Cyclists on the pavement

Lemmy_kilmister

Lemmy_kilmister

Well-known member
You can't go for a walk these days without some b***r shouting 'excuse me' (or sometimes not at all), and having to step aside on a pavement for someone on a push bike.
Even the MAMILs do it.

Has the law changed or something now?
 
Depends on the pavement. Some are mixed use. We've come across some dopey pedestrians doddering down the road totally oblivious to the bells ringing behind them. I've also had the opposite. Coming out of a cut to a cyclist flying at me on the river bank. Despite every single lampost on the way having a no cycling sign.
 
Read that there has been a massive uptick in cycling during lockdown, now lockdown has eased people that have been cycling in peace & safety on the road are being forced onto the pavement by fear of the increased amount of motorised traffic.

The majority of councils have been given funding but have been too slow to introduce experimental traffic regulation orders to create safe, segregated cycling infrastructure.
 
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No the law hasn't changed, and as a passionate cyclist for more than 30 years it ignorant, divisive and dangerous - no excuses and we can't have a go at ignorant and dangerous motorists if we're pushing down danger towards pedestrians through cycling on pavements.

We need proper, fit for purpose, cycling infrastructure like in The Netherlands and Denmark, but I won't hold my breath.
 
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I do think you need to check if it's mixed use. Some pedestrians really do get confused with these. However I agree there is zero excuse for any cyclist going down a pavement. It's just not on.
 
There are the red tarmac cycle lanes on both sides of the road I was walking down. There are shared paths where I live, and they've recently been widened... No problem with that.
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
But most cycle lanes are dangerous, ill kept, or just plain pointless - therefore it doesn't make sense to always use them.

Take a look at some of these:-

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2009/nov/05/readers-worst-cycle-lanes
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There are some awful cycle lanes around and that needs addressing. However you it would behove a cyclist to go on the road rather than the pavement to avoid.

Interestingly I'm currently in a bad mood, kept awake all night by roadworks right in front of the apartment. Can't really grumble though as the roadworks are to put some new, and rather fancy looking, cycle lanes in. good news.
 
Cyclists who want you to treat them like they have a car i.e. taking up all the road but then think they have the god given right to just ignore Red stop lights🤷‍♂️ bizarre people.
 
Boro_is_in_my_blood said:
Cyclists who want you to treat them like they have a car i.e. taking up all the road but then think they have the god given right to just ignore Red stop lights🤷‍♂️ bizarre people.
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Agreed to the second half. Cyclist going through red lights is my biggest bugbear. It's because cyclists (certainly here in London) seem to think they are above others, be it pedestrians or drivers. It's an odd thing that they have this holier than thou attitude yet they break road laws more than anyone else.
 
Miles less pedestrians these days with everyone having cars. Should simply turn them into both. You will always get a knob head on a bike or a pedestrian. But really it should work. Takes a second to nip on the road if theres a pushchair or sumitt. Common sense n courtesy always overcomes the little problems that occur
 
"Takes a second to nip on the road if theres a pushchair or sumitt. Common sense n courtesy always overcomes the little problems that occur"

That's the thing though, 9 times out of 10 you have to get out of the way of the cyclists.
 
Oh I love a good cycle rant😂

I have to agree. I think it's got far worse since the lockdown. I don't think it's the spandex / team Sky crew as they usually stick to the road.

I am finding it's big family's that seemed to have got a group discount on mountain bikes. The amount of times during lockdown when you'd see 5 riding towards you and not going single file or making any attempt to get 'smaller'. So I'd just step on the road.

I run quiet a bit and often have head phones in. I've regularly had some melt riding up behind me on a pavement (not cycle or mixed one) ringing his bell or staying 'excuse me'.

I can get it if its young children. Just not 4 grown ups riding in a line taking the whole pavement up..... Get on the fecking road!!! Or at least say 'thanks' as I step in to the cycle lane on the road to let you past😉
 
Bells on bikes seem to have dropped off in the UK. These have been replaced by the “bellow” of “bike right” or “bike left” usually within 5 metre distant.

I always use a bell to let the pedestrian know Im behind on a mixed use walkway to give them time to move to one side at their pace not mine.
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
No the law hasn't changed, and as a passionate cyclist for more than 30 years it ignorant, divisive and dangerous - no excuses and we can't have a go at ignorant and dangerous motorists if we're pushing down danger towards pedestrians through cycling on pavements.

We need proper, fit for purpose, cycling infrastructure like in The Netherlands and Denmark, but I won't hold my breath.
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I've recently been using the Manchester Cycleway from Didsbury to central Manchester. It really is perfect, you can cycle for 7 miles solid into town and back, without a single pedestrian stepping in the way or a car getting anywhere near you (big layer of concrete between you and the road). If only all (or more) roads were like this, we might actually be able to address both obesity and green issues in one fell swoop. But no, we've got white elephants like Crossrail/Crossrail 2 and HS2 to cough up for first, at a time when most of the population are working from home.
 
penry1 said:
Miles less pedestrians these days with everyone having cars. Should simply turn them into both. You will always get a knob head on a bike or a pedestrian. But really it should work. Takes a second to nip on the road if theres a pushchair or sumitt. Common sense n courtesy always overcomes the little problems that occur
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Thus risking the safety of the pedestrians and slowing down the cyclists.

Turning all pavements into shared usage is the exact opposite of what we should be doing. More and better integrated cycle ways are the ways forward. Look at places like Denmark and The Netherlands. This is what we need. More discipline on all sides is required too. Pedestrians need to be aware when they are in shared use areas drivers need to be conscious of given cyclists enough space (A driver overtook me yesterday and immediately turned left, cutting me up) and cyclists need to, well not be so "cyclist" about everything.
 
To be fair Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham hired Chris Boardman as Cycling and Walking Commissioner 3 years ago to advise on infrastructure and have got their policy exactly right. The Government have displayed all the right intentions promising money to follow Manchester’s lead. As said above I await also with baited breadth.
 
Cardiffdaffs said:
To be fair Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham hired Chris Boardman as Cycling and Walking Commissioner 3 years ago to advise on infrastructure and have got their policy exactly right. The Government have displayed all the right intentions promising money to follow Manchester’s lead. As said above I await also with baited breadth.
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Yes, the beelines initiative is exciting but it hasn't really 'taken off' yet. There are one or two good routes and hopefully there'll be more, but I know one proposed 'cycleway' (similar to the one I mentioned above) has recently been canned.
 
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