To cycle ON the pavement?

[Hum2]

Haven't ridden in years and just getting back on it. Do not trust some of the cars on the road to overtake me with enough space. I'm still wobbly on it.

AIBU to ride on the pavement? Even when there is a cycle lane on the road (which was a locked at two points today by parked cars!).

I also use the 'green man' to cross the roads rather than moving to the road and crossing like a vehicle.

Kitchen floor - the Woodstock- Oxford is a shared path, it aweful...full of gravel and uneven patching. In 10 miles if path I met 3\4 pedestrians on a Saturday

Francis, 'got' was an autocorrect typo, I meant to say hit. I did 'get' them but not deliberately, as I had no reaction time.

lethal how horrific

You must be incredibly unlucky nanettenanoo. I walk more than I cycle, and drive more (distance wise) than either. I've never been injured by a cyclist. And I can't think of anyone I know who has. This is in a large city. I'm quite willing to believe that this is just my experience so might not be representative, but neither do I assume that your experience is representative either. There is a lot of making cyclists out to be some bogeyman which is not backed up by any evidence other than the anecdotal.

To be fair the most common type of 'shared facility' is the 'the highways engineers gave up' type of facility, where there's some kind of separate provision most of the way but right at the difficult point everyone's thrown together - usually at a junction. Eg here goo.gl/maps/DLeiX8L6MtT2

Yes, maybe it technically has to be shared to let people use the toucan, but it doesn't stop being shared (there's no shared path end signs, nor the tactile paving on the ground that demarcates the end for visually impaired people).

Some ones on here good for a laugh (if you don't laugh you'll cry), eg wcc.crankfoot.xyz/facility-of-the-month/March2009.htm
or
wcc.crankfoot.xyz/facility-of-the-month/May2007.htm

@ivykaty44 I wasn't expecting it to be good, just an example of one I recalled having cycled ages ago. I've long ago stopped expecting any sort of standard to cycle infrastructure... Or to pavements, come to that.

Where does the pedestrian go in some of these links. Much less a wheelchair or pushchair.

Yes, it’s illegal.

This is one near me, and was very much a cock-up on the designer's part. The point is that councils are happy to have bicycles on pavements, even in relatively busy areas. (Though very few cyclists do actually use that one because it is so bad. Most go onto the road and risk the wrath of drivers for daring to not use the cycle lane...)

Lethaldrizzle I'm so sorry about your friend .

The point is that sticking rigidly to rules with no regards for common sense isn't always the best way. Of course ideally cyclists shouldn't go on pavements but if it makes the op feel safer then come up on the pavement with me and we can share it. As a driver, cyclist, runner, and walker I just try and be considerate and tolerant to everyone (apart from cyclist slaying tipper trucks!)

Use the road.If you are incapable of riding a cycle try some stabilizers

I tell my child I don't care about any fine (if he can be fined?) and to only ride on the road on local streets, pavement otherwise, as he has had no cycle training on main roads. He is a careful and considerate cyclist.

I agree it should be about common sense.

An excellent bigger picture from lethal

Of course, at the end of the day, most of us don’t want anyone to get hurt.

It's crazy how many assumptions are made and how much stereotyping is done. It's clear that maybe I'm lucky to live in a town where paths are wide and quite sparse of pedestrians and I wouldn't be on the busier heavy pedestrian used paths anyway (common sense?!) 🤷

Utterly terrifying that people have stated they would knock a cyclist over just for passing them, noone stated 'passing too close or inconsiderately and you people, however you travel are the true scum here to suggest you would deliberately attack someone - it's clear you did not imply your acts would be accidental.

We took our 3 year old cycling today. As we rode down a path there was a lady with a dog. She was nearer to the grass verge so we went single file closer to the houses to avoid obstructing her, it was a wide path with an additional grass verge so at least 7ft of floor width to utilise. Well in advance, she stepped into the dropped path between two grass verges and as we passed her both me and DH said 'thank you' and she smiled and said 'you're welcome'.

Surely this is just common courtesy all round?!

Yes I WILL continue on the quiet paths and yes I am aware it is illegal BUT even the police are advised to use common sense in wether a person is presenting a risk by their driving so in reality it is inconsiderate cycling on paths which is illegal.

I am a pedestrian. I am a driver usually and now I am also a cyclist. I have no issue with any type of traveller whichever mode of transport I use myself, there is no 'me VS them' in my eyes.

Pedestrians can be dickheads. As can cyclists and drivers but as we all know, anyone who does anything isn't necessarily a carbon copy of another ten people who did it incorrectly.

I'd felt a little paranoid about the legalities of riding on the pavement when I posted. Now I am more empowered to know the law is actually on my side - the lawmakers made a law with a sidenote to allow law enforcers to exercise common sense.

I guess in hindsight my title attracted those with very specific experiences and opinions.

nanettenanoo

Absolutely. Clearly anyone who is not 100% fit should not be allowed to be out on the pavements. If you cannot see a speeding cyclist at 500 yards, cannot hear a cyclist freewheeling down the hill behind you, cannot leap athletically into the road, dodging any vehicular traffic, in order to give the cyclist right of way, you should not be permitted to set foot upon the footpath. If you are not perambulating with the speed and grace of gazelle crossed with a ninja, with reflexes akin to a striking cobra, then you should have the courtesy not to exist at all.

Bloody fuming.

You won't feel more empowered when someone lamps you one.

This world isn't pretty and not everybody has tolerance for stupid fuckers

Icewheeze they can’t fine under 16, that’s just how it is

Good to know ivykaty44. So he has some time for cycle training on busy roads and to grow tall enough for an adult bike :).

Utterly terrifying that people have stated they would knock a cyclist over just for passing them, noone stated 'passing too close or inconsiderately

Um. No. I think I was pretty clear that I was only taking about cyclists who whiz up on me silently out of nowhere, & are close enough to be affected if I react instinctively & defensively. I was very clear that I wasn't talking about cyclists who are going slowly & well out of my way.

I mean, think about it. If you realise suddenly that someone / something is coming fast out of nowhere & almost on top of you what are you going to do? Smile & nod?

Any cyclist that whizzes along pavements close to people, must surely realise that if they hit a pedestrian they are statistically likely to come of worse. In no way would that statement diminish the injury to a pedestrian- but cyclists can damage themselves far worse and it’s stupid.

The more shared paths that are implemented the worse the situation will become as it brings cyclist of the road and onto all pavements

Better to be on the road in mass or separate infrastructure

Cycling will increase as fossil fuel increases in price. Its a free way of travelling and for many a car will become to expensive to use so flippantly and become reserved for longer journeys

I spent about three months on crutches and cyclists in London absolutely terrified me. They just seemed to ride in a straight line ringing their bells and assuming that everyone can leap out of the way. I'm not at all surprised to hear that a severely disabled person has been injured more than once in 30 years by cyclists.

Where I live now cyclists ride on the pavement in some areas but it is smaller and more rural - bigger pavements and fewer people plus there isn't that kamikaze mentality that everyone in London seems to have whether driving, cycling or walking so it seems to work. Signs do prohibit riding on the pavement in areas with lots of pedestrians (basically the high street). So it depends for me on where the OP lives.

Digestive said s/he would intentionally assault someone - 'i would have no problem pushing one over who got too close to my child'