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.

Yesterday I was walking to work from my parked car (no bus service I can use and I live too far to cycle) through a park that has a shared pedestrian/cycle path. It is clearly indicated which side "belongs" to cyclists and which to pedestrians. I was almost sent flying by a cyclist who seemed to think they should use the pedestrian side. This morning as I drove in, I turned into a one way street and almost knocked a woman off her bike. She was wearing no helmet and was cycling the the wrong way down the street and I had to slam my brakes to avoid hitting her.

Last week as I stepped out of the park from one pavement to another I was knocked by a cyclist going on the path which is not shared space and the road, one way, two lanes of traffic didn't have any vehicles on it at all.

I am regularly being clipped by cyclists cycling through our pedestrianised high street which is covered in signs saying "no cycling" and I know people who've been sent flying by cyclists who of course just cycle off.

I'm all for cyclists but as much as people complain about bad driving, I genuinely see far more dangerous cycling.

They all ram into the road without a care for their own or anyone else's safety

Which is foolish. People crossing the road have a duty of care to check that nothing is coming whether vehicle/cycle/horse because they can reasonably expect there to be vehicles.

Not so on the pavement. I’m more concerned about the safety of pedestrians on the pavement.

I'm a pedestrian, cyclist and driver. I see far, far more bad driving than anything else.

Op, I won't get out of your way on the pavement. You can probably hear me muttering "wanker" at you as you go past me on the pavement.
Go. On. The. Road.

Fuck me, I wish all cyclists would get on the pavement. Can’t stand cyclists on the road, just causing unnecessary traffic !

@easyandy101 exactly!

@bellinisurge

"Op, I won't get out of your way on the pavement. You can probably hear me muttering "wanker" at you as you go past me on the pavement."

And that's the problem with this thread. I don't expect or assume anyone will move out of my way so what exactly is your point again? You will call me a wanker as I walk past you on my bike or go onto a clear road to pass you? Well aren't you just a little ray of sunshine.

@ByeMF
Are we really going to get this pedantic?!

I've come to the conclusion that I must live on a low cyclist area because as a pedestrian/driver I've never witnessed anything really dangerous by a cyclist other than cycling through the pedestrian used high street. I think our high street may actually permit cycling through however I can't think why anyone would want to even attempt it on a bike. The main people cycling through the high street tend to be older teenage lads with their tops off riding 'no handies'.

"Is it just me or are people just fed up with other people existing and doing things in the same places that you want to do other, similar yet slightly different, things?"

No, people are just fed up with selfish fuckers who believe they can endanger peoples safety - just because it suits them to do so.

OP "I don't expect or assume anyone will move out of my way so what exactly is your point again?"

When I am a pedestrian, on a non-shared pavement, I don't expect to find an adult cyclist.

@ShatnersWig

*When I am a pedestrian, on a non-shared pavement, I don't expect to find an adult cyclist."

Ok. You probably don't expect a sudden runner or a child on a scooter to pass you but it happens and you just move on with your life. The same as if a cyclist passes you at wide berth or a car has parked on and blocked the pavement. You don't expect it, but you make a quick mental risk assessment of your own safety and continue on your way.

If a child whizzes past me or is around me generally on the pavement on a scooter, I would say Whoops and get out of the way. A small child who doesn't know any better and who needs help to stay safe.
An adult on a bike knows better and should walk their bike on the road - as I was taught todo if you have to walk your bike. Or ride on the road.

There are some young lads who deliberately whizz past people on a stretch of pavement near me. They come really close and shout as they go past to make people jump . So fucking annoying. I now randomly zigzag as I walk along there so they won’t be able to get me! Until one of the little darlings bangs in to me I guess...

@RhubarbRhubarbRhubarbRhubarb

Just like idiot drivers, these are the people you wouldnt mind seeing coming a cropper!

Hum2 But the point is that though idiot drivers are morons, and are far more likely to seriously injure or kill someone or cause damage, unless they lose control of the vehicle, their vehicle is where it is meant to be - on the road. Cycles are not mean to be on standard footways. Cycling on the path, no matter what you say, and no matter that the Home Office advise Police to be very discretionary in how they apply it, IS an offence.

Cars are not supposed to park on pavements, even half on etc .but they do.
Their risk if their wing mirror gets knocked or my mild mannered sis with her double buggy can't get past without banging into them and damaging the paintwork.
Some little shit whizzes past you @RhubarbRhubarbRhubarbRhubarb . Chances are they'll have an accident at some point.
Runners? Round here they slow down and give walking pedestrians a wide berth. They are still pedestrians.

Still don't see why I am sure

You don't expect it, but you make a quick mental risk assessment of your own safety and continue on your way

It’s a bit late to make a “quick mental risk assessment” when you’ve already been knocked over...

Why should I have to make a quick mental risk assessment for your benefit, op, when you are in the wrong?

@op and @bellinsurge

It’s terrible but I’d love one of them to have a small accident. You know, just enough to scare them from doing it again. No broken limbs or anything...

I can only hope one day the uk will catch up with forward looking modern countries such as Denmark and Holland

you are being IU and I cannot believe some people here are advocating cycling on the pavement! If you are not confident enough to cycle on the road take classes or stop cycling. I am a cyclist and would never think of cycling on the pavement. What if a child run in front of you? Somebody comes out of a shop? A bike is heavy and can do a lot of damage.

I agree with what you’ve been saying btw @lethal. More bikes and fewer cars would be the best thing by far. Can’t see it happening though 👎🏻.

Frenchjunebug - that's what brakes are for. They are particularly useful for jay-walking pedestrians stepping into the road with headphones on and texting on their phones.

A story I heard from a FOAF.

One day he and a friend were walking home after a vigorous game of squash. On the pedestrian crossing, he swung his racquet to demonstrate a particularly special backhand - and smacked a cyclist who’d decided to bomb through the red light and over the crossing.

Tears and sympathy have I none...!

(To be absolutely clear, he hadn’t seen the cyclist!!)

I don't think you should ride on the pavement but there is nothing wrong with hopping off your bike and crossing busy streets on a pedestrian crossing.

The problem with bikes in pavements is that they are almost silent and if you are walking in front of them you have no idea they are there. Even at slow speeds it can hurt being hit by a bike. I don't think kids should be on bikes on the pavement either. Scooters aren't so bad but even then they need to be used safely.