To think cyclists shouldn’t be on pavements, and certainly shouldn’t expect pedestrians to move for them.

[GoldenLabbie]

I was walking home just now, when a bloke on a bike came right up behind me and said ‘can I get past please’. I was that taken a back I actually moved for him! But then if he’s arrogant and entitled enough to ask me to move, he’s not going to take kindly to me pointing out he should be on the road is he? Surely he should have moved onto the road, which wasn’t even that busy BTW, to pass me? Or ideally been on the road full stop.

There's no opinion to be had. Cycling on the pavement is illegal.

We can discuss it but it won't change, just like electric scooters, parking in parent and child bays and disabled bays

Tbh I'm surprised he even said please. The ones I've encountered usually try to force past. I have said before You shouldn't be on the pavement but you just get a glazed over look. Deadheads

"Section 64
Something that confuses many cyclists is whether or not they are allowed to cycle on the pavement. According to Laws HA 1835 section 72 & RSA 1984, section 129, cyclists must not cycle on the pavement."

Under 12s can I believe, but older and adults not.

Even better:

". F1 If any person shall wilfully ride upon any footpath or causeway by the side of any road made or set apart for the use or accommodation of foot passengers; or shall wilfully lead or drive any horse, ass, sheep, mule, swine, or cattle or carriage of any description, or any truck or sledge, upon any such footpath or causeway; or shall tether any horse, ass, mule, swine, or cattle, on any highway, so as to suffer or permit the tethered animal to be thereon;. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2; every person so offending in any of the cases aforesaid shall for each and every such offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding [F3level 2 on the standard scale], over and above the damages occasioned thereby."

So no swine either.

@30degreesandmeltinghere

If YOU hit one YOU are at fault. So that’s a silly comment.

I pay road tax too- it’s for all users.

If cyclists cycle side by side it’s usually for safety.. it’s the same width as a car so just wait patiently for a passing opportunity like you would if it was another car.

Calm down, make a cuppa and stop being so angry at the world

I am a cyclist and yanbu. It annoys me so much, if you're past 11 you should be proficient enough to be on road - in lots of ways it's safer on the road as cars expect to see you there.

@30degreesandmeltinghere

Cyclists shouldn't even be on the road imo. Cycle paths only.. Sat at a roundabout waiting to go in a city centre, entitled cyclist drove across my path, wobbled, sat on my bonnet, regained his balance and cycled off!! Not even a nod or apology!! Or stuck behind 2 riding side by side on a main road. Entitled twats most of them...

The reason why cyclists ride side by side is to improve their safety. If you ride side by side then an over taking car has slow down and overtake properly, instead of saving a few seconds and squeezing past with inches to spare.

YANBU. Cycling on the pavements is illegal in the UK, regardless of your age, although I would never expect a child to cycle on the roads:

"Bicycles are considered vehicles under British law and is illegal to ride a bike on a pavement which has not been designated as a cycle way. The offence of riding a bike on the pavement is punishable by an on-the-spot fine, a fixed penalty notice of £30."

The reason why cyclists ride side by side is to improve their safety. If you ride side by side then an over taking car has slow down and overtake properly, instead of saving a few seconds and squeezing past with inches to spare.

It also makes overtaking easier for the driver, when there is an opportunity, it's much easier to pass one bike length than two, one behind the other.

YANBU. I was knocked over by a cyclist who sped up behind me on a (non shared) pavement. Apparently I should have jumped out of the way. Given I use a walking aid, my mobility impairment is visible.

@Nikita1709

YANBU. Cycling on the pavements is illegal in the UK, regardless of your age, although I would never expect a child to cycle on the roads:

"Bicycles are considered vehicles under British law and is illegal to ride a bike on a pavement which has not been designated as a cycle way. The offence of riding a bike on the pavement is punishable by an on-the-spot fine, a fixed penalty notice of £30."

Good luck giving a fine to a child especially one under 10.

YADNBU
Can I get past?
Yes, on the road

It's actually against the law for cyclists to cycle on normal pavements as they're considered vehicles in the uk, they can be fined for doing it but the police are quite relaxed about it tbh.

To those claiming to pay road tax you don't...

Is there any such thing as 'road tax'?By Roger Harrabin BBC environment analyst, driver and cyclist; From the BBC News Website www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23694438

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23694438

"Cyclists often report that aggressive motorists justify their behaviour on the basis that they alone pay "road tax". But there is no such thing."

"But road tax was abolished in 1937 and replaced by Vehicle Excise Duty.

This is a tax on cars, not roads, and it goes straight into the general Treasury fund. Many government agencies have now started calling VED "car tax" but it might be classified as a pollution tax, since it's now based on the size of engine and emissions. Ultra-low emissions vehicles are exempted."

