Serious M.T.B. on local pavements.

[Nigelnaturist]

The point is if we brake the law, what chance have we got of any sort of equality, and for the record I have been done for being drunk in charge of a bike, and I wasn't even riding it, it wasn't even in my hands at the time parked up outside the hotel, though it was a very long time ago.

I don't drink these days, its also the reason I won't apply for my license back until I know I can trust myself, which my be never, in which case the roads are safer without me driving.

Also what has this all to do with serious M.T.Bikers on pavements, these are I think usually men on big bikes at sometimes stupid speeds using the pavements as it was an extension of an off road ride. I ask a specific question, not a for a debate into the rights and wrongs of everything motorists and cyclists do.

 

[Dan B]

The point is if we brake the law, what chance have we got of any sort of equality

The point is that equality before the law shouldn't be contingent on good behaviour. Nobody says to motorists "you can't have any more motorways until you all stop speeding" do they?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

The point is that equality before the law shouldn't be contingent on good behaviour. Nobody says to motorists "you can't have any more motorways until you all stop speeding" do they?

Speeding in itself is not dangerous, it is like many things when its done wrong thats the problem, the old adage of drive to the conditions sort of springs to mind, if we all did that there would actually be no need for speed limits, unfortunately human nature being what it is many people don't, why do you think there are so many accidents excluding any sort of under the influence effects, because people just don't read conditions its that simple, when I ride or when I drove, I could tell you almost what everyone was about to do and go, and I believe due to the lack of cycle training/road awareness this leads to an increased rate of cyclist fatalities, its only a belief I can't back it up, don't get me wrong I am by no means a particularly good cyclist, but I still stand by and say that per 100 cyclists and 100 drivers I see more bad cycling than driving, whether they are insured, no ved or mot, whilst these are legal requirements, it doesn't in itself make the driver a bad driver just a bad person, and a lack of respect for the law and other road users, and again whilst not a requirement I suspect as a percentage a greater number of uninsured bikes on the road than cars, it shows just as little respect for other uses as no car insurance.

 

[Dan B]

Speeding in itself is not dangerous, it is like many things when its done wrong thats the problem

Riding bikes on the pavement ditto really.

 

[User482]

Speeding in itself is not dangerous, it is like many things when its done wrong thats the problem, the old adage of drive to the conditions sort of springs to mind,

Safe speeding, then?

 

[MontyVeda]

I liked the bit where he compared drunk driving with cycling while having a fag.

Whenever i have a fag whilst cycling.. the lycra lot don't half turn their noses up.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Whilst many cyclists can drive and carry that road awareness across to the cycling, there are many cyclist that don't or haven't driven so are not forced to have that awareness (though this is not always the case), so it could be that compulsory road training is necessary, becasuse at the end of the day you are in charge of a vehicle that can kill, if somewhat less likely to do so than a motorised one, and is that one life lost to a cycling incident less important than those that die in a motorised incident.

@Dan B I agree however both are illegal, so by definition you shouldn't do it.

@User482 again sort out of context quote, If people drove to conditions and not so much speed limits there wouldn't be the need for speed limits therefore no speeding, but people don't therefore there has to be limits, there are times when any speed can be dangerous.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Whenever i have a fag whilst cycling.. the lycra lot don't half turn their noses up.

Not a problem here I ride solo, though never when riding.

 

[User482]

Whilst many cyclists can drive and carry that road awareness across to the cycling, there are many cyclist that don't or haven't driven so are not forced to have that awareness (though this is not always the case), so it could be that compulsory road training is necessary, becasuse at the end of the day you are in charge of a vehicle that can kill, if somewhat less likely to do so than a motorised one, and is that one life lost to a cycling incident less important than those that die in a motorised incident.

@Dan B I agree however both are illegal, so by definition you shouldn't do it.

@User482 again sort out of context quote, If people drove to conditions and not so much speed limits there wouldn't be the need for speed limits therefore no speeding, but people don't therefore there has to be limits, there are times when any speed can be dangerous.

We've already established that it's illegal for young children to cycle on the pavement.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

We've already established that it's illegal for young children to cycle on the pavement.

However it can not be enforced due to the age of criminal responsibility (under 10), and again I come back to the main point of the O.P. it wasn't aimed at children but a question as to why it seems that serious off road bikers seem to ride on the pavements when they really shouldn't be doing so.
I have covered the fact I understand why certain people feel the need to do so, I have covered about road awareness and the legalities and many other aspects of the riding on pavements and other non related issues, and only one post comes to mind that in it it was said "that whilst he was happy throwing himself off rocks ect, he found the roads intimidating", even that I understand, different skill set.
If I had wanted a great debate about riding on pavements and other legal issues I would have worded it something like "Riding on pavements why do people do it, and why do motorists drink and drive, drive with no insurance ect........"

 

[User482]

However it can not be enforced due to the age of criminal responsibility (under 10), and again I come back to the main point of the O.P. it wasn't aimed at children but a question as to why it seems that serious off road bikers seem to ride on the pavements when they really shouldn't be doing so.
I have covered the fact I understand why certain people feel the need to do so, I have covered about road awareness and the legalities and many other aspects of the riding on pavements and other non related issues, and only one post comes to mind that in it it was said "that whilst he was happy throwing himself off rocks ect, he found the roads intimidating", even that I understand, different skill set.
If I had wanted a great debate about riding on pavements and other legal issues I would have worded it something like "Riding on pavements why do people do it, and why do motorists drink and drive, drive with no insurance ect........"

You said if something's illegal, you shouldn't do it. It is illegal for children to cycle on the pavement.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

You said if something's illegal, you shouldn't do it. It is illegal for children to cycle on the pavement.

Children are not criminally responsible till 10, what don't you understand about that.
I also said this post was about what appear to be serious M.T.Bikers on pavements, where is your input on that one.

 

[glenn forger]

To briefly recap Nige, you are a driver with convictions for driving with no insurance and drink driving and you thought it would be a good idea to register here and offer your advice on safe cycling?

 

[User482]

Children are not criminally responsible till 10, what don't you understand about that.
I also said this post was about what appear to be serious M.T.Bikers on pavements, where is your input on that one.

Cycling on pavements is illegal, regardless of your age. What don't you understand about that?

 

[Milkfloat]

To briefly recap Nige, you are a driver with convictions for driving with no insurance and drink driving and you thought it would be a good idea to register here and offer your advice on safe cycling?

'
You mean like 'set a a thief to catch a thief'? Personally I would prefer to hear from someone who has 'been there and done that' and gone through the system rather than armchair theorists.