Cycling on the pavement
Discussion
I know this question is one of those "light the blue touch paper" questions, but I genuinely am interested in why in recent years it seems to have become accepted practice to ride on the pavement. I know the roads are a nightmare at times, but according to the highway code it is still illegal, dating back to 1835, so anyone doing it is breaking the law. So why is this treated differently to, say, speeding? I have never seen anyone stopped by the police, that is for sure. I walk about 3 miles most mornings and am used to people cycling past me on pavements, mostly I just let them get on with it as I accept the roads are busy in the morning, but more than occasionally the entitlement just winds me up a little. Most of them speed past, sometimes inches away from me (no bell to give advance warning) and there's no acceptance on the cyclists part that perhaps, given they're in the wrong, they should slow and give way to the pedestrians who have a legal right to be on the pavement they are using...I guess its just something else like parking on yellow lines and pavements that has become the norm due to the complete lack of local policing.
I think its a problem that has been created by the local councils decisions to turn lots of 'pavements' into shared usage with cycle lanes on some pavements so now its just taken for granted that pavements are for everyone.
I personally ride on the pavement especially at busy junctions when with my daughter but never when I'm riding alone. However I have taught her that pedestrians have the right of way and we always stop if necessary
I personally ride on the pavement especially at busy junctions when with my daughter but never when I'm riding alone. However I have taught her that pedestrians have the right of way and we always stop if necessary
greenarrow said:
I know this question is one of those "light the blue touch paper" questions, but I genuinely am interested in why in recent years it seems to have become accepted practice to ride on the pavement. I know the roads are a nightmare at times, but according to the highway code it is still illegal, dating back to 1835, so anyone doing it is breaking the law. So why is this treated differently to, say, speeding? I have never seen anyone stopped by the police, that is for sure. I walk about 3 miles most mornings and am used to people cycling past me on pavements, mostly I just let them get on with it as I accept the roads are busy in the morning, but more than occasionally the entitlement just winds me up a little. Most of them speed past, sometimes inches away from me (no bell to give advance warning) and there's no acceptance on the cyclists part that perhaps, given they're in the wrong, they should slow and give way to the pedestrians who have a legal right to be on the pavement they are using...I guess its just something else like parking on yellow lines and pavements that has become the norm due to the complete lack of local policing.
Why is it not treated like speeding? - Motorists kill and seriously injure 85,000 people per year and cause £12,000,000,000 of damage annually. You are more likely to be killed by a bee than a cyclist.It's about priorities.
Some are knobs who don't care, some are intimidated by how people drive on the roads (possibly rightly so, in many cases), some are using shared paths that people dont realise are shared paths, some were using a shared path or cyclepath that suddenly vanished because it was designed badly.
greenarrow said:
I know this question is one of those "light the blue touch paper" questions, but I genuinely am interested in why in recent years it seems to have become accepted practice to ride on the pavement. I know the roads are a nightmare at times, but according to the highway code it is still illegal, dating back to 1835, so anyone doing it is breaking the law. So why is this treated differently to, say, speeding? I have never seen anyone stopped by the police, that is for sure. I walk about 3 miles most mornings and am used to people cycling past me on pavements, mostly I just let them get on with it as I accept the roads are busy in the morning, but more than occasionally the entitlement just winds me up a little. Most of them speed past, sometimes inches away from me (no bell to give advance warning) and there's no acceptance on the cyclists part that perhaps, given they're in the wrong, they should slow and give way to the pedestrians who have a legal right to be on the pavement they are using...I guess its just something else like parking on yellow lines and pavements that has become the norm due to the complete lack of local policing.
Rather than treated like speeding, cycling on pavements is probably treated like parking cars on pavements, which is also illegal because it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle on a pavement other than to lawfully access private property. Yet as we all see, the law is completely ignored, by practically everybody including the police. Even where cars cause obstruction and people have to walk in the road (including disabled, and parents with children, buggies etc) police very rarely take action.The highway code couldn't be more clear
InitialDave said:
Some are knobs who don't care, some are intimidated by how people drive on the roads (possibly rightly so, in many cases), some are using shared paths that people dont realise are shared paths, some were using a shared path or cyclepath that suddenly vanished because it was designed badly.
