To try to cycle inoffensively?

[Confrontayshunme]

My DD started a new school about 1.5 miles from our house. We don't own a car, and my husband and I cycle everywhere. I am a VERY law abiding cyclist and super conscientious not to make drivers or pedestrians angry. To this end, I never zoom around cars at intersections and endeavour to actually just get out of the way at all times. I frequently stop and just get off the road to keep from annoying drivers. Please don't just start with the cyclist bashing, as I am really desperately trying to do the right thing and not annoy people.

The problem is that the shared pedestrian/cycle path between our home and school is closed for about a year for building works. There is a partial cycle lane for a bit of our journey, but car parking on both sides makes it too narrow for cars to go around if DD and I both go on the road, but I can't be near her on pavement due to said cars parking and it being a very narrow pavement.

DD is 7 and very confident riding and stopping and listening to me, but I am struggling not to get shouted at by motorists. I am definitely NOT doing anything illegal, but I just think busy people near a school and industrial estate in a 20mph zone = a lot of verbal criticism and stress for all.

I have done all of the following and been shouted at by drivers for every option.

AIBU to ask which of these is the LEAST anger-inducing for drivers (particularly industrial vans, since we are by an estate)?

1. Child on pavement in neon jerkin and me on bike going a slowish 8mph (but cars can go around at 20 if no cars on opposite lane).
2. Child in front of me on road (not visible to drivers so I can see why they yelled at me for being slow). This feels the safest to me, fyi.
3. Child in neon jerkin to the left of me, visible to drivers but only small cars able to go around due to both of us being on narrow road.

OR (haven't done this)

1. Both of us on pavement (though technically against code for me to be there and there are pedestrians).

I really do welcome any advice as I can't seem to get it right. Recently, on a marked bike lane near us, a car screeched its brakes like it was going to hit my DD then laughed out the window and shouted "f---ing cyclists" so I am desperate to get it right so my DD is safe.

A friend said to just go on the pavement as long as the shared path is closed, but that feels like breaking the code and I really don't want to.

On the road.

DS is almost 12 now but has been cycling with me since he was 3/4.

He goes in from with me behind but I used to encourage him to ride close the kerb while I rode slightly out.

This has 3 advantage:s:

1. cars behind can see him aswell as me
2. I can "move up" beside him to protect him if I think something is too close/fast/big
3. if he stops dead I don't ride into the back of him!

@Baguetteaboutit

Oh I do. I also have scars to prove it. II am a cyclist myself and it boils my piss when people cycle on pavements.

I get equally annoyed with cyclists who don't obey the rules of the road and have little sympathy if the come a cropper as a result.

2 or 3. While wearing a headcam.

@Miaowing hopefully you'll gain a few more scars and a fractured skull as a result of total fucking belligerence! At least the cyclists (the sensible ones will be wearing a helmet).

Cycle slowly on the pavement. I genuinely see no problem with this, although plenty of busybodies do for some reason even if you are causing absolutely no obstruction or danger. The same people who yell out "it's a footpath, not a bridleway" - who the fuck cares? It's not hurting anyone. And I say this as someone who doesn't cycle.

No 2 only

No 2. Put a big tall flag on your kid's bike. I liked the suggestion earlier of you wearing a hi-viz vest with 'child cycling ahead' or whatever on it. I've never seen one of those but it's a good idea. Gives cars plenty of warning.

I cycle slowly on pavement with baby on the back of my bike and older one on balance bike. Nobody has ever complained (but the pavements are wide). I think whatever you do some people will be grumpy. Doing what you feel is safest and being generally considerate I think is a perfectly reasonable compromise.

It's not hurting anyone

Except it can.

@Miaowing children under 10 (or 8 in Scotland) are below the age of criminal responsibility, therefore they cannot be charged, fined or otherwise penalised for cycling on a pavement.

As for deliberately going out of your way to attempt to hurt people who do, if it is true, then you are far more criminally responsible than anyone who elects to safely and slowly use a pavement. I would have no hesitation in suing you if you deliberately injured either me or a child in my care.

If you actually read round this, it is very clear that there IS police discretion on this, for both children and adults. So wind your neck in, you are not the pavement police.

www.cyclinguk.org/blog/victoria-hazael/children-cycle-pavement%3famp

This is why I stopped cycling because of absolute arseholes shouting at me for literally ANYTHING I did, legal or not (cycling on pavement).
I was / am 8 stone overweight and wanted to cycle for my health, but I had so many awful awful incidents I stopped. And my weight is still the same and my mental health made worse.

