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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that adult cyclists who ride on pavements are selfish & irresponsible?

250 replies

Rafi · 14/05/2009 19:22

I can understand it if there's a child on the back. But normally it seems to be some selfish idiot who thinks they can do what they want & never mind the pedestrians...

AIBU?

OP posts:
ActivityApple · 14/05/2009 22:44

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HerBeatitudeLittleBella · 14/05/2009 22:49

Yes and No.

Some are, some aren't.

I have to say, the testosterone pumped lycra clad ones who go on the pavement appall me - if you're so bloody macho and in a hurry, get the fuck back on the road where the traffic is supposed to be, don't terrorise pedestrians.

Some cyclists behave disgracefully and seem to imagine that just because car drivers behave badly towards them, they have some kind of entitlement to behave badly towards pedestrians. Bizarre and incomprehensible. But most don't, they are just avoiding dicing with their own death. Which is fine as long as they aren't endangering even more vulnerable road-users than them.

squirrel42 · 14/05/2009 22:50

Well echt, for what it's worth I think maybe it should be my road. I think that there could well be an argument for cyclists and pedestrians sharing the pavement a lot more than they do now.

In some areas there are already "shared use" pavements, usually with one half of the pavement designated for pedestrians and one half for cyclists. When used properly this has the benefit of keeping cyclists out of dangerous fast moving traffic while also keeping out of the way of pedestrians. Everyone wins and it's all a lot safer. The trouble is that it's pretty rare and usually poorly signed, so everyone walks/cycles on both sides of the line and bikes and pedestrians end up dodging each other.

If shared use pavements were more common - and obviously you need wide pavements to start with so it can't be everywhere - then people might use them properly and then all parties would be happy. You'd still need common sense and respect for other people using the path, and there would always be "pavement hogs" letting the side down, but it would be my preferred solution.

HerBeatitudeLittleBella · 14/05/2009 22:53

Ashford are doing a big shared space scheme atm - not just cyclists and pedestrians, but cars, cyclists and pedestrians. It's brilliant. As a car driver it's totally disorientating, you drive in and have no idea what the road is and what the pavement is, so you have to slow right down, make eye contact with other road users and be careful. Exactly what car drivers should be doing anyway when they're not actually on motorways and dual carriageways.

EldonAve · 14/05/2009 22:55

shared space not a great idea for the partially sighted

tattycoram · 14/05/2009 22:55

I can't believe that anyone thinks is is okay to cycle on pavements in any circumstances. It's not. Pavements are for pedestrians. Much as I like cycling and could do with the exercise, but I wouldn't fancy my chances cycling on London roads, so I don't do it.

The most dangerous scenario is the one where you walk out of a shop/house/park and the cyclist coming down the pavement hasn't seen you. Twice my 2 year old has been nearly knocked down and a family friend ended up in a coma for a couple of days when leaving her house

Totally unacceptable.

Overmydeadbody · 14/05/2009 22:56

YANBU

It is illegal, isn't it, to cycle on a pavement? I hate it.

I do feel justified in haitng pavement cyclists where I live, as there are cycle paths and cycle lanes literally everywhere, and motorists are used to cyclists and (usually) give us plenty of room.

If my DS can cycle on the road to school every dayt, age 6, then grown adults can manage it, too.

EldonAve · 14/05/2009 22:58

My mate reconsidered pavement cycling after she got knocked off by a car coming out of a driveway

funkybuddah · 14/05/2009 22:58

people who say they should ride on the road/or that you always pick a quiet route, well bully for you what about those who are riding a bike beuase they dont want to pollute the atmos/pay over inflated charges for a car and are some of the small minority who believe that you C AN surrive without a car (seems to be less and less people who can do without one)

what if they are trying to get to work without being knocked down by a stupid driver or trying to get home from work to their family and the path is the safest place? as long as they are courteous what is the problem, if they respect others on the path i dont see what the problem is at all.

MY DH has to ride to work (we have no car, have no desire to have one either) and where he works is a prime spot for road deaths, usually cyclists/motorcyclists, sorry if it annoys anyone but i oculdnt care less i want him to ride where it is safe and not have to worry if he won the game a chicken that day or not!

Pan · 15/05/2009 00:47

quite buddah. I will ride where it is safest, and if people struggle to understand why people ride on the pavement, they can borrow my bike for a week or two and find out what it is like to try to weave amongst the traffic, and have your little peice of daylight slowly extinguished by a v. large lorry. Pedal on.

lockets · 15/05/2009 00:56

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JodieO · 15/05/2009 01:02

Sorry but if you don't want to cycle on the road where you should (do laws not matter anymore or do they only apply where people see fit?) then don't cycle at all. It's not a personal decision of where you think is safest it's about the law and doing what is right. Roads are there for a reason as are pavements.

So many cyclists completely ignore the rules of the road by cycling on pavements, running red lights, avoiding the red lights by going on the pavement etc, it's annoying in the extreme being a pedestrian with this going on. I used to live in London and it was a joke there, the cyclists were rude, arrogant and didn't seem to care about anyone but themselves.

