I can't admit to doing it because I'm afraid, just avoiding a complicated junction and getting to work on time, along with about half-a-dozen others... I normally cycle it very carefully and mostly on the very edge between the road and the line of trees, but this morning I switched to the inside as I neared the junction where I get back on the road, as there seemed like the space to do it. Seems either he had decided to suddenly "take me down" or had simply wandered momentarily off his course, at exactly the wrong moment... and then turned into an arsehole.
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Pavement cycling.
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Posted 1 year ago #
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isn't he allowed to break the law if it is to stop a greter crime being committed?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Don't know. Perhaps it's a Garbo maneuvre.
Posted 1 year ago # -
A what?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Pearls before very slow swine... read your post again. Or learn to spell, perhaps.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I made a typo, it's you that can't spell 'manoeuvre'
See, I got the Garbo bit. My post was pointing out the irony.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Tis a bit stupid to cycle on the pavement at any time, so I can see why he was annoyed and his comment was fair. His reaction was not.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yesterday I got out of my car and crossed the pavement to enter the bank and some idiot came around the corner on his bike on the pavement and nearly hit me, I said idiot he slammed to a halt asking what I'd said, I repeated you idiot, he said no you didn't you said something else, I said you should not be on the pavement you nearly hit me, he said come on then do you want some, I laughed he jumped off his bike and came towards me, I laughed again he pushed me but didn't budge he got on his bike and road off, when I came out of the bank I saw him again he shouted you called me a tit I said no an idiot but I can call you a tit if you like. He was still cycling on the pavement.
Posted 1 year ago # -
So OP you are using the pavement instead of the road purely as a measure of convenience to speed your journey
That is simply wrong and I have no sympathy for you. If its that crucial then walk the bike
Posted 1 year ago # -
Recently cycling along a back street in Ambleside a guy jumped left into my path swearing about what a **** I was.
It was a bit weird but assumed he'd had a bad experience with mountain bikers previously
Also I cycle which ever way I choose whether it be on the road, pavement, footpaths, lanes - never had an issue - always pay attention to foot traffic and smile and say hello when necessary
Plum
Posted 1 year ago # -
That is simply wrong and I have no sympathy for you. If its that crucial then walk the bike
No sympathy? That's a tin-eared sentiment given that the OP was attacked on his bike, and we're all cyclists here.Cycling on the pavement is poor (doubly poor on a brompton tbh), but the response was excessive. A barge off the bike by someone much bigger, followed by a foot through the back wheel? Way, way out of line and not a very nice thing to experience I reckon. Can in no way be equated to the 'crime' of cycling on the pavement such that you would have no sympathy, ie he deserved it.
Surprised you wrote that tbh TJ, are you bevvied?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Surprised you wrote that tbh TJ, are you bevvied?
Had a couple - well spotted.
I can't find the words to express it properly without sounding " she was asking for it m'lud"
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If he wasn't riding on the pavement then he wouldn't have been in that situation. I get very frustrated with folk who ride on the pavement - there is no need. If I go on the pavement I push the bikePosted 1 year ago # -
Pedestrians have every right to walk on the pavement if you get barged off -tough you shouldn't be there in the first place!
Posted 1 year ago # -
and after all, we've only hear Mr Woppit's side of the story. Given what i know of Woppit and what I know of this complete stranger, i reckon it was Woppit's fault and he got away light.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm trying to figure out exactly where Woppit was riding, as his description seems a little vague. I'm imagining it might have been along East Smithfield, where the pavements can be very busy during morning rush-hour and indeed throughout the day. Or by the side of the basin itself, where only parts are wide enough to cycle along, although I don't think you're sposed to. Either way, it's a very busy area, full of commuters all trying to get to work.
We do only have Woppit's account, but I don't think he's the type to front up to some big bloke who's just barged him off his bike, somehow.
Posted 1 year ago # -
No, surprised he didn't disappear into thin air once he realised he was in the wrong.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm trying to figure out exactly where Woppit was riding, as his description seems a little vague.
I thought it was very precise......"Pavement alongside the wall at the boundary of St Katherine's Dock, Wapping".
Woppit Was In Wapping.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Did have a similar incident years ago in Aberdeen. First job out of school saw me working at a tailor's shop half way down a 10 metre one way street.
In order to get to the shop, I usually coasted very slowly on one pedal, (both legs on one side of the crossbar) the five metres down the one way street on the pavement. One morning, an elderly, mustachioed gent was coming towards me and deliberately got in my way. I coasted over to the other side of the pavement and he once again put himself in my path.
He then started shouting about bikes on the pavement and kicked out. I bounced off the wall and back into him, knocking him over and landing on top of him, along with my bike.
Fortunately for me, he wasn't badly hurt and his swearing and ranting at passers by caused them to point and laugh (his hat was stuck half way over his face). I did a lap of the block before going to work just in case though.
