To think that adults should cycle on the road

[LoopyLou1981]

It’s been a long time since I’ve been organised enough to get up (and get 2 kids up) and out early enough to walk to the station instead of getting the bus.
On a 2 mile walk, I’ve been ‘dinged’ at by 3 cyclists to get me to move over on the pavement so they could get passed.
Is this a new thing?! Our roads aren’t narrow or any more dangerous than any others. AIBU to think they should be on the road?!

I wish cars wouldn't drive and park on the pavements. Also wish dogs wouldn't shit all over them. I rarely have any problems with people cycling on pavements. Obviously if they do it they should give way to pedestrians. However there can be good reasons to do so due to the failure of this country to provide facilities for people who want to cycle safely rather than clog up the atmosphere and ruin their own and everyone else's health.

Cyclists should not be on the footpath - if the road is too dangerous, then find another route, or walk with the bike.
But if, for whatever reason (eg Shared space) they ARE on the footpath - of if people are walking on the road for whatever reason - then they should absolutely use the bell. Its not meant to make you get out of the way, but to let you know they are there. Unlike cars, bikes are generally silent.

YANBU. If they insist on using the path they shouldn’t be singing at you. Very rude.

MrPan Yeah, I think it's a good idea - like the Highway Code says- for cyclists to wear a helmet, but I'm not looking to argue about it. Just irritated me that her mum was so concerned she should cycle illegally to avoid road but apparently didn't get her a helmet too.

Vitalogy I'm all for kids being active, but not in a way that will encourage bad habits that will put others at risk.

Yes the red light thing is totally evident yet motorists get so high and mighty about cyclists

If you can bear it, it's worth standing your ground and telling them to get off the pavement.

I do this all the time. Most of them just give the gormless goldfish look, shocked anyone has said anything to them.

Yes the red light thing is totally evident yet motorists get so high and mighty about cyclists

I neither cycle nor drive so happily get equi-high and mighty about crappy drivers and crappy cyclists.

'They may swear at you but it might make them think twice about doing it again. '

Sadly I disagree. People who cycle on the pavement give no figs about anyone but themselves. I have told pavement cyclists to get on the road (without swearing) and had either a blank look or a mouthful of abuse. I don't feel I ever made a bit of difference to their behaviour

Lotta I've given up too. I once got a mouthful for huffing as someone whizzed past me.

Ooh cyclists are so annoying - all that clean air they're contributing to and all that money they save the nhs with their non-sedentary life styles. Makes me see red!

What does that have to do with this thread?

If you're too scared to use the roads, then you have no business cycling
I disagree, cycling is a good thing, which should be encouraged and properly provided for, that means good cycle paths where runners walkers and cyclist arent forced to negotiate around each other.
I only ever cycle on the pavement if it is empty, if there are people I get off and walk well before I get to them.
sometimes people see me stop and gesture for me to carry on, if they do that then I slow down as I pass and smile and say thank you

I never go whizzing past people and after dark I always wear high viz and lights.
I do see crazy blacked out ninja night cyclists what the fuck are they thinking??

Its illegal to ride on pavements, not that that stops anyone cos they get away with it.

Read the highway code.

I have told pavement cyclists to get on the road (without swearing) and had either a blank look or a mouthful of abuse. I don't feel I ever made a bit of difference to their behaviour

Sadly I have to agree; I'm a cyclist myself, but no matter how politely the request to leave the pavement is phrased to these selfish types, the standard reply all too often is "foooook off!!!"

With too many, there just seems to be an ingrained sense of entitlement to do exactly as they please

The FACT I am deaf means I cannot hear a Fuckwit cyclist on the pavement riding their bell at me. The EFFECT of my deafness in this situation means that I cannot get out the way and that I get one hell of a shock when they zoom past I get a shock too, it's annoying, I know.

Although it doesn't excuse the rudeness, bad attitudes or lack of common sense, I do wonder how many of the younger adults I see riding on pavement have had zero lessons in either cycling or driving so are actually completely ignorant of the Highway Code.

I’d also quietly add that it’s in the Highway Code that you should give cyclists on the road plenty of time and space.

That doesn’t seem to have sunk in for many drivers which makes cycling on the roads difficult and dangerous and why some people end up cycling on the pavements

The whole point of a bell on a bike is to ring it to let people know that the cyclist is passing

Ooh cyclists are so annoying - all that clean air they're contributing to and all that money they save the nhs with their non-sedentary life styles. Makes me see red!

Yes, because people who walk are so sedentary

I ride on the pavement part of the way sometimes on my way to the park (to try to get some exercise) but I do always get off to go past pedestrians and I wouldn't dream of riding on a busy pavement. and I expect the same courtesy when I'm a pedestrian. Dinging pedestrians is not acceptable. Pedestrians walking in the cycle path in the park is another matter!

Long time cyclist here, I will sometimes ride on footpaths if the road is very dangerous/busy however I will only do so if there's no pedestrians on the footpath to begin with. If the footpath is very wide then I will be more inclined to ride on the footpath but slow down/stop if approaching pedestrians (especially if they have kids or dogs with them). Personally I have no issue riding on footpaths if I'm certain I'm not posing a risk/inconvenience to pedestrians but to be honest it's way easier to ride on the road to begin with most of the time anyway, lol, roads tend to be smoother and less bumps from pedestrian crossings etc

I would say that a lot of cyclists will duck onto a footpath if approaching a large intersection as crossing at pedestrian lights feels way safer than on the road, but if they're doing this they should either dismount or ride very very slowly (this is what I do)

I did oncd havd an old lady try and physically push me off my bike into a main road with cars doing 50mph when I was about 13 and riding to school I had stopped on the footpath to wait for her to walk past before starting riding again, gave her lots of room as it was a very wide footpath but I was completely stationary as figured "hey she's a little old lady, I should stop while she walks past just in case" and she stopped and actually tried to shove me onto the road into oncoming traffic!

So posts calling cyclists f*ckwits remain.

ridiculous though when there is a huge queue of traffic, an empty pavement and i mean really, really empty (i live rurally) and one sodding cyclist holding up 20 cars. personally i think cyclists should be allowed on some pavements but pedestrians have total, enforceable precedence. to ride a bike you should be taxed and insured and accountable because I'm also totally sick of dickhead suicidal men idiots doing ridiculous, dangerous things.