No lights on bike on pavement

[skinnycow]

My 12 yr old son was stopped the other day for not having lights on his bike although he was riding on the pavement. He has to show his bike at the police station within the next 14 days to show lights have been fitted. We will be getting the lights fitted for safety reasons but a friend has told me its illegal to ride on the pavement still.
There are no cycle lanes on his way home and some roads are quite busy, surley its safer to ride on pavement lights or no lights. Anyone know what the law is?

[daffy654]

It may be safer for the cyclist to be on the pavement but it most definitely isn't safer for pedestrians.That is why it is illegal to cycle on pavements.

[tyrepill]

It is illegal to cycle on pavements and Authorities have the power to issue fixed penalty fines , but rarely do.

[Reverandfunk]

He should ride on the road and you as a parent should be responsible for making sure he has lights.

The pavement is for pedestrians not for kids on bikes.

[bednobs]

sorry i have to agree with the above -if the roads are too busy for your son to be safely riding on them then he shouldn't be riding at all. It is illegal for bikes to ride on the pavement, so in a way he was lucky to just get told off

[karenr110]

the highway code does state you MUST NOT ride on footpaths and several sub-sections of laws are quoted. it is dangerous for pedestrians more than once i have had near collisions with kids on bike when walking my dog , who incidentally has a little flashing light on his collar!

[Twenty20]

It's one of those laws that get flouted every day I'm afraid. Even cycling on the pavement he should at least have lights on, but of course having lights on your bike isnt 'cool' these days, and neither is cycling on the road.

I cant sympathise very much I'm afraid as I nearly got run over twice this morning walking to work by cyclists on the pavement.

[Ethel]

Cycling on footpaths is prohibited by Section 72 of the Highway Act 1835. This is punishable by a fixed penalty notice of �30 under Section 51 and Schedule 3 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

And rightly so - it is dangerous for pedestrians particularly for the infirm and deaf like me.

[funnygirl]

Serve him right!!
I am fed up of getting knocked down by cyclists on the pavement. They should be in the bl**dy ROAD!!!

[north star]

There is no requirement to have lights on a bike during daylight hours. Was the alleged offence at night?

[skinnycow]

Thanks all. didnt know there was a law against it. the police werent worried about the pavement riding only the lights (it was dark). Still he has been warned now to stick to the road, no doubt he will, just being spoken to by the police has scared the cr*p out of him!!

[bundleone]

I wonder what the ratio is between pedestrians hurt or killed by cyclists on the pavement and cyclists hurt or killed on the road. at a wild guess I would thing about 98/2(more cyclists hurt or killed)

[Reverandfunk]

All I can say bundle is if cyclists thinks roads are too busy or dangerous dont go on them. Pavements are for pedestrians and skinnycow nice to see that he took notice of the police a lot wouldnt lol

[hammerman]

I was recently told that it is only illegal for cyclists over the age of 16 to cycle on the pavement....can anyone confirm this ?

[motorist]

If you are a motorist (not a cyclist) you will have undoubtedly noticed the complete disregard cyclists in town centres have for any other human beings... cycling through red lights, cycling across pelican crossings, cycling across crossings to cut the corners at lights, cycling on pavements. Not just causing a danger to other road users cyclists are increasing their own chances of injury or death 50X.
I would be happy to see cyclists brought into line with other road users in so much as to pay a road tax and be required to purchase some sort of cyclists insurance...

[motorist]

hammerman - i think someone likes yanking your chain....