Pavement cyclists beware

They are cyclists hard shoulders Pbalki - that's their official term

voms

I believe it is, officially. The sort of unnecessary and hideous coinage that makes me want to stab the originator in their stupid eyes.

I think it's only there as a legal term to be fair, to distinguish footpath beside a road and other footpaths, it is annoying though when used in general conversation.

Cycling on footways (a pavement at the side of a carriageway) is prohibited by Section 72 of the Highway Act 1835, amended by Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1888. This is punishable by a fixed penalty notice of £30 under Section 51 and Schedule 3 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
Cyclists have no right to cycle on a footpath away from the road but only commit an offence where local by-laws or traffic regulation orders create such an offence.

and royal parks
Any private property (south bank per axample) and museums - they don't like it

in my eyes peds abuse the highway code and cross in all manner of dangerous places and my pavement cut through is Karma

Gun are the answer. I saw it on t.v.

Guns are too noisey for citys but perfect for the country. City is has to be the blade. watch this space H&M will have their range out before summers here

As Tommy has said, the correct legal term for what is widely called 'pavement' is 'footway'. The term 'pavement' has its roots in the historical fact that footways were the first part of streets to be paved, at least as far back as the 18th century, I believe. I think in some busy thoroughfares in the City of London, this happened even earlier. (Roman roads of course used to be paved, too, but this was one of the many civilisatory advances that were lost after the Fall of Rome.) This was largely because the carriageway could be a very filthy place to walk and it also occurred alongside the development of better drainage and sewer systems.

Needless to say, the vast majority of urban streets and of all roads are now 'pavement' in that sense, too--they are paved/metalled/tarmacked. It therefore makes little sense to say 'pavement' now unless one wants to comply with established usage.

While the term 'footway' may seem artificial, and even the American term 'sidewalk' seems superior on that count, it at least has the virtue of reminding us that footways are exclusively for people on foot. (NB wheelchair users count as pedestrians, of course, and the recent proliferation of invalid carriages has not quite established enough of a presence for a full clarification of their status.)

Quite apart from the fact that it is not lawful, it is never a good idea to ride along the footway (by this I don't mean things like riding onto the footway, e.g. to dismount at a cycle stand, although legally that is considered the same thing). Footway cycling can scare pedestrians, and that alone should be reason not to do it, although the widespread perception that there are many casualties is a myth. This is not to say that it isn't perfectly understandable why people do it--to bypass excessive queues of motor traffic, to escape a perception of a lack of safety when riding in the carriageway on certain streets, and to counteract the effect of the widespread lack of cycle permeability in London (on what 'permeability' means see http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/permproj.html and http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/permeability.html).

If you feel that you have no choice but to ride along the footway, consider cycle training to learn cycling skills that will enable you to ride happily and safely along pretty much any street in London, and indeed elsewhere. You can also look for a different route--there is nearly always an alternative to a main street in London, and everybody should aim to vary their routes, anyway, to get to know London better. As soon as you realise the wealth of routes available, you will almost never feel that riding along the footway is necessary.

Because I work in Angel near the junction with Pentonville Road/Islington High St/City Road and I come down York Way, along Copenhagen Street, Barnsbury Road, Penton Street then I should go onto Pentonville Road and down it until the junction. But I’m scared of cycling on Pentonville Road because it’s a scary scary road with lots of lorries on it, so I go down White Lion St, then go the wrong way down Baron Street then cycle along the pavement of the last bit.

Why don't you get onto Liverpool Road from Copenhagen Street, and then go along Islington High Street? It sounds as if you work just to the west of the Angel junction, so this wouldn't be a big detour (it would add the traffic lights at the Liverpool Road/Upper Street/Islington High Street junction). It's not surprising that turning from Baron Street into Pentonville Road scares you, as this is, as you say, laid out for the one-way system--there is no concession in the layout here for contraflow entry. Alternatively, why not walk your bike along the footway for the last bit? It's not far.

There are no laws about cycling on private property, other than common law trespass (as far as I know), which is a civil tort, not criminal (i.e. plod doesn't get to ticket you for it). I suppose that it would depend what the status of South Bank is.

Unless there is a bye-law specifically prohibiting cycling. Failure to comply with a bye-law *is *a criminal offence not a civil matter.

Ex
hactly

Peace

rudeboys in airmax 95s, riding on mountain bikes in the lowest gear possible. Always makes me laugh. Have to admit though, when the traffic is heavy, i'll nip around it by quickly hitting the foot path.

'permeability' means see http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/permproj.html and http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/permeability.html).

404 error on thoes links

How the police will fight you with their bike.

That's hilarious! are they actually taught this shit?

But only wankers and chavs cycle on the pavement. Lock 'em up!

When I pick my daughter (shes 4) up from school, and we cycle home we both do so on the pavement.

I'm not in London though, and our police appear to apply common sense to some parts of the law.

I may be wrong ,but PCSOs don't have a power of arrest.

404 error on thoes links

Oops, sorry, silly error. Try:

http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/permproj.htm*

*http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/permeability.htm

When I pick my daughter (shes 4) up from school, and we cycle home we both do so on the pavement.

I'm not in London though, and our police appear to apply common sense to some parts of the law.

I admire a parent who teaches there child cycling from a young age especially to / from school. Not sure I agree with using the pavement, but then again I live in central London, so perhaps different circumstances.

