Cycling on the pavement

[Klaus]

What is the legal status of cycling on the pavement?

I always thought it was illegal but I've seen police and community support officers do it.

The legal aspect has been clarified in other posts I think.
Common sense has to rule here. I make a point of riding on the roads whereever possible.
If there are long and under-utilised stretches of pavement in good condition I use them.
Most average pavements are in a bad state of repair, plus missing drop kerbs, cars parked
on them etc, so it's safer being on the road.

 

[jimboalee]

I thought CSO meant "Constable Shaped Object"...

 

[jimboalee]

It also comes down to appearances.

A helmetless person wearing baggie shorts on a roadrace bike riding along the footpath looks like he's just stolen the bike.
A properly dressed roadie won't be on the footpath.

A lycra clad person with all the gizmos on an expensive MTB looks like a posing 'Jack the lad' and needs knocking down a peg or two.
A properly dressed MTBer won't be on the footpath.

An elderly lady on her stepthrough with basket will get a "be careful now, ma'am".

 

[Hont]

As regards to children cycling on the pavement - I've chatted with various policemen over the years and usually get the same response - they are unlikely to stop a child on the pavement unless they are cycling in a dangerous manner. They can't fine them anyway.

I recall reading somewhere that 7 and unders are allowed to ride on the pavement.

 

[DavieB]

[QUOTE 1148374"]
It should be and normally is a common sense approach, ironically undermined more often than not only by cyclists complaining loudly that if you don't want to or can't ride on the road then you shouldn't be cycling.
[/quote]

My partner can ride, but she does not have the confidence to ride on the road she gets far too much wobble up hills for one thing to feel safe on the road, the route I have been taking her on to improve her bike skills and fitness has a path all the way around it there are practically no pedestrians on the road. When Im out with her I use it with her so I am in a good distance to her, should she just not bother learning?


Its the only time i use the path all other times Im on the road. Its not a black and white issue.

Cyclists do the most moaning about cyclists.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I thought CSO meant "Constable Shaped Object"...

all of ours our football shaped.

and your next post ignores totally the existence of utility cyclists

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I recall reading somewhere that 7 and unders are allowed to ride on the pavement.

The law doesn't state an age specifically in relation to pavement cycling. The law does state and age at which any child can be prosecuted for any crime.

Plenty of elderly folk, some of them seasoned 'proper' cyclists pavement ride round here as they can't hack modern i.e. lousy driving standards.

 

[theclaud]

I really don't see the point in those MTB cops.

I mean, why do they need front suspension? Surely a hybrid style bike would be more suitable to their needs (pretty much all roads/pavements). I would have thought that a bike chase along a rough track would be pretty rare.

And why do they insist on cycling in twos next to each other in the middle of the road at 5-8mph. I've lost of the number of times I've had to pull right out to scalp a pair of slow moving coppers.

I think I saw mentioned somewhere that the only training they have to do is bikeability 2 which is aimed at 10-13 year olds.

Why don't we give them roller blades instead like the French?

Ah, now that's an interesting link to my thread about cycling two abreast. It clearly connotes authority, confidence, and an explicit claim to road space. We should all do more of it (though preferably not on the pavement). And front suspension is handy for going down steps...

 

[ManiaMuse]

Ah, now that's an interesting link to my thread about cycling two abreast. It clearly connotes authority, confidence, and an explicit claim to road space. We should all do more of it (though preferably not on the pavement). And front suspension is handy for going down steps...

What annoys me about it is that they often do it at very slow speeds while 'observing'. This unecessarily holds other road users up including other cyclists when they could easily avoid that by slotting in behind each other or cycling faster.

I'm all for claiming your own road space but if they choose to cycle 2-abreast then they should do it at an appropriate speed (i.e. not wobbling along at little more than walking pace).

I can understand why mounted police do it but police mtbs aren't going to be spooked by passing traffic. Yes they should be a presence but they should also not be an obstruction when nothing out of the ordinary is going on.

Maybe that's just my cycling ethos coming through though - most of the time I ride my 90cm from the curb, I take the lane when necessary for my safety etc. But I also try to avoid being an obstruction when I can help it. So for example on unrestricted narrow roads when I know there is a queue of traffic behind me I will tuck in a bit when I can see there is a safe gap in oncoming traffic to make it easier and actually encourage cars to overtake me at that point.

 

[summerdays]

I recall reading somewhere that 7 and unders are allowed to ride on the pavement.

Theoretically no-one is allowed to cycle on the pavement - the law is a very old one I gather. But no one is going to tell a 2 year old off, nor a 5 year old ... there isn't a defined age at which a child shouldn't cycle on the pavement. However they can't be fined with a Fixed Penalty Notice before the age 16.

 

[theclaud]

What annoys me about it is that they often do it at very slow speeds while 'observing'. This unecessarily holds other road users up including other cyclists when they could easily avoid that by slotting in behind each other or cycling faster.

I'm all for claiming your own road space but if they choose to cycle 2-abreast then they should do it at an appropriate speed (i.e. not wobbling along at little more than walking pace).

I can understand why mounted police do it but police mtbs aren't going to be spooked by passing traffic. Yes they should be a presence but they should also not be an obstruction when nothing out of the ordinary is going on.

Police horses are not, in my experience, spooked by anything. But I digress. They're talking, surely? Plus if they're on a beat it makes sense to take it slowly rather than going hell for leather. People are always saying they want lots of bobbies on the beat...

 

[ManiaMuse]

Police horses are not, in my experience, spooked by anything. But I digress. They're talking, surely? Plus if they're on a beat it makes sense to take it slowly rather than going hell for leather. People are always saying they want lots of bobbies on the beat...

Thing is when a motorist sees a couple of lycra clad roadies cycling 2-abreast 'talking' the response is usually a horn blast or shouting and swearing.

 

[summerdays]

I'm just back from cycling to an out of town shopping centre ... and I tend to use the cycle path next to the dual carriageway just because of the number of lorries and dust they kick up (there are very few side roads along this stretch), but they are also doing road works so I had to swap sides etc, and as a result of the idea that they were cracking down on pavement cycling I kept on having to check if I could see the shared pavement symbols. I kept imagining someone leaping out to fine me. Felt much better once I was back on the road on known territory.

 

[theclaud]

Thing is when a motorist sees a couple of lycra clad roadies cycling 2-abreast 'talking' the response is usually a horn blast or shouting and swearing.

Indeed! It's something on which I have been musing lately. I won't hijack this thread - I've been upsetting the more craven element in Commuting here.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Locally we assume being put on police cycle duty is the equivalent of being sent to the naughty step for not being fit enough to waddle around the town centre providing 'reassurance policing'. Our CSO's ride slowly because they are too fat and unfit to ride any other way, and by hunting in pairs they double their IQ's; enough to do joined up writing and everything.

Gawd help us when Theresa May's local police vigalantes volunteers start up. "Your training today ladies and gentlemen is "The Daily Mail Guide to the Law by J. Clarkson". Oh. I see you already have your copies." Well, err, off you go."