Pavements?

[jeltz]

Since I started cycling again after a gap of 20+ years I "notice" cyclists more while I'm driving about; obviously I saw them previously but now I take notice of what kind of bike etc... One thing I've noticed is how many people are riding on the pavements, not cycle paths but proper pavements.

I always thought that was illegal, but with so many people doing it I wonder whether I am mistaken or perhaps the law has changed?

 

[thomas]

I always thought that was illegal, but with so many people doing it I wonder whether I am mistaken or perhaps the law has changed?

It is technically illegal, however, the Police were issued with advice not to bother people who cycle on the pavement if they don't feel safe on the road (eg. it's a really busy road next to the pavement).

I don't cycle on pavements, but I would rather people cycled on them than not cycle. If you do cycle on them, give priority to peds and things and you should be okay.

 

[Landslide]

Nope, still wrong unless there's clear indications that bikes are allowed (cycle path, shared use area etc.).

 

[summerdays]

It is illegal for anyone to cycle on the pavement - even children (the law dates from the 19th Century I believe). However as it is a Fixed Penalty Notice you would receive for it, no one under 16 would get one. There is also some provision in the law for a cyclist to cycle on the pavement if they were concerned about their safety. But they would have to explain that and be cycling in a responsible manner.

That's my understanding of the law.

 

[marinyork]

It's illegal, but it's rather a case of "I'd really rather you didn't" as too many people get far too fixated about this sort of thing. Today there are more reasons to cycle on the pavement for example complicated one-way systems that penalise cyclists encourages it. These just didn't exist a few years ago.

 

[yenrod]

Since I started cycling again after a gap of 20+ years I "notice" cyclists more while I'm driving about; obviously I saw them previously but now I take notice of what kind of bike etc... One thing I've noticed is how many people are riding on the pavements, not cycle paths but proper pavements.

I always thought that was illegal, but with so many people doing it I wonder whether I am mistaken or perhaps the law has changed?

I see some jerk most mornings cig. in left hand riding on a ' kids bike' thru an open bus station...

He hates me looking at him as I dont like it and he definately gets the gist...

 

[ufkacbln]

How do they manage this?

In Portsmouth they are endemically used as car parks.

Finding a stretch of pavement you can actually cycle on is the problem here!

 

[marinyork]

Yes, I'm always amused with discussions about shared use paths (to facilitate short cuts) round here when they say it'd be dangerous as it's not wide enough and yet there are cars wholly parked in the middle of them that are somehow accepted as perfectly safe.

 

[jeltz]

Thanks for the swift replies, guess that one of the places I see it often - a steep busy hill - there could be an excuse but many of the places its just pointless.

 

[marinyork]

I don't see pavement cycling very often at all. Where I do see it there tend to be specific reasons for it.

 

[ufkacbln]

I am also sure that much of this is due to confusion.

On my Commute is a School which has a wide an well used shared use path into Fareham with a high kerb that effectively prevents parking.

However there is also a Toucan crossing with cyle "lights" however the assumption that this leads across the road to a cycle faccility is wrong!

Although signposted and encourged by the crossing, anyone who cycles off the crossing is committing an offence!

 

[summerdays]

However there is also a Toucan crossing with cyle "lights" however the assumption that this leads across the road to a cycle faccility is wrong!

Although signposted and encourged by the crossing, anyone who cycles off the crossing is committing an offence!

Not knowing the junction but I have a Toucan crossing on one of my routes - it is meant as a chance to join the road traffic from a side road (one way for cars away from the junction).

 

[marinyork]

I agree. It depends on what councils are like. My council didn't particularly like cycle sign clutter and urban graffiti in the form of too many blue signs and white lines. This is a good attitude to have but can lead to routes as clear as mud. For example they've just put a shared use path up to link up to a route that stops in the middle of a roundabout! Unfortunately the new sign doesn't make it clear whether you're supposed to turn right immediately, turn right later or cycle the whole length of the path. This is presumably to link up with further cycle routes, it doesn't clarify which is the correct one though.

 

[Randochap]

It's just wrong ... on so many levels.

 

[HLaB]

I was cycling through Kirkliston today and I passed a middle aged bloke going the other way on a mtb. I gave him a nod, it was only then that I noticed he was on the Pavement from the sheepish look O got back I think he knew he was in the wrong.