To feel unsafe when cyclists use pavements illegally?

[BridgeWalkingVideo]

Looking for constructive advice and views on how to handle cyclists illegally using one of the two pavements on a busy road across a bridge in London.

The video at the link below (8 mins) was taken when I walked across the bridge on the narrower 'no cycling' pavement at about 9am on Monday.

In the video there are several instances of potentially hazardous moments, and some reckless behaviour at the end (the cyclist going too fast and nearly ending up in the road). My experience of walking across this bridge on that side is that this is all too common, and cyclists should not be using that pavement.

Cyclists do continue to use this 'no cycling' pavement (in part because the signage at the start and end is confusing), but should be dismounting and crossing the road to use the pavement on the other side of the road (which is marked as shared) or indeed the road itself (but I quite understand why cyclists would prefer not to use the road at that point). I believe the 'no cycling' restriction was brought into effect in 2021 (both pavements were shared use before that).

I do also have a video (not uploaded yet) from walking across the bridge on the other side (the shared side), which to be honest despite being slightly wider is still not great (it also having a bus stop narrowing the pavement being one reason).

So which pavement should I as a pedestrian use? The narrower pavement for pedestrians that cyclists use illegally but where I would be safer if the rules were followed, or the wider shared pavement where it might be safe if everyone rode with due care and attention? Or should I just get the bus across the bridge? 😕

And what about people with mobility issues or sensory impairments that will be more at risk? Am I being unreasonable to think that these instances of a shared pedestrian-cycle space (one legal, one illegal) are inherently unsafe, or does the 'no cycling' side need to be enforced so that the design works as intended?

Would it be unreasonable of me to ask cyclists to stop cycling on the 'no cycling' pavement?

I've just walked 15 minutes home from work.

1 X driver didn't like the traffic so used the pavement right in front of me to perform a 3 point turn (I had to stop dead to avoid being hit).

2 X drivers pushed through controlled junctions/into yellow boxes when there was no where for them to go, meaning they blocked the pedestrians trying to cross on the green men

1 X driver ran the red light, so woman with pram had to jump out the way.

1 X driver obvs hasn't got the memo re giving way when turning into a side road, shouted abuse at the pedestrian who nearly got run over.

In the interests of fairness, 1 X cyclist was a little fast of the mark at a junction but probably wanted to get clear of the traffic for safety.

It's drivers who don't give a toss about the safety of others.

Classic Whataboutery.

just because there are bad drivers doesn't mean it's OK to be a bad cyclist.

From the Highway Code.

Exactly the point I have made many times - most cyclists are also car drivers and pedestrians too.

But sometimes, people need to be reminded that the greatest danger on our roads (and pavements for that matter) is drivers. Not cyclists.

If you feel unsafe then you should use a totally different route and complain and complain and complain to your local council.

People shouldn't be using the footpath for cycling if it's no longer a shared space, however there isn't much you personally can do other than complain alot and avoid the danger until it's sorted

And the Home Office Guidance is:. re-issued guidance is -

“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."

Responsible people ARE allowed to cycle with due care and attention along the pavement if they are scared of the traffic.

In case anyone is interested in the stats:

The figures are quite shocking. Research by the University of Westminister’s Active Travel Project found that between 2005 and 2018, 548 pedestrians on pavements were killed by vehicles. That is, about 40 people a year. And of that 548, just 6 were killed by cyclists.

Any death on our pavements is a tragedy. Not all cyclists are perfect and not all drivers are bad, but let's be very clear the person in a tonne of metal is the bigger danger.

What we need is a better way. A proper transport network that suits all, not a cobbled together mishmash that endangers people.

I feel far more unsafe when vans and cars use pavements illegally but nobody seems to care. Even the police park on flippin pavements!

And it's not just the parking which often forces you out into the road, but the fact that they drive onto the pavement while you are there.

And in a thread about general pavement danger it would be extremely relevant.

This thread however is specifically about 1 poster, 1 bridge and the fact they feel in danger using it and they're wondering what the best course of action is.

That one bridge is a real danger to cyclists, that's not ok

Yes, some of the cyclists in the video could be a bit more considerate.

HOWEVER, just looking purely at statistical data, the chances of them injuring yourself or any other pedestrian are significantly lower than the chances of them being injured if they used the road.

I used to cycle to work and would use the pavement on specific bits of the route because the road was so narrow and car drivers tend to be so inconsiderate that it genuinely didn't always feel safe to be there.

A part from all the posters who have generalised about cycling on pavements .......

That bridge is nasty, i imagine the air quality is abysmal.

