Cycling on the pavement

[Midnight]

...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...

+1

It's refreshing to see Bobbies on bicycles, and I always give them a friendly acknowledgement. Surely it's better to see 'em on bikes rather than in a car when so much of the world seems to pass 'em by. Think of them as beat bobbies with bikes; faster than chasing after yobs on foot and they can follow where vehicles are often stymied - down alleys, through labyrinthine housing estates etc... And the one's in my area are usually full coppers, not CSO's.

IMO cycling on pavements is an unacceptable risk to pedestrians. Most urban pavements are not wide enough for cyclists to pass pedestrians at a safe distance. I'm astounded by those who are so quick to complain that helmet-wearing engenders the belief that cycling is inherently dangerous and discourages cycling, yet they think it o.k to ride on pavements because the roads aren't safe!!! What sort of message does this behaviour send out? It's perfectly acceptible and sensible to allow small children to ride on the pavement, but not full-grown adults.

 

[vikingcyclist]

Wouldn't a tandem stop then taking up so much of the road, and give them that extra bit of speed they'd need in a chase?

 

[Midnight]

[QUOTE 1148389"]
The argument against helmet wearing is ineffectiveness. This is completely removed from the arguments for some cyclists using pavements.
[/quote]

My arguement was that cycling on pavements promotes the belief that cycling is inherently dangerous, not to start another pointless h..... debate!

 

[Midnight]

Well, I suppose I was lucky and learned to cycle when I was a kid, so I've never found the need to cycle on the pavements. But surely there are better ways to learn to cycle without cycling on the pavements.

 

[steve30]

The only way into our town centre which doesn't involve much longer and more dangerous windy twisty national speed limit roads, is a dual carriageway, which gets very busy.

I ride down the dual carriageway now as I use it regularly and have become quite familiar with it. But I certainly wouldn't blame anyone for using the pavement to avoid the cars, especially during the day when the road is very busy. In fact, it is quite rare that I see many pedestrians on said pavement. If I go down the road in the morning, I may pass 3 or 4 in 3 miles.

When I have to go back home up the dual carriageway (up hill), if I end up being very tired or feeling sick, I certainly do not use the road and only go slowly up the pavement.

 

[jimboalee]

Why are coppers on bikes all big fat bloaters?

You'd look a big fat bloater if you went cycling in the body armour they wear.

The bike coppers in Solihull are well fit.


Why do coppers on bikes ride so slowly?

Cycling is not their primary function. Their primary function is to identify the body language of criminals.

 

[ManiaMuse]

Cycling is not their primary function. Their primary function is to identify the body language of criminals.

They can do that without obstructing the road.

 

[Midnight]

Confidence - Self-assurance, feeling of certainty, trust.
Ability - Skill, competence, dexterity, aptitude.

If someone lacks the trust and/or competence to cycle on the roads then how is that not a training issue? If they want to improve their confidence and handling skills, there are plenty of places to practice without cycling on the pavement.

The only way into our town centre which doesn't involve much longer and more dangerous windy twisty national speed limit roads, is a dual carriageway, which gets very busy.

I ride down the dual carriageway now as I use it regularly and have become quite familiar with it. But I certainly wouldn't blame anyone for using the pavement to avoid the cars, especially during the day when the road is very busy. In fact, it is quite rare that I see many pedestrians on said pavement. If I go down the road in the morning, I may pass 3 or 4 in 3 miles.

When I have to go back home up the dual carriageway (up hill), if I end up being very tired or feeling sick, I certainly do not use the road and only go slowly up the pavement.

That's perfectly understandable, and I agree that there are roads which are very hazardous for cyclists, especially in town/city centres. But let's face it, there are too many who choose to cycle on the pavement in areas where it is perfectly safe to use the road, and also at times when there is little or no traffic about. I've seen cyclists using the pavement to circumvent traffic lights, others riding along the pavement at a high rate of knots weaving around pedestrians and street furniture and blindly across junctions, some whilst carring out a phone conversation, riding one-handed and multitude other sins - they certainly don't lack confidence.

 

[jimboalee]

Confidence - Self-assurance, feeling of certainty, trust.
Ability - Skill, competence, dexterity, aptitude.