Posted 1 year ago # -
No, surprised he didn't
disappear into thin airgo and make dinner/go to bed/get bored with me once he realised he wasin the wrongstruggling to communicate sense to the slightly dim.I'm tempted to look out for the thug on following mornings and wind him up from a distance, but the other thing that would be tempting would be fate.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Any pavements outside of a 30 limit are fair game for riding, I doubt you'd ever get stopped as you're keeping the carriageway clear. How many pedestrians do you ever see on the stretches of road in between towns and villages anyway?
Posted 1 year ago # -
and wind him up from a distance
Are you sure that is wise? Have you much experience of doing things like that? It does sound safe. Then you won't have to defend yourself in any way. Good luck.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Ta. I think I'll let it lie.
I think the forum is right, I shouldn't be cycling along that bit of pavement anyway so I think I'll stick to going down East Smithfield on the road.
Don't want to risk another confrontation OR a hit on the bank balance for taxis and bike repairs (in at the LBS right now...).
Still do a cheeky fade across the traffic to avoid the worst of the junction, though...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I think I'll stick to going down East Smithfield on the road.
I hope you realise that you are giving out far too much information and simply encouraging the elfinman to lay in wait for you - so that he can pounce on you one morning and launch into a prolonged and sustained verbal ear-bashing attack, the likes of which you have never experienced, and which will undoubtedly cause you to lose the will to live.
Just warning you like.........so look out amongst the snowy wintry scenery on your way to work, for a little elf who appears to have escaped from Santa's grotto
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'm on a black Brompton, dressed in black, with a red and black Respro bandana, wrap-around Brikos and (currently) a black winter peaked hat, although this will change to an olive-coloured one if the weather improves slightly. Also carrying a blue and khaki coloured "North Face" backpack. I'm usually going along there at about 08:35 and then 17:55.....
Say hi.
Posted 1 year ago # -
What you might be better off doing; come over Tower Bridge, but then stop just before it goes past the Tower, and walk down the stairs and under the bridge, then go under the Guoman hotel, follow St Katherine's Way round the southern side of the basin, then turn north into Thomas More St. That way, you'll avoid East Smithfield, and irate pedestrians. Won't really take you any longer tbh.
Posted 1 year ago # -
hhhmmmm ... tricky situation you got there.
My red mist tells me to own him with a bomber Z1 for kicking and damaging the wheel.
But my angelic side told me you were taking your chances by riding on pavement full of ****ts anyway.
I am afraid not much of a suggestion unless the person caused heavy damage to your bike in that case turn the person into permanent veg.
Posted 1 year ago # -
brraaap! brrrap! brrrap! that's da sound of the stw police. I have cycled on a pavement/non-cycling area more than once. OMG I'm a terrible person, but, with the help of God, I'm trying to make amends. At least I'm honest with myself. Common sense will prevail next time eh Woppit?.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yeah but you're a wally.
Pends though dunnit? I mean, if it's a big wide pavement, there's not too many people about and you're riding sensibly, then no problem, but rush hour praps isn't the best time to do it really.
Posted 1 year ago # -
so? there are worse things to be. I could be Hora!
^^ like I say, common sense. Just depends. I rode pavement all the way home from work tonight cos I forgot light, The roads are dodgy and the pavements were covered in nice crunchy snow, but well lit.. I knew there would be zero peds. so what!
Posted 1 year ago # -
This is true, this is true.
UN CENT!
Posted 1 year ago # -
As an analogy - there are dcikhead kids on bmx's razzing around outside asda's causing a nuisance on a totally pedestrianised bit, no cycling. Security have a word, which makes little difference over time. so the kids just mess about. sometimes they get grief off customers. It's normal. They ride about and have fun mostly, one or two have been hit by people/cars. Guess that's the chance you take. On yer own head eh?, got no real sympathy woppit, but hey, on another day you could've been squashed by a drunk driver. It's all relative.
and on another note - Llandudno promenade is for pedestrians only, but it is so wide that cyclists use it to escape the busy narrow road along the prom. I use it. I get grief everytime, not from ordinary peds, but from jobsworths enforcing some daft local law.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I think in this weather you cycle where ever and how ever you can.
Like everyone else, just getting to where you're going is the only thing that matters.Posted 1 year ago # -
I've found that fading across the oncoming traffic lane and using the road is actually faster.
There you go.
Or rather, I do...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I never step aside for anyone riding a bike on the pavement, and politely point out to them that as a 'proper biker' the last thing we need is people like them getting the rest of us a bad name. only had one adverse reaction so far, which I dealt with by running away.
Will make exceptions for small children.
If you 'have' to use the pavement, get off and walk!Posted 1 year ago # -
I see the police riding on the pavement all the time here, and I've stopped next to police cars when I press the button for the green man to cross the road a busy points :D, never had a word said to me. I'll generally ride on the road but if a pavement is clear and the road is overly busy pavement wins every time for me, up hill section is where i'll usually ride on the pavement mind you, and always on the road on the downhill or flat. You just need to ride with care and be courteous to pedestrians imo. My experience tells me that's how the law views it up here as well, in Glasgow btw.
Only time the police have stopped me on the bike was cycling back from the pub one time with no lights. They told me to get on the pavement.
Posted 1 year ago #
Topic Closed
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