[Closed] Pavement cycling insanity

cycists on the pavement piss me off - but not as much as the ones who go through red lights.....
but then thats just part of natural selection.

I love this - STW at its finest - go thru a red light or not wear a helmet you are the devil incarnate. but riding on pavements is fine

Or to put it another way.

.

"it's [b]always ok for me[/b] to decide when it's safe to ride through a red light.

But it's [b]Never ok for you[/b] to decide when it's safe to ride on a pavement"

.

Dos that sound a bit better ?

cycists on the pavement piss me off

Lucky you're not from Hudds then, not likely I'm going to piss you off.

A question for you then. On one of my regular rides I come along a country lane to a T junction with a very busy dual carriageway. I want to turn right. So to be legal I have to cross all 4 lanes of the dual carriageway, ride along it where there is no pavement but it is a just a long left hand bend for about 500m before I want to turn right again on to another country lane. So I then have to cross another 4 lanes to get back to where I want to be. It can take 15 minutes to make each crossing. It's VERY busy, it's blind because of the bend and there are cars doing 70mph+ and trucks doing 56mph nose to tail.

Or I could ride 500m along a pavement without touching the dual carriageway. The nearest house is at least 2 miles away, there are no buildings and I bet the pavement is used maybe once a month if that. yes, I could walk it but why?

So TJ be honest. What would you do? Genuinely interested.

boriselbrus

Hard to say without knowing it but it does sound pretty dodgy. got a google earth link?

something like that there may be a point - my initial post said [i]almost[/i] never.

I used to have a similar sort of dilemma ( but 30 Mphroad) that I used - fortunately the pavement is now marked dual use but I did ride the pavement a few times before it was but sometimes I did use the road.

I do and have got off my bike and walked it along pavements to avoid jams and dodgy bits of road / roundabouts - urban only tho

Theres a guy I see very often on my way home riding along a quite narrow pavement. Dressed in full floro gear, helmet, lights etc. Purposely walk in the middle of the path to force him to stop or onto the road in the face of oncoming traffic. Despite this, every evening nearly he rides along towards me expecting me to move...

Not that I have that much against riding on otherwise clear pavements. Its just at the end of a day at work, I'm a proper cruel b*****d.

Neal - apart from thats not my argument.

I will go thru red lights when its safer for me to do so than to wait for green - I do not do it for my convenience.

If I want to use a pavement for my safety I get off my bike and walk it. I very very rarely cycle on pavements. I cannot remember the last time I did.

I will go thru red lights when its safer for me to do so than to wait for green - I do not do it for my convenience.

sometimes TJ I just can't work out if you are on the constant wind-up. Of course going through a red light is for your convenience. It is more convenient for you to be safe. Anyhoo...

Pavement riding isn't a problem really so long as you have full consideration of others if they are about. And jumping off kerbs is proper rad, everyone knows that 🙂

Cycling on pavements winds up the public

So does riding with no lid... What do you propose.

whippersnapper Can you not see the difference - I wait at most red lights. However there are one or two that by going a bit early I can avoid a dangerous pinch point so do so as its safer. I do not do it to be quicker, only to be safer.

If I feel the danger merits using the pavement I will usually walk on it not ride. Sometimes I use a pavement for convenience - again I will walk not ride along it.

I do find it amusing that people condemn RLJ absolutly but condone riding on pavements - I posted up the contrary position I hold to show this up.

Pavement riding isn't a problem really so long as you have full consideration of others if they are about.

I very rarely use the pavement....in fact on my commute there is only one point I sometimes use it, on a three lane section which is sometimes snarled up and barely enough room left on the road to cycle. If I am on the pavement and I see someone, then yes, walking pace. I could get off, much like you could wait for a green light.

I am not against doing what you do either*, I just found that particular sentence quite amusing. I appreciate your RLJing is done with consideration.

* unless it was the complete idiot on a Pinarello who I hurled much abuse at on Kentish Town Road recently who steamed through a red light about a half a foot away from a crossing pedestrian.

I do find it amusing that people condemn RLJ absolutly but condone riding on pavements

I didn't say I condoned riding on pavements.

I just pointed out that you seem to think nobody else is allowed judgment calls other than you.

You Jump red lights because you presume you know best (maybe you do)

And other people ride on the pavement for exactly the same reason.

