Cycling on the pavement

[bonj2]

FWIW, i agree with Bonj

that's another quid in the jar...

Which brings me to Bonj's cam post 'how to negotiate an underpass'
Although you there, i was not, you may have been more 'spacially aware' than the video shows...the opening shot shows you riding up to a blind junction. You dont know who or whats round the corner. You ride through the first underpass, past several peds and a toddler, into the second underpass, past a couple who moved to one side for you....and onwards.

LOL
It's the SAME underpass! in case it's not obvious... The second bit just shows me riding BACK through it the other way, a few hours later (or earlier, can't remember)

if you notice though, on the first time I go through it (going out of town) just after I pass a woman in black with a cap on the left (who incidentally was a beggar and tried to get me to stop) I swing right out to the right (notice that?) so I can attack the steps from a straighter angle, this also has the benefit of taking the slight corner much wider, and thus being able to see anyone behind the bit of concrete or at the bottom of the steps in good time. Don't forget the camera's on the bars, so at the point where all you can see on the video is the railing (at the point where I've subtitled it with 'in fact they often go the long way round') I'm getting a clear view round the corner and seeing if there's anybody on the steps or at the bottom of them where i'm going to land.

 

[bonj2]

DfT Guidance!!




Local Transport Notes on Walking and Ccling - Annex D, Code of Conduct Notice for Cyclists. July 2004

I don't give a damn what the DfT guildelines say. I'll be the one to judge whether my cycling on the pavement is dangerous or not. And if I say it's not, it's not. That may be because I've stopped or slowed down to a walking pace to give way to peds, or it may be because there's no peds around so I deem it to be perfectly safe to do 20mph. Either way, I don't cycle dangerously. Full stop. Because of the fact that I don't cause danger to anybody. Not because the DfT says so.

 

[gbb]

that's another quid in the jar...


LOL
It's the SAME underpass! in case it's not obvious... The second bit just shows me riding BACK through it the other way, a few hours later (or earlier, can't remember)

if you notice though, on the first time I go through it (going out of town) just after I pass a woman in black with a cap on the left (who incidentally was a beggar and tried to get me to stop) I swing right out to the right (notice that?) so I can attack the steps from a straighter angle, this also has the benefit of taking the slight corner much wider, and thus being able to see anyone behind the bit of concrete or at the bottom of the steps in good time. Don't forget the camera's on the bars, so at the point where all you can see on the video is the railing (at the point where I've subtitled it with 'in fact they often go the long way round') I'm getting a clear view round the corner and seeing if there's anybody on the steps or at the bottom of them where i'm going to land.

LOL, shouda realised. At one point you enter a road, car rear lights showing. I thought at that moment....christ, that got dark (ish) quick

 

[bonj2]

just an observation don't you think it's pleasing how the council have provided a little smooth slope in the middle of the steps next to the railing for me to go up? aaaaah... they are caring.

 

[Elmer Fudd]

I realise this is against the law but is it ever ok to ride on the pavement ? Would you do it for the sake of personal safety if a particular stretch of road or junction was too dangerous ?
The standard of driving in this country seems to have got steadily worse in the time I have been riding a bike and sometimes I just do not feel safe . The alternative would be to get the bus which I really don't want to do .

In Durham I cycle on the road towards the county council office then hit the footpath down the hill (Framwellgate Perth) and turn left across the river until I hit 'Claypath'. Reason being, although not bothered by road cycling this road merges from 2 lanes into 1 and everybody has to " get in before the car in front. Then there are traffic lights at the bottom (no prob) but when you bear left you have a 4 lane bridge (2 each way) just about wide enough for a smallish car ( a Ka is wide enough to fill one lane), but you get bigger cars, buses, lorries etc. trying to overtake you, so I'll stick to the pavement thank you (obviously at a "pedestrian type speed ")

 

[surfgurl]

I cycle on the pavement for part of my commute. I cycle on the road through town to the roundabout on the edge of town. For the next mile and a half the road is at national speed limit and runs straight to the roundabout for the M5 junction. I turn left here onto the main A road until I reach the country lane to get to work. I cycle on the pavement, where there is one, for all of this bit.
The difference between my speed and the speed of the passing cars and lorries is too great. I get off the bike if there is a pedestrian and that's only happened twice in the last 6 months. The police have driven passed while I have been cycling on the pavement and I am ready with my argument if they ever stop me.

 

[classic33]

Bonj. You've got others talking now.

See:

http://www.policeoracle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6669

 

[yellow v2]

FWIW I agree with bonj on most,only disagree with his interpretation of safe speed, 15mph way to fast on a public footpath!

