Cyclists on pavements

[origamiunicorn]

Ok, please tell me if I ABU.

What's your opinion on people cycling on pavements? I don't mean young children who are clearly learning or parents who are accompanying them but adults. Full blown, fully grown adults.

Where I live it seems common place and I don't get it. AIBU to say if you are an adult and aren't comfortable on the road you shouldn't be riding a bike. It always seems to be middle aged men too who whizz past, so not an adult learner or someone who is gaining confidence.

Just now I was walking home from work and I hear this bell ringing and as I turn around this man in his 40s? whizzes past me and shouts "out the way!" to which I throw my hands up in the air at him and tell him to get off the pavement and then as I walk past him further up the road at a crossing he says something, calls me the C word and rides off. I mean what?!

I actually feel a little shaken with the confrontation so AIBU in my reaction? I thought it was justified considering. I mean if you're going to ride on the pavement like a child at least give people a chance to get out the way and... should people even be on cycling on the pavement?!

Schadenfreude - so now you're resorting to name calling - classy and helpful! Fwiw i absolutely hate cyclists ringing their bell at me, far prefer they slow down and say excuse me which most of them do.

Yep Vulpine - I am down to name-calling, having ended up inhospitable, and being worried sick about my unborn baby because some wanker of a cyclist came round a corner, on the pavement, unable to see what was there, and didn't even bother to ring his bell to warn anyone that he was there. He was an adult man - not a child - and he didn't even apologise, just blustered some crap about nt knowing I was there.

FWIW, I absolutely DON'T hate cyclists ringing their bells at me, (though I do appreciate them slowing down so I can get out of the way, if necessary). If a cyclist comes up behind me I am unaware of it so them mumbling "excuse me" doesn't work at all - and remember, their shouldn't be on the pavement anyway.

When I took adult cycling lessons a little over a year ago, we were told in no uncertain terms not to ride on the pavement - pavements are for pedestrians; and that if we didn't have clear sight (hedges, corners etc) we should sound our bell; if there is someone in front of us who may be unaware of our presence eg pedestrians (sometimes they walk on the roads), dog walkers, people with small children - anybody really - we should sound our bell. The bell acts in the same way as a horn on a car - it is a WARNING signal for people who may be unaware of your presence. If you, personally, don't like it - tough! That's what it's for.

(And while we're on - what does "so now you're resorting to name calling" mean? What had I "resorted to" before? I am genuinely curious to know what you mean by that accusatory remark - I have obviously got on your last nerve because of my previous comments, and while I can understand why you may not approve of name calling (btw - you are on the wrong site if you don't like that) I'm interested in what else I have done to upset your delicate sensibilities. Something you "absolutely hate" no doubt whatever it is. )

I use my bell simply just to warn people that I am there especially in a joint area.

Thank you blueeyes. I for one always appreciate a cyclist who does this - even on the pavement! That's what the bell is for - it gives me time to get out of the way, and if I'm out in a country park area with my dogs, gives time signal them to go to one side.

Some people like cyclists using their bells and some don’t.
It’s hard for us to judge from a distance which type of person you are.

S021

I don't think it's a legal requirement to sound a bell - but it's certainly a very sensible one. That's why it IS a legal requirement for a bell to be fitted to a bike in the bike shop.

What's worse, a pedestrian whose finer feelings are offended by a bell, or one who doesn't realise that the cyclist is there, and panics and steps in front of the bike?

What’s worse?
Having abuse shouted at you for ringing a bell or having abuse shouted at you for not ringing one.

Out of my 5 mile ride to work, 4 are through the park and then I have no choice but ride on the pavement because there are no dedicated paths

So you are choosing a route that has no roads for four miles and think this justifies you cycling on the pavement.
*
It does not.

You are making a clear choice.*

If there is no road alongside the path then cycling on the path is perfectly legal. Unless there are signs forbidding it of course

They should be on pavement
they are pests when there holding traffic up

Vehicles with 4 wheels hold the traffic up, not bikes

Vehicles with 4 wheels hold the traffic up, not bikes

Anyone who is using the road has the potential to hold traffic up, which is why we have to rely on people to drive/ride reasonably and why we’re often sadly disappointed

I'm a bit scared of them having been nearly run into once on a pavement. Guy came hurtling towards me and screeched to a stop 🥺

ivykaty44 I understand from the article that bikes must not be ridden on footways unless specifically designated i.e. by a blue sign.

The majority of pavement cycling PP are complaining about here seems to relate to next to roads in towns, so footways.

I agree it's confusing. My local council's signs do not always make it clear where a shared pavement starts or ends. Which is why I bought their cycle map which shows the various designations.

Actually local authorities could do a lot more to help but mine won't because they are anti-cyclist.

Ollypops14 are you the person who shouted at my DH yesterday because the road was too narrow for her to overtake him when he was cycling?

Minnie
I don’t like shared pavements for many reasons (both as a pedestrian and using a bike) and the Dutch have proved it’s much better to have segregated cycle lanes that are joined up to get places

S021

If you're going to get abused anyway, what not ring the bell and ensure safety?

And I don't shout abuse at people - I tend to say "Whoops- didn't realise you were there - I didn't hear your bell that you didn't ring and then take my time getting the dogs out of the way.

If I get warning I just shout "Side!" and the dogs go in to the side of the path out of the way, and the cyclist doesn't even have to alter their pedalling speed.

