I got pulled over today and given a warning that from today a 30 pound spot fine for ridding on the pavement will be enforced by the police in Norwich City.
Be warned
- Thread starter aaannndddyyy
- Start date
Were there any comments about the bike being electric Andy. Somehow riding an electric bike on the pavement seems a more serious offence than with an unpowered machine, although legally they are all bicycles and subject to the same rules.
I got pulled over today and given a warning that from today a 30 pound spot fine for ridding on the pavement will be enforced by the police in Norwich City.
when i was 14...some 32 years ago i got pulled over and fined for pavement riding, £10.....makes that look a bit steep for 32 years ago...
No no mention of the bike being electric I was on the Giant lafree, I had just hoped onto the pavement to jump around a few cars sitting at the traffic lights the police man said there had asked people in Norwich what were the things that annoyed them the most and bikes riding on pavements was near the top of the list, so they are having a crack down in the city at the moment, he also said it has been advertised on the local tv news and papers, and came into effect today 14/1/08.
I have told my Daughter who goes to collage and back 15.5 miles 3 days a week to her wisper 905e, to still use the pavements in rush hour traffic on the busy roads, but be careful and avoid any police she sees. As I would rather pay a fine and keep my daughter safe .
I have told my Daughter who goes to collage and back 15.5 miles 3 days a week to her wisper 905e, to still use the pavements in rush hour traffic on the busy roads, but be careful and avoid any police she sees. As I would rather pay a fine and keep my daughter safe .
It's probably a flavour of the month to get the stats up, they had a crackdown in Leicester in the summer but since then there's been a spate of violent crime and I'd like to think their priorities have changed.
If it wasn't for a small number of reckless pavement riders there wouldn't be a problem.
If it wasn't for a small number of reckless pavement riders there wouldn't be a problem.
C
Cyclezee
Guest
Personally I feel it is much safer to ride on the pavement, provided you do not endanger or upset pedestrians. I'm fortuate to live in a city with a network of over 130 miles of 'Redways' (for pedestrians and cyclists only) and leisure routes, the biggest menace I find are dogs, you just never know which way they are going to go.
There was case in the news recently of a pedestrian killed by a cyclist, so maybe there is a clampdown under way.
John
There was case in the news recently of a pedestrian killed by a cyclist, so maybe there is a clampdown under way.
John
I ride both on the pavement and road, when on the pavement I always cycle slow and always give way to pedestrians.
Funny thing did happen the other day though.
Here in Bristol there is a lot of construction, basically the whole city centre is being re-done.
On one stretch of road I have no option but to use the pavement as the "workies" have closed the cycle path put scaffolding and a sign saying both pedestrians and cyclists to use the makeshift path.
To my astonishment one of the workies gave me a mouthful for being on the pavement!! I had to point out to him that its there fault and please read his own sign before opening his mouth.
That said though I do get annoyed at some cyclists who don't give a damn when on the pavement.
Maz
Funny thing did happen the other day though.
Here in Bristol there is a lot of construction, basically the whole city centre is being re-done.
On one stretch of road I have no option but to use the pavement as the "workies" have closed the cycle path put scaffolding and a sign saying both pedestrians and cyclists to use the makeshift path.
To my astonishment one of the workies gave me a mouthful for being on the pavement!! I had to point out to him that its there fault and please read his own sign before opening his mouth.
That said though I do get annoyed at some cyclists who don't give a damn when on the pavement.
Maz
That can't happen any more Keith. Although the law is universally applicable, all police forces have received a Home Office instruction that no on-the-spot penalty for this offence can be issued to anyone under 16 years old.
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It's a shame the police don't get so enthusiastic over burglaries, assaults, drug dealers and yobbos on street corners making life hell for everyone.
If I got a fine for riding on the pavement, and I frequently do ride on the pavement to avoid 17 year old drivers driving like lunatics, often in front of police cars, then I would simply not pay it until the last possible moment, preferably in court. It would cost about £500 to get the £30 fine off me.
Re the legality of e-bikes on pavements... it's either legally a bike or it's not. End of story. If it's a legal pedelc, then there is absolutely no need to disguise the fact, on the pavement or off.
If I got a fine for riding on the pavement, and I frequently do ride on the pavement to avoid 17 year old drivers driving like lunatics, often in front of police cars, then I would simply not pay it until the last possible moment, preferably in court. It would cost about £500 to get the £30 fine off me.
