Our police cycle on quiet pavements around here. They wave at the kids when we're at the park.

BoneyBackJefferson · 13/12/2014 18:59

At this time of year I am more worried about those dressed entirely in black with no lights on the road.

AlpacaLypse · 13/12/2014 19:04

When I was a student I got rollicked by a policeman for riding my bike in a semi-pedestrianised area (buses and taxis only). I was also going the wrong way on a one way street. I actually had no idea I was doing anything wrong - our school hadn't done cycling proficiency, there were no such things as pedestrian areas in my very rural home town, and I hadn't had any driving lessons.

MuddlingMackem · 13/12/2014 19:12

OP, YANBU. Wish I saw police around talking to cyclists here as the adult cyclists on pavements are a major bugbear of mine.

And for those saying it's alright for them to be on the path if the road is too dangerous, well, no actually, it's not. Their fear of riding on the road does not give them the right to make pavements dangerous for pedestrians.

Mehitabel6 · 13/12/2014 19:14

I cycle on the pavement if there is no one on it. I get off if anyone is walking so I can't see the problem- it is common sense.

Mehitabel6 · 13/12/2014 19:16

If there is a mile of pavement without a single pedestrian (quite common near me) it is far more sensible to get off the road.

thanksamillion · 13/12/2014 19:17

I have to say that the most annoying thing for me at the moment is cyclists who choose to ride on the road rather than the nice clear, wide, separated from the road cycle track. Because the road isn't very wide it delays all the other traffic as there isn't space to get past. Why aren't they on the cycle track??

OhTheHugeManatee · 13/12/2014 19:19

I live on a one way street. Cyclists heading the opposite way ride on the pavement rather than go a few minutes out of their way to ride up the parallel road. There are thick hedges separating the houses from the street so I have to park the pram, squeeze past, check the pavement is safe, squeeze back again before going onto the pavement. Not a huge deal, but I shouldn't have to.

Mehitabel6 · 13/12/2014 19:23

As a driver it is very annoying to be crawling behind a cyclist when there is a perfectly good pavement beside them, with not a pedestrian in sight.

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 13/12/2014 19:26

What's the law in the UK? Here children under 10 are the only ones allowed to ride on pavements (under 8s are not allowed to ride on the road, 8-9 year old have the choice). There is a proper and rigorous cycling proficiency course taught in year 4 by the police (theory and practical, with exams in both). Typically a couple of children do fail in each class and they and anyone who missed the course has to retake in year 5 (though nobody stops them cycling if they fail twice).

There are good cycle paths though - making it massively annoying that certain cyclists still chose to ride on the road right next to a cycle path to make a point that they have the right,or bbecause they are road racers so don't have to be considerate and can hold up traffic riding 3 abreast 3 meters from the cycle path if they want to...Hmm

Mehitabel6 · 13/12/2014 19:30

The law is not to cycle on pavements but there is a complete lack of cycle paths and I shall continue to use common sense- I have never been near a pedestrian on the pavement and have never been stopped.

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