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?

[emmie]

our council has spent oodles of cash on cycle lanes, many are not used, and some of our local ones are a travesty of planning, design, putting everyone in danger. According to the news report i had a look at, 14 cyclists killed in London this year, though couldn't find the info for this borough, but do know that there have been at least 5 within the last few years.

[boxtops]

Yesterday was bad getting around day round here - in one trip to the shops, we encountered
- one person driving the wrong way up a three-lane one-way road
- one person in a disabled buggy driving on the road, the wrong way up a two-lane one way road
- a cyclist riding the wrong way up a one-way road
- Numerous cyclists on pavements and in the pedestrian shopping precinct
- Cars in the pedestrian shopping precinct outside shopping hours

Don't get me started on people who walk behind you when you've already started reversing out of your car park space in the supermarket....

[alid5]

I know boxtops, the reversing one is classic, Im going to get one of those bleepers like the lorries have to reverse, mind you people will still walk behind the car, and as for a bus stopping and people walking in front of bus to cross road with on coming traffic, our town square has been revamped and is worse than ever its only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed.

[AMYSULLIVAN]

I have walked on a pavement on 2 occasions and children have come round the corner in their cycles at high speed.
I had to go to hospital on both occasions and I was off work for 2 weeks on one of the occasions but there were no permanent injuries.
The people around just said that children have nowhere to play and I have been extremely unfortunate.
I think insurance should be compulsary for cyclists and a £500 penalty ticket should be issued to all people riding on the pavement.
If the child can not pay make the parents responsible.

Amy

[AlBags]

If it's that much safer on the pavement .. better start driving on it too then.

[Frank97]

I had one come up behind me and the dog the other day on a narrow pavement, the first I knew about it was when she started ringing the bell at me to get out of the way, I didn't move I just stood there until she was forced to get onto the road in order to get by. Sometimes it's handy being mean looking and having a big dog!

[tiggerblue10]

I was waiting to turn right into a road from a busy road and a driver flashed to let me go but I had to do an emergency stop as a cyclist came whizzing past the car on the left. I nearly went into him!

I've also had problems with cyclists as a pedestrian but what can you do. Everybody is encouraged to cycle these days for health benefits.

[puzzled54]

Tiggerblue, surely that was the fault of the car w ho flashed you.

[ladybirder]

D97 - a bell ringing! How lucky were you. I thought bells were banned. They should be compulsory in my opinion.

[tiggerblue10]

Forgot to mention that it was a police car who flashed me. Don't think the officer driving even realised the cyclist was coming up on the left Puzzled.

[puzzled54]

But that is not the cyclists fault. If you had hit him, you would have been responsible, but I would blame the car that flashed you as he should have been aware that there was a bike coming up on his inside.

[Frank97]

Ladybirder, yes I was quite surprised I must admit and I agree they should be compulsory.

[tiggerblue10]

I suppose so but the traffic had slowed down enough ahead of him to let me go but the cyclist just carried on cycling.

[EDDIE51]

puzzeled54 any accident involving a car or other vehicle and a cyclist is ALWAYS the drivers fault. Cyclists pay no insurance so it is never their fault.
You could be sitting stationary in your car and a cyclist hits you and it would be your fault for being in the way !
(I am only half joking here, I was actually told by a police officer that the courts are always strongly biased towards the cyclist as they can not claim off insurance)

[askyourgran]

It is against the law to cycle on pavements. Unless it's changed.

[paddywak]

Sorry tigger but I'd have blamed you, there's nothing in the Highway code saying flashing lights are a legal way of indicating right of way etc. A guy flashing his lights to give you the right of way can't know what any driver or cyclist on the road is going to do. Ultimately YOU are responsible for driving in a safe and responsible manner.

[Mamyalynne]

I carry a trusty walking stick, they soon slow down with that in their spokes.

[piggynose]

Now the cyclists point of view, am i a lone voice?
I use to cycle every day from around mid 70´s to 2006. Never cycled on pavements, but almost got killed in 2006, so havent been on a bicycle since. It was a nice quiet sunny July afternoon, when i quietly cycling home from work, when one moment i was thinking about what i was going to have for tea, when the next minute i was coming around in hospital from being unconscious. i´d been clipped by a lorrry driver. I was wearing an illuminous vest +helmet.

[cupid04]

We have a cycle path where we live and the lycra brigade are a law unto
themselves.They still use the roads and pavements , go through red lights
and cycle across PEDESTRIAN crossings. They make the air when I'm out
driving with Mr. cupid turn blue. And don't whatever you say start him on
taxi drivers!

[cupid04]

And then you've got the cyclists who travel at night with NO lights!