Is it okay to cycle on footpaths if traffic and road busy?

[lukesdad]

I got a right rollocking of a copper for riding on the pavement, it was about 7am and I was hammering round a left hand corner and he was walking the other way on the beat, I did a massively impressive skid bringing the back wheel right round so that I was right across the pavement. He told me if he caught me again he'd "do" me for it.
I was about 13, on a Grifter doing my paper round, never cycled on the pavement round that corner again though!

Haverfordwest 7.am copper ! are you sure ?

 

[dongo]

I often walk to work and by far the most annoying thing I repeatedly encounter are inconsiderate pavement cyclists. Generally blokes in the 30s & 40s who should really know better, cycling at speed on the pavements with no thought to the pedestrians who have the right to be there.

In the last couple of months I've been knocked quite hard once, brushed past frequently (which is a little unnerving when they're coming at speed from behind and you're not aware), shouted at for not squeezing into a wet hedge to give one of them room to pass and cut up by them riding round and in front of me at crossings and turns. It's exactly the same kind of selfish, inconsiderate behaviour that is ranted about when car drivers do it to cyclists, the only difference being the severity of the potential injuries.

"I do not want to be endangered by cars so I will go on the pavement and endanger some other poor sod" does not seem like a good attitude to me.

I also cycle the route fairly regularly and for most of the 3 miles there is no reason or excuse to be on the pavement, the roads are wide, well lit, reasonably well maintained and mostly straight, even when busy there's little problem. There are two junctions which can be tricky / dangerous, both are easily negotiated, if necessary, with the assistance of pedestrian crossings. On the occasions when I have needed to do this I have walked and it added about 60 seconds to my journey time.

I don't really object to cyclists using the pavement, but they must remember that pavements are for pedestrians, they should travel at a reasonable speed and at all times give way to pedestrians, if this becomes difficult they should dismount or get back on the road where they belong.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I got a right rollocking of a copper for riding on the pavement, it was about 7am and I was hammering round a left hand corner and he was walking the other way on the beat, I did a massively impressive skid bringing the back wheel right round so that I was right across the pavement. He told me if he caught me again he'd "do" me for it.
I was about 13, on a Grifter doing my paper round, never cycled on the pavement round that corner again though!

Awesome! That was what we used to call a "broadie".

There was an unmade road near my house and we spent many an afternoon "getting sideways" and kicking up massive clouds of dust: speedway riders were our heroes.

Kids, huh?

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

No, you should do this

Always (I repeat always) push your bike from the saddle and not the bars: it is very "pro" and therefore very "cool".

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

To answer the question directly: no.

 

[Mugshot]

Haverfordwest 7.am copper ! are you sure ?

Ahhhhh, well spotted lukesdad, well spotted indeed! It would indeed be most unusual, however I'm a not a native Haverfordwestian. I cut my teeth on the mean and violent streets on Newport Gwent or Mon, whatever it was they were calling it that particular week.
Unfortunately I would imagine that coppers on the beat at 7am is probably a rare sight it most places now.

 

[Mugshot]

Awesome! That was what we used to call a "broadie".

There was an unmade road near my house and we spent many an afternoon "getting sideways" and kicking up massive clouds of dust: speedway riders were our heroes.

Kids, huh?

You're right Jimmy, it was awesome
Even then I didn't have too many friends with bikes so wasn't aware of an official name for my super cool manoeuvre, but from this day forth it shall be known as the "copper broadie"

 

[ufkacbln]

I'll probably get a bollicking for this, but I think speed is the key to cycling on pavements. If you are cycling on a pavement you ought to be going at or about walking pace at all times. As an occasional pedestrian I get really hacked off with cyclists belting towards me at full tilt on the pavement. On a pavement, pedestrians ought to be allowed the odd dither, just as cyclists have to be allowed the odd wobble on the roads. I have no problem with inexperienced cyclists taking to the pavement when roads are really busy, but not if they think they can belt on at top speed. In truth I think cyclists ought to see themselves as vehicle riders and travel accordingly, sticking to the rules. I fear the day we will be forced to take to the pavements.

