No, because what your suggesting is that he cycle at 5mph, hanging to the kerb, because of inconsiderate motorists.
Cyclists on pavements, do police really care?
- Thread starter diamount
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No, because what your suggesting is that he cycle at 5mph, hanging to the kerb, because of inconsiderate motorists.
Too busy doing their makeup, eating cereal and exchanging texts with someone they are going to see in 5 minutes anyhow :S
Soldato
And I'm sure many motorists have road surface that isn't being looked after properly, or the pedestrians who have to avoid trip hazard or bad placement that doesn't get fixed. I personally passed my CBT not so long ago (for riding a motorbike), and some of the roads are pretty dangerous for me to even ride on.
Plus they are only reporting on the worst and yes I agree, they need changing, but I bet most aren't as bad as you see being reported. Only the worst will ever make the news.
I don't say I'd like them off the paths / roads. However, for those who would like to share the path with those of us that walk, cyclists needs more consideration for other people they may pass. Not everyone is bad and I applaud all those who do things properly but some just ruin things for everyone else.
Soldato
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God yeah, this too. Another reason I don't like cycling in the road past parked cars, I deliberately always go wide but I always thought one day someone is going to open a door and send me flying on my head.
applies to everyone not just cyclists.
pedestrians are far more chaotic than anyone else, just walk down a busy high street and see how zig zag like your path has to be because people can't stick to a straight line and give each other space
people with pushchairs forcing their way along not giving a crap about anyone else because they are special.
students walking 3-5 abreast blocking the whole path and cycling lane, people stood yapping in the middle of a busy path expecting others to walk around them etc.
oh and those lovely dog users who can't get their dog to walk in a straight line without the lead almost being wrapped around someone's legs
why don't they get treated with the same discord cyclists do?
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provided the cyclist isn't obstructing the pavement or cycling dangerously, I don't give a toss if they're on the pavement. I find it far more frustrating when I get stuck behind them on the road.
I don't ride a bike anymore, but if I did I'd ride it on the pavement in heavy traffic areas because I wouldn't want to get hit by a driver.
And yes, police have better things to do than write up tickets for cyclists. Unless he is cycling at high speed with Ben Hur style wheels then I doubt it's a priority.
if police aren't fining cyclists on the pavement then it's probably because they are taking into account how unsafe the road seems next to it imo.
I've seen the police pull cyclists driving past my house when it's dark and they have lights fitted.
I guess they care more about peoples safety than handing out £30 fines
I'd still rather use the road though than risk £30 and generally the road is much faster because you aren't dodging lamp posts,signs and big green boxes/bins
I'm actually not - his positioning, approach, etc. is that of an advanced cyclist but from the video he doesn't seem to make enough allowance that other road users (muppet van drivers or otherwise) might not have the same level of ability while somewhat putting himself in their hands with his reduced rear visibility. I might be completely wrong but from the video he doesn't seem to think that is his responsibility when IMO its a little less surprising he might fall foul of other road users through a stretch of road like that.
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Soldato
I'm not singling anyone out. I see everything you describe and the only real difference being is that is it less cause of injury (with the exception for something like people blocking cycle lanes). But you must also take into account that walking is freedom and riding / driving is to go in a specific direction. When using the paths for cycling it should give the freedom to go any direction but it also means having common sense.
It still doesn't excuse anyone acting that way, or those who drive over the speed limit and those who ride carelessly throughout pedestrians.
I'm sure when someone passes these people, they will feel the same things as they do against all those who are possible disruptions. It isn't just cyclists who get brought up on this and if the police aren't going to bring up cyclists for this, than why should they bring up pedestrians for similar things?
Problem being is there isn't really a way to tackle pedestrians unless thy are causing obvious disruption.
Man of Honour
The camera doesn't seem to be helmet mounted so I'm not sure how you can be so certain that the rider hasn't done multiple shoulder checks to make sure he is clear to pull out, I'd find it hard to believe someone cycling like that just totally ignores whatever is going on behind them and just hopes drivers are paying attention.
Soldato
Funny how a lot of folk, do not really get the way it works in the UK.
Though this thread is a good example of how it does.
A strange mix of 'Liberal Dracoinianism'.
Draconian in the sense that we have laws for so many little things, but Liberal in the way that practical use is left to common sense, even if you are breaking a silly little law.
Of course, if you get caught, probably because you were not using actual common sense while doing what you were doing... then the law can fall back on the law and do you for being a berk.
A lot of that ^^ strikes me as exactly what a lot of britian is all about. For good...
...and for bad - when we start talking about some of the darker dracoinian/perverted/Authoritarian side/nature of some of the UK's upper echelons of society. What about all the turning of blind eyes there?
Not so long ago we were being told that the Sex Pistols were the most dangerous thing out there for our kids/young adults.
All while certain other molesting people were being proffered as wholesome family entertainers.
Though this thread is a good example of how it does.
A strange mix of 'Liberal Dracoinianism'.
Draconian in the sense that we have laws for so many little things, but Liberal in the way that practical use is left to common sense, even if you are breaking a silly little law.
