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

[kevo2k7]

Yes it is always clear of people, maybe the odd one here or there but it is wide enough for both parties to pass eachother with loads of room for both sides, basically it is a very wide pavement, about 10 metres or wider maybe. Cheers Kev

[emmie]

no sympathy, pay up.

[Mamyalynne]

Just have to bite the bullet and pay, there are no mitigating circumstances in your story at all.

[tigwig]

I guess it must be the law and they are within their rights unfortunately but I do have sympathy for you. It seems ridiculous. Maybe they would rather you get knocked off your bike instead. I dont agree with riding on the pavement continuously obviously but in the circumstances you describe this ticket seems very unfair.

[emmie]

That's why i don't care for cyclists much, because they ride on the damn pavement, when it is illegal to do so.

[kevo2k7]

No its just a very wide pavement, here is the link to the actual pavement where i was pulled, its never busy with people and it is safer to ride on this stretch of pavement than the actual main road

http://i797.photobuck.../Kevo2k7/pavement.jpg

[redcrx]

"said they had been sent out to target cyclists last night and were fining loads, (B**lox) "

how do you know thats not the truth? our local police often deal with one issue in a big hit.

[Gladeian]

Pay up and stop whingeing - cyclists defy the law with impunity - on footpaths - ignoring red traffic lights - wrong way in one way systems - the police do not enforce the law fairly - if you are a motorist you get hammered for the most trivial of offences - time for a bit of fairness with the enforcement of traffic laws

[Davethedog]

I think you should appeal. You can go to court, be told that you were breaking the law, asked why you are the exception and then have to pay costs.

I hope you fall off and break your kneck.

[Famous5]

Well done to the police. Hope they also go and catch some of those many cyclists who also ignore traffic lights and those who ignore special (and very expensive) cycle tracks and ride on busy highways

[kevo2k7]

Looks like there aren't many cyclists on tonight and just a load of petrol polluting junkies!! lol, Tigwig many thanks for your sympathetic reply but looks like im just gonna have to pay up on this one as i cant afford risking court costs for the sake of £30.

[kevo2k7]

my point is that the police should use common sense and allow leniency in these situations, they always pass me when im rolling along slowly on this stretch of pavement but because it was Monday and they were bored they decided to pull me!! why not just give me a warning? im sure a crown court jury would see my point fairly but i just dont have the money to be risking and if i do win my case then its the taxpayer that has footed the bill so im in a no win situation really as im a tax payer my self.

[Mamyalynne]

Ask on a Cycling forum and see what they say.

[ChuckFickens]

"crown court jury"

For cycling on a pavement! LOL.

[bimbo123456]

I am a cyclist and get heartily peed off by cyclists who cycle on the pavement. Pavements are for pedestrians. End of. It might be worth you petitioning your local council to make the path dual usage.....for future.