Cyclists on the pavement

nowthen said:
That’s a question for your local MP. I’m happy walking and wish to do so without the presence of cyclists on my shoulder in an area of social distancing.
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My MP isnt going to get me to work - Im happy cycling, without articulated vehicles, vans and impatient drivers on my shoulder(y)
I havent driven a road vehicle for 23 years - I use Bus / Tram / Train / Feet / Cycle - it requires planning and a different approach - a change of mindset we all need.
 
r00fie1 said:
If a Dad wants to take his kids out on their bikes - is he to wait years before some planner draws a white line on the pavement with a bike sign?
Just like we have spent the last 60+ years planning our shopping, our cities, our lives, around the precious motor car - we have to knock that experiement firmly on the head.
Government must have the political will and determination to provide support to new railway build and reopening of closed lines: whilst politicians talk of relaxed planning laws for building - it still takes a grindingly slow process to build and reopen rail lines.
Roads cost billions and huge swathes of agricultural land continue to be carved up and covered in tarmac, whilst our public transport infrastructure is creaking to a halt.
Town "planners" have to put people / cycles / public transport first and the car firmly at the end of priority.
Its not a dream: in many countries across the world - integrated transport and mass rapid transport has cut congestion, liberated free space for human beings and cleaned up the atmosphere from pollution.
We need all public transport to be publicly owned [again] in order to plan and co-ordinate it effectively.
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For me, pavements aren’t the answer. Maybe drive to a dedicated cycle route somewhere but that brings the car back into the equation.
 
Anton_Berg said:
In recent years I have attended meetings held by an campaign called Living Streets. They are supposed to champion cyclists, pedestrians and even motor bikers. I gave up going because every meeting I went to was monopolised by cyclists and their endless sense of entitlement. Every riverside walk in London, I pointed out, leaves you more stressed than when you started out, with bikes cutting you up every 10 yards of the way.
I read up on the history of this organisation and it turns out they were originally called The Pedestrian Society!
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Why should they feel less 'entitled' than pedestrians and drivers?
 
I think there's a lot of prejudice towards cyclists - some is evident on this thread.

I'm not sure why this is, but many people seem to resent cyclists being on the road. I've lost count of the times that a motorist will overtake me leaving what feels like inches to spare and clearly to prove a point. Fair enough if people are bitter enough not to tolerate cyclists, but putting my safety are risk is another thing altogether.
 
nowthen said:
For me, pavements aren’t the answer. Maybe drive to a dedicated cycle route somewhere but that brings the car back into the equation.
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I concur with your sentiment: I dont cycle on the pavement, even with a white line someone has painted on them - because they werent designed for bikes.
Just like Britains roads, especially in Urban areas, werent built for cars: we have imposed a foreign infrastructure on a system hundreds of years old.
It makes me laugh in despair when Middlehaven is covered in white lines on tarmac pavements - but no one goes there!
Roads like Marton Road and Acklam road are main arteries, but where do you safely integrate bike - lanes when the place is clogged with cars?
My bike is my mode of transport: if I want to get [for instance] from Beverley to Whitby Im not going to use the "cycle" (!?) routes because they meander around fields and along dunes.
I want to get by the quickest, most direct route.
I took that exact route [A171] - a total of 53 miles - though I took my life in my hands. The maniacs behind the wheel put me in a life - threatening situation at least three times.
The "cycle" route is 60 miles and meanders and twists and turns like a wriggly worm.
It takes a satnav and includes unecessary hills and diversions.
The A171 took three hours [with a T stop]
The "cycle" route would take more like 5.
There has to be an acceptible compromise?
 
nowthen said:
In an area of social distancing, cyclists are more often that not cycling on the shoulder of pedestrians, in my experience. Often when there is no need for it.
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You have a real gripe about this, you make out as if bikes are following people closely round parks. Bikes go faster than people walking, all you have to do is stand to the side a little bit if its a shared use path.
 
Jonny Ingbar said:
I think there's a lot of prejudice towards cyclists - some is evident on this thread.

I'm not sure why this is, but many people seem to resent cyclists being on the road. I've lost count of the times that a motorist will overtake me leaving what feels like inches to spare and clearly to prove a point. Fair enough if people are bitter enough not to tolerate cyclists, but putting my safety are risk is another thing altogether.
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Which is exactly why cyclists need more dedicated routes, yet some people don't want to pay for it. Some drivers don't seem to understand that it will actually benefit them too.
 
Well I think what’s gonna have a bit effect now is lack of city centre working . The working at home template will diminish and many cases cease urban job opportunities hence Markedly opening up towns and cities for bikes .
obscure solution but significant
 
Working from home will be a big fad for a while but I suspect many firms will gradually trickle back to the office. Working from home, for many, seems ideal, but isn’t your own electricity and gas, facilities and not socialising properly soon loses its polish. Plus not everyone has dedicated space for desk and IT gear. Won’t be long until neck aches and back aches start piling up.

I say this as someone who’s been doing it for the last 4 years and ironically started a new job in feb to get back into the office, only to be told we’re now working from home permanently. I’m lucky in that I have a dedicated home office room. Some of our degree apprentices are working from their bedrooms
 
atypical_boro said:
You have a real gripe about this, you make out as if bikes are following people closely round parks. Bikes go faster than people walking, all you have to do is stand to the side a little bit if its a shared use path.
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It’s more the bikes that come from behind. I’m already walking tight the left and yes, I do have a real gripe about this.
 
atypical_boro said:
Which is exactly why cyclists need more dedicated routes, yet some people don't want to pay for it. Some drivers don't seem to understand that it will actually benefit them too.
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and when there is some cycle friendly road design within a week bloody motorists come along & ruin it for everyone else.
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newusername said:
and when there is some cycle friendly road design within a week bloody motorists come along & ruin it for everyone else.
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Well lets not blame all motorists for this, but one thing I find particularly disturbing:

"On today’s breakfast show with Nick Ferrari on LBC radio the presenter cited the closure of the roundabout as an example of how national and local governments are spending too much money on cyclists."

How do absolute cretins like him get airtime?
 
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newusername said:
It is motorists like that that give them all a bad name. I'd like to see the more moderate motorists coming out & publicly criticising that bad behaviour as unacceptable.
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Personally I don't feel owed that by motorists. All I ever would ask for from a motorist is their support in getting bikes off the roads (and onto something more suitable!). As I say though, it is mind-boggling that we have to ask governments for this, when you consider the number of deaths from cycling accidents, the green issues and the obesity issues we face. Not to mention the covid-19 world where no one will be able to afford a car because the economy is flatlining.
 
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