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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Cyclists on pavement

289 replies

Rentergob89 · 21/09/2016 17:23

So this week a lady has been riding her bike on the pavement whilst children and their parents are attempting to walk in the opposite direction. She does not stop for anyone and yesterday had knocked a small child over grumbled something and carried on riding her bike on the pavement. Today I could see her coming towards me so I stopped where I was and refused to move for her. She stopped and said I was an inconvenience and I should move my fat a### out the way. I replied " you should not be riding your bike on the pavement you should be in the road" she then rode off swearing and shoving her two fingers up at me. Charming!! Two other mothers witnessed this and said thank you to me for saying something another however said I was in the wrong for not moving out of the way for her.
The pavement gets really busy after school as its the only way children and parents can walk to either their cars or the bus stop. All I am concerned about is the safety of the children but she seems to only care about herself. Was I in the wrong??

OP posts:

PotofGold1186 · 22/09/2016 20:44

We have a lot if cyclists on the pavement round here. 99% of them are courteous and give pedestrians right of way and aren't cycling at 20mph.
We also have a lot of cycle lanes. These wonderful inventions where pedestrians dither about in them, not sticking to their side. Tutting at cyclists whenever they ask them to move politely.
Drivers hate cyclists and drive irresponsibly near them.

It really fucks me off the way some people are on their high horse on this thread. I cycle and I drive so I see both sides but I cannot believe people have the nerve to think it's as simple as "don't bike if you don't feel safe". Sod off! Some people can't afford a car and have a 5mile cycle to work in areas with little public transport.
There are shit cyclists and shit drivers. That's the way the world works. A cyclist who gets off their bike near pedestrians is causing zero issues.

PotofGold1186 · 22/09/2016 20:45

And to the OP- of COURSE yanbu. She sounds like a dick. Did you really need to ask?!

WheelofPan · 22/09/2016 20:49

Sqwoosh I am not a danger to peds when I ride on a pavement. I know who has right of way. And all of that, I ride on pavement where the trunk road is highly risky to me and the pavement is quiet or empty. This is not a problem, apart from the MN posters who live in a MN mindset where everything has to be b or w with no shades. Where everybody else actually lived.

WheelofPan · 22/09/2016 20:52

Where everybody actually lives, correction.

BizzyFizzy · 22/09/2016 20:53

If you need to be on a pavement, get off your bike and walk like everyone else.

witchywoohoo · 22/09/2016 20:54

A cyclist who gets off their bike near pedestrians is causing zero issues.

And actually most of the people on this thread would agree with you Potofgold. But you do realise that the whole point of the thread is addressing those people who refuse to get off their bikes on pavements. It is not a bike v. car thread. It is a "can pedestrian's please be given the safety of the pavement" thread. And generally pedestrians shouldn't be on cycle-paths...unless of course it is a shared trans path you are referring to and then pedestrians, cyclists and scooters and horse riders should all mosey along safely together.

StripeyMonkey1 · 22/09/2016 20:54

OP is about one, unreasonable in my opinion, cyclist who rode on the pavement.

So why not entitle it "cyclist on the pavement". One idiot in one situation doesn't make all cyclists on the pavement idiots. Some road set ups are bonkers for cyclists - really dangerous - and cycling on the pavement might be sometimes be the best option.

WheelofPan · 22/09/2016 20:55

BF there you go. The dislocation between MN and how life is lived.

StripeyMonkey1 · 22/09/2016 20:57

Oh, and on the subject of pedestrians on cycle paths - I see a minimum of ten a day on my cycle to work (same on the way back) and earlier this week there was a mass of about 200 walking in the opposite direction at me on both sides of the cycle path. Yes, I was considerate - I don't think they were being malicious, just thoughtless.

BizzyFizzy · 22/09/2016 20:59

I have the same attitude IRL as I have on here. I challenge cyclists.

witchywoohoo · 22/09/2016 21:02

and cycling on the pavement might be sometimes be the best option.

Or getting off your bike and walking on the pavement might actually be the best option.

squoosh · 22/09/2016 21:03

cycling on the pavement might be sometimes be the best option.

WALK on the bloody pavement.

BizzyFizzy · 22/09/2016 21:05

Exactly, witch and squoosh

StripeyMonkey1 · 22/09/2016 21:05

Should I challenge the pedestrians on the cycle path too? I think they normally just see more space next to the path that they fancy using (ignoring the clear bike signs). I don't want to become a shouty arse!

Unless people are dangerous, (so a cyclist going fast on a pavement where there are people for example) I think live and let live. You don't know what the road alternative is for them. Councils are really at fault for allowing certain road systems. I can thing of a couple of really dangerous spots on my journey which could easily be sorted but just aren't. Drivers can be really aggressive, particularly at rush hour, and post a real risk to cyclists, particularly when they perceive us to be in their way.

witchywoohoo · 22/09/2016 21:05

The dislocation between MN and how life is lived.

Nope, I don't cycle on the pavement in real life either. Neither do I believe that I am above the law in real life....so no my views here completely reflect how my life is lived.

WheelofPan · 22/09/2016 21:07

No, riding on relatively empty pavement is often the best option.

Bored now. Best of luck you sane posters.

witchywoohoo · 22/09/2016 21:08

If you are talking about a cycle path that is part of the road - then yes...challenge the pedestrians. They shouldn't be there and are a danger to themselves and cyclists - just as a pedestrian should not walk down the middle of the road.

And we have all agreed that roads can be dangerous for cyclists - it doesn't mean you spread the danger to pavements.

BizzyFizzy · 22/09/2016 21:09

Ring your little bell, stripey.

user1471520523 · 22/09/2016 21:09

Cycling threads. When Mumsnet becomes indistinguishable from Pistonheads.

squoosh · 22/09/2016 21:09

Goodbye you entitled nut.

squoosh · 22/09/2016 21:10

Should I challenge the pedestrians on the cycle path too?

Yep!

StripeyMonkey1 · 22/09/2016 21:12

Haha Bizzy. I normally say "excuse me" very politely. Is that ok?

I don't tend to use my horn when driving either except in cases of danger. Bit rude no?

StripeyMonkey1 · 22/09/2016 21:15

Oh squoosh. That would happen so frequently, I really have better things to do. Also, to be fair, that part of the cycle path is tempting for pedestrians to use and often empty. When I'm perfect I'll feel free to correct everyone else.

StripeyMonkey1 · 22/09/2016 21:16

Witchy - cycle path next to pavement but separated from it but raised barrier. Road on other side.

squoosh · 22/09/2016 21:16

Oh so you weren't actually asking? You were just using that as an example of how tolerant and great you are?

Mkay.

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