Law regarding walking bike along the pavement
Discussion
what is the law regarding walking your bike along the pavement?
I only ask as this morning traffic down park lane was at a standstill as the police had closed the road due to an accident, I was waiting for about 20 mins (as were a lot of other bikers) and got fed up after a while.
A load of us bumped out bikes onto the pavement and just walked it along to the next junction, question is is this legal or can you get done for it?
As a side note the bike copper who was there just rode his bike along the pavement.
I only ask as this morning traffic down park lane was at a standstill as the police had closed the road due to an accident, I was waiting for about 20 mins (as were a lot of other bikers) and got fed up after a while.
A load of us bumped out bikes onto the pavement and just walked it along to the next junction, question is is this legal or can you get done for it?
As a side note the bike copper who was there just rode his bike along the pavement.
You can push the bike on the pavement as long as it's fully road legal. I only know because I got done for pushing a crosser on the footpath back from the fields some years ago.
I've pushed and ridden mine several times on the pavement in gridlock traffic and have been seen by plod. I think if you're sensible and only move at a walking pace they're generally OK, but only in gridlock situations.
The one place I always ride on the pavement in gridlock traffic is in the Rotherhithe Tunnel. You can't breath after 10 minutes stationary in there on a bike, so I get out.
I've pushed and ridden mine several times on the pavement in gridlock traffic and have been seen by plod. I think if you're sensible and only move at a walking pace they're generally OK, but only in gridlock situations.
The one place I always ride on the pavement in gridlock traffic is in the Rotherhithe Tunnel. You can't breath after 10 minutes stationary in there on a bike, so I get out.
m3psm said:
You can push the bike on the pavement as long as it's fully road legal. I only know because I got done for pushing a crosser on the footpath back from the fields some years ago.
I've pushed and ridden mine several times on the pavement in gridlock traffic and have been seen by plod. I think if you're sensible and only move at a walking pace they're generally OK, but only in gridlock situations.
The one place I always ride on the pavement in gridlock traffic is in the Rotherhithe Tunnel. You can't breath after 10 minutes stationary in there on a bike, so I get out.
Is it actually legal to ride on the pavement though? If not what's the difference (in Rotherhithe tunnel) between doing that and just crossing the solid white line to overtake? Would seem the normal overtake would be easier...I've pushed and ridden mine several times on the pavement in gridlock traffic and have been seen by plod. I think if you're sensible and only move at a walking pace they're generally OK, but only in gridlock situations.
The one place I always ride on the pavement in gridlock traffic is in the Rotherhithe Tunnel. You can't breath after 10 minutes stationary in there on a bike, so I get out.
p.s. I was thinking about this the other day and I noticed the tunnel additionally has no overtaking signs at the entrance. I know there's something in the highway code about being able to cross solid white lines to overtake if the vehicle you are overtaking is below a certain speed. Do anyone highway code gurus know if the "no overtaking" sign overrules that?
108: Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less.
Laws RTA sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26
Laws RTA sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 26
And from parking ticket.com, in regards to motorcycle parking.
One point to be aware of is that under the Highways Act 1885 and the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is an offence to drive a vehicle over a footway (unless the action is permissible - normally a drop-curb will have been put in place), so even if you do find a section of land which is not part of the footway, you may still find a ticket on your motorcycle when you return (not a parking ticket but one reflecting your driving over the footway contravention). One current loophole is that it seems to be that you have not contravened either Act if you push your motorcycle!);
One point to be aware of is that under the Highways Act 1885 and the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is an offence to drive a vehicle over a footway (unless the action is permissible - normally a drop-curb will have been put in place), so even if you do find a section of land which is not part of the footway, you may still find a ticket on your motorcycle when you return (not a parking ticket but one reflecting your driving over the footway contravention). One current loophole is that it seems to be that you have not contravened either Act if you push your motorcycle!);
Muffles said:
Is it actually legal to ride on the pavement though? If not what's the difference (in Rotherhithe tunnel) between doing that and just crossing the solid white line to overtake? Would seem the normal overtake would be easier...
p.s. I was thinking about this the other day and I noticed the tunnel additionally has no overtaking signs at the entrance. I know there's something in the highway code about being able to cross solid white lines to overtake if the vehicle you are overtaking is below a certain speed. Do anyone highway code gurus know if the "no overtaking" sign overrules that?
It's not legal to ride on the pavement and I only do it as a last resort when I can't overtake, i.e. when I'm in the tunnel and traffic is gridlocked both ways (usually a couple of times a month). I've sat in there until the fumes made me light-headed when I saw a couple of bikers using the pavement. Since then I've always done it if stationary for more than 10 minutes. I very much doubt a cop would nick me for doing about 10 mph on a pavement to get out of a fume filled tunnel though. If I did it elsewhere though (which I don't), I'd expect to get nicked.p.s. I was thinking about this the other day and I noticed the tunnel additionally has no overtaking signs at the entrance. I know there's something in the highway code about being able to cross solid white lines to overtake if the vehicle you are overtaking is below a certain speed. Do anyone highway code gurus know if the "no overtaking" sign overrules that?
IIRC, technically pushing a bike on a pavement is illegal, but so is pushing a pram. (Something to do with it being a wheeled vehicle.)
You deff can be done for pushing a bike without wearing a helmet, as you are still "operating" the vehicle. (Don't blame me - I didn't make the rules.)
In the real world, provided the bike is legal and you don't do it right under the noses of the BIB, you're unlikely to get done.
Dave
You deff can be done for pushing a bike without wearing a helmet, as you are still "operating" the vehicle. (Don't blame me - I didn't make the rules.)
In the real world, provided the bike is legal and you don't do it right under the noses of the BIB, you're unlikely to get done.
Dave
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