Should i challenge a bicycle £30 ticket?

[kevo2k7]

Last night whilst riding home from Sainsbury's on my bicycle with my shopping in my rucksack i hit the usual busy main road which is probably the busiest road in my town, there is a wide footpath on the left hand side with a huge builders yard wall to inside of it, i always go on this footpath for a 100 or so yards stretch as it is always clear of people, wide enough to accompany people and bicycles without any danger to either, plus there is a builders yard to the left meaning no houses or people stepping out suddenly, also it benefits motorists on the road as it is a very busy road and not really wide enough for motorists and bicycles as vehicles just miss my bike by a few inches whilst passing,
Anyway the old plod pull up (Monday and nothing better to do because they are bored and want to rack up their police points for arrests an fines) and they fine me £30 without a warning or anything, said they had been sent out to target cyclists last night and were fining loads, (B**lox) anyway i explained to them what i have just explained here but to no avail, should i go to court and challenge this or will it just end up costing me more with the law being the law?
Cheers Kev

[DrFilth]

hope this link works
he would have a job riding his bike here


http://www.flickr.com...rltonreid/5726611720/

[Count-A-Strong]

FOOTpath. The clue is in the name.

[RATTER15]

Dr Filth, all those cars should be allowed to park there, its a "wide footpath"!

[DrFilth]

ratter if they can give him a £30 fine they want to start near me
after the cyclists and after tea time there must be over 40 cars parked half on half off the pavement

[twix123]

If it only 100 yards or so why don't you dismount and push your bike along the footpath, in which case you wouldn't be breaking the law?

"64

You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement.

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

[hannah40]

whats the matter with the a friendly approach from the police to ask you to cycle on the road,my 87yrold mum still cycles and there is alittle bit of pavement that she cycles on to get back to her flat safely i would be livid if she got a ticket,cycling has kept her healthy for 87yrs.on the other hand im a lollipop lady and i get annoyed when cyclists carry on past me eventhough im in the road with a stop sign or they cycle onto the pavement to avoid mei.Idid say to one today hello you are supposed to STOP but then the pavement by my crossing has kids buggys and dogs around so its alittle bit dangerous to cycle there.

[emmie]

In my experience the friendly approach doesn't work, i have asked cyclists to not cycle on the pavement before now. and been told to f**k off, and a whole lot worse. Many are oblivious to pedestrians, i have been run into, almost killed recently when the idiot went over a red light, and if someone is fined thats good, perhaps maybe then they will get the message

[daftgrandad]

The law states it is an offence to ride a bicycle on a FOOTpath.
Pity they dont make an example of you and fine you £1000.That might then
work as a deterrent to all the other selfish sods,who consider it their God
given right to be able to do this,without any interference from the authorities.

[emmie]

daftgrandad, i have now some input into the local area, in this matter, and that was because i complained about it to the council and police. Our borough has seen endless deaths of cyclists which no one wants, and i would never ever use that as a point. Boris Johnson bike scheme has taken off far more than i would have thought possible, the big problem is that many may not have ridden a bike for years, and some i have seen, should never be allowed on the road, let alone the pavement.

[daftgrandad]

Sorry em,I can,t see the point you,re trying to make.
Do you agree or disagree with my post ?

[Nini74]

I'm glad the Police are enforcing this law. All too often cyclists flout the law and cycle on footpaths. I know they all say its safter than cycling on the road - well, maybe it is for them -but surely not for the pedestrians! A friend of mine was knocked over by a cyclist on a pavement - fractured her skull and was in hospital for weeks - got no pay while off work, permanent loss of taste and smell - and no right of recourse against the cyclist because he left her there lying on the pavement! (he was identified later by someone who'd seen the accident and recognised him, but he had no money and so she could not sue!). I'm sick and tired of cyclists getting away with it. Pay up and if you don't want to pay in future, don't break the law....

[vivandorron]

Cyclists should be made to take a driving test and their machines subjected to MOTs.

Ron.

[emmie]

agree.

[Nini74]

and insurance.....

[carmalee]

omg - 54 posts in answer to - I did wrong do I have to pay? -

[Barmaid]

If you go to Court it will be the Magistrates Court. It will be heard by either 3 lay magistrates or by a single District Judge. You will not be able to have this matter heard by a Crown Court jury. Contrary to what you say, the Magistrates are not biased and you will get a fair hearing.

Unfortunately, from what you have said, i see the chances of you being successful as almost non-existent. If you appeal it to the Mags Court, you will possibly have the fine increased, but you will almost certainly have to pay the full costs of a trial which could easily be £200+, in addition you will have to pay a victim surcharge of £15.

[albaqwerty]

Should you challenge a £30 ticket for riding your bike on a footpath? No, pay up and be grateful you didn't knock a pedestrian down in full view of 'plod'

[azocarbo]

On 1st August 1999, new legislation came into force to allow a fixed penalty notice to be served on anyone who is guilty of cycling on a footway. However the Home Office issued guidance on how the new legislation should be applied, indicating that they should only be used where a cyclist is riding in a manner that may endanger others. The then Home Office Minister Paul Boateng issued a letter stating that:

“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.”

[vivandorron]

Ends don't 'tie-up' on this one.!!

The OP has provided a photograph to illustrate that the pavement is very wide. However, there is a high kerb and it is my guess that he cycled onto it where the shops are at the top end and where there is a ramped section; but the width is considerably less.

To appreciate what I am saying....Wait a few moments for the full picture, after clicking the following:-

http://maps.google.co...cbp=12,336.4,,0,10.02

Ron.

[azocarbo]

If you look above the silver car you can actually see OP.

Although it is clearly a footway and I don't see why the size etc of it matters?