Serious M.T.B. on local pavements.

[Richard A Thackeray]

Mod Edited.

Nothing wrong with using the pavement if there are no pedestrians about, sometimes it's the safest choice, the road from Carlton to East Hardwick (a road you know Nigel) has a pavement but you hardly see any pedestrians, this should be designated dual use, as long as people are sensible I think pavement use is fine.

Not the busiest of roads anyway, I've rarely seen a car when I've rode up/down it, in either direction

 

[Hip Priest]

Not from me you won't. As a user group were terrible for shrieking blue murder are the perceive poor behaviour from others, while ignoring or sometimes even condoning similarly poor behaviour from our own Brothers and Sisters.

I don't think anyone would defend someone bombing along a crowded footpath on a bicycle, or bunnyhopping onto the pavement to avoid traffic lights (both of these I see every day). But the fact is some roads ARE dangerous for inexperienced or nervous cyclists - young & old - and much pavement use is a consequence of that.

I can understand the simplicity of the 'Pavements are not for bikes - end of' argument, but things are a little more nuanced imho.

 

[briantrumpet]

It was in the CTC magazine, IIRC not the last one but one before.

Thanks - not yet found, but I found this: http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/wiki/cycle-paths-are-unsafe - haven't studied closely yet.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I have always been under the opinion that shared cycle paths are unsafe, there is only one I use and that's only 20ft or so, to avoid stopping at a red light on a 10% gradient, there is a give way as you re join the road that has to be observed as well.
I agree with @sidevalve, to many times I see cyclists jump red lights, ride pavements, one thing always springs to mind when I did my HGV is I was taught that someone is always watching.
Riding in traffic is a matter of practise and learning, most drivers are pretty good in this country, though many more could pass a bit further out, this I think is frightening to many and to some degree we as cyclist have to get use to it because its not going to change, I do the WNBR in York to try and rise awareness, however peoples answers seem to be to want to segregate bikes and cars, on a flat road I can be riding about 20mph, I don't want to have to negotiate stupid little give ways over junctions ect.
However coming back the O.P. it was why do so many M.T.B. ride on pavements when they should be on the roads,

 

[classic33]

I have always been under the opinion that shared cycle paths are unsafe, there is only one I use and that's only 20ft or so, to avoid stopping at a red light on a 10% gradient, there is a give way as you re join the road that has to be observed as well.
I agree with @sidevalve, to many times I see cyclists jump red lights, ride pavements, one thing always springs to mind when I did my HGV is I was taught that someone is always watching.
Riding in traffic is a matter of practise and learning, most drivers are pretty good in this country, though many more could pass a bit further out, this I think is frightening to many and to some degree we as cyclist have to get use to it because its not going to change, I do the WNBR in York to try and rise awareness, however peoples answers seem to be to want to segregate bikes and cars, on a flat road I can be riding about 20mph, I don't want to have to negotiate stupid little give ways over junctions ect.
However coming back the O.P. it was why do so many M.T.B. ride on pavements when they should be on the roads,

Road bikes are not "in" at present, and you tend to see MTB's more than a road bike, for this reason. But you also have the riding up the kerbs to contend with. Something you're less likely to try as often on narrower tyres.

 

[Andywinds]

Mtb's on pavements, you do see a few jump bikes in urban locations. not enough to worry about.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I did have one guy left hook me Friday, and I found him asked him why usual c*** he came out with, till he said its why I have a license to which I said, well I can drive a HGV with a crane so that sort of makes me higher qualified I think, to witch he had no answer.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Road bikes are not "in" at present, and you tend to see MTB's more than a road bike, for this reason. But you also have the riding up the kerbs to contend with. Something you're less likely to try as often on narrower tyres.

Don't get me wrong I have seen road bikes on pavements, its just as wrong, though I did sort of feel for the guy as it was a short uphill stretch, problem was is as I was on the road and didn't need to stop for the up coming junction on his side, he would have to (by rights), and another (though this isn't a pavement thing, just bad riding) at the same junction, I had stopped (stop sign, you have to stop), this road bike squeezed by me on the left, I was turning left but away from the kerb straight out, he had too much of a head on me for me to catch him by the time I turned off, so I am guessing he rides a bit.

 

[glenn forger]

Many cyclists use pavements because speeding drivers or drivers on mobiles have a 98% chance of getting away with it. In England if you run over and kill a swan in brood daylight you get a larger fine than if you'd run over and killed a cyclist:

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/lo...-for-killing-chichester-marina-swan-1-6975518

Every rider you see on the pavement is an indicator of how lawless the roads are.

 

[classic33]

Don't get me wrong I have seen road bikes on pavements, its just as wrong, though I did sort of feel for the guy as it was a short uphill stretch, problem was is as I was on the road and didn't need to stop for the up coming junction on his side, he would have to (by rights), and another (though this isn't a pavement thing, just bad riding) at the same junction, I had stopped (stop sign, you have to stop), this road bike squeezed by me on the left, I was turning left but away from the kerb straight out, he had too much of a head on me for me to catch him by the time I turned off, so I am guessing he rides a bit.

See road bikes on the pavements as well. Just a possible explantion as to why you'll see more MTB's at present. This time last year it was nearly all road bikes on the pavements, with one or two MTB's.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

[QUOTE 3926388, member: 43827"]The only cyclists who ride on pavements in built up areas should be young kids, or those who are still learning. If you're a grown-up get on the road or walk. I'm not talking about riding a few yards to avoid some sort of obstruction, but I see plenty of people riding on the pavement for hundreds of yards, often at speed, with no thought for pedestrians or kids coming out of their houses/drives.[/QUOTE]

A compelling reason for why these scaredy-cats/ignorant people/scrotes shouldn't be on pavemetns


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-32843812

 

[Venod]

@Afnug the A639, not a road I do often, but my recollection is its as bad as the road, if not worse, because there are some bad stretches last time I went down that way

Your right @Nigelnaturist it is a bad surface I have only ridden on it on the MTB I mentioned it for an example of a footpath that can be used without worrying about pedestrians as there arn't any, and if you do meet someone get on the road or stop to let them past.

Not the busiest of roads anyway, I've rarely seen a car when I've rode up/down it, in either direction

Agreed @Richard A Thackeray but you get some big trucks down there & the traffic tends to be fairly quick, so if your nervous use the path, there are no pedestrians, its all about common sense & mutual resprect when using pavements.

 

[Drago]

If you're nervous, use the path...

...by dismounting and walking upon it.

Presence of pedestrians or not has nothing to do with it. By the argument cars could trundle down them if there are no peds and the drivers are careful. Paths are for people - what is so difficult about that?

 

[Venod]

If you're nervous, use the path...

...by dismounting and walking upon it.

its all about common sense

 

[Karlt]

See road bikes on the pavements as well. Just a possible explantion as to why you'll see more MTB's at present. This time last year it was nearly all road bikes on the pavements, with one or two MTB's.

Not around here. Road bikes are almost always on roads; always have been. MTBs are nearly always on pavements. The most stupid example was a really snowy day when the pavements were covered in slush and ice and crap, the roads clear if damp because of traffic melting the snow - and I still overtook a bloke who was riding his MTB over the slippy pavement next to a completely clear road. I'm given to wonder if most of the people around here actually know where cyclists are meant to ride.