Bicycles on pavements - why are they not being ridden on a road?

[FinallyMovingHouse]

I've only moved to near the centre of a town in the last 6 months and hence hadn't really noticed this where I used to live, which was more rural.

Can someone tell me why it seems now to be acceptable for people; all ages from schoolkids to 60 odd, to ride their bikes on the pavements and never seem to go on a road? I was trying to explain to my youngest DD (20) how my DH and I would have been shouted at by police and pedestrians if we'd tried that 30 years ago and definitely when we were teenagers (we're mid 50s).

Many have been very polite, waiting for me to notice them and then saying thank you when I've moved for them, but I've also had bells rung at me endlessly from a distance away until right behind me or the handlebars tapped to move me out of the way on a narrow pavement. So far I've stopped myself from retaliating but I do feel an overwhelming urge to shout "get off the effing pavement" more and more.

I do appreciate that yes, the roads are dangerous etc, etc but they're making the pavements dangerous, especially when you can't see them or they're going too fast. It's also illegal.

AIBU or am I just getting old and crabby?!

Kids aside, cyclists have no business being on pavements and endangering pedestrians. Selfish behaviour really. The law is clear and penalties should be enforced.

As long as they take sufficient care to give way to pedestrians etc I have no issue with people cycling on pavements next to busy roads etc.

Let's face it, the vast majority of motorists don't give a shit about cyclists, so if they need to ride on pavements then fair enough.

No, it's not fair enough at all. The law disagrees with you.

Did you miss where I said I have no issue? Me? Personally? That's my opinion and - shocking, I know - I get to have that opinion.

Not withstanding the fact that when FPN were introduced for pavement cycling, the home office issued the following guidance.

“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.”

So, yeah.

I've not RTWT, but bikes on the road should be liable to road tax as they want a safe road to drive on like cars do, and they should have to pay insurance as they are just as liable to crash into a car/damage a car, likewise a car into a bike. Bikes should have a number plate type process and/or have to display the tax & insurance on the bike

No such thing as road tax.

Exceptional circumstances, granted. However, you originally stated the vast majority of motorists don't give a shit about motorists.

That's one hell of a lot of exceptions then.

No one pays road tax. Vehicles are taxed based on their CO2 emissions: bicycles generate zero CO2. A car can easily destroy a bicycle (and its rider), whereas a bicycle can do little more than dent a car. No country in the world, with the exception of North Korea, requires bicycles to display number plates, and there are very good reasons for that.

I do think that the vast majority of motorists don't give a shit, and no motorist is taught as part of learning to drive/ the driving test in the UK how to properly behave around all types of vunerable road users, be that cyclists, bikers, horse riders or whatever.

If a cyclist feels in danger on a busy road, there is an empty pavement next to it and they adjust their speed etc for pedestrians etc, then as far as I am concerned they can crack on.

Edit - and that's exactly what the guidance re: penalties says as well.

That's too much like common sense for @Dangermoo.

It's mainly cos of dangerous car drivers to be honest.

I have no beef with any careful and respectful person on a bike sharing the pavement with me but as with everything else there are arses on bikes too. Arsehole drivers, arsehole pedestrians.

What the heck has "road tax" (there's no such thing) got to do with this?

Cyclists do pay for the roads. We all pay for the roads whether we use cars or use our feet or our wheels.

There are a lot where I live too. And no, I'm not talking about shared paths. Some of the worst defenders are delivery riders; or, to be fair, maybe I feel like they're the worst offenders because I see a lot of them, but there's just a lot more delivery riders around than ordinary cyclists.
I just stand still on the pavement and let them navigate around me. I get shouted abuse and sarky laughter. I don't care.

For some people, riding a bike is an only mode transport and they might not have the confidence to ride on the road and be a bit scared.
I am a hobby road cyclist (very much maligned on MN) and can confirm that being on the road can be quite scary but I have the confidence in my riding to deal with it.

But that’s not how it works (your ‘chances of being killed’ sentence), the choice for a cyclist is not endanger yourself or endanger others. The choice is: if you feel that the road is not safe, take another road or walk for this section, or take public transport, etc. NOT endanger someone else.

As a side note, I personally have no issue with young children riding slowly on pavements.

I cycle on the pavement, the majority of our pavements are also cycle paths, no separation.

On ones that are, the number of pedestrians who walk down the cycle lane is bloody annoying especially when they refuse to move out the way. The number of pedestrians who glare at me as I'm cycling down a pavement with a lovely blue pedestrian and bike sign is also quite irritating.

My town has lots of cycle routes that don't require cycling on the road. People need to educate themselves on what that blue sign with a pedestrian and a bike means or the big white bike painted on the pavement.

People around me drive like absolute bellends and speed. Seen many cyclists be cut up or almost knocked off by some twat in a car.

Do you also tell him to go very slowly & respect that on pavements pedestrians take priority, @Funkytuna?

I don't mind sharing pavements with cyclists in general, if they feel safer, live and let live, but a few can be dick heads for sure

I think it’s okay but only if the cyclist gets off their bike (or at least stops) for pedestrians.

Glad to see the vote is in favour of common sense.

It’s a real problem in central West London, just very scary sometimes, often the roads are empty but the blokes still cycle at speed on the pavement. Also limes bikes are just left in the middle of the pavement everywhere. I can’t see it improving.

Yep can't stand bikes on pavements, they come at you at full speed as if you, the pedestrian, have no right to be on the pavement.

Maybe cyclist should have to pass a road safety test before they can cycle on our roads and shared pavements. I’m slightly biased as I was knocked down on a crossing by a cyclist. We couldn’t see each other because a van had stopped to let me cross. I also think they should pay road tax as so much is being done to our roads to accommodate them

I'm slightly biased as i was knocked over by a car and a friend was killed by one

What is being done to “our roads” to accommodate cyclists? I see pavements wherever I go, a new footbridge was built near me recently. Should we start charging pedestrians a pavement tax?