I don't think the environment has anything to do with this issue, the issue is people breaking the law and thinking it's ok. Stop making things personal about how they're trying to get home to family and think about the actual law, in a court room it wouldn't come into it. If people aren't happy cycling on the road where they belong then find another form of transportation. I cycle btw so....

nappyaddict · 15/05/2009 02:04

As long as they stop or go into the road on narrow bits of pavement i don't mind.

tattycoram · 15/05/2009 06:06

There was a stray "but" in my earlier post.

Perhaps you lot are talking about areas where there is no public transport and so you have no other option if you don't have a car.

There are three tube stations and probably 25 bus routes within a ten minute walk of my flat. I can't see any justification for cycling on the pavement. If you don't like riding on the road get a sodding bus.

aGalChangedHerName · 15/05/2009 06:50

My dd's who are 4.8 and 2.8 were nearly mown down by an arsehole cyclist yesterday. He came flying out of an underpass (he wouldn't have been able to see us because of of the overgrown bushes) He did manage to stop with an inch to spare but fuck me what an arsehole. He was very apologetic but i wiped the floor with him. If he had hit the 2 of them i dread to think what would have happened and Twat!!!

Added to that he was racing around without a helmet???

bloss · 15/05/2009 06:55

Message withdrawn

DuffyFluckling · 15/05/2009 06:56

Don't stop at adult cyclists. My 2-year-old was nearly mown down by a boy of around 8 or 10, racing home from school. His parents have probably told him to cycle on the pavement because it's safer. For him.

Pan · 15/05/2009 07:05

this whole "guess what happened to me, and on the basis of that I am making a generalised statement" is a leetle bit silly. Of course irresponsible bikists, usually teens or stupid blokes IME shouldn't ride in the way they sometimes do. But I'll be a bowl of porridge oats if that is used as a some kind of moral authority as to why I should risk my life on dangerous roads.
hey-ho. Off on my bike now to work. I'll be riding up the A57 Mottram Moor pavement if any jobsworth needs to be tipped off.

NotQuiteCockney · 15/05/2009 07:40

I cycle with kids, and (nearly) always on the road. If I ever go on the pavement, it's for a short time (lazy with one-way systems), and if a pedestrian gets near arms' reach, I stop pedalling.

An 8 to 10 years old is another question, though - they really can't be trusted to ride safely on the road at that age. That being said, my DS1 who rides on the pavement knows not to get close to walking people.

oopsiedoopsie · 15/05/2009 07:46

I cant stand the cyclists who dont stop at red lights or crossing, going up onto the pavement to avoid doing so if needed, totally unnaceptable.
I accept that cyclists get a hard time from some drivers who dont give them the proper space / respect, but its a 2 way steet if you pardon the pun.

squirrel42 · 15/05/2009 08:41

"Seriously, though, no-one is saying a word in defence of mad cyclists. Just as no-one is saying a word in defence of mad drivers. But I find it hard to get enthusiastic about a legalistic 'it's against the law' approach when, if done respectfully, it is a perfectly reasonable and safe compromise between the needs of various users."

Here, here, bloss! I agree entirely.

DietDisasterTriesAgain · 15/05/2009 09:36

Sorry but I do cycle on the pavement and will continue to do so. I cycle with DSs to school as we are continuously being told not to drive!! They are 6 & 7 and will not be cyclng on the road in the foreseeable future as I will not risk their lives just because a pedestrian objects to moving a few inches to the side. I never ring my bell and if there is no room for us to get through, we slow down and wait until there is. The road to DSs school is also chock full of cars with only a small space on either side of the cars and there is no way I am gong to risk us getting knocked off. Not all cyclists are ignorant and until all roads have proper cycle lanes, forget it!!

LouLovesAeroplaneJelly · 15/05/2009 09:43

I ride, the kids ride and none of us ride on the footpath if we can help it. If it is busy we get off and walk with our bikes. Footpaths are made for people not cyclists. Go the long way if you are too scared to ride on the road.
I would love for the kids (and myself) to be able to ride safely and not have idiot drivers try to kill us at every intersection. I think there needs to be a compromise. If you are an adult get off the footpath. If you have kids (little kids) then share the footpath but remember that pedestrians have right of way. You may need to get off your bike everyonce in a while.

tallulahbelly · 15/05/2009 09:52

Can I lump in idiots who allow their children to career about on scooters on pavements and supermarket aisles?

katiestar · 15/05/2009 09:57

Pavements are for pedestrians not cylists .End of story.
I think if the pavement is completely empty for say 25 yds then it may be acceptable to
ride along that bit as long as you go back on the road if a pedestrian comes within that range..
If you don't want to ride your bike on the road -then don't ride it at all.Saving the planet is not an argument for endangering pedestrians.
And why people think it is somehow more acceptable with your 'precious little bunny' in a trailer I really don't get.You pose as much of a hazard as anyone other cyclist .