If people were a bit nicer to each other, the world would be a better place.

Thanks for the input everyone! I timed the busy stretch of road, and although it feels like we are holding everyone up, it is only actually about 2-3 minutes, so I think we are going to stick with me slightly out and behind, where a motorist can see both of us.

I am glad to hear both sides of the pavement debate, but feel I feel like it would be difficult as the pavements are often narrow and have lots of kids and mums with buggies.

Just use your bell to alert pedestrians when approaching them from behind. I don’t know how many times someone quietly zoomed past me and scared the living daylights out of me!

pavements are for people not cycles

They should be on the road.

Why? Because it's 'the rules'? Since it isn't 'the rules' everywhere anyone with any critical thinking skills should realise that it's completely possible for cyclists and pedestrians to share a space if everyone is considerate, just as it's possible for motorists and cyclists to share a space. Of course it would be great if all modes of transport always had their own designated space but that's not always the case. Some people are just needlessly rigid thinkers and belligerent to boot.

If people were a bit nicer to each other, the world would be a better place.

Absolutely.

I feel like it would be difficult as the pavements are often narrow and have lots of kids and mums with buggies.

OP it sounds like you know your local conditions best. Some pavements are not good to cycle on for various reasons. And I understand why you don't want to break the law, even though I think the UK law is probably overly intolerant on this issue. Cycle on the road as you feel safest doing so, complain to your council about the issue, and ignore irate motorists. They are in the wrong, not you. 2-3 minutes is nothing!

Just use your bell to alert pedestrians when approaching them from behind.

Yeah and then you'll have people getting angry at you for being impertinent, 'dinging at them to get out the way' apparently . I've genuinely read that before - even bells have the power to piss people off!

I always use my bell and I've not had the above problem since moving away from the UK, but the cyclist hatred is very strong there. Someone's going to hate you no matter what you do!

No one should be cycling on the pavement. I don't know why 'going slow' makes it any better - if anything that surely makes it more likely a cyclist will fall over into god knows what or who.

Could you get a 2 person cycle?

I often cycle on the pavements and am extremely careful of pedestrians, never had any altercations with them. Any unpleasantness I get is always when i'm on the road, from drivers behaving like arseholes but then that's the same when i'm driving so I just let it wash over me.

Sounds like 2 is your best option though OP as the pavements will be too crowded for cycling.

Spinnaret’s link is broken

FFS don’t ride on the pavements

Unfortunately I think you both need to be on the road, but get a hat cam. If drivers see it it may make them think twice about being twats and shouting abuse, and if they do it anyway you can use the evidence from the camera to contact the local police.

If you're on the pavement you need to get off and push it. PLEASE do this - I'm constantly having to dodge people like you and it's a nightmare. I've been knocked over by a cyclist once, and barely escaped dozens of times. Or just walk to school.

As a cyclist I also comment/shout at people on bikes on the pavement, especially adults. They should be on the road

You could just mind your own business especially if the pavement is completely empty at the time. The only time I get annoyed is if the cyclist expects me to get of their way as a pedestrian. But if there's space for both of us, no problem.

If you're on the pavement you need to get off and push it. PLEASE do this - I'm constantly having to dodge people like you

But if someone gets off and pushes they are taking up twice the space on the pavement as they do if they are sitting on their bike.

I have a much bigger problem with pavement parking than cyclists on a pavement. And kids on scooters in town centres.

Amazed at all the people saying walk to school. Why should the OP do that if cycling is quicker?

Just use your bell to alert pedestrians when approaching them from behind

Yeah and then you'll have people getting angry at you for being impertinent, 'dinging at them to get out the way' apparently hmm. I've genuinely read that before - even bells have the power to piss people off

I always use my bell and I've not had the above problem since moving away from the UK, but the cyclist hatred is very strong there. Someone's going to hate you no matter what you do

I agree with your last comment.

But dinging people to get out of the way IS rude. What's wrong with a friendly "excuse me" or just hello? The only time I use my bell is if for example people are walking along 3 abreast and are blocking the entire path (and then when I ding my bell they get all confused and walk all over the path trying to get out of my way, which doesn't really help). W

The problem where I am is that a lot of cyclists are not considerate, don’t follow the Highway Code & seem to endanger themselves & car drivers ie cycling with no lights in the dark.... luckily saw him by chance. I’m terrified of driving near them. I think all cyclists should sit a test to show they are aware of road safety & carry it like a license. You sound very sensible.