Death on the Pavement??

[Loosehead]

Just reading about the death of a pedestrian by a cyclist on the pavement. This has been a bug bear of mine in the past. Why do cyclists think it's fine to cycle in the pavement? Why do the police not enforce the law? Now I'm not suggesting they nick them just get them onto the road where they should be, nick one now and again. When I was teenager the police would tell you to get off the pavement if they saw you. I've even been made to walk if my lights werem't working. Now days they don't bother. A Korean student died in Bournemouth a few months back because he came to the end of the pavement and went straight out in front of a bus.

[Ethel]

The police do apprehend and fine cyclists in these circumstances:
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/ tm_headline=bike-fines-mums-on-the-warpath&met hod=full&objectid=19858446&siteid=50100-name_p age.html

The difficulty is identifying the cyclists - there was a thread on here in the last two or three weeks where the poster, a cyclist, was laughing because he refused to stop for an officer who was on foot. He believed he was being very clever and was positively bragging.

[Loosehead]

I don't really want them nicked I just wonder what has happenned to make most cyclists think it's ok the cycle on the pavement. Nick some by all means but really I'd like to see the authorities making it clear that cycling is done on the road! It's rare to find a cyclist these days that actually cycles on the road!

[Ethel]

All the cycle lanes where I live are on the pavement. :(

As I said, it's enforcing it. If a cyclist refuses to stop, what can an officer on foot do? There is no way of identifying him or her.

Even in a car it would be difficult for an officer to apprehend a cyclist given that he can shoot up back streets and so on.

I share your frustration.

[Lonnie]

I agree some cyle lanes are on the pavement, but mre than anything else. I think it should be law, and if it already is, should be enforced, thay all cyles should have bells.

I know by law, new cycles must be sold with bells, but any cyclist that doesn't have one. should be fined.

[Ethel]

Bells are of little use to me as I am deaf. :( It is very frightening to have an unheard push bike suddenly whizzing past me, usually with the cyclist giving me a 'v' sign.

It is not currently a legal requirement that bikes have bells, and once again we would have the problems with enforcement if it were.

Perhaps the time has come for all bicycles to be licenced and registered in the same way as motor vehicles.

[Booldawg]

Maybe pasting a collaboration of all the news stories from up and down the country in reference to how many cyclists have been killed by motor vehicles on the road would go some distance to explain why some cyclists feel its fine to cycle on the pavement.

[Llamatron]

I'm a cyclist. Well sometimes.

If there's no cycle lane and traffic is fast moving and heavy then I am sure as hell gonna use the path.

However if there are pedestrians then I'll slow down and usually shout out an 'Excuse me please'. I think I'm in the minority on this one though.

Fortunately on my routes if the traffic is heavy then it's moving slower than I am so I can stay on the road and grin smugly at the stuck drivers.

Bus stops are often placed in cycle lanes. There's a been a couple of occasions where I've had to go around a stopped bus only for it to pull out pushing me further out into the road. Luckily both times there were no cars to run me over.

[mrs_overall]

i've lost track of the number of times either me or my children have nearly been knocked down by these idiots, and as for the verbal abuse they shout......
I've found that the best solution is a well aimed kick at their back wheel.

[anotheoldgit]

I agree with Ethel, they should be licenced and registered in the same way as motor vehicles.

They should also be forced to take out Insurance too. While overtaking on the inside, they scratch one's car with their bike, they get away scot-free. Yet if you damage their bike, they can claim off your insurance.

[anotheoldgit]

Having read Booldawg's post, maybe there is also a need for cyclists to take a test in road safety and traffic awareness. But let us not stop there, how about a yearly safety check on their bikes also?

[Booldawg]

The trouble is that cyclists are unmoderated, unlicensed and uninsured with little come-back or punishment for offences commited, but this is largely the young, uneducated and downright ignorant.

I cycle to work and have lost the count of time I've nearly ended up in the hedge due to impatient car drivers that try to squeeze past to overtake when theres a car coming the other way. Its blatantly obvious that hitting me is preferable to a clash of wing-mirrors. Even on a shared pedestrian/cycle path its amazing how many idiotic pedestrians will walk on the clearly marked cycle only part of the path, forcing me round them by using the pedestrian only section.

It really is 6 of this and half a dozen of the other, most drivers and pedestians are courteous users of the road. Haha now dont get my dad started on the cyclists that use canal tow paths !!!!

[1rovert]

The cyclist use the roads, they use the paths, with no thought for anyone but themselves. They pay nothing for their use. They abuse everybody. But who pays for their cycle paths. The poor blody motorist.
The cribbing comes mostly from parents who don't care about their chilrens safety, and then start crying when its run over, and yes blame the motorist. Oh! before someone starts knocking me, in my teens I cycled all over London, and yes there was less traffic, but that allowed it to go faster.

[Raleigh]

The type who give you a wide berth and pass slowly are one thing. But the b******s who sweep up (usually) from behind getting as close as possible are soon going to find that the umbrella I'm carrying is not just for the rain.
On a point of law: if a cyclist is speeding towards me on the pavement, with a large metal object in his hands (a cycle) and intent on striking me if I do not move out of his way, am I entitled to defend myself by striking him first?

[kwicky]

Most mountain bikers use bridleways. The fact that the horse weighs over a ton, in a collision it is obvious who comes off worst. Do you think they should ban horses from bridleways?

[bundleone]

It 's extremely rare for a pedestrian to be killed by a cyclist, bu countless cyclist are killed on the road, you can't blame them for trying to keep safe, I hate the thought of my grandson cycling to school and tell him to use the pavement, but walk his bike if there are pedestians about.

[cheries]

In response to Kwicky's post, I ride my horse on bridleways and I am appalled at the number of bikes and motorbikes which come speeding past me whilst I'm trying to keep myself and my horse out of their path. I think these people (who are usually riding illegal dirt bikes) should be shot, particularly when they ride at you fast and rev their engines as they zoom past you. In fact I once took a well aimed swipe at one of these riders (not wearing his helmet) with my whip as he rode past me....well, it's the law for them to wear their helmets, isn't it??!!
I feel your frustration, to those of you who are being pushed off the pavements by cyclists. At least you understand what's happening to you when it happens though. My horse is frightened to death by the sight and sound of motorbikes and I'll do whatever it takes to keep him safe. Whatever.

[spaced]

and this is why people refuse to cycle, and just continue to use their cars for short journeys.

Ethel, I think you were referring to my post. I was not bragging, just merley asking what the fine was. Dont feel proud of what I did, but seriously what can these community officers do to stop people cycling on he pavement, they have not stoppage power. I shouldnt have been on the pavement, I agree, but I was not going to stop and happily accept my �30 fine.

Taxing and insuring bikes!!! Come on! We want more people to cycle, not put them off. Though I agree with the point made about bikes scratching cars and not having to pay, what about stupid drivers who knock clyclists over, and driving off. IO know 2 people that have had this happen and the stupid lazxy police did sod all about it. Taxing and insuring bikes will mean more cyclists using their cars