Forum Topic

PAVEMENT CYCLING

I agree, it is about time these anti social, law breaking,cyclist are given a f.p.t. or taken to court.Last month a 9 year old girl was knocked down by a cyclist in Southhampton, and seriouly injured, and at Bognor Regis a 5 year old boy was knocked down by a cyclist, cycling on the pavement and had a badly cut leg, as per normal the cyclist did not stop. I,ve spoken to the police about the cyclist breaking the law about cyling on the pavements, and the policeman I spoke to agreed that it is againt the law, but the police must be shown to "be green", yes, they seem to be naive.Also it's about time cars are stopped parking on pavements, Brighton is going to put fixed penalty notices on cars that park on pavements and grass verges from November, It would be nice if the rest of country will do the sameAlso it is about time that cyclist are licenced and also pay road tax

John Charles Todd ● 4549d33 Comments

Saying it's better for pedestrians is patronising  and implies that you are doing them a favour by staying on your bike rather than being considerate when it is just for your convenience imo. The fact that you walk your bike on the footpath where cycling is not permitted is an example more should follow.

Keith Iddon ● 4544d

"I think the rule in parts of Europe is if the pavement is at least metre wide then cyclist are allowed to ride on it as long as they concede to pedestrians."That seems sensible save for the fact that if you are "about three foot wide when I'm on it" that leaves a scant three inches for pedestrians. With any pedestrians about you are going to be off your bike and walking a lot.My experience this morning proves the need for sensible riding.Heading down Northfield Avenue from the Lido there was a cyclist on the southbound pavement, no helmet, dark clothing and riding 'at speed' right through a group of little children on their micro scooters. One of the children was obviously 'spooked' by this and let go of hi scooter which shot into the road. Fortunately I have awareness and ABS and didn't (by about two feet) hit the scooter; or thank God the child. I stopped to see if the mum, who was screaming, and the child were OK.Paul, it is this minority of thoughtless idiots on cycles who lead many (including me at times) to make sweeping generalisations. I do feel that something has to be done to curtail pavement cycling where it presents a clear danger to other road users.

Nigel Brooks ● 4544d

I always walk my bike if I'm forced onto the pavement where I'm not allowed to ride. It would take a lot though, dismounting and remounting pose risks, better just take a good position in the lane on the said piece of road so vehicles are forced to stay behind whilst that section is negotiated.I will say though that when I ride my bike on shared paths, its far better for pedestrians and me to be ON the bike rather than pushing it. I take up less space for a start (me and a bike wheeled alongside me are about six foot wide, I'm about three foot wide when I'm on it.That and there's less risk of somebody tripping up or catching them on a sticky out bit of my bike.I think the rule in parts of Europe is if the pavement is at least metre wide then cyclist are allowed to ride on it as long as they concede to pedestrians.I'd rather the roads were safer though so cyclists could use them instead, and the pavement could be left for just us pedestrians.

Paul James ● 4544d

Why not walk your bike on the footpath at dangerous parts of the road?

Keith Iddon ● 4544d

I fully understand that roads can be scary places for cyclists, ditto footpaths for pedestrians when cyclists are cycling on them. If you feel unsafe on parts of the road why don't cyclists WALK their bikes on the footpaths adjacent to the scary bits and then remount onto the road when they feel safe again?

Keith Iddon ● 4545d

Great - standing by for the details Nigel - thanks.

Gerry Tan ● 4545d

Reply on it's way.THE EALING TODAY 'MEET-UP' IS COMING (to a café near you in November)!!!!

Nigel Brooks ● 4545d

One problem with many drivers not knowing the highway code is that many foreign drives have no need to read it. My wife who is Japanese was only required to send her license in to be exchanged for a full UK license because in Japan they drive on the same side of the road. My first and I may add last experience with my wife driving was she drove through a give way sign at the speed limit without looking because she did not know what broken line meant. I suggested that she take half a dozen driving lessons and to learn the highway code.

Tony Maxey ● 4545d

Hi Nigel,I have PM'd you with a suggested time / date / venue for a meet up. Trust you got the email and I hope to hear back from you soon.Ben

Ben Owen ● 4545d

"It's probably also worth saying that many of the critics of pavement cycling have little if any idea what it's like to cycle on roads"Probably right, I used to cycle to work in both Neasden and subsequently Westminster it can be ruddy frightening, I planned my routes to avoid the 'scary' bits." - drivers don't seem to know the highway code e.g. allowing a vehicle's width when overtaking. We need a combined approach to enforce the highway code for all road users AND deal with things like the root cause of pavement cycling".Agree completely. Two points though. On London's crowded streets it is often impractical for traffic to leave that vehicle's width while maintaining traffic flow. I never cut up cyclists and give them a wide berth. I would love to see the rules for all road users actively enforced. Pavement cycling for me is a minor niggle compared with phoning/texting while driving. Both my car and my daughter's car have been hit by such morons. My daughter's car was hit on a clear stretch of road by a woman trying to programme her satnav while making a call! (Unfortunately for her I was outside washing my car at the time and saw her swerving down the road - no injuries, police not interested when called.)

