Bike Riding on the pavement.

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I have just bought myself a bike so that I can take DS1 on bike rides round our local area.

However he is quite small for his age and not very stable on his bike. Would you let him cycle on the path - is there a law about this?

Yes I do let my wee ones cycle on the pavement,its safer, as long as they are careful around pedestrians.I cycle on the road alongside them.
Not sure about any law,just seems common sense.

It's technically against the law but I have never heard of anyone being told not to.

IMO it's fine as long as the child and bike are not too big,

For example, DS1 who is 10 but tall has a grown-up bike which is certainly not OK on the path. I reckon from about 8-9yo they should be on the road, with a parent if necesary.

But a 3-4-5 yo? That's totally fine. Obv be aware of walkers and be very careful eg around schools at 3.30pm etc.

There is no way I would let my 7 year old ride his bike on the roads where we live. There are no proper cycle paths which i think is an absolute disgrace. I rode my bike today and there were cars parked on the cycle lane because there is no division between the road and the cycle lane and I was very close to lorries going past.

Until this government gets its priorities right and puts cyclists at the top of their green agenda, we will be a non-citizen when it comes to building cycle paths.

DD1 always cycles on the pavement. She is 6. We mainly go into the park, but on occassion she is taking her bike somewhere we go on the pavement.

If I am on mine too I will go on the road near the gutter, but ride up onto the pavement whe there are round abouts or crossings so that I am not leaving her.

I also use the pavements instead of round abouts when dd2 is on the back of my bike or I have the dog with me. I am fine on them, but I don't trust motorists, particularly Taxi drivers around here to operate the same amount of care as I do.

We too have very few cycle paths and very few motorists who know how to drive properly.

There was a thread about this some time ago and I seem to remember people saying that it was unofficially considered OK for kids below about 12 to use pavements (carefully and considerately of course). They typically have the chance to to the cycling proficiency training in year 6 which provides a rationale - if that's the age when that is considered appropriate then its hardly reasonable to expect kids to be on the road before they've done it.

I just found this govt website which supports this:

Q. Is cycling on the pavement against the law?

A. Yes. Cycling on the footway (pavement) is an offence under Section 72 ofthe Highways Act 1835 as amended by Section 85 (1) of the Local GovernmentAct 1888.

Q. Are children allowed to cycle on pavements?

A. Whilst there is no exemption to this law for children, the police have always used common sense and discretion in exercising their powers over children cycling on the pavement. Very young children should not be expected to cycle on the road and we would not recommend any child does so until they have received cycle training. Enforcement of cycling on pavements is usually dealt with by a fixed penalty notice, which cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 16.