The problem is the difference in speed rather than the actual speed.

8 mph sin't fast, but it is probably 4 times the speed that the geriatric on the zimmer is doing

 

[Arch]

I'll probably get a bollicking for this, but I think speed is the key to cycling on pavements. If you are cycling on a pavement you ought to be going at or about walking pace at all times. As an occasional pedestrian I get really hacked off with cyclists belting towards me at full tilt on the pavement. On a pavement, pedestrians ought to be allowed the odd dither, just as cyclists have to be allowed the odd wobble on the roads. I have no problem with inexperienced cyclists taking to the pavement when roads are really busy, but not if they think they can belt on at top speed. In truth I think cyclists ought to see themselves as vehicle riders and travel accordingly, sticking to the rules. I fear the day we will be forced to take to the pavements.

Not at all, to a certain extent I agree with you - if everyone were more considerate, everything would run more smoothly.

The problem is that the people who act stupidly cause the laws to be made, because society can't rely on people to be thoughful, and it is against the law to ride on the pavement. The answer to the OP is No, but how much nicer would the world be if it could be "yes, if you're careful".

And like Dongo, I most depise those who ought to know better (perfectly able grown ups), or who act like they have a right to be there. Small children are quite understandable, and I wouldn't have a problem that allowed any elderly person on a small wheeled shopper to use the pavement!

The yoofs on BSOs I suspect know the rules, and are doing it for sheer devil-may-care -why-should-I-bother reasons. For some of them, it's probably the bravest attempt at lawbreaking they can muster.

 

[Hip Priest]

I got startled yesterday by a lass on a road bike bombing down the pavement in Newcastle. I was pushing my bike at the time. Going on the pavement is always wrong, but when I've done it, at least I slow to walking pace and just scoot along.

 

[Dan_h]

I can only see 2 reasons for cycling on the pavement in general...

1) Fear of the traffic - A section of road appears to be too dangerous to cycle on. In this case either push the bike past the obstacle or find an alternative route.

2) Impatience - The traffic is moving slowly and the cyclist does not see why they should wait. Think about this for a moment, if this is what you are on the pavement for are you not just being the same as the drivers who force their way past?

Okay, 3 reasons you are under 12!

Seriously, cycling on the pavement is illegal and often inconsiderate (note often, I know some people are considerate on the pavements). If you are cycling at walking pace on the pavement then why not push? you will not be going any slower!

I also feel that by cycling on the pavement you are reinforcing the attitudes of drivers that cyclists are exactly where they should be - off the road!

 

[Mugshot]

Seriously, cycling on the pavement is illegal and often inconsiderate (note often, I know some people are considerate on the pavements). If you are cycling at walking pace on the pavement then why not push? you will not be going any slower!

You take up more room?

 

[Benthedoon]

Here's the legal stuff.

Cycling on footways (a pavement at the side of a carriageway) is prohibited by Section 72 of the Highway Act 1835, amended by Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1888. This is punishable by a fixed penalty notice of £30 under Section 51 and Schedule 3 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988. 

I cycle on the road, full stop end of.
I recently suffered abuse from a youth on a bike who wanted to get passed me and my kids (3 & 4) I also had a pushchair but I spread the kids wide across the path and slowed my walk to a stroll - petty? Yes. Funny? Yes. but it was a narrow path on a quiet road.

 

[the_mikey]

The only time I end up on pavements is where a shared use path finishes and there's no way to exit gracefully, where there is nowhere else to go or the exit is blocked, even then I proceed slowly, usually walking until I can get on the road again.

 

[Crackle]

What hasn't been mentioned is hazards. Personally I percieve the pavement as having a lot more hazards than the road, namely in the form of driveways and gateways, shop doors, street furniture and of course pedestrians. You need to pay a lot more attention to things happening around you, a surprising amount. Add to that that people don't expect you to be there and it's not as safe as you might think. Of course it really depends on the situation, so there is no universal answer.