Cyclists on pavements, do police really care?

cheesyboy · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:21

Haggisman said:
So a single isolated incident - lets compare that to how many cyclists are killed cycling on the road every day shall we?

Or compare how many pavement deaths are caused by cars against how many are caused by bikes.

neil_g · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:21

Steampunk said:
You can't excuse bad behaviour by saying "everyone else does it too".

didnt say that. merely pointing out everyone bitches about each other as the minority of each group tends to ruin it for the others.

cheesyboy · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:23

remy87 said:
I noticed this too when i was using no helmet and helmet. But its better wear one because the old mentality, better to wear something than nothing at all.

Were you meaning to quote my post of cars driving closer to helmet-wearers (you didn't)?

It's probably not "better to wear something than nothing at all" if wearing one makes you more likely to be hit, and when you are hit to offer basically no protection.

Stretch · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:30

Cycling on the pavement is permited in cambridge providing the following conditions apply.

A) The council need to improve their "cycling rout" stats.
B) The council can't be bothered to build a propert cycle rout.
C) A man from the council has access to some paint, and is capable of painting vague lines.

Cosimo · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:37

Haggisman said:
Yup, a really awesome idea, if you want to (pick one or more of the below):

A) injure your foot
B) have your face smashed into the pavement repeatedly
C) be charged with assault/manslaughter

Roll your eyes as much as you want.

You can use a shopping bag, block their way and I've not been injured. B&C will happen to them if they try anything. Now just keep off my pavement and have your fights with motorists. Oh and I do drive but only give respect on the road.

Haggisman · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:44

Cosimo said:
Just stick your foot out by accident as they cycle by. It works a treat.

Cosimo said:
Roll your eyes as much as you want.

Thanks, but I don't need your permission

Cosimo said:
You can use a shopping bag, block their way and I've not been injured. B&C will happen to them if they try anything. Now just keep off my pavement and have your fights with motorists. Oh and I do drive but only give respect on the road.

B&C?

Using a shopping bag to block their way is a bit different to sticking your foot out as they go past. The former I'd see as reasonable, the latter is likely to end in one of the outcomes I posted.

Oh, and it's not "your" pavement, hardly surprising you have an issue with cyclists with such a narcissistic attitude!!

Beerbaron · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:46

I saw a policeman in London a few weeks back pull over a cyclist on the pavement.

Gribs · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:51

Hyburnate said:
To be honest, if they're wobbling around I prefer they're on the pavement. In my opinion it should be required by law to be wearing a helmet if you're cycling on the road.

Do you feel you should wear one whilst driving too? You're more likely to suffer a head injury in a car.

ZG002 · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:55

I tend to mix and match depending on the situation, but I'm not a avid rider. If it's a busy pavement I will ride on the road, if its empty and traffic is having to make its way around me on the road I will use the pavement. I just do what I feel is safer for myself at any given time. Luckily most of the routes I ride have dedicated cycle paths/lanes.

MooMoo444 · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:55

maccapacca said:
This guy should be responsible for all cycle policy

Guy is a legend. Love that video.

Amp34 · 6 Jul 2015 at 10:55

Steampunk said:
I think the problem is that cyclists are thought of as being selfish and hypocritical. They claim car drivers should treat them as per the rules, then flout all road rules when it suits them. They complain how they are treated badly on the roads, so ride on the pavement and treat pedestrians in the same way they are complaining about.

And it's not just a few bad apples, there's a lot of selfish and ignorant cyclists out there bitching about car drivers and then ******** on pedestrians when it suits them. No wonder they get a bad rep from it.

Some places are just not suitable for cycles, so asking the world to change around them is never going to work.

http://news.sky.com/story/719315/driving-motorists-admit-to-breaking-speeding-laws

As many as 82% of drivers admitted to sometimes or frequently exceeding the limit, the poll by YouGov and insurance company Admiral found.

For male drivers, the figure was as high as 86%, while 78% of women motorists owned up to speeding.

Sorry, what were you saying again?

Oh and...

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2012/may/14/cycling-red-light-jumping-iam-survey

The IAM has subsequently re-sent the press release without an embargo and with a more nuanced introduction. This reads:

"Fifty-seven per cent of cyclists say they have jumped a red light at least once, with 14 per cent saying they do so regularly or sometimes, according to the IAM's latest online poll of 1600 people".