I go for a long walk everyday. I come across cyclists on the pavement quite a lot. I'm always happy to move aside and most are polite and not bombing along . BUT unfortunately you get ones who force you to walk out on the dangerous 60mph road and then don't even say thank you or acknowledge you. I don't take any crap now and will shout 'you're very welcome !'

@ZaraW

This!!! Well said.

‘ I don't take any crap now and will shout 'you're very welcome !‘

There’s something beautifully British about that counting as not taking any crap

Oh wow... Happy to have read this thread.
I am quite a new cyclist and finding really difficult tbh, car users can be quite aggressive towards me and quite frankly scare the crap out of me - I live near some very busy main roads, that are just confusing.

In the case of crossing two very busy roads, I actually cross on the crossing, as im pretty sure I'd be knocked over if I tried to cross the roads!

I didnt know it was illegal to do so.

It's such a shame as I would love to cycle more for the environment and because if I go somewhere by foot you can pretty much double, or triple your journey time.

However, I'm finding the whole experience daunting and scary, and I think the Uk doesn't support alternative transport at all - unlike some other countries.

YANBU.

I do get out of the way for cyclists, but purely for my own preservation. One knocked me over once. They sometimes have the nerve to say thank you.

Where I am there are far more illegal pavement cyclists than one using the roads, even where there is actually a cycle lane they could use! And if they are on the rod they merrily ignore traffic lights.

I'm a pedestrian and car driver. I don't really cycle.

If I was going to cycle round here, I'd do so sedately, politely and calmly much like the cyclist in the OPs post. I'd also do it on the pavement. I've known two people killed by car drivers when cycling and bluntly I'd rather take a £30 fine than half of ton of metal running over me.

Of course, what I'd do for my own preservation isn't really the point. The point is there are millions of cyclists, pedestrians and car drivers and there should be segregated cycle paths built as part of all new road works and added in during existing ones. Problem solved.

Yes it's annoying, but I'd just move on, no-one was hurt

If I was asked, politely, by someone at a reasonable speed, I’d move over if I could without having to leave the path myself.

But a speeding cyclist urgently dinging their bell at me to get out the way on a pavement (when they shouldn’t even be on the pavement), in the clear expectation nothing should hinder their speedy progress or even cause them to steer really angers me. As a car driver I’d expect to be prosecuted if I drove fast at and harassed a cyclist while hooting my horn aggressively in the expectation they just instantly get out my way, and at least cars are legally allowed on roads. I’m not jumping into the hedge just so some entitled law breaking idiot doesn’t have to use their brakes or the perfectly good road.

@30degreesandmeltinghere

Cyclists shouldn't even be on the road imo. Cycle paths only.. Sat at a roundabout waiting to go in a city centre, entitled cyclist drove across my path, wobbled, sat on my bonnet, regained his balance and cycled off!! Not even a nod or apology!! Or stuck behind 2 riding side by side on a main road. Entitled twats most of them...

Cyclists have the same rights to be on the roads as you do, and to cycle two abreast. They are not in your way, they are simply going slower than you. You do not have a god-given right not to be held up. You sound like a danger to others

YADNBU. Its murder round here. I have discussed this with a police officer and council official I happened to come across one day whilst walking the dog after being ''buzzed'' by several pavement cyclists. The police officer was very young and didnt really have anything convincing or constructive to say, and the council officer was patronising, advising me to go to the local playing field where i could ''talk to other dog walkers'' about the cyclists on the pavements, as budget and priorities dont allow for anything to be put in place round here.

The best of it is...one evening when DH was walking the dog, he encountered two uniformed police officers walking along the street, who actually moved out of the way for a cyclist coming towards them, not attempting to challenge him/her whatsoever. Said street has cycle lanes both sides, and is was late evening so quiet on the roads.

Cyclists safety is one thing, but so is that of the elderly, infirm, young, hearing impaired, sight impaired, dog walkers and dogs etc...in fact anyone using the pavements legally. What would happen if we all started walking on the roads? When cyclists are on the pavements with no hands on the handlebars, on their phones, or with a passenger sat on the handlebars, they are potentially putting any of these at risk as they are not in control. Especially round a blind corner of which there are several where I live.

Never had any road instances /accidents in 18 years of driving.. And I have Covid after 2 jabs. Imo I am allowed to be in a bad mood!
Maybe awful cyclists all live in the same area... Mine!!

Well that’s just it, what if I had been pushing a pram or pushchair? Or been disabled or elderly, or walking with young children? It’s just the breathtaking entitlement that annoyed me. I’ve encountered cyclists on pavements before and in fairness they do just use the road to pass you.