This covers it for me. I've never had an issue with it so long as it is done sensibly. Most people cycling on footpaths around people are traveling so slowly it isn't actually a problem for anyone. Anyone ranting at a cyclist going slowly on the footpath would probably rant if they cycled on the road too. It's just part of the (whining about cyclists) social norm in the UK.The very occasional idiot going quick on the footpath when there are people around is of course a very different thing and deserves a bit of abuse.
InitialDave said:
Some are knobs who don't care, some are intimidated by how people drive on the roads (possibly rightly so, in many cases), some are using shared paths that people dont realise are shared paths, some were using a shared path or cyclepath that suddenly vanished because it was designed badly.
Reminds me of a case where the shared path vanished gradually, I missed a non-obvious turning and proceeded some way along what is presumably a footway only, but there was no sign indicating the shared path ending...It culminated in the footway running out completely, and rather than backtrack and try and figure it out, me actually riding the wrong way on a dual carriageway, the A34...
Which sounds worse than it was tbh. Safer than walking the fairly short distance to the roundabout in bike shoes, most of it on a nice wide hatched area.
I cannot say I have noticed and increase in behavior, other than in parks that can be used aa shortcuts and across footbridges between the barriers.
I am lucky that most routes near me have shared access paths anyway, although ironically for this topic some cyclists refuse to use them as they cross side roads.
I am lucky that most routes near me have shared access paths anyway, although ironically for this topic some cyclists refuse to use them as they cross side roads.
Most of the time it’s pretty harmless and I completely understand younger kids and accompanying adults doing so (and they are usually riding slowly), but it winds me up too. Especially the unexpected close pass at speed from behind. I’ve had a word with a few over the years - mostly teenagers who are generally just ignorant of the fact that it’s illegal and potentially dangerous.
I had a word with the local PCSO about it once - she said that they and the police do stop and deal with them, but it’s usually a bit of friendly advice.
One of those issues where a bit of education wouldn’t go amiss (see also keeping left on the motorway and using phones and [add your own gripe here]…).
I had a word with the local PCSO about it once - she said that they and the police do stop and deal with them, but it’s usually a bit of friendly advice.
One of those issues where a bit of education wouldn’t go amiss (see also keeping left on the motorway and using phones and [add your own gripe here]…).
Hol said:
I cannot say I have noticed and increase in behavior, other than in parks that can be used aa shortcuts and across footbridges between the barriers.
I am lucky that most routes near me have shared access paths anyway, although ironically for this topic some cyclists refuse to use them as they cross side roads.
The shared access works perfectly for cycling at slow speed but as soon as your over about 10mph its generally safer and smoother to ride on the road the layout of most shared pathways just slows you down and adds unnecessary obstacles I am lucky that most routes near me have shared access paths anyway, although ironically for this topic some cyclists refuse to use them as they cross side roads.
greenarrow said:
I know this question is one of those "light the blue touch paper" questions, but I genuinely am interested in why in recent years it seems to have become accepted practice to ride on the pavement. I know the roads are a nightmare at times, but according to the highway code it is still illegal, dating back to 1835, so anyone doing it is breaking the law. So why is this treated differently to, say, speeding? I have never seen anyone stopped by the police, that is for sure. I walk about 3 miles most mornings and am used to people cycling past me on pavements, mostly I just let them get on with it as I accept the roads are busy in the morning, but more than occasionally the entitlement just winds me up a little. Most of them speed past, sometimes inches away from me (no bell to give advance warning) and there's no acceptance on the cyclists part that perhaps, given they're in the wrong, they should slow and give way to the pedestrians who have a legal right to be on the pavement they are using...I guess its just something else like parking on yellow lines and pavements that has become the norm due to the complete lack of local policing.