 

[dondare]

I don't give a damn what the DfT guildelines say. I'll be the one to judge whether my cycling on the pavement is dangerous or not. And if I say it's not, it's not. That may be because I've stopped or slowed down to a walking pace to give way to peds, or it may be because there's no peds around so I deem it to be perfectly safe to do 20mph. Either way, I don't cycle dangerously. Full stop. Because of the fact that I don't cause danger to anybody. Not because the DfT says so.

If you were prosecuted for cycling on the footpath you wouldn't be the judge; there'd be a real judge. If you were prosecuted for cycling dangerously on a shared-use path the DfT guidelines might be considered relevant by the court regardless of your own opinion.
The main danger of cycling on footpaths or shared-use paths is to the cyclist, not pedestrians. You are more likely to be killed or injured when you cross roads on a bike than when you ride along them correctly and legally; and how far can you get on a footpath without crossing roads?

 

[dondare]

Bonj. You've got others talking now.

See:

http://www.policeoracle.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6669

Are all the posters on that forum real cops? They don't seem to know any more about it than anyone else.

 

[classic33]

Are all the posters on that forum real cops? They don't seem to know any more about it than anyone else.

Not certain on that one. Got a point in the forum direction, by a police officer who knows me.

 

[ufkacbln]

I don't give a damn what the DfT guildelines say. I'll be the one to judge whether my cycling on the pavement is dangerous or not. And if I say it's not, it's not. That may be because I've stopped or slowed down to a walking pace to give way to peds, or it may be because there's no peds around so I deem it to be perfectly safe to do 20mph. Either way, I don't cycle dangerously. Full stop. Because of the fact that I don't cause danger to anybody. Not because the DfT says so.

Which is part of the problem.......

There is a whole industry based on the I can travel at what speed I like because I judge things perfectly all the time.

The 18 mph is way too fast, although it is the differential rather than the actual speed that causes problems.

 

[PaulSB]

I don't give a damn what the DfT guildelines say. I'll be the one to judge whether my cycling on the pavement is dangerous or not. And if I say it's not, it's not. That may be because I've stopped or slowed down to a walking pace to give way to peds, or it may be because there's no peds around so I deem it to be perfectly safe to do 20mph. Either way, I don't cycle dangerously. Full stop. Because of the fact that I don't cause danger to anybody. Not because the DfT says so.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7098383.stm

I don't often post but the times I come on here and see this member making idiotic statements is too frequent to be coincidental. Personally I never ride on the pavement for two simple reasons; it's far more dangerous to me as a cyclist to be on the pavement than the road, and secondly by acting in such a highly irresponsible manner (pavement cycling) you give all cyclists a bad name.

I can't think of circumstances which justify pavement cycling and feel all those who do cycle on the pavement should consider the diservice they do to their fellow, law-abidding, cyclists. Unlikley though as those who do pavement cycle are clearly somewhat selfish.

 

[dudi]

Recently I was caught by a cycling policeman, riding my bike on a stretch of pavement close to my work. He stopped me and advised me that he was obliged to give me a £30 fixed penalty unless I could give a very good reason as to why I was on the pavement.

We had a short conversation and the kind policeman gently persuaded me that the real reason I was on the pavement was a matter of personal safety as I thought the junction was too dangerous with out adequate provision of cycle lanes etc.

This seemed to be OK by him and I didn't get the fixed penalty.

It would seem that it is against the law, but exceptions can be made if you are deemed to be riding "sensibly" and if you are there as a matter of personal safety.

 

[cyclebum]

We had a short conversation and the kind policeman gently persuaded me that the real reason I was on the pavement was a matter of personal safety as I thought the junction was too dangerous with out adequate provision of cycle lanes etc.

I would have thought that as long as ridden with repect to peds, the priority should be personal safety. As a more eco friendly way of travelling surely cyclists should be encouraged, rather than discouraged due to fear of busy roads, but also fear of being fined by breaking the law on the pavement!
I must admit there is a roundabout in our (small )town that is approached in 2 lanes which becomes a filter (left lane to turn left and right lane for straight on only). At times it can be difficult enough switching lanes in a car and as yet I have not been brave enough on my bike so I use a short stretch of pavement, though I have never encountered a ped here. If ridden with caution I don't see that it's a problem. But I have seen a local policeman stop a youth riding on the pavement and ask his age. It turns out there is a max age you can legally ride but I can't remember the age he gave.

We have some pavement footpath/cyclepaths but they are only on 1 side of the road and it can take for ever to get across to be able to use it as this is where the A34 comes though the town. Just outside the town on the A34 I use the path there as I feel safer being nat speed limit and quite a few lorries etc.., but it is badly kept with lots of overgrowth, bulging tree roots, pot holes and so on which is fine on my mtb but I would imagine not so good on a road bike.