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.

The easiest way to do that is to default all paths to dual use...
Pedestrians to the left and cyclists to the right.

I'm guessing you've never tried to cross a busy cycle lane or reach a floating bus stop in the middle of one. I find it daunting & I'm fit, healthy & usually just worrying about myself. How do you suggest someone with small kids or mobility issues handles that? (And the answer isn't "wait for the cyclists to stop / wait for a gap & run).

YAbu. Unless you are 6 and still learning you need to stay off the pavement. Many councils run courses for adult cycling - sign up to one.

I've honestly never come across a dog when cycling with 5yo on pavement near me, and the elderly are also very very rare. Not all areas/pavements are the same.

Seriously OP - Don't do it. No matter how considerate you are, bicycles don't belong on the pavement because they pose a risk to pedestrians.

You, as a cyclist, are afraid of cars on the road as they are a danger to you. Pedestrians are equally rightly afraid of bicycles on the pavement as bicycles are a danger to them.

It's really not fair to avoid your own danger at the expense of putting others in danger.

I wonder how many of the posters park half on and half of the pavement...

Please cycle on the road or cycle path op as the more that do the more other traffic become accustomed to cyclists on road

Does anyone know how many pedestrians were killed on the pavement last year by motorists? Or how many pedestrians killed pedestrians on pavement?

Having been hit by a car whilst crossing at a zebra crossing I believe all cars should be banned

Illegal and dangerous. Why not find some bridleways or cycle trails near you without cars to build confidence instead?

@ivykaty did you mean pedestrian pedestrian, or pedestrian/pedal cycle?

I think the stats you're looking for are here:

data.gov.uk/dataset/cb7ae6f0-4be6-4935-9277-47e5ce24a11f/road-safety-data

I hate pavement cyclists.

I would have no problem with pushing one over who got too close to my child.

OK, it is illegal and dangerous.

However, where I live, there is a wide stretch of pavement by the side of a road. The road is extremely busy and has a high volume of lorries and other HGV. There is a cycle lane, but it is very badly maintained and full of potholes. The pavement is rarely used by pedestrians and cyclists, including a large number of people who cycle to work shifts at a neighbouring factory, use the pavement in preference to the road.

Stay off the pavement.

I was driving to town the other day when a guy on a bike made it impossible for people to overtake safely, then qhen we approached lights decided to weave in and out the cars before using the pavement to avoid the red light and end up right back in front of us.
Most cyclists aren't like him, but people like him give the rest of us a bad name.

Same for people cycling on the pavement. Don't do it

I havn’t RTFT, but yes, adults cycling on the pavement is illegal (I think it’s wherks greater than 24” diameter, but I am happy to be corrected).

The app “CycleStreets” will help you find quieter cycling routes, albeit not necessarily cycle paths.

British Cycling/HSBC run a series of free, traffic free and/or guided bike rides designed to help you build confidence - Let’s Ride

British Cycling/HSBC also run ladies only rides, although not necessarily for beginners Breeze Rides (there usually are some though).

Unless you are 6 and still learning you need to stay off the pavement.

Age 6? Bikeability level 2 training is riding on local streets only and kids usually take part in year 5 or 6, so age 9-11. My child was riding without stabilisers at 3, should he have been on the road?

Digestive - I think assault is a greater misdemeanour than pavement cycling

There are a couple of cyclist who I see regularly who seem to have an aversion to waiting at red lights so cycle on the road, swoop into the pavement instead of having to wait then back onto the road.

At least they’re equal opportunity twats causing difficulty for pedestrians and motorists

Look, if you can’t cycle, take a cycling proficiency course. Don’t prioritise your desire to ride a bike over everyone else’s right to walk on the pavement without having to dive out of the way or get run over by some entitled twat on their bike.

I've had a cyclist crash into me before and it really fricken hurts! Don't do that

So much hate for pavement cyclers. Where I live in London, the actualy pavements contain close to zero pedestrians, so it would be a non-issue in terms of safety to cycle on the pavements. On the other hand, the actual routes walkers use, footpaths, have very many cyclists (legally) on them, and I've never in 20 years seen a collision, or even a near miss. Cyclists either warn pedestrians from far away (and you can see if someone has heard you and is creating space for you) or they slow down to a walking pace while they overtake.

It would make more sense from a safety point of view for pavements to be shared between cyclists and pedestrians than for roads to be shared between cyclists and cars.

Firesuit - ah a voice of reason

@ivykaty44 I can't find the backing stats now (phone won't open the link I posted) but the "number" in my head is c.50 pedestrians a year killed on the pavement by being driven into by a motorised vehicle, I can't remember if there has been a case of a pedestrian fatality because of a collision with a pedal cycle on the pavement.

Where I live in London, the actualy pavements contain close to zero pedestrians, so it would be a non-issue in terms of safety to cycle on the pavements

Whereas where I live the pavements are very well used by pedestrians.

There are a couple of stretches of wider pavement where it’s shared - absolutely fine. What isn’t Fine is cyclists ignoring the signs asking them to merge back into the road and use very narrow pavements, meaning pedestrians have to step into the road for them to pass.

It drives me mad when I am on a pavement or shared path (usually have 2 pre schoolers with me as well) and some idiot cyclist speeds up behind me ringing their bell and expecting me to jump out of their way. How is that any different to me beeping my horn at cyclists and continuing to drive at the same speed when I am in my car. As I slow down for cyclists and pass when it is safe I expect the same from them when I am a pedestrian.

It would make more sense from a safety point of view for pavements to be shared between cyclists and pedestrians

Gods no. I have been knocked over more than once by pavement cyclists in London - they are a menace.

If you are not confident on the road do some cycle training, practice on smaller roads to build the confidence but cyclists do not belong on pavements.

Bear in mind that as a pedestrian with reduced mobility I have no idea whether the cyclists on the pavement are "good" or "bad" I just feel dread at the sight of them because most experiences are bad.

There are a couple of stretches of wider pavement where it’s shared - absolutely fine. What isn’t Fine is cyclists ignoring the signs asking them to merge back into the road and use very narrow pavements, meaning pedestrians have to step into the road for them to pass.

I refuse to step into the road now. I also won't walk in the road so parents with pushchairs can walk along side by side, groups of schoolkids or teenagers or people out on the piss can walk along side by side, etc. The only time I will step into the road is if the people coming towards me clearly need to be side by side - perhaps someone needs assistance walking, be that an elderly person, a small child or someone who has a disability.

My OH is a cyclist, although more mountain biking than road, but he has done a fair bit of road cycling including some races. I'm well aware of the dangers road cyclists face, the terrible driving and attitude some car drivers have, the fact that road surfaces can be awful. Some people have given examples in this thread of where they feel pavement cycling is acceptable, and they may very well be right that there are areas where pavements are never used by pedestrians etc. All I know is that round here people cycling on the pavement makes me lose my shit and I have no patience for it. If you're not confident on the road OP, you shouldn't be cycling.