Why are they automatically wrong, but you are automatically right ?

Neal - do you ever bother to read posts? I gave you the courtesy of explaining this above.

If yo want to take your bike on the pavement fine - just walk it.

Rather than RLJ, why not get off and push your bike along the pavement and cross the road like a pedestrian?

Why not get off and walk when the lights are red ?

(and yes, I do read the posts thanks. I just happen to think yours are showing off your superiority complex quite spectacularly)

Because it wouldn't get me thru the pinch point before the cars arrive. I need to be ahead of the cars to avoid getting squished. At the junctions in question you get a gap in the traffic that allows me to negotiate a pinch point and a right turn in traffic free roads if I go thru the lights 30 seconds early.

Walk accross, Wait till the cars have gone, then set off again before the next lot.

It's pretty simple.

But it would require admitting your way wasn't the "only way" so it'll never happen eh 😉

But its against the law TJ.
You've decided its safer for you to break the law for your own safety.
I ride on the pavement for my own safety when the road conditions are dangerous.
There's no difference.

Exactly right Hugor.

[b]i find this thread a bit stupid!
if you are confident to cycle on the road and you are not worried about the recklessness of certain motorist then ride in the road, if you find it safer and do so courteously ride on the pavement.
until we get safer allocated cycle lanes that have barriers to stop vehicles entering the lane or parking in them then ride where you feel safe.[/b]

zoota couldnt agree more theres been 3cyclists killed near me in as many months by motorists, sad thought set off going to work never coming home ride where you feel safe. never mind other peoples views its your life as far as im aware you only get 1

To tell the truth I always ride on the pavement. Well I do live in Milton Keynes and we have red ways. But it is down to your own safety. I have had times that I have had to get of the road and onto the pavement due to the poor drivers on the road. If you do have to go onto the pavement all you have to do is be courteous. The reason why most of the petrolhead hate cyclist and push us of the roads is due to cyclist jumping red light and not following the highway code as they are ment too. So if you want to have a complaint about someone how does not feel safe to ride in the road and uses a bike to get from A to B and not as a hobbie, think of your action. As jumping red light has no excuse. You already have the vehicles behide you so they have to wait.

There is an eight mile stretch of road from my home town to the next.. Single lane traffic in each direction.. Always chocca with cars.. 90% of it national speed limit (the other 10% 50mph).. no way for cars to get past a bike.

There is a well maintained path the whole way.. In my 40+ years I have NEVER seen a single person walking this path..

So I a: ride on the path, allowing traffic to move freely and avoid being hit, yet suffer the wrath of TJ, the resident upholder of the law (Just the bits he thinks we should mind though)

Or b: Ride on the road holding up traffic for 8 miles and risking being hit.

and TJ.. I NEVER ride though red lights.

I ride on the pavement almost every single time I ride a bike. I'll also run red lights whenever I feel like it. There are two sets of lights half a mile from that if they are on red I'll actually hop on the pavement to avoid stopping for.
Couldn't really GAF what any of you think.

There are plenty of pavements alongside trunk roads that rarely see a pedestrian - nowt wrong with using those if you wish & especially for reasons outlined above - in fact when I was doing the old cycle awareness courses for the local school the county council positively encouraged using the pavement alongside the A40

hugor - Member

But its against the law TJ.
You've decided its safer for you to break the law for your own safety.
I ride on the pavement for my own safety when the road conditions are dangerous.
There's no difference.

there is a big difference. its about the heirachy - you are making the pavements a threatening and less pleasant place for pedestrians - doing to the peds what the cars do to you on the road. You can still ensure your safety by walking your bike. Yo uare comprimising the pedestrians safety for your own.

neal - why do you spend so much time trying to prove me wrong?
actually that wouldn't work either unless I waited thru a full cycle of the lights during which time I would be blocking a narrow pavement.

Really mike - where do they say that? Have the repealed the relevant parts of the road traffic act?

When the fixed penalty notices were brought in, they made it clear that they distinguished between cyclists choosing to ride sensibly on the pavement because they were avoiding a dangerous piece of road and those doing so recklessly. Relevant references here:

As far as I know, they have never made this differentiation for RLJers.

