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

[Pimpernel]

I'm a pedestrian (and bus user), not a cyclist, but I don't mind at all cyclists using wide pavements. I've hardly ever risked being knocked up by a cyclist, unlike with cars. Plus bikes don't make a din like cars, and don't pollute. I live in a busy city centre, and the walk to/from my bus stop every morning and every evening is not a pleasant one.

I've seen policemen arresting cyclists on the pavement several times (it beggared belief, as the cyclists were absolutely not in the way of the pedestrians) and I've nearly intervened. I think I am going to in the future, and I'm also going to write to my city council (and MP). We very nearly had a bike hire scheme in my town (like in London) and it got scrapped because the city council withdrew funding. Yet whenever you go on their website, they are advertising the town as a green town!

[vivandorron]

Quite right Pimpernel......"Bikes don't make a din like cars"......They just come up behind you in silence and knock you down.

Take my advice and don't intervene if the Police are doing their duty. You could end up in Court for failing to assist the Police in the execution of their duties.

Ron.

[Pimpernel]

I've looked at the pic, and the pavement is really wide.
Maybe you should move to a greener country, such as Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands. I've heard British people complaining that when they were visiting those countries they nearly got hit by cyclists (they were walking on clearly marked cycling paths!). Frankly, I can't understand the hostility towards cyclists/walkers in this country, especially when so many people suffer from obesity.

[vivandorron]

Pimpernel....Please stay out of this one because you are now talking to a former cyclist who still has his walking boots.

You say..."I've looked at the pic, and the pavement is really wide."......It is from the end that kevo gave, but you need to look at the one which I posted.

Surely you are not in support of people breaking the law which prohibits cyclists riding on footpaths.

Ron.