The bell warns pedestrians of all types, including people who may be partially deaf, and not hear voices but may discern a bell. it can be used from a greater distance away than a shouted "Excuse me" and gives people time to step aside.

Often cyclists are almost on top of walkers before we are aware of their presence. I don't want you running into me, my dogs, my children- or see you run into anyone else. I would hope that you'd prefer not to hit anyone, either.

The Highway Code could do with a clearer makeover and some rules need to be tightened. For example, a bike must be sold with a bell but then there is no legal requirement for a bell to remain on the bike. I prefer the tinkle of a bell as it is easier to hear (providing pedestrian doesn't have earphones in) than a shout and also less aggressive than a shout but it should be rung timeously. I always respond with a cheery thank you when pedestrians have then moved out my way. This is only an issue for me on a shared path as I would never cycle on a pavement.

Schaden, I am not saying cyclists should go around scaring people, I am saying a simple "excuse me" works just as well and is less aggressive.

In most cases people don't hear me on eg the paths near my local railway station (not pavements so bikes allowed) because they have headphones in, so query whether they'd hear my bell anyway. Those who don't have headphones in hear me fine because the ground is quite rough so I make quite a lot of noise.

However I did buy a new VERY BIG BELL when I was in Copenhagen a few months ago and I hope it has a cheerier and less imperious "vet out of my way" sound and friendlier "cyclist on the way" sound.

But my general feeling is still, a friendly call out is nicer than belling people.

Though sometimes I would like a car horn on my bike - but that's for the car drivers, not pedestrians.

God, this is my pet hate! I think their should be stricter rules on what I nick-name “kid-racers”. This is where gangs of young people aged between around 12-19 dangerously ride on both road and pavement. In fact, this should go for all cyclelyst of secondary school age and over ( including full grown adults). When you cause an offence in your car, you are punished for it and have points put on your license/Have your license removed. It should be the same for cyclists. I also think that when young people go to apply for their provisional at 16/17, any cycle offences should be popped up and to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to give a young person a provisional ( if they can’t behave on a bike, there is no way I would want them in the car and on the road)

I have always personally believed, that it should be a serious offence for any person over the age of 16 ( this is the age you’re allowed to ride a scooter/50CC) to be riding on the pavement.

Though sometimes I would like a car horn on my bike - but that's for the car drivers, not pedestrians.

Have to admit username - if I regularly cycled, I'd fancy having an AIRHORN on my bike

Not really - but I don't find a bell aggressive, and I find it easier to hear than speech. And the terrain round here means that bikes are almost always practically silent as they approach. If they're coming towards me, that's obviously not a problem, but coming from behind it's a menace.

I always try to get my dogs out of the way - not just for their safety, but as a courtesy so the cyclist isn't wobbling all over the path (same when we encounter horses). I tell them "side", "wait" then "off you go" when it's safe - and I really appreciate getting a thank you from the cyclists (and to be fair - most of them do say thank you; the ones who have the manners to ring a bell invariably do - and I thank them, too).

The way I see it, we all want to enjoy ourselves in the fresh air, on paths that are shared by walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and equestrians, and a bit of courtesy from everyone goes a very long way.

should be stricter rules on what I nick-name “kid-racers”. This is where gangs of young people aged between around 12-19 dangerously ride on both road and pavement

Happily, I haven't encountered this pups - I'd hate that!

When you cause an offence in your car, you are punished for it and have points put on your license/Have your license removed. It should be the same for cyclists.

www.sloughobserver.co.uk/news/13437882.motorist-who-mounted-pavement-in-car-and-killed-loving-grandfather-walks-free/

www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1559113.death-crash-motorist-walks-free/

www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/killer-motorist-walks-free-1-899416

If you kill using a car breaking the law you can walk free, it’s not the same treatment for cyclists...I think both should be treated the same & if you are breaking the law and kill face the same punishment- orefrably an electronic tag and curfew

Cyclists are rude and annoying. The bell is just unbelievably rude - ding ding! out of my way! You know what, mate, why don't YOU slow down and be aware of pedestrians, instead of racing around dinging your stupid bell and expecting us to scatter out of your way. Try saying 'excuse me' or simply accept that the person may be hearing impaired or wearing headphones and can't hear your DEMAND for them to move aside so your privileged, lycra-covered behind can take over the entire path. Use the road, use the cyle path, otherwise get off and walk like a normal human being.

It’s high time to licence all road-going bicycles
#PlatesforBikes

SIGN THE PETITION HERE: chng.it/Gzz8vTdtxC
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Newly-formed pedestrian rights organisation Pedestrians Have Rights Too launches today a petition supporting calls by Professor The Lord Winston, the Labour peer and television presenter, to introduce licence plates for all road-going bicycles in the UK.

Last year, there were 18,000 serious incidents involving cyclists on Britain's roads, with serious injuries topping 3,000, more than 100 deaths and 300 reported collisions with pedestrians.

I hate it when they are on pavement. I hate it when they jump the lights and ride on green for pedestrians and expect them to just be nimble and jump out from under the wheels. I hate the assumptions that they need to be somewhere quicker than others, yet can slow down a bus full of people when they are plodding uphill in front of a bus. I can't stand their self-righteous green agenda.
Get a bus, or drive and stop being a cunt. Or accept risks and cycle on the road. Having said that drivers must be vigilant and watch out for cyclists to avoid injuring or killing them.