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.

Lethal, are you saying that if you thought your child was in danger from a cyclist on the pavement, you’d just let events unfold without reacting?

@Lethaldrizzle

If I could have shoved the cyclist out of the way who crashed into my daughter and knocked her into the road I would have done. She was put in extreme danger by his entitlement.

I would grab my child and pull them out of the way

Coincidentally, I was crossing at a green light just now & a cyclist came flying round the corner onto the crossing & just missed me.

No, I didn't whack him. I did yell at him & I did think that if he had fallen off his bike it would have bloody well served him right.

When I was a child(maybe 5 or six) I was run over by an older teenager who was riding on the pavement. I hadn't heard it coming and stepped out from my mum. It was awful, luckily nothing broken but my face was pretty mashed up aswell as knees etc. couldve been so much worse.

Only saving grace was the teen being absolutely terrified at my younger brother screaming 'mummy! That plonker hurt cheesecake! CALL THE POLICE' - he was a righteous 4 year old.

I don't understand why in any circumstances you'd cycle on the pavement. It's selfish. Stop it.

@Iceweasel

It wasn’t possible. The cyclist split us up, you have to go round the corner single file. I yelled and he just carried on

Crumbs there's some folks with serious latent and surface aggression issues here.

@nanettenanoo

Get off your high horse. I personally won't be passing anyone with 'inches to spare' or approaching them from behind without a wide berth, in fact, as stated many times over, I would enter the road if it's clear to do so without causing a vehicle to take evasive action OR walk around them if a wide berth at a very slow pace was not possible.

I presume you never use official 'shared use paths'? If a path is 5ft wide split into pedestrian side and cyclist side, surely adults can manage to accommodate each other on an unsplit path of equal proportions. I presume you don't visit any parks or seafronts where pedestrians and cyclists are fully permitted to share the path?!

Disabled doesn't mean 'correct' and it doesn't mean I am victimising you if I cycle on the same path as you.

Will you also hit your stick out a runner that you don't hear approaching you as they suddenly pass you quietly at speed? If so then perhaps you are quite a danger yourself as clearly a runner is unquestionably allowed to share the path with you but YOU are now putting THEM at risk with your defensive overreaction!

I passed a group of adults yesterday who had congregated on a shared use path in a circle, they had just got off a coach I presume as they were gathered near its door blocking the 'cycle' lane. They had also blocked the pedestrian side significantly with their luggage. They barely moved to allow me to pass and I had to walk through them. Perhaps I should have just juggernauted my way through them because THEY were on MY part of the path. But clearly I didn't do that, I knew injuring them would be wrong and I used common sense to pass.

@MistressDeeCee

When someone 'lamps me one' (seriously?!🤔) I will call the police and have witnesses to prove I was considerate so they will be the ones to suffer, not me.

@User12879923378

I agree that some people are from those areas where there are many whizzing cyclists who are inconsiderate and a daily nuisance. I live in a quiet seaside town and any paths with high foot traffic are avoided. On reflection, I don't think many people in my town see cyclists as a pest but I can understand how other busier places may see more inconsiderate cyclists and therefore assume that's the picture here.

I presume you never use official 'shared use paths'? If a path is 5ft wide split into pedestrian side and cyclist side, surely adults can manage to accommodate each other on an unsplit path of equal proportions. I presume you don't visit any parks or seafronts where pedestrians and cyclists are fully permitted to share the path?!

That’s not exactly the same is it though? A shared path a pedestrian should reasonable expect cyclists. A normal pavement just because someone doesn’t want to wait at a red light, or isn’t “comfortable” riding on the road is very different.

I’m rather surprised you can’t see that.

@JacquesHammer

A shared path could be typically quiet and if you are hard of hearing/partially sighted etc. you will STILL be instinctively startled by a sudden unexpected movement in your peripheral.

As a point of interest I live close to a canal. The C&RT have had to install bollards and barriers ar regular points to force cyclists to dismount because of the number of accidents, culminating in a child being knocked into the canal.

@Hum2

And yet you’re still aware that a cyclist COULD be on the same path as you. I do know how they work, I’m surrounded by them

It is still not comparable to a cyclist being on a smaller pavement not intended for sharing.

@Hum2 You've told someone who is severely disabled to 'get off their high horse' because they're worried about being hit by a cyclist yet again. Typical entitled cyclist attitude is rearing its ugly head.

Hum2

At the beginning of this thread I posted a sympathetic message. However I’m really upset with the way you talked to a disabled person.

I’m also disabled. Being knocked over by a dog, scooter, bike etc is something I dread particularly at busy times such as on school run. If I were hit, it would also be devastating for me.

If you want people to be sympathetic to you, you also need to be sympathetic with them and I’m not sure you’re able to do this. As you’re struggling to understand the very real threat a cyclist holds i therefore think you’d be better off relearning on quiet roads and then riding on more busy roads when you’re up to speed and leaving the pavements to the pedestrians, able bodied or disabled.

Numerous cyclists, skate boarders, scooters have got close to my kids, and there have been a few close shaves, but have never felt compelled to push anyone off their bikes, pissed off yes, but not murderous.

The victim blaming, stonewalling, minimising, dishonesty, and other attempts to defend dangerous cycling and attack victims is truly terrifying

But predictable, wouldn't you say?

Yes all those poor dead cyclists, puzzle, through no fault of their own

Yes all those poor dead cyclists, puzzle, through no fault of their own

So because there’s been accidents on the road, it’s ok for cyclists to take precedent over pedestrians on the pavement and injure them?

I would have no issue with cyclists who didn’t want to cycle on a particular stretch of road and who walked their cycle on the pavement. I’m yet to see one do that (and not on the shared pavement before someone picks up on that).

I would have no issue with cyclists who didn’t want to cycle on a particular stretch of road and who walked their cycle on the pavement. I’m yet to see one do that

I have done that. But I do, of course, take more space on the pavement pushing my bike along, than I would cycling along at walking pace.

As I said above, I see no issue where the pavement is empty.

other attempts to defend dangerous cycling and attack victims is truly terrifying

I wonder how many people are injured by bikes each year in comparison with cars? And I wonder what the severity of those injuries are in comparison with cars?

I find it astonishing how everyone like to have a go at people on bikes. They can be a pain in the proverbial, but they are not, in 99% of cases, dangerous. They're an easy target.

It's drivers we need to sort out, not cyclists.

It's also very dangerous for the cyclist themselves - many cycle accidents are caused because drivers do not anticipate a cyclist crossing a side road fronthe pavement at speed (they are only checking for pedestrians), or re-entering the road in unexpected places.

Ride where you want, with due respect to other users of the space

People that would prefer to see people that lack the confidence either forced into the road or forbidden from cycling are frankly, proper weird

So basically, despite being told YABU by 95% of posters, you are still going to be a selfish , dangerous , and anti social.

Your excuses are pathetic . Just admit it, you started this thread hoping someone would agree that it's OK, but you aren't really fussed either way are you?

As I said above, I see no issue where the pavement is empty

Absolutely not.

They can be a pain in the proverbial, but they are not, in 99% of cases, dangerous

The worry for me is that when you get a cyclist on a pavement they shouldn’t be on, you’re increasing the likelihood of them being dangerous.

It's drivers we need to sort out, not cyclists

We need to sort bad drivers and bad cyclists. The ones who are careful and considerate aren’t a problem.

I ride on pavements quite a lot. Never been selfish, dangerous or anti-social.

Chill pills are in v short supply apparently.