Should a bicycle be on the roads

I live in North London, I drive, but I also cycle and spend a fair bit of time doing so, both for commuting and recreation.

The people I see who cycle on pavements around where I live tend to be kids/youths who either do it because from the point of view of a child its safer. Teenage types just don't care. The other types tend to be older who aren't what I'd really call regular cyclists, again the kind of people who flout the law and possibly don't drive or have a license.

When I grew up, I didn't live in London and was told to cycle on the pavements, I'd probably tell my kids to do the same if I ever have any. The thing is, that was outside of London on pavements with little traffic.

In a city like London where you have lots of people living and busy pavements, it's a bit of a nightmare when you've got people cycling on them. As a Cyclist, if I ever have to get onto a bit of pavement for a short stretch, such as to get into where I live, I will always slow down and giveway to pedestrians. The trouble is that most of the people who ride recklessly on pavements don't do this. Just the other week I was walking along the pavement of the main road by me, I had a couple of people to the side of me, and a few more coming towards me, then a guy on a BMX or such heading towards me to. There was no room whatsoever on the pavement... yet did he give way? No, he tried to force his way through at speed, knocking my elbow in the process. That's how accidents happen and that's why Cyclists shouldn't be on pavements in built up areas.

It's interesting that you've posted this topic just as Cycling Lanes are in the news as the London 'Cycling Superhighways' were launched yesterday.
 
I'm looking forward to those superhighways. They're not just about marking out a lane for us but they're improving the surface as well to provide a speedier ride.

Map is here, I live on CS2 which is very handy :)
 
Road.

I often find on my commute (cycling) that motorists will overtake me for no reason. I can easily match the speed limit for the roads around here yet they still risk mine, theirs and motorists on the other side of the road's lives to satisfy this stupid psychological need to overtake cyclists, as if an alarm goes off in their head that screams "There is a cyclist in front of me, cyclists usually go slowly, therefore I must be going slow and MUST overtake!", without first checking their own speedometer. Another reason could simply be: "A cyclist is in front of me!? I MUST OVERTAKE BECAUSE I AM IN A CAAAR RAAAAWWR!"

Those are the only two possible scenarios I can think of that would make a motorist decide to overtake me while I'm doing the speed limit. And they're both completely insane.

More often than not, as soon as I've been overtaken, they'll slow down (to the speed limit or at the next traffic build up), rendering the whole life risking operation pointless.

Also, you've not heard of anyone being injured/killed by a cyclist on a pavement because cyclists for the most part don't use the pavements, since its against the law. If they do, they wouldn't be going at a comparable speed to road cyclists.

Its a nice idea though, to create completely separate cycling zones.. but its not possible really is it?
 
I disagree with the o/p. As a cyclist, a pedestrian and a driver I feel I can comment. Bikes on the pavement are a pest. Bikes on the road are fine until you stick impatient drivers into the mix, or drivers who are unable to judge their own speed or size, which is an increasing number.
 
Skyfall said:
Cars should not be on the road imo, with the general level of driver competency they should all be banned.
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There are people in this country who could barely get through an education, who can't put together a legible sentence, who can't plan the outcome of very basic daily events, and who can't navigate their way through even the most simple of social situations without coming into some kind of conflict. But yet it is legal for these people to drive a 1-ton box of steel around the road where there are other people present. I have to agree with your opinion.
 
The problem is bad cyclists and impatient drivers. Not cycling per se.

I don't fancy doing 30mph down pavements with pedestrians on them either. Most people, walking along with headphones in wouldn't take kindly to people going past them at that speed. Lots of pedestrians have a knack of randomly moving across pavements too, even on cycle paths.
 
This is just round the corner from me and is ideal;

Google maps link

But obviously can't be applied everywhere. I think the new cycle highways in London are a fantastic idea except it appears that cars are still allowed to travel in them :confused: .
 
I think if the footpath is quiet and is out of town they should use it instead of the roads. It will be far safer and easier for everyone. I used to do this in my younger days as it was safer and wasnt causing harm to anyone. I sometimes think cyclist like to try and prove a point grrrrrr

In town or busy paths cyclist should stick to roads as cars arnt normally going much quicker than bikes.
 
Ideally they should have their own roads/infrastructure.
But otherwise, yes, never understood the annoyance of cyclists on a footpath, far better place for them than the road.
 
Wait roads were invented for cars NOW ???

I might just go get a horse and cart and slow every car down because lets face it, horse and carts have been around longer than cars.

What is the op smoking?
 
Cyclists should be encouraged!
But as people have mentioned, there are useless cyclists and also useless drivers :(
Cycling promotes better health and less carbon emissions.
 
snowdog said:
Ideally they should have their own roads/infrastructure.
But otherwise, yes, never understood the annoyance of cyclists on a footpath, far better place for them than the road.
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You've never understood why having a cyclist doing 25mph or so on a footpath shared with with pedestrians would be a problem? Really?
 
cheets64 said:
Wait roads were invented for cars NOW ???

I might just go get a horse and cart and slow every car down because lets face it, horse and carts have been around longer than cars.

What is the op smoking?
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The OP has a valid point. A horse and cart is normally bigger than a car or the same size so they have the same road presence.
 
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Marky said:
Some cyclists are okay - but a prime example of some happened yesterday - we were driving down a busy road - noticed the cyclist - began to move out and she started moving out with us! - She then moved back in, but seriously if you can't even keep balance properly you shouldn't be allowed on the road.

This has happened multiple times now!
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Are you familiar with the Highway Code?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070314

Rule 163 - give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211-215)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069858

Rule 213 - Motorcyclists and cyclists may suddenly need to avoid uneven road surfaces and obstacles such as drain covers or oily, wet or icy patches on the road. Give them plenty of room and pay particular attention to any sudden change of direction they may have to make.
 
bam0 said:
You've never understood why having a cyclist doing 25mph or so on a footpath shared with with pedestrians would be a problem? Really?
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Nope, not my problem, don't care as long as they don't hit me. Pedestrians annoy me more when I'm one myself because most idiots walk around like snails so slowly, I like walking/moving fast and slow things annoy me more than fast things. When I see a cop doing a cyclist for cycling on the pavement or so I think in myself ''ahh you **** don't you have thieves to catch or whatever''...
Cyclists at 25 mpg sharing NSL roads with cars at 60 mph is a FAR bigger problem.

You think people running at 20 mph for a short while on the sidewalk should be disallowed too ?
 
My two cents on the OP

I always as a kid used to ride on the pavements. although now im older and im still riding (to work) I stick to the roads.

I never wear a helmet and today the inevitable happened.

I got knocked off my bike by a woman who was not paying attention to the road or things around her.

Luckily i am pretty unscathed. (fair few tarmac burns/cuts etc)
But a wash down at work and a cup of tea later i was fine.

I ALWAYS opt to ride on the road because pedestrians always moan and shout at me if i don't (very snobbish around here)

and now i think im going to ignore them. I don't feel like taking another knock like i did today for the sake of some snob who wont share the path with a cyclist.
 
lol @ all the "But bikes and horses/carts have been around longer" comments. I know, let's just abolish cars altogether and go back to bikes and horses because they've been around longer...

Muppets. :rolleyes:
 
matthab said:
The OP has a valid point. A horse and cart is normally bigger than a car or the same size so they have the same road presence.
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You have to be brain dead not to notice a cyclist in the day time, this country would be a better place if more people cycled to work or short journey where a vechile is not needed. The roads are clogged and being worn away.
 
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