Of course, if you get caught, probably because you were not using actual common sense while doing what you were doing... then the law can fall back on the law and do you for being a berk.
A lot of that ^^ strikes me as exactly what a lot of britian is all about. For good...
...and for bad - when we start talking about some of the darker dracoinian/perverted/Authoritarian side/nature of some of the UK's upper echelons of society. What about all the turning of blind eyes there?
Not so long ago we were being told that the Sex Pistols were the most dangerous thing out there for our kids/young adults.
All while certain other molesting people were being proffered as wholesome family entertainers.
Soldato
the cyclist in the video was me, I cycle lots in London, camera is mounted right in the center of the bike, below stem.
the van driver was far behind me as you can see in the video he wasn't anywhere near, he simply got out of traffic jam and went straight for me - not provoked etc, I reviewed the video later and the first time I saw him was stuck in a traffic a few minutes before the above happened. I was taking a primary position as you do, over taking a cyclist, leaving him enough room etc. IMO from my point of view I have done NOTHING wrong and I have not provoked those actions, I caught up with him in traffic later and sure as hell he ignored me, he knew exactly what he did and I'm glad he only tickled my elbow.
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".
I've seen one of your longer videos and I must say you're a very good cyclist. Only a handful of times have I had the pleasure of being in traffic with cyclists who can actually ride a bike like a pro and don't take the ****.
That van driver took the ****, there was no need to ease to the left like that he should have waited one second then swung out.
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Soldato
There is a massive difference between pootling along (~5-8mph) with due care and attention around pedestrians plus passing driveways while on the pavement, compared to cycling furiously in as if trying to beat Wiggo's new 1 hour record.
Whenever I'm on the pavement, I'm going typically at <33% of the speed I can go at on the road, unless the shared pedestrian/cyle path has no walkers/runners ahead.
Whenever I'm on the pavement, I'm going typically at <33% of the speed I can go at on the road, unless the shared pedestrian/cyle path has no walkers/runners ahead.
I don't think it's an issue as long as it's clear, nessesary and proportionate to nip onto the pavement.
I ride mainly off road but there are a few pinch points in my local town where I will nip on and off the pavement, one example that springs to mind is a humpback bridge in the middle of an S-bend that cars tear around so I use the pavement, there's often pedestrians on there too, but none of them have ever given me dirty looks or said anything, I think in part as it's glaringly obvious that being on the road is a bit hairy at that point, and partly because I'm going at near enough walking speed, so can stop or dismount on a 2 pence coin if needed
It's just about being sensible and courteous.
Tow paths cause far more aggro in my experience, the signage says, pedestrians have right of way, listen for cyclists bells and allow them past. Cyclists : ring bell twice,slow and prepare to stop.
The issue arises when pedestrians either don't hear or simply ignore the bell, (when simply saying excuse me' after ringing my bell and slowing almost to a stop I've had 'use your ****** bell! Can't win sometimes! ) don't get me wrong some cyclists are rude, not slowing down etc but so are some pedestrians, who I'm sure block the towpath on purpose.
99%of people seem fine though and apply some common sense, I literally couldn't count the number of times I've almost hit a dog or person, but I'm going slow enough to literally anchor on an put mm feet down and stop, and they normally apologise, so that's fine with me, i just say no worries and carry on my way.
I ride mainly off road but there are a few pinch points in my local town where I will nip on and off the pavement, one example that springs to mind is a humpback bridge in the middle of an S-bend that cars tear around so I use the pavement, there's often pedestrians on there too, but none of them have ever given me dirty looks or said anything, I think in part as it's glaringly obvious that being on the road is a bit hairy at that point, and partly because I'm going at near enough walking speed, so can stop or dismount on a 2 pence coin if needed
It's just about being sensible and courteous.
Tow paths cause far more aggro in my experience, the signage says, pedestrians have right of way, listen for cyclists bells and allow them past. Cyclists : ring bell twice,slow and prepare to stop.
The issue arises when pedestrians either don't hear or simply ignore the bell, (when simply saying excuse me' after ringing my bell and slowing almost to a stop I've had 'use your ****** bell! Can't win sometimes! ) don't get me wrong some cyclists are rude, not slowing down etc but so are some pedestrians, who I'm sure block the towpath on purpose.
99%of people seem fine though and apply some common sense, I literally couldn't count the number of times I've almost hit a dog or person, but I'm going slow enough to literally anchor on an put mm feet down and stop, and they normally apologise, so that's fine with me, i just say no worries and carry on my way.
LOL two women were pushing a pram through a local park a few years ago, I went past them slowly on the grass so they wouldn't feel like I was invading their space or whatever.
I then slipped off the bike about 25ft infront of them on a bunch of wet leaves.
One said to the other "He shouldn't be riding through parks anyway!"
I was just like WTF? just thinking to my self how big a **** most people are even if you ride past them respectfully
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Soldato
I ride on the path every single day. I don't trust drivers at all. Especially knowing how some of the people i know round here drive. No thanks!