Cycling on pavements ?

[Pauluk]

I read an article today that purports to be 'the cycling highway code'. Its appears to be published on the Pembrokeshire Cycling Club's server.

One of the 'strange laws' that it lists is with regard to cycling on pavements where by:


Pavement means Concrete Paving Slabs. It does not mean a tar macadam one, this is a side walk!

I'm not sure of the term 'side walk' as I didn't think this term was used in the UK, but does anyone here know whether this obscure rule on pavements actually exists

 

[roadracerash1]

Cyclists should not ride on the pavement in the UK. If you look on the highway code there is a maximum fine of £500.00 if caught. I tut everytime i see youths on bikes or mountain bikers on the pavement.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Cycling through red lights doesn't make me a lycra lout


Not my words







Here.


http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...rough-a-red-light-doesnt-make-me-a-lycra-lout

 

[Pauluk]

I agree roadracerash1, cyclists shouldn't ride on a pedestrian only pavement. I think the fine is a fixed penalty of £30 unless you challenge it in court, then you can be fined more heavily if the judgement goes against you.

My question was more to do with the definition of the pavement surface and where this rule may have come from, if indeed it is a real rule.

 

[Holy Warrior]

I've gotten a little braver now but if there's three lanes of traffic to get across like at a busy roundabout turning right i'd get off and go round. If there's no pedestrians i'd freewheel round that 50 yards or so. I just think that the motorists are looking right not left and so won't see me creeping over from the left. I should probably start moving over a bit earlier but if it's uphill then i'm going to be holding traffic up and having beeping horns and angry fingers.

Seeing the £500 fine, they can shove their middle fingers up their arses for all I care!

 

[Recycler]

My question was more to do with the definition of the pavement surface and where this rule may have come from, if indeed it is a real rule.

There is no such "rule" in UK. It's rubbish.

 

[roadracerash1]

oh i see what you mean. Honestly i haven't really thought about the pavement surface. But then even if the statement is true about the concrete slabs i still wouldn't want to challenge the fuzz on this if i wasn't a law abiding citizen. For instance. i was on the "side walk" type surface a year back. A couple of youths came flying round the corner on BMX's (about 13 yr old kids) and nearly hit some small children. not good. I challenged the pack leader and gave him a piece of my mind because these teens were mouthing at these small kids saying "your in our way!". So i think all type of pedestrian walks which don't have cycling facilities should be cycle free. (pushing the bike along should be acceptable).

 

[Pauluk]

Thanks Recycler, that's what my first thought was, but wanted to check.

 

[Red Light]

Its a load of rubbish. I think they might be confused by it being illegal only if the pavement is alongside the road. Pavements not alongside a road are legal to cycle on unless there is a specific bylaw banning it. Surface though has nothing to do with it.

 

[al78]

Cycling through red lights doesn't make me a lycra lout


Not my words







Here.


http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...rough-a-red-light-doesnt-make-me-a-lycra-lout

Yes I saw that, someone trying to compensate poor cycling technique with breaking the law, with a dash of selfishness thrown in.

 

[MrJamie]

Its strange here, theres a huge amount of pathways that are multi-purpose with the cycle network and leisure routes which arent really defined everywhere, so theres a lot of overlap and i doubt its ever enforced, unless maybe someones seen using the pavement as a race track. The local PSCO cyclists even ride along at least a 1km section of pavement next to a 30mph road, but they patrol so slowly it makes sense for them to.

I think it needs the discretion the government suggested. I sometimes ride a 3k section of path between 2 villages a few metres beside a fairly busy NSL road, because visability is good and almost noone ever uses it and i feel a little safer. If i get fined, i get fined.

 

[Rob500]

[QUOTE 1858745, member: 45"]The government accepts that there are reasons why some cyclists would ride on a pavement, and guidance to the police is to accept this and use discretion.

And that, IMO, is quite right.[/quote]

Discretion must be the keyword in Belfast too. A few weeks back I saw 2 cops on bikes going along the footpath in the town centre and they weren't hanging back.

 

[machew]

And in Birmingham the Cycle Route (NCR5) sends you on
a) the Pavement and
b) the wrong way up a one way street

 

[scotty110788]

In Newcastle on Northumberland street we managed to get "cyclist dismount" at top and bottom and few no cycling signs between but there in 100s of cyclists still riding on it even during busy periods swerving in and out and it annoys me to the high heavens, when in uniform telling them about the signs, they just don't listen and few have used verbal abuse, proper joke and if I had power I would happily fine them!

 

[Psycolist]

'Pavements' are made of any type of exterior flooring material including concrete, block paving, tarmac, ashphelt and paving slabs. But not mud, coz it wouldnt be paved then. Wot REALLY get up my hooter in this respect are the areas outside retail units where the occupiers are allowed to display thier goods, park thier cars, diplay advertizing boards and generally clutter up the street. The local council claim that in some cases, the shops have a specifically determined width of space outside thier premesis on which they can put wot they like. It is not part of the public thoroughfare. I would love to see a test case where a cyclist is prosecuted for cycling on this area of space The blind members of society have no way of determining these areas from 'pavements' and have to rely on good will of Joe Public to steer them around these obstacles. The same goes for idiots that park with two wheels on the 'pavement'. And finally, I dont like to see people cycling on the 'pavement' either. Phew, that feels better