Cyclists on pavements, do police really care?

[arknor]

My biggest fear when cycling on the road aren't cars but these things


Seen a couple of them around where I live where the holes are parallel to the kerb like the Australian example in the above photo.

I bet you go flying over the bars straight into the path of any cars behind you if you ever fail to spot one.

it's also why people don't hug the kerbs you need space to go around those mentally dangerous things

 

[Aeleys]

I have to put up with the Brighton Taliban every day, the cycle path east to west on the upper promenade is used as the 7th stage of the tour de France with lycra loonies trying to beat their personal best every day. They don't seem to be able to read clear road signs i.e. their need to give way and charge through give way, markings. If it were me not giving way in my car to a cyclist I'm sure they'd start a Facebook hate campaign.

Any police around = no

This, but happens everywhere not just Brighton lol...

Path is safer end of. I've never seen someone get killed from being hit by a bike, I've actually never seen someone be hit by a bike actually GTF off the roads

 

[Jae-So]

My biggest fear when cycling on the road aren't cars but these things


Seen a couple of them around where I live where the holes are parallel to the kerb like the Australian example in the above photo.

I bet you go flying over the bars straight into the path of any cars behind you if you ever fail to spot one.

it's also why people don't hug the kerbs you need space to go around those mentally dangerous things

This exactly, need the space to manoeuvre.
All road users have idiots in the ranks, but cyclists seem to take most of the blame. I don't even cycle often anymore but still think this.

 

[diamount]

Of course the thread HAS devolved into a cyclist vs motorist debate despite that not even being the intent or point of discussion.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Of course the thread HAS devolved into a cyclist vs motorist debate despite that not even being the intent or point of discussion.

You knew what you were doing

 

[Sgt_Pepper]

People bitch and moan if they are on the path. People bitch and moan if they are on the road. Make your minds up!

We won't moan if you leave it in the shed

 

[stopper]

If a cop pulls up to me and says "can you ride on the road instead of the path, sir?"
I reply with "as long as you honor you oath and leave me alone, constable"
Then just carry on riding on the path.

 

[Rroff]

What would you suggest he do there? He may be a little to the left for my liking (at the speed he is going he should be more central IMO, I'm sure motorists would disagree), he had plenty of space to move in to on the right in case of a close call and in fact it looks like he was moving in when the van overtook him (presumably knowing the van was coming in too close), unfortunately he couldn't move in any further because he was overtaking another bike at the time.

He was doing everything right, unfortunately the van driver decided to shoot in the gap between the car in front and him, before tearing off into the distance (partly in the other cars lane it looks like!). This was 100% the van drivers fault and the same incident could easily have happened if the cyclist was a car, except of course the van driver would have had less "cycle rage".

Its not so much what he should or shouldn't do - I know it doesn't come over in my posts very well - and I might be unfairly judging him based on the attitudes shown by the riders in some of the similar videos that are on youtube.

I just don't have a lot of sympathy for the attitudes typically shown by the riders in these kind of videos when riding in an assertive and/or advanced manner and not making enough allowance for the fact that not all road users are going to have the same level of proficiency even when they aren't being muppets or unsafe as such.

If they are going to ride in that manner then IMO they should deal a bit more with the fact that they are going across some situations which other drivers don't handle so well. (Thats not to say they won't have some unfortunate interactions sticking to the cycle lanes and a slower pace, etc. but still its asking less on the skill of other road users).

End of the day though that van driver needs taking off the road if you watch the bit towards the end when hes in the distance his driving is atrocious and likely to get someone hurt or worse sooner or later.

 

[Nevakonaza]

cycle paths

Dont get me started on Cycle paths,Theres one Cycle path in my area near the town and doesn't matter if people see you coming on your bike on it..the majority wont move over off the cycle side of the payment they just carry on walking on the cycle path with their friends in a line blocking off the whole footpath.

You cant win,You go on the road..get abuse shouted at you with them generally moaning or trying to have a laugh by blasting their horn..if you go on the pavement you get people moan too..

As for the comments,It should be law to have to wear an Helmet..a helmets not going to save you if a bus or lorry takes you under their wheels.

We need more cycle lanes in this country.

 

[Reality|Bites]

I was sure that there was no hard fast rule that you aren't allowed to cycle on the pavement, Obviously you have to be careful of pedestrians and not cycle like your in the Tour de France. Here in Glasgow we have cycle paths painted on some pavements.