GW
My tyres are that fat i can ride on both the road and pavement at the same time 😀

Thats suggesting they might not prosecute some people - its still illegal.
I get cauhgt RLJing then I will pay my fine happily.

TJ you are such a hypocrite.
You advocate RLJ'ing, but abhorr cycling on the pavement, but you then said

I used to have a similar sort of dilemma ( but 30 Mphroad) that I used - fortunately the pavement is now marked dual use [b]but I did ride the pavement a few times before it was[/b] but sometimes I did use the road.

GW - Member
Couldn't really GAF what any of you think.

Hard to say without knowing it but it does sound pretty dodgy. got a google earth link?

TJ — I've paid one fixed penalty fine for jumping a red while riding and vowed not to stop if ever caught again.

Bigyinn- do you actually bother to read what I write? I do not advocate RLJing - id do it occasionally when its the safest way to proceed

that was an honest answer to a question - my original post said [b][i]almost[/i][/b] never 🙄

I have not berated anyone - merely questioned them asked them to justify it. Borelsbuis outied out situation that I accepted could be justified.

Ironic name wee man? 😉

neal - why do you spend so much time [b]trying to prove me wrong[/b]?

I dont, I just point it out when its obvious.

I spend very little time on it, when its this obvious, its easy.

thanks for asking.

Why are all taking TJ so literally? He said 'almost' never a good reason to ride on pavement not 'never'. As for the ' it's ok if you're considerate to pedestrians' comment what about if there are kids about, or old people who are intimidated by an adulton a bike on a pavement. Riding a bike on a pavement where there are pedestrians is as selfish and inconsiderate to the pedestrians as a motorist using a mobile phone is to other road users.

To your credit TJ when you do go down, you usually go down swinging.
Your arguments here are a bit contradictory.
You came out very dogmatic stating that riding on pavements was completely wrong under any circumstances, but condone running lights in the same sentence.
You have a right to express your opinion but when you pass personal judgement people take offence.
Neil is not being personal here, he just finds your superiority complex and attitude a bit offensive. I think many others do too.
Even when I agree with your point of view TJ, I wanna take an opposing view just to put you back in your place.
Its just in the delivery mate.

You came out very dogmatic stating that riding on pavements was completely wrong under any circumstances,

No I did not. try actually reading what I wrote [b]Almost never[/b] I wrote and I accepted boreslsubus situation could be justified

Only been cycling all over the uk for 40 years and never cycle on pavements.

those of you scared to ride on the road do some training FFS and gain some confidence.

you need to get some training then to understand how to ride safely on the road and gain the confidence to do so.
Cyclecraft book is a good starting point

It might actually be that their roads are unacceptably dangerous.
Every week around here is another story of some cyclist killed on the roads.
There was one a few hours ago.
We are all entitled to choose our risks.

Do you actually know how many cyclists are killed each year - check the stats you might be suprised. cycling is a very safe activity.

Every week around here is another story of some cyclist killed on the roads

is complete bullshine. edit - around a hundred cyclists year across the whole of the UK - and a good % of those in london. there is no way on earth its every week in your area

chose your risks by all means but try to be rational about it and look at real risk

chose your risks by all means but try to be rational about it and look at real risk

I drive past a cyclists grave every morning - the flowers are regularly replaced so he must be very missed.
Its in my street.
That street also has a cycle lane and a primary school.
Thats real and rational enough for me.

Folk riding through the footpath diversion at Shandwick place in Edinburgh annoy me.

Guess I annoy you then. I've done that a few times.

Seriously, as long as you aren't bombing the pavements I don't think there is any problem. If you are going at near enough walking pace I'd be amazed if you got into any bother. I haven't.

It's quite simple in my view. RLJ if you want to, especially if it's safer; and ride on the pavement if it's convenient, but don't intimidate pedestrians while you do it. Intimidation is basically riding above a walking pace on the pavement anywhere near a pedestrian (so you might as well get off and walk) and riding through a red light when someone is crossing or about to cross the road. Those pedestrians are probably drivers too so makes sense to be nice to them and show that you have respect for more vulnerable road users.

They were discussing this very subject on the BBC news this morning..

Someone was suggesting that the cyclists should use the pavement and not the roads.

There was only one subject that pretty much unanimously got peoples back up.. RLJing

TJ... looks like you should have spent some of them 40 years learning that your opinion is not the only opinion.