Cyclists on pavements

[Mattk]

As someone who does a lot of walking it is no exaggeration to say that easily two thirds of the cyclists I see are not on the road. Every day I have to either wait or move to one side for people who should be on the road. I've even seen cyclists waiting to cross the road so that they can carry on riding - if they were on the road they wouldn't have to wait!!

This seems quite a modern phenomenon as when I grew up it was always frowned on so why is it so common now?

[daisya]

Too much traffic? People more selfish and not caring where they ride? Lots of reasons I should think but I agree they shouldn't be riding on pavements imo.

[sandyRoe]

Cycling on roads seems almost suicidal. Having said that, cycling on footpaths shouldn't be allowed

[douglas9401]

Think I'll wait for a spokes person

[Ann]

In my day it was illegal - have the rules changed?

[ummmm]

Too much traffic. It's very dangerous cycling on the busier roads...

[anneasquith]

the real danger is when they come up behind you, and you didnt hear them !

[bobthefisherman]

It's still illegal to cycle on pavements....

[bobthefisherman]

extract from the highway code......

64
You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement.

[Laws HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A 1984, sect 129]

[ChuckFickens]

I'd reckon there are 3 reasons..

1) people that think it's legal
2) people that know it's illegal but do it because it is safer sometimes.
3) people that know it's illegal but do it because they don't care.

[Buenchico]

It might depend upon where you live. Our local (monthly) town newsletter carries a column contributed by one of our PCSOs. This is from the current edition:
http://i42.tinypic.com/34i4e2s.jpg

[paddywak]

Last year in Arnold, Nottingham they had a drive to discourage cyclists in the pedestrian area. One woman listened to the lecture, ignored it and jumped on her bike as if nothing had happened the coppers at the other end of the precinct pulled her and hit her with a fixed fine. A few weeks later it was in the local rag that she'd been asbo'd and banned from the precinct for ignoring the no cycling rule.

[Mattk]

I did wonder if there had been a law change making all pavements cycle lanes.

Having also been a cyclist I can see why they have mainly switched to pavements as some of the near incidents I had were not funny. I've been riding along when a car comes alongside and slows so the car waiting to turn can do so. Unbelievably he starts to turn right in front of me! Cyclists simply get ignored.

[wildwood]

As a pedestrian, cyclists on the footpath should be shot on sight.
As a cyclist, it is far too dangerous to cycle on the road. Has anyone ever tried to navigate a roundabout on a cycle or turn right on a lights assisted intersection? It is a nightmare.
As a motorist, all cycles should be banned from the road, they turn in front of you without warning, rarely indicate their intend to turn and many have never heard of cycle lights, they don't seem to care how hard they are to see at night.

Take your pick!

[bibblebub]

It especially pees me off on a local road where there are cycle lanes on both sides of the road, both lanes about 6' wide, that there are still a lot of cyclists on the pavement, including on the side of the road where the traffic is going in the same direction as them yet they still stay on the pavement even though the lane is just a couple of feet away.

[EDDIE51]

I have 'had an issue' with cyclists for years. They ride on pavements, without lights, go the wrong way down one way streets, wrong side of the road,cross red traffic lights and generally ride as if they own the road and pavement.
I see youths with no lights, dark clothes with no reflective strip riding BMX bikes , (which have no brake on the rear wheel and should not be on the road at all,) riding all over the place every day, they often wear hoodies which restrict their vision even more. At night under the orange street lights they are virtually invisible. It is only a matter of time before someone is killed and then it will be the fault of the driver as cyclists do not have insurance and seem to be above the law. They ride straight across the road without as much as a glance to see if there is any traffic. Prehaps I just live in a bad area ?
Driving in Cambridge or 'Cycle City' is a nightmare I now try to avoid it, due to the suicidal cyclists.

[sandyRoe]

Does anyone know what Jeremy Clarkson thinks of cyclists?

[emmie]

it's illegal to cycle on pavements, and they are a pain in the rear end. I have had endless cyclists go past me on pavement at speed, bash into me, or as i am crossing over road, when the lights were in my favour. Many have no common sense at all. And if they are caught by the traffic police, they do get a fine, but it's just not enough. Compulsory road safety courseI I loved cycling, but i wouldn't do it now. If some say it's too dangerous on the roads, then don't cycle.

[alid5]

Agree with wildwood, the government has build so many cycle paths and they still are on roads alongside them, as for on pavements think a trip wire would come in handy.Few years back, My son was riding along a pavement in our scheme when a boy had jumped at him, my son knocked him with his handle bars, low and behold a few hours later I opened the door to Two police officers wanting to speak to my son about the incident, the boys mother had contacted them saying my son had run into him, one police man had been speaking to my son asking him what had happened and when I asked what was going to happen he said he could charge him with cycling on a pavement baring in mind my son was only 13 at the time, I very politely said you must be joking and asked them to leave which they did, I was absolutely fuming, I phoned my husband who came straight home and later we found out from other local kids that the boy my son had knocked into had jumped out so as to try and knock my son off his bike, my husband informed the police who told him they wouldnt be taking the matter further. The next week I seen the same policeman cycling along our local street. What a bloody joke

[emmie]

Sandy, i suggest we keep JC out of this, as to someone suggesting they be shot on sight, well it's extreme, and if you see the ones that cycle through London, i would say they have a death wish.

[alid5]

Should have added The same policeman cycling along our local street on the PAVEMENT!!!!