It also adds other details, for example the 32% of drivers who say they jump lights. Shame the headline still professes, "More than half of cyclists jump red lights," but, short of the IAM binning the entire sorry exercise, it's some progress.

Amp34 · 6 Jul 2015 at 11:02

Steampunk said:
You can't excuse bad behaviour by saying "everyone else does it too".

No, but picking on one group in particular when all are as bad as each other (or worse according to data) stinks.

Luckily cities are waking up and more and more city centres are (moving towards) becoming motorised traffic free.

thep02 · 6 Jul 2015 at 11:03

I don't and would rather the cyclist felt safe rather than a rule being enforced, if they hurt anyone that's their responsibility.

Steampunk · 6 Jul 2015 at 11:03

Amp34 said:
http://news.sky.com/story/719315/driving-motorists-admit-to-breaking-speeding-laws

Sorry, what were you saying again?

When you find a survey saying most car drivers admit to driving at 20-30 mph down pavements, then come back to me.

I don't see many car drivers blasting thought red lights with traffic going the other way, along pavements, through pedestrian tunnels and pedestrianised areas, across pedestrian crossings, etc, but I regularly see cyclists just not bothered to stick to the basic rules of traffic. The whole point of roads and pavements is to separate the pedestrians and the road traffic. Which one does the cyclist want to be?

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 6 Jul 2015 at 11:04

FoxEye said:
Hint: it's not the walkers or the cyclists who are borderline retarded.

The problem is some cyclists are 'borderline retarded' (as with many road users). I have sen a more than my fair share of them riding around with very little care and a frightening lack of awareness of how vulnerable they are on our roads/paths.

Drukk · 6 Jul 2015 at 11:06

In our area paths are being turned into joint pedestrian / cycle lanes which is obviously better for the bikes but not the pedestrians. The Government and councils are just trying to hit some ridiculous paper target so they can say they have achieved this and that but it really is all just a sham.

3 in to 2 does n't go, roads are not wide enough for everyone, cyclists and pedestrians will still be killed because of this and nothing of any consequence will change to prevent it.

I dare not let my 8 year old cycle with me on our village high street due to all the lorries that now come through the village, it is just down right dangerous.

MookJong · 6 Jul 2015 at 11:07

One of those areas that really just requires a bit of "common sense" luckily it seems the police in my area understand this leave you alone as long as you are not being dangerous.

When I am out on my bike I do a bit of pavement and a bit of road. around the seafront everyone is aware of bIkes on the pavement but there is plenty room for everyone. Down the side streets I use the road it is quiet and the surface is better.

cheesyboy · 6 Jul 2015 at 11:07

Steampunk said:
When you find a survey saying most car drivers admit to driving at 20-30 mph down pavements, then come back to me.

I don't see many car drivers blasting thought red lights, along pavements, through pedestrian tunnels and pedestrianised areas, across pedestrian crossings, etc, but I regularly see cyclists just not bothered to stick to the basic rules of traffic. The whole point of roads and pavements is to separate the pedestrians and the road traffic. Which one does the cyclist want to be?

Try and find a story about a cyclist killing a pedestrian on the pavement. Then try and find a story about a car driver doing the same (killing a pedestrian on the pavement). Which is the most common?

In fact, from 2009 to 2013 there was one incident of pedestrian death cause by cyclist on the pavement. There were 34 per year cause by cars on the pavement in that time:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/sites/default/files/file_public/pedestrians4rrv2.pdf

Vinno · 6 Jul 2015 at 11:12

I don't think I've seen anyone riding on the pavement in years! Unless I count myself lol.

On the extremely rare occasion that I ride my bike I won't hesitate to use the pavement if I'm riding through a dodgy bit of road. Id rather people think I'm a knob than get stuck under the wheels of a Lorry.

Haggisman · 6 Jul 2015 at 11:16

Vinno said:
Id rather people think I'm a knob than get stuck under the wheels of a Lorry.

And there (rightly or wrongly) lies the heart of the issue. Given a choice between staying alive, or staying on the right side of the law, which do you think the majority of people are going to choose?