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.

@Aridane try here, it was clearly signposted from the broken link (which worked find when I checked it before posting)

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

This is the most relevant bit (although the whole thing is worth reading for those who cycle with children)...

the introduction of the fixed penalty: “…is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. This is not a clamp down on responsible cycling, and I know the police service too do not see it in that way.”

I see the most relevant but as being cycling on the pavement is an offence but children under 10 cannot be prosecuted!

If the child is under 10 and with a parent - should be the parent who is prosecuted

It’s not ok to be on the road going that slowly, you are essentially causing an obstruction. Just go on the pavement.

I meant from the perspective of the adult cycling with the child. No the child can't be prosecuted (as I had previously stated), but OP's concern was for her sticking to the law, which on her particular route would mean being separated from her child due to the road layout. The quote makes it clear that cycling on the pavement would be perfectly reasonable in her circumstances, should she choose to do it as a short term measure until the cycle path is open again.

And it was principally directed at someone upthread who described deliberately trying to knock people off their bike for being on the pavement.

Police just simply don't care about people cycling carefully on the pavement. That must boil your piss Miaowing.

If someone intentionally knocked me off my bike while I was on the pavement I'd probably thrash them to within an inch of their life.

Might not though of course, I might be in hospital with a brain injury

I'd probably thrash them to within an inch of their life

I’m sorry but this is all getting a bit silly isn’t it?

You sound like Arnold Rimmer when he’s a “low”!

Ridiculous? Ridiculous is throwing yourself into the path of a cyclist to teach them a lesson about riding on the pavement and painting yourself as an everyday hero.

Now, if you'd excuse me, I'm just going to lie down in the road in the form of a human speed bump and teach those cars a lesson about speeding.

Now, if you'd excuse me, I'm just going to lie down in the road in the form of a human speed bump and teach those cars a lesson about speeding.

Exactly! Deliberately putting yourself in danger is just ridiculous!

The whole argument is ridiculous.

If it’s a shared space, crack on.

If it isn’t a shared space, cycle in the road.

It isn’t rocket science.

You really shouldn’t be on the pavement.
Sorry.

Having started cycling more after 10 years of driving I find there are more bad cyclists than there are bad motorists.

I always respected and found most good road using cyclists absolutely fine. The problem came when I started using cycle ways away from the road and those alongside bus lanes. The quality of cycling drops hugely here vs on road cycling.

I drive and cycle, since become a cyclist I’m a lot more cycle friendly than I was before partly because vehicles up close and fast are bloody terrifying.

When we cycle (London) we have pretty good cycle paths and our DD will go on a bike attached to my DH it has a flag as well and I ride behind and we use the road if cycle paths on the path then we use them.

I am a loud cyclist, if you try and cut me up or intimidate me I will shout at you, I ring my bell a lot as well. I pay road tax for my vehicle and I have insurance for riding my bike on the road including public liability so I crack on, I follow the rules of the road on the bike, I stop at red lights etc.

The police cycle on the pavement around here. And they say hello when I pass on my bike. All of us cycling slowly.
There are hardly any pedestrians in some areas. Everyone is in their cars 🤷‍♀️.

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.

Twats. Ignore them. You have every right to be on the road. Make your decision based on what is the safest for you and your child - that's the priority here.

You get more abuse than your husband doing the same journey BECAUSE you are a woman and idiot men in cars and vans will shout abuse or wolf whistle at women but not at men.

I think this is a great opportunity to teach your daughter about how to be assertive and hold her ground when she is in the right.

Shouting is not going to hurt you. Dangerous driving could do - differentiate between the two. A head cam might be a good idea.

In London, many boroughs have a policy where you can get a free commute cycling lesson where the teacher cycles your commute route with you and talks you through all the junctions and how to deal with different situations. It's very good. They could take you and your daughter and give you some confidence.

www3.hackney.gov.uk/cycle-training

Maybe see if your council runs something similar?

Defensive cycling is safer and it is completely legal to cycle right in the middle of the lane - don't feel like you need to be squeezed over to the left, just pull in where it is safe to do so.

You are entitled to be on the road and doing nothing wrong. Don't let them put you off.

Oh yeah people definitely don't shout at male cyclists

When someone threatened to stab me a couple of months ago he did it sotto voce

I did the cycle training mentioned and can recommend it. Also you can have a cycling buddy who will do the journey with you and advise you and what you do well or not. I also did that and it gave me a few tips. www.cyclingbuddy.com/websites/about-us

I am a woman, using a 'ladies bike' i.e. not a racer and I have learnt to cycle in a way that makes it clear I am here to stay and I know what I am doing.

If you can't cycle on the road you can't cycle.

The road is vehicles. The pavement is for people.

With my kids I go on the pavement. We both get off and push when going past a pedestrian. The only reaction we ever get from the pedestrians is one of being pleasantly surprised by the civility of it.

Haven't rtft but I'm so appalled as to how dangerous motorists can be to cyclists. I also blame those cycle lanes that are only a couple of foot wide on the road which gives motorist the wrong idea about how much room cyclists need.
I never remember doing anything about cyclists when learning to drive (20 years ago) has this changed now?

"If you can't cycle on the road you can't cycle."

Balls to that. If it's safer for a cyclist - especially kids - to be on the pavement than say a busy road then they should use - considerately - use the pavement. Ask the home office and police and they will agree.

Until the time comes that the majority of drivers have no idea how to drive safely around vunerable road users that is by far the better option.

Balls to that. If it's safer for a cyclist - especially kids - to be on the pavement than say a busy road then they should use - considerately - use the pavement. Ask the home office and police and they will agree.

Of course it’s safer for cyclists. How about the pedestrians? Wheelchairs? Children on scooters?

It’s really dangerous when you leave your gate, step in the pavement and a cyclist just speeds past you.

If someone intentionally knocked me off my bike while I was on the pavement I'd probably thrash them to within an inch of their life

In which case you would be in prison and not posting on mumsnet