@KilljoysMakeSomeNoise
Funny how it's always non cyclists making mixed use paths unsafe and never cyclists silently speeding up behind walkers with no alert and no bell and swearing at you if they have to divert. 🙄

You are not wrong, OP. I hate it, especially when they come up behind me. How do they know I'm not going to move in front of their path? Perhaps traffic wardens should be able to give out penalties, difficult though without some kind of registration. I also hate electric scooters as they are so fast. Terrible for visually impaired, disabled or elderly people, or people with young children for that matter.

Contact police or council and ask them to enforce the rules. It's pretty pointless to speak to cyclists yourself when you have no authority.

That is good to know! I had no idea.
I only use my bicycle to go to one place where I live (too much risk of theft elsewhere).
Most of the route is cycle path, but there is a small part (50m or so), where my choice is a very busy road, or a very wide pavement. By the way, the cycle path comes out onto a big roundabout. I have no idea what the planners were smoking when they came up with that one.
So, I use the pavement. I go slow and and am very mindful of people walking along it.

Although you're not wrong, the signage is bad. On the corner by Ask/the Cricketers it's a shared path, and then there's a no cycling sign later which is too high up IMO. Cycling on that side of the bridge also goes with the traffic flow, so it goes against your nature. To go back on your bike and cross the road to use the other side of the bridge is a pain, and then getting back across the road to cycle towards Brentford or Ealing also isn't easy. I hate that crossing.

Thanks for the additional advice since I last posted. I have now found an article I think I read earlier about the changes made here, and I may need to familiarise myself with the current state of local politics.

brentford.nub.news/news/green-party/changes-mean-kew-bridge-no-longer-offers-a-safe-space-for-cycling-says-green-party

I don't want to say which of the two boroughs I live and work in, but would that make any difference? As a user of the bridge, would I still be listened to? Also, TfL are mentioned in that article. Is it worth contacting them? As well as both councils?

People have mentioned contacting the police (one pp said "police or council" and another said "traffic police"). How exactly does that work with regards to the police? It seems like a big step to take, and I do suspect that unless I find the right person to contact it will be a bit of a bureaucratic nightmare.

@lljkk yes the air quality is abysmal, and worse in cold weather. The traffic jams on the western side in the morning and evenings are a good reason to cross to the other side whether pedestrian or cyclist, IMO (or use the bus). And I would not ask any cyclists to queue in traffic belching fumes. In an ideal world there would be a separate bridge.

There is currently another reason for cyclists to avoid the road on that side, see this horrendously dangerous pothole alongside a manhole cover that has developed in the recent cold snap. Once I have worked outthe postcode, I am going to report this at:

www.gov.uk/report-pothole

But am wondering if there is a local equivalent?

After poking around that website, realising it is an A-road (the A205) and that is is the responsibility of Transport for London (rather than Highways England), I ended up on Streetcare and reported it:

streetcare.tfl.gov.uk/report/4300288

Now if only it was as easy to report bad cycling infrastructure design and get that fixed...

OP, for the police you could try the Met’s Safe Neighbourhoods Team for Kew:
www.met.police.uk/area/your-area/met/richmond-upon-thames/kew/about-us/our-priorities

For the council you could start with Hounslow’s traffic safety suggestion form (hope this link will work):
eforms.hounslow.gov.uk/ufs/ufsmain?formid=A009_TRAFFIC_SUGGESTION&PDF_CONFIRM_PAGE=FINAL_PAGE&PDF_RETURN_FORM=A009_TRAFFIC_SUGGESTION&PDF_FORM_CALL=false

Sorry for the multiple sequential posts, but thinking outside the box here, and from looking at the other reports on Streetcare, I am wondering if I can report badly positioned and 'missing' road signs there as well, and see if that will get some action taken (eventually) to improve the signage? I am sure the road signage is actually TfL's responsibility, but may get told that they only do road signage and the local council does the pavement signage?

It is depressing seeing the amount of graffiti and abandoned hire bikes and other signs of run-down streets reported on sites like Streetcare. Though I am sure other areas of London and the country have it worse (I know SW London is not really the place to look for signs the country is falling apart)! 😐

Ah, crossposted. Glad you found something better.

You could also try your MP with maybe suggest a new bridge dedicated to separate pedestrian and cycle lanes, and no motorized traffic at all…

@NumberTheory am also trying to get the Kew Safe Neighbourhoods police page to work. May need to switch computer/browser as it is being silly. The links are really helpful, thanks. Sometimes being pointed in the right direction is what I need to actually take the step of reporting something.

You might find it easier to get to that page by going to the Met’s front page:
www.met.police.uk/
(I have to check a box saying I’m human to get access!)
and put Kew Bridge in the “Find Your Area” box, you should get to the Kew Safe Neighbourhoods Team page too.