 

[neil_g]

As for the comments,It should be law to have to wear an Helmet..a helmets not going to save you if a bus or lorry takes you under their wheels.

.

No but it might, just might, stop you having to eat through a tube and have your nearest wipe your bum for you after you've smacked your head.

 

[Diddums]

Dont get me started on Cycle paths,Theres one Cycle path in my area near the town and doesn't matter if people see you coming on your bike on it..the majority wont move over off the cycle side of the payment they just carry on walking on the cycle path with their friends in a line blocking off the whole footpath.

You cant win,You go on the road..get abuse shouted at you with them generally moaning or trying to have a laugh by blasting their horn..if you go on the pavement you get people moan too..

As for the comments,It should be law to have to wear an Helmet..a helmets not going to save you if a bus or lorry takes you under their wheels.

We need more cycle lanes in this country.

I'm yet to come across a group of people who don't move over if I ring my bell, which incidentally, is a legal requirement on every bicycle sold in the UK.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

As for the comments,It should be law to have to wear an Helmet..a helmets not going to save you if a bus or lorry takes you under their wheels.

Three years ago I woke up in A&E and that was with a helmet on, if I hadn't I'd probably be dead or a vegetable.
My RTA last Friday had me hitting the floor with my head and I know it would have really hurt without my helmet.
Why take chances?

 

[Rroff]

I'm yet to come across a group of people who don't move over if I ring my bell, which incidentally, is a legal requirement on every bicycle sold in the UK.

I see plenty of people who'll stop to talk blocking the cycle path near me and get funny with any cyclist who remonstrates with them, vice versa they think nothing of blocking the pedestrian bit with no consideration for others as well.

There is a bit like this as well (left pedestrian, right cycle):


|........|........|
|........|........|
|........|........|
|........|........|
|.................|
|=====........|
|.................|
|........=====|
|.................|
|........|........|
|........|........|
|........|........|
|........|........|


Especially mums with their push chairs love to stop and talk right in the middle of the chicane bit (railings sticking out from each side to stop vehicles using the path) and then act like you are inconveniencing them if you ask them politely to move.

Also been cussed at by cyclists a few times for having to unavoidably go into the cycle bit sometimes i.e. someone left a car parked over the pedestrian side even though I make sure not to just step out infront of them, etc.

 

[FoxEye]

If a cop pulls up to me and says "can you ride on the road instead of the path, sir?"
I reply with "as long as you honor you oath and leave me alone, constable"
Then just carry on riding on the path.

Eh? What on Earth do you mean? Do you really say that, and if so, why?

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Eh? What on Earth do you mean? Do you really say that, and if so, why?

I hadn't got a clue what he was on about either.

I've been questioned only once when a cop car pulled round the corner and I was on a short bit of the pavement that I sometimes get on to if motorists are up my backside.
He asked me what I was doing there so I said "Tell you what, let's swap transport and you ride up here with these idiots trying to maim you" and he just smiled and drove off.

 

[wickfut]

Quite a few people at work cycle in with the cycle to work scheme. A couple of them have had quite lucky escapes with just broken bones by going under wagons. The roads here are quite dangerous with a constant stream of high power cars racing down them at any hour of the day.
I cycle on the pavement, I don't go too fast and I slow right down when I'm near people.
If anyone tried to purposely block me/knock me off with a shopping bag or by sticking a foot out then they'd lose some teeth.

... and police cars pass me all the time and don't even look at me.

 

[Nevakonaza]

No but it might, just might, stop you having to eat through a tube and have your nearest wipe your bum for you after you've smacked your head.

Or you could just cycle on the pavement where its much safer.

 

[Tefal]

Would they? Depends on force. In Hampshire it'd go to RPU and I don't know how they handle jobs like this, but as long as they have a clear shot they could do some enquiries.

If you have helmet cam footage and decide to report it, I'd be interested in your experience.

I haven't got a cam yet but after this last off I'm going to get one the amount of idiots I see doing it on the motorway is seriously annoying me.

 

[Tefal]

In newcastle they created the cycling lane of death where cyclists are encouraged to share a lane with vehicles over 7.5tons, buses and taxis

Is the reason for this because so many cyclists die to lorries over 7.5tons in london? are they trying to assassinate us but make it look like an accident?
That bramble van looks like one that parks on my street :O

Interestingly in London when they started letting motorcycle use the bus lane fatalities dropped 13% amongst bikers