I suspect the law breaking is tolerated by the police because unlike cars, there's no automated system to identify the owner / driver and issue them a fine. It would actually require some human input and therefore given the low risk but high nuisance value, it's 'tolerated' until someone invents a system that can easily raise revenue automatically.As an occasional cyclist, I find shared paths often awful as pedestrians don't look before stepping into your path.
As a motorist, I used to commute along a particular road, with an empty pavement and a couple of old gits on bikes holding up the traffic in the road. Sometimes it would be better for more bikes to use the pavements, when they can do so safely without inconveniencing any pedestrians.
So few people seem to walk anywhere, many pavements are under used!
It's like motorbikes in bus lanes, not always a 'one size fits all' thing.
As a motorist, I used to commute along a particular road, with an empty pavement and a couple of old gits on bikes holding up the traffic in the road. Sometimes it would be better for more bikes to use the pavements, when they can do so safely without inconveniencing any pedestrians.
So few people seem to walk anywhere, many pavements are under used!
It's like motorbikes in bus lanes, not always a 'one size fits all' thing.
JQ said:
greenarrow said:
I know this question is one of those "light the blue touch paper" questions, but I genuinely am interested in why in recent years it seems to have become accepted practice to ride on the pavement. I know the roads are a nightmare at times, but according to the highway code it is still illegal, dating back to 1835, so anyone doing it is breaking the law. So why is this treated differently to, say, speeding? I have never seen anyone stopped by the police, that is for sure. I walk about 3 miles most mornings and am used to people cycling past me on pavements, mostly I just let them get on with it as I accept the roads are busy in the morning, but more than occasionally the entitlement just winds me up a little. Most of them speed past, sometimes inches away from me (no bell to give advance warning) and there's no acceptance on the cyclists part that perhaps, given they're in the wrong, they should slow and give way to the pedestrians who have a legal right to be on the pavement they are using...I guess its just something else like parking on yellow lines and pavements that has become the norm due to the complete lack of local policing.
Why is it not treated like speeding? - Motorists kill and seriously injure 85,000 people per year and cause £12,000,000,000 of damage annually. You are more likely to be killed by a bee than a cyclist.It's about priorities.
On average Cyclists are responsible for 2 percent of serious pedestrian casualties and 1% of deaths. wheras cars are responsible for 67% of deaths and 79% of serious injuries. However cycling accounts for only 1% of journeys, by distance and cars 78%. So, per mile travelled they kill about the same and injure more than cars... be very afraid of those bikes
Edited by Graveworm on Thursday 21st August 13:02
Not sure this is a new phenomenon? Loads of bikes on pavements 20+ years ago.
A refreshingly pragmatic attitude from most people so far - I thought people often got worked up about it - as with so many things it depends on the circs, someone riding quickly or aggressively or with a sense of entitlement or through a crowd of vulnerable people is clearly bang out of order, but fortunately that happens rarely as most people who are in a hurry use the road.
A refreshingly pragmatic attitude from most people so far - I thought people often got worked up about it - as with so many things it depends on the circs, someone riding quickly or aggressively or with a sense of entitlement or through a crowd of vulnerable people is clearly bang out of order, but fortunately that happens rarely as most people who are in a hurry use the road.
I had to have a quick Google, but I remember reading this at the time -
https://road.cc/content/news/108119-transport-mini...
Minister for Cycling Robert Goodwill has reiterated that the official line from the Department for Transport (DfT) is that cyclists may ride on the footway – more commonly referred to as pavements – provided they do so considerately, and that police officers need to exercise discretion.
https://road.cc/content/news/108119-transport-mini...
Minister for Cycling Robert Goodwill has reiterated that the official line from the Department for Transport (DfT) is that cyclists may ride on the footway – more commonly referred to as pavements – provided they do so considerately, and that police officers need to exercise discretion.
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