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?!

Who said it was the fault of the motorist?

These are a few of the things I see every week..

Near misses when cyclists decide not to stop at a red light as pedestrians start crossing
Cyclists weaving in the road whilst cycling and texting
Numerous cyclists on the road and pavement wearing headphones, obviously with diminished awareness of cars and people around them
Cyclists using the pavement instead of the cycle lane but not dismounting as required by law
Cyclists ‘hopping’ their bike onto the pavement at a red light to avoid waiting but rarely checking to their left for pedestrians first
Cyclists with no lights
Cyclists travelling (fairly fast) in the wrong direction down a one way street with a high pedestrian footfall, where there is no sign permitting this
Cyclists ‘nipping round’ lorries and buses where they aren’t visible to the driver
Cyclists riding 2/3 abreast on busy B roads that really aren’t wide enough to facilitate it (usually cycling clubs in multiple groups)
And ...Cyclists who take care and are able to obey the law

I don’t doubt that roads/drivers can be hazardous to cyclists, I see plenty of poor driver and pedestrian behaviour too but creating dangerous situations themselves or breaking the law isn’t the answer.

Did you know that cyclists can’t be given a ticket for speeding offences but can be fined for “cycling furiously” - you can just tell that originates from the Victorian era!

Who said it was the fault of the motorist?

The poster who said this and those who agreed More than 99% of pedestrian collision deaths in this country involve a motor vehicle. The real enemy is not the bicycle.

There was this as well I understand why so many people ride on the path. The best way to stop it is to drive safely around cyclists

No, the best way to stop it is for cyclists to stop doing it.

Seeing as I haven't defended illegal or dangerous cycling I don't have any hill to die on.

From this thread: "Cyclist fuck me right off. "

I think you need some basic comprehension Soup. That is not blaming motorists for the actions of cyclists.

If you don't feel safe cycling on the roads, walk.

It really is that simple.

Cycling on the pavement is illegal. But not all that is illegal is wrong, and I don't see the point of making a cyclist ride on a busy road when the pavement is empty.

I mind when the cyclist cycles right at me and expects me to get out of their way and abuses me when I don't.

But if they ride safely, considerately and give away to me as a pedestrian I really can't see the issue.

I think you need some basic comprehension Soup. That is not blaming motorists for the actions of cyclists.

Don't be ridiculous. Saying that the roads are too dangerous so they cycle on the pavements is absolutely trying to pass the buck onto motorists.

Still, there's no arguing with stupid so I'm off.

I think it's illegal. I have also shown you the government guidance on how the law should be enforced.

I never ride on pavements. If other people do then that's on them.

What a brave man swearing at you but too much of a pussy to ride on the road!

This is what you said Soup.

If someone is cycling like a cunt on the pavement, it is because they are a cunt on a bicycle.

No one has said someone "cycling like a cunt" is the fault of the motorist. What they have said is that sometimes people feel they need to cycle on pavements due to the roads being dangerous. They haven't said they are entitled to cycle on the pavement in a cuntish manner. Anyway, that's today's lesson on reading comprehension done for. Hopefully you'll do better next time.

Cyclist say idiot motorists make it too dangerous for them so cycle on the pavement don’t realise they they’ve just made themselves the idiot motorists in that situation. You’ve become the arsehole car driver.

Pedestrians see you the same way you see dangerous car drivers.

So next time you’re ranting and raving about how dangerous it is for you try to get it into your skulls that’s exactly how everyone feels about you!

Pedestrians see you the same way you see dangerous car drivers.

Yep. This exactly. It's the height of selfishness to decide that because you feel unsafe you're going to make others feel unsafe. The reason people get upset in a discussion like this is because so many people encounter cyclists like this all the time.

And I see:

Near misses when car drivers decide not to stop at a side road as pedestrians start crossing it
Drivers weaving in the road whilst driving and texting
Numerous pedestrians on the road and pavement wearing headphones, obviously with diminished awareness of cars and people around them
Drivers parking (and driving on) the pavement
Pedestrians dressed in dark clothes
Cyclists ‘nipping round’ lorries and buses where they aren’t visible to the driver I'll give you this one, drives me mad, too - and if you are a cyclist DO NOT GO UP THE LEFT HAND SIDE WHEN A CAR HAS ITS LEFT INDICATOR ON! It is not "filtering", it is dangerous undertaking.
Cyclists riding 2/3 abreast on busy B roads that really aren’t wide enough to facilitate it (usually cycling clubs in multiple groups) apparently this is safer because you have to overtake them as if they were a small lorry rather than having to overtake a single line, I'll give you this one too though as I think it does make life more difficult for the car drivers trying to get past
And ...Drivers and cyclists who take care and are able to obey the law

Who does the more damage? Cyclists or drivers?

Very very few people get killed or injured by cyclists. I hate threads like this which make cyclists the enemy. Car drivers are the ones who need to take care when they are driving their metal boxes. But there is too much vested interest in maintaining the dangerous status quo.

To be fair I just went out and a young lad was cycling on the pavement towards me. It did annoy me. But that's all. The pavement was plenty wide enough for both of us.

The worst pavement cyclists are the Uber Eats delivery people. They whizz at warp speed and don't give a fuck.

It gets my goat when the ring their bells at me rather than saying 'excuse me' but other than that I'm not bothered.

By law cyclists are meant to ring the bell to warn of their presence.

Very very few people get killed or injured by cyclists. I hate threads like this which make cyclists the enemy. Car drivers are the ones who need to take care when they are driving their metal boxes.

Oh bugger right off with the whataboutery.