Why Do Cyclists Think That Dinging A Bell Legitimises Riding On The Pavement?

[ToraToraTora]

Just had a run in with an idiot cyclist, riding on the pavement when there is a perfectly good road to his right. Dinging the p0xy little bell for pedestriants to get out of the way! Was there ever a device that has a more opposite effect? All it does for me is tell me there is a retard comming make sure you block him! Why can't cyclists ride on the road? Not too tricky is it?

[jim360]

That's rather presumptuous, Khandro, since TTT said he was a cyclist...

[vulcan42]

well, the cyclists can make any justification they like but it's still illegal to cycle on a pavement. It's just another case, prevalent in this country, of, I don't like that law so I will ignore it.

[DaisyNonna]

Cyclists with bells? Bit posh that. Here they just expect you to intuit that they are hurtling along the pavement behind you and expect you to get out of their way.

[ToraToraTora]

Khandro: "TTT it is obvious that you are not a cyclist, a few minutes riding alongside heavy motorised traffic, might change your views. " - I am a cyclist, a proper one, properly trained, I have cycled from JOG to LE, literally. I have cycled on evey kind of legal road in every kind of traffic, I know how to do junctions, roundabouts etc. In fact every Sunday in my younger days I did a 25 milke time trial, mostly on a Dual carraigeway. Yes cyclists are killed by traffic but analyse the incidents and you will find that thee cause is quite often the cyclist who did not have the road craft to do a junction etc. Just because you haven't taken the steady wheels off your bike yet do not assume you know anything about me.

[Khandro]

TTT; I can probably match you mile for mile, and then some; - time-trials, road-races (massed-starts as they were once called) and Audax's up to 300km per day, an 'Audax Altitude Award', and long-distance touring in several countries, but you are the first cyclist I have met who appears to think cycling alongside motor-traffic is safe, just as long as you have the "road craft".
Two days ago (on my best bike, an immaculate fully campag. equipped Francesco Moser) riding at 16mph on a wide, empty country road without an adjacent cycle lane I was overtaken by a stupid motor-cyclist doing around 90mph shaving passed me by no more than 12". had I not kept on a straight line, he, his passenger, and I, might all be dead and no amount of "road craft" on my part could have saved us.
Now, where did I put my steady-wheels?

[joeluke]

a) Risk death or serious injury by cycling on busy dangerous roads where drivers have no consideration for cyclists

or

b) cycle in safety on pavements/cycle paths alongside busy dangerous roads where drivers have no consideration for cyclists


No brainer

[joeluke]

'In fact every Sunday in my younger days I did a 25 milke time trial, mostly on a Dual carraigeway'

Bicycles should be banned from all dual carriageways, it's a road with cars speeding at 70mph+, cycling on them is asking for trouble. Cycle races should be limited to tracks unless the route is free from traffic a la Tour de-France

[ToraToraTora]

nothing is totally safe, are you saying that it's ok to do illegal things to avoid doing things that are not totally safe? Congrats on your cycling experience Khandro, you are just the sort of cyclist who should be showing these eejits how it is done.

yes joe but sooner or later b) will get you kicked into the road by an irate pedestrian.

After being hit in the back by an idiot cyclist I have beeen known to pick up their bike and throw it somewhere.

I was once hit by a cyclist as I stepped out of a shop doorway, his handlebars hit me in the ribs and he cartwheel through the air and landed in a heap. I had a huge bruise, he had used his face as brake, I left him bleeding after explaining it is safer riding on the road.

[237SJ]

No way would I move out of the way on a pavement for a cyclist to go past me. If they ding their bell, the best they can expect is for me to stop so that they can go around but move out of the way? No.

[237SJ]

Unless it is a shared cycle track/tow path etc of course.

[Sipowicz]

^^^^
Seconded!

[joeluke]

'No way would I move out of the way on a pavement for a cyclist to go past me. If they ding their bell, the best they can expect is for me to stop so that they can go around but move out of the way? No'

....and if it was a pedestrian walking faster than you who wanted to get past you? Would you show the same ignorance?

[237SJ]

No Joe because they have the right to be there, cyclists don`t.

[joeluke]

How difficult can it be to move aside to allow a cyclist past??? You don't even need to break stride, just carry on walking as you move aside

Some people are just plain ignorant

[joeluke]

'No Joe because they have the right to be there, cyclists don`t.'

We have right 'to be there' on designated cycle paths, where some pedestrians still show the same ignorant 'why should I move' behaviour

[237SJ]

I`m a cyclist and I live in a busy part of SW London. I try to avoid roads as much as possible - I cut through Bushy Park then go on the tow path to Kingston but when I do use the roads, I avoid cycling on pavements where I can knock down little old ladies. If that`s good enough for me, it should be good enough for you.

[Baldric]

///Some people are just plain ignorant/// . . . Agreed!

The ones who cycle on pavements are extremely ignorant and usually arrogant as well!

[237SJ]

You didn`t read my second post about shared paths then, I take it?

[ToraToraTora]

"Some people are just plain ignorant " - yes they illegally ride on the pavement.

[joeluke]

The Highway Code may state that you shouldn't cycle on pavements but how many cyclists are taken to court for doing it?

and how many of the Highway Codes 'rules' are broken by motorists every day?