Re the legality of e-bikes on pavements... it's either legally a bike or it's not. End of story. If it's a legal pedelc, then there is absolutely no need to disguise the fact, on the pavement or off.
it was worse then that Flecc..no on the spot fine but i had to go to a sort of court, not a magistrates one but one with other smaller important jp's i recall, so it was a few hours taken out of another day too...and when i went in one of the men had to leave as he knew me as he was a golfer at the same club as me...
Yes, I know it used to be like that Keith, very heavy handed, but since 1st August 2000, there's no more risk of that for youngsters, they just get a warning. As far as I'm concerned, even though I don't use the pavements, I think all youngsters should be officially allowed ride there all the time, given today's traffic conditions.
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What happens if you don't stop? Would you be brought to a halt by stingers deployed on your route? Followed all the way home on CCTV?
The rule of thumb I use is avoid the pavement if there are pedestrians on it. I cycled 35 miles into central london and back and it was surprising how ambiguous the status of the pavement is in places, especially alongside main routes. The traffic flies by three lanes wide on the A4 out of kensington and the A3 down to kingston. There are few if any pedestrians and you feel obliged to clear the way for motorists as much as safeguard yourself. I'd be surprised to be pulled over and spot fined there, not least because no police car would halt the flow on those grounds.
Newsnight just ran a persuasive report on removing traffic lights and road markings in urban areas. Traffic just tends to flow better as a result, more sensibly, less charged by aggression, designing frustration and accidents out. More on that here. There would be obvious benefits for cyclists as well as pedestrians here.
The rule of thumb I use is avoid the pavement if there are pedestrians on it. I cycled 35 miles into central london and back and it was surprising how ambiguous the status of the pavement is in places, especially alongside main routes. The traffic flies by three lanes wide on the A4 out of kensington and the A3 down to kingston. There are few if any pedestrians and you feel obliged to clear the way for motorists as much as safeguard yourself. I'd be surprised to be pulled over and spot fined there, not least because no police car would halt the flow on those grounds.
Newsnight just ran a persuasive report on removing traffic lights and road markings in urban areas. Traffic just tends to flow better as a result, more sensibly, less charged by aggression, designing frustration and accidents out. More on that here. There would be obvious benefits for cyclists as well as pedestrians here.
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I think anyone should be allowed to use pavements, responsibly, if required or if deemed necessary. There is a roundabout on the main road near my house and there is absolutely no way that I would negotiate it to take the third exit (ie turn right) because of the fact that many car drivers are more concerned in getting their cars onto the roundabout than watching out for cyclists, even those who are wearing hi-vis jacket, flashing LED lights etc like me.
I think the main point is RESPONSIBLE use of pavements when necessary... ie not tearing around and bashing into people with one's break levers, pedals or whatever. In the UK, we have a dearth of cycle paths, a culture of ever more irresonsible driving and a disinterested police force. Riding carefully on a pavement should be permitted for anyone, not just juveniles (whose reaction times are vastly quicker anyway than older riders). I'd rather pay a £30 fine any day than end up like the poor bloke who was hit from the rear and killed by an articulated lorry on the roundabout I've mentioned. The fact that the police in some areas don't appreciate this tells me how low they've sunk in their desire for what they themselves refer to as 'a quick cough'.
I think the main point is RESPONSIBLE use of pavements when necessary... ie not tearing around and bashing into people with one's break levers, pedals or whatever. In the UK, we have a dearth of cycle paths, a culture of ever more irresonsible driving and a disinterested police force. Riding carefully on a pavement should be permitted for anyone, not just juveniles (whose reaction times are vastly quicker anyway than older riders). I'd rather pay a £30 fine any day than end up like the poor bloke who was hit from the rear and killed by an articulated lorry on the roundabout I've mentioned. The fact that the police in some areas don't appreciate this tells me how low they've sunk in their desire for what they themselves refer to as 'a quick cough'.
I agree Jimmy. Although I normally don't ride on pavements as said, if there are no pedestrians on a section and I can avoid inconveniencing traffic by passing a parked car on the left using pavement cutaways, I do.
As you say, it's a matter of being considerate for others, and in line with what Tim posted and the Newsnight item that I also saw, I'd like to see more of the situation that exists in some community areas in Holland. In some of those, there are no roads or pavements, just decoratively paved irregular public areas which everyone uses with consideration for each other, no-one having a priority.
