Pavement cycling

[Steve vRS]

I think this copper must post in General Gassing...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/h...

Steve

[Herman Toothrot]

Extreme.

Anyway I can see why you get so many people cycling on pavements with the messed up cycle paths that zig zag up and down off roads and on to pavements randomly. Most peoe probably think it's what you are supposed to do as a result.

[aka_kerrly]

Herman Toothrot said:

Extreme.

Anyway I can see why you get so many people cycling on pavements with the messed up cycle paths that zig zag up and down off roads and on to pavements randomly. Most peoe probably think it's what you are supposed to do as a result.

Very good point there is a lack of consistency when it comes to cycle paths being marked out on roads and pavements.

I have relatives who live in the Mumbles and often go for walks & cycle rides along the sea front. It is amazing how many people will walk through the clearly marked cycle lane that runs the length of the seafront all the way to Swansea and then moan about cyclists.

Even more ironically after a local resident complained to the council and police about cyclists using the pavement (which is about 5-6m wide) on the Oystermouth road the council decided the best remedy was to split the path 50/50 cycle lane and pedestrian. The result, even more people riding the route and the council have said it's a big success as it encourages more people to cycle to work!

[Watchman]

Many of the pavements where i live have been turned into dual purpose ped/cycle paths. The cyclists outnumber the peds 10:1, if not more. People just do not walk.

Seems a good use of the infrastructure to me, although the occasional ped is found in the bike lane, leading to them moving left, and moving right, and then moving left again when you try to accommodate them.

Oh, and many dog walkers are still ignorant idiots who don't understand that they should move to the side of the path that their dog is on when the dog is on a 20m lead.

Still, I think it's a good use of the infrastructure.

[simonrockman]

It's easy

Roads: cars; hard, fast and dangerous, pay tax
Pavements: people, soft and squidgy, slow and much less dangerous, don't pay tax

Nipping onto the pavement to get out of the way of cars is the sensible thing to do.

To avoid the buses which want to kill you it's often essential.

[T1berious]

in the case of a small child on stabilisers accompanied by her parents I think it's perfectly fine, I'd even argue it should be encouraged as from there they'll gain confidence and maybe get enough to ride to school.

Imagine that?

Kids riding to school, well I never.

[il sole]

I'm currently training my 7 (almost 8) year old to ride safely on the road, but in general, if i go out with him, i ride in the road and he goes on the pavement, rining his little bell for all he's worth to let people know he's there!
The problem with getting kids off the pavement is that they're not aware of the dangers on the road when on a bike. Personally i'd like to see the law changed and kids allowed to ride on pavements until around 10/11...

furthermore, EVERY school should be offering some sort of cycle training...

[aka_kerrly]

il sole said:

furthermore, EVERY school should be offering some sort of cycle training...

Is it not the case anymore?

I was in primary school in the early 90s and recall us all doing a cycling proficiency test. Yes it was basic and I think it was more an opportunity for the RoSPA to flog those awful red & white polystyrene helmets that were popular at the time.

[Amateurish]

Threatening a 4 year old with confiscation of her bike, leaving her in floods of tears? I bet he felt like a big man.

[Batfink]

casual cyclists on mountain bikes tend to use the pathways around Aylesbury and its probably the best place for them. Their speed is going to be nearer that of a pedestrian than a car. Cyclists who want to make some serious pace would be mad to use anything but the road here despite car traffic.

[Watchman]

I can see no occasion where a little girl on a bike with stabilisers is out of place on any pavement in the UK. The same cannot be said for adult cyclists.

There are very many pavements that are more or less totally unused by pedestrians that should be repurposed as cycle paths, or at least dual purposed. I'm not talking about High Street pavements that pass shop frontages, but those linking housing estates and through parks (for example).

There are also some cyclists who probably should always use roads instead of pathways - those being cyclists who can average 18-20mph or more. Most of those probably feel more comfortable on roads anyway - I've heard it said many times how cycle paths are unsuitable for those wanting to make decent progress for reasons that the paths themselves are poorly maintained, or require you to consider unhelpful deviations from your route.

None of this is news. It just requires some common sense. The copper in the article clearly lacked any.

[Bobley]

Watchman said:

... It just requires some common sense..

That's a shame. There's none left.

I ride on the pavement for half a mile down the side of the A5 in the middle of nowhere. I'm trying to man up and get up to speed but keeping up with the traffic flow at 60mph on an uphill section is going to take a while...