Nigel Brooks ● 4545d

16 pedestrians were killed by cars mounting pavements in the most recent year for which the data is available. None were killed by bikes. We also need to recognise that many cyclists are killed or seriously injured by pedestrians stepping off pavements or crossing the road without looking - many cyclists report this problem has become significantly worse since many people started wearing headphones all the time.We do need to get the problem of pavement cycling into perspective - it's ok for very young children to cycle slowly on pavements as doing so on roads is a danger to themselves and others (the same applies to old people on electric carts), but adults should not be cycling on pavements - it's worth saying that a good percentage of pavement cyclists don't seem to be British though, so we could be dealing with a cultural problem rather than just a selfish "I'll cycle where I want to" attitude.It's probably also worth saying that many of the critics of pavement cycling have little if any idea what it's like to cycle on roads - drivers don't seem to know the highway code e.g. allowing a vehicle's width when overtaking. We need a combined approach to enforce the highway code for all road users AND deal with things like the root cause of pavement cycling.

Chris Martin ● 4545d

If cars are parked on pavements (other than in some areas where this is permitted with clear signage) then report it don't whine about it on here with sweeping stereotypes :-)

Nigel Brooks ● 4547d

Motorist driving on the footpath?I see this a LOT.Where it can be done it's done regularly.I recently saw a guy undertake a right turning car, both wheels up on the pavement, and accelerating hard, brentford.Cars turning left onto the north circ from the A4 mount the pavement if the traffic ahead of them has stopped.The left turn from Embankment onto battersea bridge, again, up on the pavement if it means they can advance.Come to Hanwell, the pavements are CAKED with cars, they didn't get up there by levitating.If you only see bikes on pavements and not cars then you sir clearly are very partisan.

Paul James ● 4547d

Not that I know of, report it and suggest it Phil.

Nigel Brooks ● 4547d

I have heard that other Boroughs have in the past erected bollards in that way.Has it ever been done in Ealing?

Phil Kay ● 4547d

Keep on their case, raise it with your local councillors. Sod it, the law is the law and it is there to be obeyed by all.From my viewpoint I wish there was a way of reporting drivers who text or use their phones while driving (including the stupid, pig ignorant c*w who was driving her Chelsea tractor up the middle of Mattock Lane while Clifton Lodge school was turning out and I was forced into the kerb to avoid her). Difficult to get evidence in a case like that but very easy for the council to erect a bollard or two across the illegal drives where you live.

Nigel Brooks ● 4547d

and it shouldn't be concrete as it should be porous.  There are rules on this.It reduces the amount of parking for everyone else. 

Philippa Bond ● 4547d

I have reported it.No action taken yet.  But it was only a year ago.

Phil Kay ● 4547d

Then Phil, report it as their actions are illegal.You cannot cross the footpath without a designated crossover being created. It costs around £1200 to do this but there is no excuse to cross the footpath without one.

Nigel Brooks ● 4547d

**"When was the last time you saw a motorists DELIBERATELY driving on the footpath?"**Along my street in North Hanwell, a recent trend has been to concrete over or pave front gardens and park off street without having the kerb dropped and the pavement altered.I have seen several near misses as motorists reverse off their "driveways" onto the road.The Council can see evidence of this as well as anyone merely by walking down any street in this part of London.

Phil Kay ● 4548d

That's wrong and should not happen. But is ONE street out of gawd only knows how many streets there are. You can daily see cyclists on many footpaths.

Keith Iddon ● 4548d

Cars drive every day (so I'e been told) at Wellswood, Babbacombe Rd since a CO OP store opened, the cars drive on the pavement rather then give way to buses etc comeing up the hill

John Charles Todd ● 4548d

I wish cyclists would think and take into account the fact that probably many more people who walk on the pavement/footpath are deaf or hard of hearing.Cyclists - whether they creep up or speed up from behind - may not be heard and they should expect anybody and everybody walking in front of them to stop or change direction suddenly and without signalling!

Philippa Bond ● 4548d

When was the last time you saw a motorists DELIBERATELY driving on the footpath?

Keith Iddon ● 4548d

Can't do the next couple (or three) Saturdays but will gladly meet up for a coffee (cyclist buys :-) )if only to prove that I am not an 'evil cyclist-hating barsteward'.

Nigel Brooks ● 4548d

I never said that any one of you hates cyclists. However, there are a large number of you - you know who are - who are all to keen to highlight cyclists misdemeanors. The theme tune stuff was a joke.I would love to meet some of you and chew this subject over face-to-face where we can observe bad cycling and bad driving at the same time. Anyone want to meet up Saturday 11.00am somewhere?

Ben Owen ● 4548d

>Also it is about time that cyclist are licenced and also pay road taxJohn.There is no such thing as this road tax.Motorised vehicles have to register for VED, it's a tax on pollution (low pollution vehicles don't pay it) and it's not used to pay for roads.Licensing of cyclists or registration of cycles will never happen, it's totally impractical, anybody that's ever talked about doing it has decided not to do it, and those that did do it have stopped doing it.

Paul James ● 4548d

Per mile people in cars still kill and injure more, including on pavements, so I'm afraid you're 100% wrong there.

Paul James ● 4548d

Plenty here:http://www.ctc.org.uk/sites/default/files/file_public/pedestriansbrf.pdf

Paul James ● 4548d

And there are millions more motorists doing many millions more miles collectively than cyclists.

Keith Iddon ● 4548d

I'm sure there are far more pedestrians injured on footpaths by cyclists Al than on footpaths by cars. That is the point.

Keith Iddon ● 4548d

And todays award for 'stating the bleeding obvious without adding to the debate' goes to ....... Al.

Nigel Brooks ● 4548d

Yawn... far more pedestrians, cyclists are killed or seriously injured by cars.

Al Stuart ● 4548d