Riding On Pavements

[Emo Rider]

It is illegal to ride a bicycle, electric or otherwise, on a pavement unless it is designated as a cycle path or shared use thoroughfare. This I have been made well aware of here in Leicester. In a city that claims to be cycle friendly, trying to find safe routes can be daunting. Recently the news carried a picture of two police officers posing by a sign that said zero tolerance for riding on pavements. They were also handing out £50 fines on the spot to violators.

The area featured in the news item runs beside one of Leicester's busiest roads. One that cyclist are told to use instead of the safety afforded by the pavement. Residents and business owners along the road claim that the cyclists are dangerous even though the vast majority are riding very safely and just want to get to work alive. I would say that cyclist killed and injured on England's roads far out weigh pedestrians suffering the same at the hands of cyclists.

What is missing from the story is police officers out on the road ticketing drivers that constantly break highway codes 163, 211, 212, and 213. These are the rules that state what you must do to safely pass a cyclist traveling on the road.

I agree that there are idots on bikes and pedestrians have a right to be protected. However, Leicester city council and all other city councils must be prepared to inforce traffic laws and fine drivers if they are prepared to force cyclists onto the roads.

 

[Mike63]

[QUOTEHowever, Leicester city council and all other city councils must be prepared to inforce traffic laws and fine drivers if they are prepared to force cyclists onto the roads.][/QUOTE]

yea....like that's 'gonna happen anytime soon.

 

[Gringo]

yea....like that's 'gonna happen anytime soon

Well I'm holding my breath
Don't get me started, what with cars using the same cycle paths for years for parking Nothing's ever done.
I'm mostly harmless, but one day I'll have a scratchy stick of pointy luggage on my rack You just know that'll be the day someone's taking notes & I'll get done. No but really it's nice to dream

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Its illegal to cycle anywhere where there are signs that say you can't, or any bye-laws that say you can't. Bylaws normally apply to parks etc. It's illegal to ride on any path that runs along the side of the road unless it's a marked cycle path. That leaves paths that do not run alongside roads from which you are not specifically prohibited, which you can ride on.

 

[twinkle]

This article is 7 days old , Says a lot

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10577958/Let-cyclists-go-on-pavements-if-roads-are-dangerous-minister-tells-police.html

regards emma

 

[Clockwise]

I had to stop and ask a woman to ride on the pavement last night. She seemed an ok cyclist but her child on a scooter was very slowly going along the pavement with her in the road to the side and her full attention on her child as she struggled to steer being so slow. She stopped to think as a truck came flying past and then made a nice excuse of "mummy can't see you with all these cars in the way" and pulled up onto the pavement behind her child. Can't see any decent plod would fine them but then lots of talk of secret targets and stuff making them fine anyone, council workers on the other hand...

As for the fines well it sounds like a pedestrian only area that doubles as a nice shortcut, I personally cycle along croydon highstreet each day on the way to work(but around on the way home as not in a hurry then), for me it used to have cyclist dismount signs but a couple of years back they took them down and put up bike racks along the highstreet which to me says it's ok as I can't get to/from the racks without using that route.

At the same time I know alleys and paths around london that are often taken by cyclists and don't offer any safety gain just it will save them 30sec each day not needing to take the next parallel road. I can think of a couple that it's especially apparent as to reach them you need to pass an exceptionally dangerous junction or roundabout(turns off elephant+castle).

 

[flecc]

This article is 7 days old , Says a lot

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10577958/Let-cyclists-go-on-pavements-if-roads-are-dangerous-minister-tells-police.html

regards emma

Indeed, and the 1999 advice referred to is in full on my post in this link

 

[Emo Rider]

Indeed, and the 1999 advice referred to is in full on my post in this link

I did not know that this thread was there. It looks like I may be repeating but I feel it should be repeated until some action is taken against drivers through education and enforcement of existing laws. Flecc's posting above on the 1999 law an its interpritation flies in the face of what is happening here in Leicester. Speak up everyone

 

[Electrifying Cycles]

There was an interesting comment from Cycling Minister
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10577958/Let-cyclists-go-on-pavements-if-roads-are-dangerous-minister-tells-police.html

Effectively cyclists should not be fined if cycling on the pavement for safety reasons.

 

[flecc]

the 1999 law an its interpritation flies in the face of what is happening here in Leicester. Speak up everyone

I'm certain the authorities have been doing their best to hide the instructions to Chief Police Officers and the interpretation statement by minister Paul Boateng. In recent years it's been taken down from the cycling sites that originally reproduced it without there being any apparent good reason and doesn't appear to be anywhere online now other than my postings in here.

This is probably due to pandering to the majority, who as pedestrians object to all pavement cycling.

However, in defence of those pedestrian objections, it has to be acknowledged that there are many cyclists who use the pavements irresponsibly. Riding past pedestrians on confined pavements at normal cycling speeds is stupid, and when it's from behind pedestrians it can be very frightening, especially to the elderly. If cyclists slowed and rode past at barely above walking speed there wouldn't be the objections, and my doing that on shared use paths shows that to be true.

I approach slowing and if from behind announce my presence with a Good Morning/Afternoon and pass very slowly with a smile. The only reactions I've ever had have been friendly and have included the occasional thank you.

It doesn't get any better than that.

So much of the answer is in the hands of cyclists, we still suffer from far too many of them behaving irresponsibly, aggressively or as self-appointed little Hitlers as in the example of one in a video on a current thread.

Until these stop, cycling as a movement undermines it's case against poor driver behaviour. In essence, we should treat others as we would wish to be treated ourselves.

 

[jackhandy]

I carry, in my backpack, a laminated copy of the Boteng advice to show to anyone who objects to me riding on the footpath, but I haven't been objected to yet.
I only use the footway at roadworks or if there are parked vehicles causing a bottleneck, so that I don't hold up traffic, mainly on hills & that seems to meet with general approval.

Coincidentally, I rode over to Newquay t'other day & the shared pavement signs & markings on the main drag just ceased, leaving me not knowing whether I was on a footway only or wharever.

 

[Emo Rider]

I carry, in my backpack, a laminated copy of the Boteng advice to show to anyone who objects to me riding on the footpath, but I haven't been objected to yet.
I only use the footway at roadworks or if there are parked vehicles causing a bottleneck, so that I don't hold up traffic, mainly on hills & that seems to meet with general approval.

Coincidentally, I rode over to Newquay t'other day & the shared pavement signs & markings on the main drag just ceased, leaving me not knowing whether I was on a footway only or wharever.

Signs and marking just ending leaving you with no idea if you can or can't ride legally. Welcome to our world in this part of the country.

 

[flecc]

Signs and marking just ending leaving you with no idea if you can or can't ride legally. Welcome to our world in this part of the country.

And here locally in my London Borough, shared use signs just petering out part way along, making bike presence look illegal from the other end view.

 

[rustic]

I lived in Leicester for a long old time. I loved the place, but was always a bit disappointed by the scant resources and general lack of consideration given to cyclists by a City Council which was quick to promote itself as 'Britains First Environment City'. A bit of a missed opportunity I always thought.....