cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Is it st peters bridge
Crank it up and draft em
Crank it up and draft em
Not a newbie and no longer a dilemma
- Thread starter simon the viking
- Start date
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Leaway2
Lycrist
- Location
- Manchester (Sale)
Of course if it is too scary there is option 5. Getting off and walking it across the bridge.
OP
OP
simon the viking
Guru
yep and that is an option...Is it st peters bridge
Crank it up and draft em
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
TBH the pavemant is pretty wide if i remember rightly , if you dont want to ride across on the road as long as you take your time i cant see a problem .
OP
OP
simon the viking
Guru
It is pretty wide it just seems wrong riding 3/4 mile on the pavement
cd365
Guru
- Location
- Coventry, uk
It's illegal.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Yup and we all know that and the transport minister has said we can ride on them responsibly , quoting the DFT
http://road.cc/content/news/108119-transport-minister-responsible-cyclists-can-ride-pavement
I know its not ideal and i had already suggested cranking it up as i know that particular road and the OP could get a good head of steam on .
cd365
Guru
- Location
- Coventry, uk
He can't override the law! Until it changes it is still illegal no matter what "guidance" is given. They do not have to follow it.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
My view is ride on the road. The transpurt minister can not create law on his own, and his word means nothing in your defense on Court, although it might be accepted in mitigation .
Only the Home Seretary can define where the police should use their discretion, and usually the Council of Chief Scrambled Egg Wearers then draws up a code of practice so convoluted and complicated that its utterly unworkable.
What was that chump MP urging people to stock up on petrol a few years ago when another fuel strike was looming? Just cos someone in Govenprnment tells us to do some thing doesn't mean we can actually go and do it.
Only the Home Seretary can define where the police should use their discretion, and usually the Council of Chief Scrambled Egg Wearers then draws up a code of practice so convoluted and complicated that its utterly unworkable.
What was that chump MP urging people to stock up on petrol a few years ago when another fuel strike was looming? Just cos someone in Govenprnment tells us to do some thing doesn't mean we can actually go and do it.
Sheepy1209
Veteran
- Location
- Blackpool
In a bit of a distraction from the thread this reminds me of my experiences on Crossleys Bridge in Blackpool (over Layton station) - it's a railway bridge with quite a steep slope, two lanes either way, and drivers using the right-hand lane (intended for right-turners) to get ahead of other traffic. Extremely unpleasant for cyclists riding uphill and turning right, but rather good fun going the other way!
For two years I (illegally) used the pavement here, it's not a busy stretch but rules is rules.
Then one day I come along and discover they've installed drop kerbs and a shared-use sign; nothing else changed, yet something for which I could have been prosecuted was suddenly legal and encouraged. Bizarre.
Something impressive about this simple little scheme though, is that on the downhill side they've installed a drop kerb (and painted an arrow!) almost at the top of the hill - so I can leave the pavement after the tricky bit and build some speed up on the road. It's almost as if it was designed by someone who rides a bike!
For so little effort at least I no longer have to worry about the law - doesn't make it a great facility, but in these situations where road conditions are hostile to cyclists at least that approach shows some sense. Shame there's no consistent approach across the country.
For two years I (illegally) used the pavement here, it's not a busy stretch but rules is rules.
Then one day I come along and discover they've installed drop kerbs and a shared-use sign; nothing else changed, yet something for which I could have been prosecuted was suddenly legal and encouraged. Bizarre.
Something impressive about this simple little scheme though, is that on the downhill side they've installed a drop kerb (and painted an arrow!) almost at the top of the hill - so I can leave the pavement after the tricky bit and build some speed up on the road. It's almost as if it was designed by someone who rides a bike!
For so little effort at least I no longer have to worry about the law - doesn't make it a great facility, but in these situations where road conditions are hostile to cyclists at least that approach shows some sense. Shame there's no consistent approach across the country.
CopperCyclist
Veteran
Personally I wouldn't ride on the pavement. All other options are more than acceptable (of course).
That said, if you did ride on the pavement, and were stopped, you could :
- be polite
- calmly explain your sensible reasons
- make reference to the government guidelines mentioned above
- explain you've researched alternatives
- explain the closure of the recent footpath causing problems
And you hopefully will meet a sensible response.
BUT...
The problem is there are no guarantees. You may meet someone who, for whatever reasons*, had already made the decision that a ticket would be issued, and could issue one. They would be in the legal right to do so (forgot morals or common sense) regardless of your views, my views, or anyone elses, and that's the problem for me.
The answer they would doubtless give is "you could walk across".
All I can say is it wouldn't be my signature on a ticket like that, and you would have my sympathies if you ended up with one.
*the current directive given to most officers regarding tickets is "make the decision of whether the ticket is going to be issued before stopping the person - so that you can't be influenced by excuses, or be blamed for using 'an attitude test'
That said, if you did ride on the pavement, and were stopped, you could :
- be polite
- calmly explain your sensible reasons
- make reference to the government guidelines mentioned above
- explain you've researched alternatives
- explain the closure of the recent footpath causing problems
And you hopefully will meet a sensible response.
BUT...
The problem is there are no guarantees. You may meet someone who, for whatever reasons*, had already made the decision that a ticket would be issued, and could issue one. They would be in the legal right to do so (forgot morals or common sense) regardless of your views, my views, or anyone elses, and that's the problem for me.
The answer they would doubtless give is "you could walk across".
All I can say is it wouldn't be my signature on a ticket like that, and you would have my sympathies if you ended up with one.
*the current directive given to most officers regarding tickets is "make the decision of whether the ticket is going to be issued before stopping the person - so that you can't be influenced by excuses, or be blamed for using 'an attitude test'
OP
OP
simon the viking
Guru
Thanks for all the replies... I'm going with the extra few miles while light commute..... and work on the dark nights.....
A question to @Drago and @CopperCyclist There does seem to be a lot of pavement cyclists in Burton on Trent mostly heavy full sussers with people in jeans and work boots riding them (No insult meant to either) who either are lucky and don't pass many Police Officers or a blind eye is turned to it by Officers.
IF I did it and I was spotted by either of you would you stop me more (than above group) as I'm on a (relatively) expensive road bike with clipless pedals, helmet, lights etc and a theoretical higher speed as I should.... A - Know better and B - could inflict more injury on a ped as I could hit them at a higher speed? or would you stop both types of cyclists equally.....
A question to @Drago and @CopperCyclist There does seem to be a lot of pavement cyclists in Burton on Trent mostly heavy full sussers with people in jeans and work boots riding them (No insult meant to either) who either are lucky and don't pass many Police Officers or a blind eye is turned to it by Officers.
IF I did it and I was spotted by either of you would you stop me more (than above group) as I'm on a (relatively) expensive road bike with clipless pedals, helmet, lights etc and a theoretical higher speed as I should.... A - Know better and B - could inflict more injury on a ped as I could hit them at a higher speed? or would you stop both types of cyclists equally.....
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Personally, I'd leave you alone unless you were being otherwise stupid in some way. Can't change the whole world, not about to start trying.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
I would have gone with a few extra miles as well if you dont want to ride on the road ,the old trent bridge does have a cycle path.
Cant say i have ever ridden across either at normal commute times but i can imagine it could be fun .
Cant say i have ever ridden across either at normal commute times but i can imagine it could be fun .
