To think cyclists should ride on the road, not on the pavement?

[AgeLikeWine]

Every day, I go walking along our local country roads, which are very popular with cyclists, and every day I am forced to walk on the road or in the weeds to maintain social distancing from cyclists who are riding on the pavement.

I’m not criticising proper cyclists; the Lycra brigade invariably ride on the road. I’m referring to families, couples and teenagers out for a bike ride who think they are entitled to use the pavements and force pedestrians to choose between getting run over by them or take the risk of stepping onto the road. Why don’t they ride where they are supposed to ride?

YABU = Cyclists should ride on the pavement and force pedestrians to get out of their way.

YANBU = All cyclists should ride on the road.

If its a split path, of course that is fine. A tot on a balance bike on the pavement - yes. Other than that? Learn to ride on the road. If a path is a footpath, it is not meant for cyclists. And ringing your bell whilst whizzing towards me without slowing down will likely get you sworn at. I would also be tempted to push you off your bloody bike. Stay on the roads and if you aren't capable of riding on the roads, then get someone to teach you how!

I think it's safer for cyclists who aren't confident on the road to stay on the pavement

For who?

Do you want learner drivers and motorcyclists on the pavement too?

Sash - hardly a similar comparison

But I'm slow, and considerate and move to one side and get off my bike to let people pass me.

A lot of pavement cyclists say they stop for pedestrians, but does this mean you only ride your bikes on pavements when there are no pedestrians around at all?

I get the lack of confidence thing, but surely if you've decided to use a bike as a mode of transport you'd at least be aiming to ride on roads, and lockdown would have been the ideal time to try. I haven't really understood anyone cycling on the pavement next to an empty road, wanting me to get out of their way.

Anything that encourages more people to cycle is a good thing

Do you want learner drivers and motorcyclists on the pavement too?

No, because they (and motorists in general) kill people in large numbers, unlike cyclists. Your comparison is absurd.

Motorists are also the biggest lawbreakers on the road, despite having the laws made in their interests alone. They pollute the environment and take up masses of space. And yet, the moaning about cyclists never ends.

@EmpressLangClegInChair

For me (only having had my bike a week), I ride on the pavements mostly. If someone is coming towards me I slow down to a stop and put my feet down whilst moving to the side. Or if possible I cross the road to the other pavement where no one is.
If I see someone move to the side for me and wait, I pass by slowly and thank them.

If I come behind someone, I ring my bell after having slowed right down, again so far, people have just moved off to the side and let me pass and I thank them.

I'm courteous. Not whizzing anywhere, and will always move to one side and be polite. But I'm not riding on some of the roads around here.

Children shouldn't have to use the road, but equally, their parents should take them to cycle somewhere like a park, rather than on the streets

What if you're cycling to actually get somewhere? Bikes aren't just toys you know, they're a form of transportation. My children (4 and 2) ride their bikes almost everywhere we go in our town. I ride behind them, all of us on the pavement. The 2 year old goes slightly above walking speed and the 4 year old can manage about 6 mph. I have drilled into them that we go slowly and carefully whenever we are near people walking.

They are absolutely not ready to be on the road. I'm not going to be in the road moving away from my children to go around parked cars, moving extremely slowly, stopping every time someone sees a flower. But cycling is how we get around.

Where I live it's legal for anyone to cycle on the pavement if they give way to pedestrians and the Directorate of Health specifically advises that under 10s do not have the maturity to cycle in traffic, as in developmentally they cannot accurately judge distances and speed.

@Ratbag then you shouldn't be cycling. Riding on the pavement is not legal. Your long description of how considerate you think you are is irrelevant. You are breaking the law by riding on the pavement. It's quite simple.
You might not like wearing a seatbelt in a car or having to have your car MOTd and be able to give three reasons why that law shouldn't apply to you but it's completely irrelevant. You don't get to decide which laws work for you and which don't. The laws are there to make things better for everyone in society, not just you, a nervous new cyclist.

@PuffinShop - what you are doing is completely fine if it is legal where you live. It is not legal here so it is not ok

You don't get to decide which laws work for you and which don't. The laws are there to make things better for everyone in society, not just you, a nervous new cyclist.

How do you feel about speed cameras, red light cameras and parking fines?

I’ve never seen an adult cyclist on the pavement ever!!
I think it’s fine for little kids. Mine are told to stop for pedestrians coming the other way. We mostly go on tracks but have to go on the odd bit of road to get to them. It’s safer for my kids. End of. There are a lot of big trucks that come trundling through our village.

@Blibbyblobby - I'm not sure I see the relevance but ok. If you don't speed, drive through red lights or park illegally then you have nothing to worry about, do you?

@ohtherewearethen

That's fine. I'll take the risk. I've passed a few police cars so far and haven't been thrown to the ground and arrested yet.

Any my long explanation was purely to show that actually you can be considerate to others and not cause issues.

As for other laws. Yep I speed on motorways too. And I will likely keep on doing that too.

In fact I'm sure your perfect law abiding self would have kittens at me. But I'm sure I don't give a damn either way. I was simply showing people could be considerate which is exactly how I will continue to be. Whilst riding on pavements.

In fact I'm sure your perfect law abiding self would have kittens at me.

I wouldn't bet on it, darl. You know nothing about me. You carry on breaking the law considerately. I hope someone else doesn't end up paying for it.

@TimeWastingButFun we have a few boring paths around town like that. Not listed as cycle paths but certainly not used by many pedestrians.

No, because they (and motorists in general) kill people in large numbers, unlike cyclists. Your comparison is absurd.

That's the point, it's noty about the cyclist, it's about the pavement being for pedestrians' safety.

BTW a moped's top speed is 30mph, cyclist can and often do excede this. Then you have elctric bikes, I have no idea of the top speed of an electric bike.

Mobility scooters are limmited to 4mph on the pavement and 12mph on the road. The lower limmit is for the safety of pedestrians not the feelings of the person operating it.

The 2 year old goes slightly above walking speed and the 4 year old can manage about 6 mph. I have drilled into them that we go slowly and carefully whenever we are near people walking.

I can totally understand small children on pavements, but I do think you should be going slower that 6mph, you cannot expect a 4 year old to be totally aware of what is around them

correct. No wheels on the pavement except pushchairs and wheelchairs. No cycling at any age and no scooters.

comment about the 'lycra brigade' is dumb - that's called 'wearing the right clothes for what you are doing'. I know a lot of women prioritise fashion over function and so look rather stupid when doing anything active.

Rat bag- brilliant, glad you've started cycling - franciscrawford - I've never felt endangered on a pavement

ok. If you don't speed, drive through red lights or park illegally then you have nothing to worry about, do you?

Do you do those things? What do you think about the many motorists who not only do them but feel entitled to complain publicly about speed cameras/traps, red light cameras and traffic wardens? Do you take the time to post on the internet about their dangerous law-breaking or do you pick and choose which law-breakers you care about?

Incidentally, the biggest danger to pedestrians on pavements is, unsurprisingly, motor vehicles.

www.roadpeace.org/2020/02/17/pedestrian-pavement-deaths/

It's illegal to cycle on the pavement if you're over 10 years old.
Where I live the police not only turn a blind eye, but partly encourage it. They shouldn't.