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.

I lived abroad where driving was chaotic - as a pedestrian if you let the driver know you had seen them, by looking at them or in their direction, they would expect you to move to avoid them, if you didn't see them (pointedly looking the other way or at phone) they had to slow down and avoid you.
I do this with others on pavements - cyclists I make sure I don't see, they are forced to avoid me not the other way round.

I cycle and I drive and I walk.

Been dumb on all modes of transport at some point in my life.

Hit by a car - ped or cyclist or driver -can sue get compensation and assistance for injuries sustained.

Hit by cyclist - no one can sue for their injuries/damages, driver can claim for damages from his insurance

Accident caused by pedestrian - driver can use their insurance for damages, cyclist can not

If i was a cyclist for my own health and peace of mind I would have insurance and I do have insurance.

Cyclists should not be on pavements where pedestrians are also - children have minimal sense of danger, no greater awareness and this is their safe place.

Self entitled twats in each group - I can swear in my car, on my bike and on the pavement at all of them and maintain my self belief in my perfection!

MN becomes more like the DM every day.

@safariboot

Richard Goodwin, 56, father of five children.

Jay Callacher, 15, from Scotland.

Paul Oxberry, 26, from Sunderland.

Sgt Lynwen Thomas, serving police officer in Wales.

Harley Smith, 16, in Falkirk.

Just a few of the hundreds of people riding bikes killed by people driving motor vehicles in Britain in 2021 and 2020. And based on the attitudes of some in this thread, we can be confident some of those killings were deliberate.

"But whatabout the pedestrian that got killed by cyclists"

Peter McCombie, 73, in London. And a few others each year. Any death is a tragedy, but 99% of pedestrians killed on the road or pavement are killed by drivers.

So maybe, just maybe, people might understand why some choose to break the letter of the law - a law that predates the pedal cycle itself - rather than risk their lives.

But I'm not holding my breath.

Another dramatic one with no critical thinking skills. Of course the propensity for accidents is higher in the road (with other vehicles) whether you’re on a cycle, motorcycle, whatever. Also those stats are for ‘deaths’ - what about seriously injuring or even knocking people down? Nobody is forcing anybody to cycle, we have things called legs to walk with and also public transport. The problem with cycling is that no license etc is required. Loads of cyclists who can’t cycle straight, don’t signal properly etc. While all other vehicles drivers are tracked cyclists are not meaning they can get away Scot free with nothing short of murder.

Statistically, you're more likely to get hit by a car mounting a pavement than a cyclist, if a cyclist on a pavement means one less car in the road, I'm happy to share the space, I mean I only measure 45cm across, there's usually room to pass

Agree with you @TooBored1. The answer to poor transport planning is to demand better, not to shout at each other when we're all affected badly by it.

Also agree with those criticising "shared space" provision. Sounds all lovely and collaborative, in practice it means every woman for herself and no regulation - these are spaces that planners have just given up trying to resolve and have left us all to it, with predictable results.

Very true @MyCreateIsUsernamed. There are so many examples of that in my city. Flagship road change planned, giving better access along a key road to pedestrians and cyclists, except for one stretch where they couldn't be bothered to think creatively (although options were suggested by the public during the consultation) so they've left it as a shared use space. It's a pinch point, so will undoubtedly lead to conflict, then people giving up on the route.

And let's also remember that when the FPN for pavement cycling was introduced, it was never intended to be a complete ban on cyclists on pavements. It was designed to prevent dangerous cycling on pavements:

"Fortunately, when FPNs were introduced for pavement cycling in 1999, Home Office Minister Paul Boateng issued guidance saying that: "The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. "

Crap pedestrians, scooters, cyclists, drivers, motorised wheelchair users should ALL be penalised, but tribing people is not the answer.

No wonder cyclists have terrible reputations.

I feel bad for the seemingly few cyclists who are considerate.

Pedestrians on the pavement.
Cars on the road.
Cyclists on the cycle path.

@30degreesandmeltinghere

What happens if I hit one? They aren't insured so who fixes my car? Car users pay to use the roads...

No you don't. Road maintenance comes from general taxation. You pay a relatively small vehicle tax, which is (poorly designed) to be proportionate to the pollution caused by your vehicle. Most cyclists are also drivers. All road users have a responsibility to act correctly and obey the rules of the road, but the idea that cars should have more rights is nonsense. In many European countries cycles have more rights than cars, and this has meant less car usage.

