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 love these threads. So many posters bickering amongst themselves about drivers/riders/pedestrians and so rarely unite to demand an overhaul the fucking appalling state of UK roads, bike paths, bridleways, and footpaths

So true. And so much moaning about the nasty cyclists, when it's drivers who kill and injure people every single day of the week. Cyclists generally hurt themselves if they do something stupid. Drivers take other people with them. But yeah, lets moan about people on bikes.

*What happens if I hit one? They aren't insured so who fixes my car

if you hit one I sincerely hope you find yourself in court!

@GreyEyedWitch

I refuse to move for any cyclist on a path over the age of 12. They have to move onto the road to pass me. It's not something I get angry about but I feel like I'm doing my bit by being awkward! An elderly person could die if they were knocked down by a bike.

But it's ok to park on pavements, even though a car is far more likely to kill an elderly person when the driver decides to drive up onto the pavement next to a pedestrian; or blocks the pavement so the (elderly) person has to walk in a busy road and gets knocked down. But yeah, surely, people on bikes are the problem.

@igelkott2021

I love these threads. So many posters bickering amongst themselves about drivers/riders/pedestrians and so rarely unite to demand an overhaul the fucking appalling state of UK roads, bike paths, bridleways, and footpaths

So true. And so much moaning about the nasty cyclists, when it's drivers who kill and injure people every single day of the week. Cyclists generally hurt themselves if they do something stupid. Drivers take other people with them. But yeah, lets moan about people on bikes.

Not always.

I was knocked down on a pavement by a cyclist who came up behind me with no warning. I didn't hear him. He left me on a heap on the floor.

I dislocated my knee and broke my ankle. I was off work for weeks as my job then involved a lot of standing and walking. My phone in my pocket was also smashed when I fell so I couldn't call for help but thankfully passers by called my DH and an ambulance.

If a car driver had hit me I could have claimed on his insurance for loss of wages. I had no come back. He swore at me and rode off. He didn't care.

"Its pretty apparent from PPs on this thread that some cyclists don't know they shouldn't be on pavements. "

It's really not as simple as that. This is the home office guidance on the matter:

“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.

“Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required.”

The fact is, as is plainly seen on this thread, is that too many motorists think cyclists deserve to be mowed down with reckless abandon, and so some find it safer to be on the pavement. As long as they are considerate towards pedestrians what is the problem, exactly? Yes, cyclists just tearing down the pavement with no thought to others are being twats, but given the OP said the guy asked her to get past it's hard to think anything else than someone making a massive fuss over completely nothing.

I get this isn't the most pressing issue but
"Can I get around, please"
Honestly doesn't sound very polite to me. It sounds like annoyance and entitlement. If you as a cyclist are behind are pedestrian just frame it a bit nicer ("excuse me, thanks) or get off and walk round

What would be sufficently polite then?

"excuse me kind gentleman/lady, would you be awfully kind to step aside for the briefest of moments whilst I pass you"?

Good enough?

It's really not as simple as that. This is the home office guidance on the matter

None of the cyclists who have hit me have been in fear of their lives. Mostly they are bypassing standstill traffic, shortcutting junctions and as I said in my post - one knocked me down on a zebra crossing where the bus/cars were at a standstill.

So rather than punching down on pedestrians focus your ire on badly behaved motorists and a decent infrastructure for cyclists. "we have a shit time so we will make sure you get one" is not a compelling argument. Get trained, get insured like I did when a regular cyclist.

As a female cyclist with a very slight frame, please stop putting us in harms way and just give us a bit more room when you overtake. I shouldn't be nearly killed on my less than 10 minutes commute almost every day.

@UrAWizHarry

"Its pretty apparent from PPs on this thread that some cyclists don't know they shouldn't be on pavements. "

It's really not as simple as that. This is the home office guidance on the matter:

“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.

“Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required.”

The fact is, as is plainly seen on this thread, is that too many motorists think cyclists deserve to be mowed down with reckless abandon, and so some find it safer to be on the pavement. As long as they are considerate towards pedestrians what is the problem, exactly? Yes, cyclists just tearing down the pavement with no thought to others are being twats, but given the OP said the guy asked her to get past it's hard to think anything else than someone making a massive fuss over completely nothing.

Cyclists complain that motorists overtake recklessly. As correct way is for motorists to slow down behind cyclist and then overtake when safe to do so. Great!

Cyclists gets on pavement but … refuses to be stuck behind pedestrian and instead zooms past .. or asks pedestrians to move… WTF?!?!?

That’s the issue here. Cyclists complain that motorists are reckless but fail to see how they’re doing the EXACT same thing to pedestrians. If cars should be behind a cyclists until safe then as a cyclist you should be behind a pedestrian no matter how slow they are if you’re on a pavement.

The mood on this thread is ‘motorists are reckless, poor vulnerable cyclists’ but it’s not true. Cyclists are also twats to pedestrians. There is nothing morally superior about cycling. Environment aside - if you really want to be fast take public bloody transport. Don’t cycle and then expect speed.

*by morally superior I meant nothing making you special . Unlike say an ambulance driver.
The same patience demanded from motorists is what cyclists fail to show to pedestrians. Basically on the road everybody is a test and just wants to get to their destination as fast as possible.

That’s the issue here. Cyclists complain that motorists are reckless but fail to see how they’re doing the EXACT same thing to pedestrians.

True. I think the problem for cyclists is once they get behind the pedestrian, they have to stop altogether if they can't get past and it's awkward. For cars it's the inconvenience of having to slow down.

Reality is, pavements are designed for pedestrians and our roads are designed for cars. Therefore, cyclists are always going to gravely annoy both.