If someone lacks the trust and/or competence to cycle on the roads then how is that not a training issue? If they want to improve their confidence and handling skills, there are plenty of places to practice without cycling on the pavement.




That's perfectly understandable, and I agree that there are roads which are very hazardous for cyclists, especially in town/city centres. But let's face it, there are too many who choose to cycle on the pavement in areas where it is perfectly safe to use the road, and also at times when there is little or no traffic about. I've seen cyclists using the pavement to circumvent traffic lights, others riding along the pavement at a high rate of knots weaving around pedestrians and street furniture and blindly across junctions, some whilst carring out a phone conversation, riding one-handed and multitude other sins - they certainly don't lack confidence.

What is needed hear is someone to quickly hold out a fist at the correct height. When the cyclist wakes up, he can be told it is dangerous to ride on the footpath.

 

[al78]

I've spoken to our local CSO's in the past about their occassionally overzealous and underinformed approach when they have stopped me. (riding on pavement route at walking speed which avoids a town centre dual carriageway where the 30mph limit is never, ever enforced.

Is that the Albion Way in Horsham, by any chance?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Is that the Albion Way in Horsham, by any chance?

yep. A few years back a pair of CSO's stopped me when I was cycling past St Marks Court. They did not know, nor would they accept, that it was a cyclepath. "If it was a cyclepath, sir, why are there no signs?". Buffoons. All the while below us the Albion Way Grand Prix was taking place.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Why are coppers on bikes all big fat bloaters?

You'd look a big fat bloater if you went cycling in the body armour they wear.

The bike coppers in Solihull are well fit.


Why do coppers on bikes ride so slowly?

Cycling is not their primary function. Their primary function is to identify the body language of criminals.

Ours don't wear body armour when on bikes, Sussex not being the war zone that Solihull apparently is. Their primary function around here is not identifying criminals, or even preventing crime, it is 'reassurance policing'. A PR function. A bit of spin to keep the local tax payers happy.

 

[jimboalee]

Ours don't wear body armour when on bikes, Sussex not being the war zone that Solihull apparently is. Their primary function around here is not identifying criminals, or even preventing crime, it is 'reassurance policing'. A PR function. A bit of spin to keep the local tax payers happy.

It is the Sussex local Council Tax payers who are funding the coppers to 'look nice' on their bikes.
If they are 'happy' with that, then god bless them.

 

[jimboalee]

Ours don't wear body armour when on bikes, Sussex not being the war zone that Solihull apparently is. Their primary function around here is not identifying criminals, or even preventing crime, it is 'reassurance policing'. A PR function. A bit of spin to keep the local tax payers happy.

You can search all you like but you won't be able to buy a postcard of Solihull. This is the council's mandate to keep the riff-raff away.
We issue our cycle coppers/border patrols with body armour JIC some riff-raff from somewhere else try to get in.

Any newbies who apply to reside in the borough are offered accomodation on the Monkspath Estate, next to the 24hr Tesco, Mc D's and the Land Rover dealership.
If they can endure the steady stream of joggers from the Virgin Active health club, and the continuous flow of BMWs and Jaguars on test drives, they are promoted to the B91 postcode.

 

[mgarl10024]

Hi,

On this subject, I went to the local shopping centre this lunchtime. The place is basically like a giant car park with shops all the way round. Separating the shops and the car park is a 3m wide path. The place was deserted, so I rolled along the wide path at no more than walking speed.
This elderly guy on a mobility scooter then comes towards me, blocks my path, and goes on about how I should be on the road (note that there is no road, it's a car park, full of cars doing all sorts of manoeuvres).

I think this is where discretion comes in. I mean, if I were doing full speed and could injure someone - fine, but at 3-4mph there's little chance of an accident here.
I suggested to him that perhaps he aught to be on the road too (being on wheels). He argued that he didn't have to. Technically, I think he's right, although he's now limited to 4mph because these scooters kept hitting people.

Because I politely stated my case back to him, he didn't really know what to do and clicked his accelerator and whirred off.
Fair play to him for saying something (even if I think he is wrong), but I do hope that he doesn't say something to the wrong person - there are younger people in groups who I guess would not state their case so politely.

We live and learn I guess,

MG