It's illegal to cycle on the pavement and I remember being stopped by the police when I did this years ago. I don't think the police actively do this now but they should. Pedestrians should definitely have a safe protected space and more should be done to ensure this. More should also be done to have less cars and motor bikes on the road to give way to more sustainable transport methods such as bikes and buses.

Pedestrians on the pavement.
Cars on the road.
Cyclists on the cycle path- totally agree. Cyclists on the whole are an absolute menace- in the way on the road and demanding innocent pedestrians move out of ‘their’ way on the pavement. Please go away!

I'd make allowance for children, but adults absolutely shouldn't be on pavements. If you can't cycle safely on the road you need to push your bike. I've taken to saving loudly 'it's not a cycle path mate'.

@Flawedperfection

*Pedestrians on the pavement. Cars on the road. Cyclists on the cycle path*- totally agree. Cyclists on the whole are an absolute menace- in the way on the road and demanding innocent pedestrians move out of ‘their’ way on the pavement. Please go away!

You know that people still exist when they get off their bike, right? And they end up more in the way because they're in a car instead...

Not sure what "please go away" is meant to mean here but it's clear you haven't thought it through.

Some police officers arrived on their bikes yesterday. Were they a menace?

@Backhills

You know your life would be so much nicer if you just smile at the pleasant interaction, wish them a nice day and get on with yours. It must be exhausting to be constantly pissed off.

But it wasn't a pleasant interaction.

This country is terrible for cyclists. I think they should be allowed on paths but dismount when they meet a pedestrian. But really we need a huge change to our roads to safely accommodate cyclists.

He did ask, and say please, though!

I’m a walker, a driver and a cyclist and people like you OP piss me right off. What is the problem with moving a few inches to the side? You’d have to if someone was walking faster than you, someone coming past with a pram, on a mobility scooter or a kid on a scooter? Do you expect people to queue behind you?

I cycle to the gym a few times a week, most of it is on cycle paths which pedestrians often walk into or have their dog lead spread over. There are a few short distances where I cycle on the path as drivers in my area seem to deliberately try to get as close to cyclists as possible and there are bends on the road so you only see cyclists at the last minute. I don’t cause a problem, ring my bell long before I get close to them and say thank you to them for moving. It’s not an issue for most people, only twats who want to find something to moan about IME.

I’d much rather people cycle slowly past pedestrians on the pavement with good manners than get hit by a car on the road.

So he was polite by using the word please when asking to get by but that's him being arrogant.
Many paths are now shared path and cycle lanes, maybe he was as entitled as you to be on the path

@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...

Except everything you mentioned is fully legal according to the highway code

Lots of lycra in knots!

He came up right behind her and asked in an entitled manner for her to move. So he said, please. Does not make it nice. He could have said, please m'lady, and still been an entitled aggressive cock. Footpaths are not for bikes unless they are being ridden on by a small, accompanied child.

@30degreesandmeltinghere

What happens if I hit one? They aren't insured so who fixes my car? Car users pay to use the roads...

Car users don't pay to use the road. They pay VED, road tax doest exist. Roads are maintained from the council tax pot which means anyone paying council tax is entitled to use the road. I bet those cyclist pay council tax the same way drivers do

Proper cyclist have insurance.

I am a cyclist and I always use the road to cycle on.. Out with my grandson in his buggy and saw a woman on a bike coming towards us towing her dog on a lead. Everyone had a step onto the road ( and it was a busy road) mums with buggies, builders, small kids. She was serene in her entitlement that everyone should clear the pavement for her, her bicycle and her dog.There are a few cyclists like her on this thread.

I don't have a problem with people cycling on the pavement. I DO have a problem with them pelting up behind me and squashing past without warning!

I'm sorry but, asking you to move over slightly is not the end of the world.

Round here cyclists go at a heck of a pace on pavements and shared tracks. No bell, no slowly down, no 'on your left'. Nearly always blokes so give abuse if challenged.

They also like to cycle in groups of twenty on windy coastal roads which are also comuter roads and wonder why people get a bit miffed when stuck behind a slow moving hgv made up of individual cyclists.

I entirely empathise with why some cyclists wouldn't want to be on the road. Some drivers are arseholes. However, I'm intrigued by cyclists who say this but then don't acknowledge the danger they then pose to pedestrians.

Yes we need better infrastructure so that cyclists can cycle safely. We also need cyclists to be more considerate of pedestrians. We need local planners to understand that while cars are absolutely a danger for cyclists, both are a danger to pedestrians particularly children and those with mobility issues.