Unregulated space of this sort would kill most motorcycle use though. Today's powerful bikes are a pain to keep at below 30 or 40 mph, and progressing at trickle speeds all the time would be both frustrating and exhausting. Good for e-bikes though.
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As you say, it's a matter of being considerate for others, and in line with what Tim posted and the Newsnight item that I also saw, I'd like to see more of the situation that exists in some community areas in Holland. In some of those, there are no roads or pavements, just decoratively paved irregular public areas which everyone uses with consideration for each other, no-one having a priority.
Unregulated space of this sort would kill most motorcycle use though. Today's powerful bikes are a pain to keep at below 30 or 40 mph, and progressing at trickle speeds all the time would be both frustrating and exhausting. Good for e-bikes though.
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It's illegal to ride on the pavement (sidewalks) here, but I've never been cited for it, or even warned. I generally only get on when the road becomes an unreasonable choice.
I justify it to a certain extent, that cars generally aren't driving along and have to put up with vehicles haphazardly legally parked in their lane of travel, which is common on a bicycle. Vehicles may be stalled in front of you when you drive a car, but one can't just park right in the middle of your designated road!
I justify it to a certain extent, that cars generally aren't driving along and have to put up with vehicles haphazardly legally parked in their lane of travel, which is common on a bicycle. Vehicles may be stalled in front of you when you drive a car, but one can't just park right in the middle of your designated road!
It's illegal to ride on the pavements here in England as well, has been for a very long time. For the past 20 years it's been an offence that is subject to a fixed penalty of £30.
We can all try to justify breaking the law, although obviously most would prefer not to, I would hope. Some of us are in positions where we cannot break the law, no matter how ludicrous we might think certain laws to be. It is no defence, no matter how morally just an individual may think it is, to argue that "I broke the law because it wouldn't inconvenience another by doing so", or to argue that "I broke the law because I considered it safer than riding on the road". The obvious retort in law would be "if you consider that the use of a bicycle is only safe if you break the law, then you should not use the bicycle".
In my view I believe that this law is in need of some review. The basic law, the Highway Act, dates back well over 100 years and bicycles are only covered by it by being defined as carriages. Roads nowadays can be too dangerous for cycling and the matter is complicated by local authorities who seem unclear on whether cycle paths are pavements or not in some areas.
Not withstanding all of the above, I would not ever cycle on a pedestrian pavement. Quite apart from it being against the law, I would not wish to bring cycling into disrepute by being seen to do this.
Jeremy
We can all try to justify breaking the law, although obviously most would prefer not to, I would hope. Some of us are in positions where we cannot break the law, no matter how ludicrous we might think certain laws to be. It is no defence, no matter how morally just an individual may think it is, to argue that "I broke the law because it wouldn't inconvenience another by doing so", or to argue that "I broke the law because I considered it safer than riding on the road". The obvious retort in law would be "if you consider that the use of a bicycle is only safe if you break the law, then you should not use the bicycle".
In my view I believe that this law is in need of some review. The basic law, the Highway Act, dates back well over 100 years and bicycles are only covered by it by being defined as carriages. Roads nowadays can be too dangerous for cycling and the matter is complicated by local authorities who seem unclear on whether cycle paths are pavements or not in some areas.
Not withstanding all of the above, I would not ever cycle on a pedestrian pavement. Quite apart from it being against the law, I would not wish to bring cycling into disrepute by being seen to do this.
Jeremy
It's illegal, and in many cases dangerous to those with disabilities to park cars on the pavement and yet it is an offence that is committed to a far greater extent than pavement cycling and almost always ignored by the authorities other than where parking would be illegal anyway.
Lets have equal treatment for all those that who use illegally pavements.
Lets have equal treatment for all those that who use illegally pavements.
I wouldn't want to bring myself into a cemetery prematurely by not cycling on a pavement if required, although presumably you'd have the satisfaction of knowing you'd stayed within the law if you're bumped off by some lunatic driver.
In fact, daft laws are what's often brought into disrepute by public disobedience. History is full of examples. People who break these laws often are responsible for them being changed to something more sensible so that everyone else can benefit. Presumably, if the law were changed, you'd then happily ride on the pavement if necessary, like everyone else? Are you talking about the principle of riding on pavements or not, or merely doing what you're told?
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