//NJ, that isn't the current wording of the Act though, is it?//
It is the one cited in the Highway Code (along with the “Roads (Scotland) Act 1984” as the authority for “must not”.
Yes thanks, barry. I was aware of the latest penalty. I posted the 1835 Act as it stood to illustrate its antiquity. In particular I liked:
//…or shall wilfully lead or drive any Horse, Ass, Sheep, Mule, Swine, or Cattle, or Carriage of any Description, or any Truck or Sledge upon any such Footpath or Causeway ; or shall tether any Horse, Ass, Mule, Swine, or Cattle on any Highway, so as to suffer or permit the tethered Animal to be thereon ;//
Mr Alliston (mentioned above) is a twonk of the first order though his offence did not occur on the pavement. He collided with a pedestrian who had stepped off the pavement and into his path whilst on her phone. His case was not helped by the fact that his bike effectively had no brakes. It was a track bike with just a fixed rear wheel for braking (i.e. the rider cannot stop the pedals rotating as they are permanently in chain with the rear wheel. He can resist their rotation to reduce speed). I owned such a bike (albeit with a proper front brake) and the rear wheel braking upon which Alliston solely relied is scarcely effective. It is only meant for slowing down after a track race.
That said, I witnessed a woman on her mobile step into the path of a bus on which I was travelling (I remember buses - Happy Days!)in London's Strand last year. She was completely oblivious to it. Fortunately (for her) the bus had proper brakes.