Might open a can of worms

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shunter

Senior Member
Location
N Ireland
john59 said:
I agree. But I’m sure one of the problems, I find, is with local councils who insist on placing some cycle paths on shared pavements. I then think it sends a message, to some, that you can cycle on all pavements.

Maybe in this instance they could fine pedestrians who stupidly walk on the cycle part as opposed to the pedestrian side or allow their dog to wander about without a lead.

There is also the problem on running them past bus shelters, which would be OK except that the bus company covers the glass sides with large advertising posters thus making it impossible to know if anybody are in them.
 

Cubist

Still wavin'
Location
Ovver 'thill
Just a couple of points.
1. PCSOs have the power to issue various types of tickets.
2. They have a power to detain an offender for up to half an hour until a sworn officer arrives.
3. Whether they are busy with other crimes or not, initiatives like this send out a very positive message to people that they are prepared to do something aout a problem which people have brought to their attention.
4. Pavement cycling is a mixed bag, often there are good reasons for a child or young person to cycle on one, but in the case of a busy shopping precinct? I'd be hardpushed to think of any excuse or justification!

Well done to them.
 

BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
shunter said:
Maybe in this instance they could fine pedestrians who stupidly walk on the cycle part as opposed to the pedestrian side or allow their dog to wander about without a lead.

There is also the problem on running them past bus shelters, which would be OK except that the bus company covers the glass sides with large advertising posters thus making it impossible to know if anybody are in them.

That's because pedestrians are allowed to walk in the cycle lanes, and even on the road. It's up to you to be careful around them.
 
It's all bollocks. Years ago I was fined £257 for riding the wrong way up a one way street, riding on the pavement and through a pedestrianised area without lights (I had a rear light). At a deserted 1.00am I should add. I wish I'd fought it harder but having no experience of the inside of a court room I didn't.

During the whole journey across the centre of Hereford just after a very heavy downpour I encountered just the police car, not another soul.

'A victimless crime', I say.
'Yes but you broke the law and must be punished', you say.

Why then was the guy who works in the chippy at the end of Eign Gate allowed to park his car in the very same pedestrian precinct every evening? Double fecking standards.

They design the urban environment to suit the widespread use of horseless carriages, (pedestrians are grudgingly accommodated and we cyclists, at the bottom of the pile, get a few licks of red paint) and wonder why so many people ride their bikes illegally. Well maybe it's because the two options available to cyclists approaching the town centre are;
1) A busy four lane ring road leading into a large roundabout.
2) A pedestrian area.

Why, when cyclists cause close to absolutely zero danger, are we set upon with such glee by the powers that be? Because we are an easy target that's why.
 

yello

back and brave
Location
France
mickle said:
Because we are an easy target that's why.

Not "we". YOU were an easy target. You must have known when you were doing it that it was illegal. You're right, it's not right that the bloke with the car isn't fined too - but that's a separate issue. It doesn't make what you did legal.

I can understand you being pissed off. And I'm not being a goody goody nor holier than thou. I've been there - and the single most annoying factor was that it was my own damned fault!
 

BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
Mickle, if you'd said only "Why was the guy who works in the chippy at the end of Eign Gate allowed to park his car in the very same pedestrian precinct every evening?" and nothing else, you might have had some sympathy. Other than this, you were the only one responsible for your fining.

As for the planning, that might be true, but it's not an excuse.
 

shunter

Senior Member
Location
N Ireland
BentMikey said:
That's because pedestrians are allowed to walk in the cycle lanes, and even on the road. It's up to you to be careful around them.

I found this

Segregated paths have a method of separation along them, usually a thick white line. This is to indicate that cyclists and pedestrians have to remain separate, it is illegal to cycle on the pedestrian side. Unsegregated paths allow cyclists and pedestrians to use the same space. Care must be taken along both types and it must be remembered that pedestrians always have the right of way over cyclists.

The pathways I use are segregated ones, the cycle lane clearly marked with a cycle on the tarmac.

Also

An off-road cycle path may form part of a wider footpath, with markings or different coloured pavement to indicate to pedestrians where not to linger to avoid conflict with cyclists.

I am not sure now if you are saying that on segregated pathways cyclists do not have access to the pedestrian lane but pedestrians are allowed to use the cycle lane to walk on if they so wish. I accept they do have to cross the cycle lane to cross the road etc.

My commute to work is mainly on both segregated and unsegregated paths / lanes so it would be very useful to know exactly what I should expect from my fellow walking companions.
 

yello

back and brave
Location
France
shunter said:
it would be very useful to know exactly what I should expect from my fellow walking companions

Anything.

Seriously. Nothing in the quotes you give above says that peds are not allowed to go into the cycle lane. So I think it wise to expect it, it'd be wise to anticipate it even if it were illegal!

To me, it's a problem with these shared space designs - but I think we have to expect to share space in some environments and make allowances accordingly.
 
Pavement cycling can work as my experience in Japan showed,unfortunately it can't work in Britain due to the couldn't care less attitude.
 

BentMikey

Rider of Seolferwulf
Location
South London
Shunter, there's nothing saying that pedestrians can't walk on the cycle lane, unlike us cyclists, who have to remain on the cycle lane portion. That's the way it is, just because there are bicycles painted down there doesn't mean we have any right to expect pedestrians to leap out of our way.

This is partly why I almost never use cycle lanes. The roads are where I want to ride, they are faster, safer, and go everywhere I want to go.
 

wafflycat

New Member
BentMikey said:
Shunter, there's nothing saying that pedestrians can't walk on the cycle lane, unlike us cyclists, who have to remain on the cycle lane portion. That's the way it is, just because there are bicycles painted down there doesn't mean we have any right to expect pedestrians to leap out of our way.

This is partly why I almost never use cycle lanes. The roads are where I want to ride, they are faster, safer, and go everywhere I want to go.


+1
 

Maz

Guru
Cmon you lot. What about the old girl on the pavement nipping down the shops on her pashley wicker basket number? She aint doin no harm to no one.
You're a heartless bunch...:smile:
 

wafflycat

New Member
And remember, those 'old girls' (my age & older) would likely have been brought up on the cycling proficiency test where it was drummed into us not to cycle on the pavement and how we *knew* cycling on the pavement was for kids... and couldn't wait to pass our cycling proficiency tests so we'd be allowed to cycle to school! :smile:
 
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