I have two daughters 13 and 10 both with bikes and we have been riding on the road as a family, since the first freewheel event, so I have to set a good example for them always.

keep it up Andy

Might try that. I have an aversion to major roads, but that doesn't sound too bad in theory. Thanks.

You have also got a point about walking the last bit, I'm just impatient and it would add about 5 minutes to my 20 minute ride..!

Why don't you get onto Liverpool Road from Copenhagen Street, and then go along Islington High Street? It sounds as if you work just to the west of the Angel junction, so this wouldn't be a big detour (it would add the traffic lights at the Liverpool Road/Upper Street/Islington High Street junction). It's not surprising that turning from Baron Street into Pentonville Road scares you, as this is, as you say, laid out for the one-way system--there is no concession in the layout here for contraflow entry. Alternatively, why not walk your bike along the footway for the last bit? It's not far.

Exactly - and sometimes it's not just better, it's a lot safer. We just need to make sure we don't make it any less safe for pedestrians.

Third option is ride off as quickly as possible of course, but not a recommended one!

@Fox - you have a valid point. in general you should stay off the pavement. but if it is the better option and it's safe then do it.
laws are the line of best fit in the world of rules so there will always be points under and below the line. Drivers always drive in bus lanes and park in cycle boxes, abuse box junctions and park ilegally. not always dangerous but has to be done to get by.
If a copper does pull you you got two options. Drop them or explain it to them.

I was just "rolling" over the footbridge between Regents park road and the Outer Circle (by St Marks Sq) when a lady in commuter bike garb quietly mouths "get off your bike" and does that pointing left with her eyebrows thing.

I dismount and as I get closer I see there is one of these Community Police types giving her a ticket, where he has been hiding behind a bush!

Thank you lady for preventing me from getting booked as well.

Now I know it says no cycling, but
1: I know its cliche but the police realy must have better things to do, even if they are not real police.

2: Is there a real problem if I unclip and roll over the footbridge, I have brakes, and I can put my feet on the floor, I am going at walking pace and I am in full control?

End of rant

Simon

Shared use generally works (except where there is a steep slope, for instance, i.e. rare cases)--incidents of conflict between responsible riders and people on foot are very rare and insignificant, but that message has yet to get out to much of the general public. All the research indicates that where shared use is permitted, though, incidence of conflict is reduced rather than increased.

There are always some rampaging kids who still have to learn, but other than that it should be problem-free.

The LCC has campaigned for shared use in the Royal Parks for years and we've succeeded in getting it it into most. Regent's Park is the last hurdle. Primrose Hill and St James's Park are the only ones where there won't be shared use access, as it's not necessary--Primrose Hill is too hilly and St James's Park too busy.

Now I know it says no cycling, but
1: I know its cliche but the police realy must have better things to do, even if they are not real police.

One thing worth pointing out to everybody is that you can influence police priorities for your local Safer Neighbourhood Team (of whom this officer would have formed part). (Now, I realise that you may not live right by Regent's Park and be in the same ward, but you can start at home and perhaps someone else who lives there can influence this one.

Safer Neighbourhood Team priorities are set at so-called CAP--Community Advisory Panel--sessions. Anyone can go along to these--the only thing that's a bit tricky is finding out where and when they take place. In this case, some locals would have complained about cyclists constantly using that footbridge. An officer was duly dispatched to ticket everybody. Obviously, if you really want to influence the course of policing in your area, you'd better commit to going regularly, to really knowing your area so you have something to say, and to easing your way into there, instead of just going along and blundering in in such a way that suggests your only aim is to stop the blitz on footway/footbridge cycling. Meetings like this are really useful for understanding what goes on in the community around you, and how you can become a part of it if you're not already.

2: Is there a real problem if I unclip and roll over the footbridge, I have brakes, and I can put my feet on the floor, I am going at walking pace and I am in full control?[/quote]

As I was cycling along the Hackney Rd yesterday morning I saw a guy of about 18 riding on the pavement, ringing his bell to get an old lady to move out of his way. Charming.

I suspect that the crackdown around Bethnal Green/Cambridge Heath is on local scallies, we've have quite a lot of problems recently as a whole cohort of kids came of the age where they can get illicit booze and burn things drunkenly. Many of them ride bikes on the pavement.

I don't really see why anyone who knows how to ride a bike would ride one on the pavement in the area anyway, it's all relatively smooth-flowing and the roads aren't too crowded.

2: Is there a real problem if I unclip and roll over the footbridge, I have brakes, and I can put my feet on the floor, I am going at walking pace and I am in full control?

I was cycling down Whitehall the other day towards Trafalgar square and clocked this copper on his bike talking to a colleague near the cenotaph. The traffic wasn't moving much and he gets on his bike and comes in on my inside up to the first set of lights heading that way, which are on red, allowing traffic to filter in from the right. The copper then half dismounts, left foot in, right foot out and over scooter style, and goes through the red light, joins the stream of traffic, and throws his leg back over and starts pedalling.

if i'm going somewhere with my girlfriend and she's on foot i usually ride at walking pace if there are not many people about. sometimes i go on the pavement if it's quicker or i can't get round. i don't know why people get so stressed, i take up less space on the pavement if i'm riding my bike rather than pushing it beside me.

Sidewalk?

ducks

ding ding ding we have a winner!

I've been getting into an "argument" with this old lady every so often b/c she doesn't want me and the two boys I watch to ride on the sidewalk. But the problem is that it's on Fore St. in Ruislip which is very busy and just NOT safe for inexperienced 8 and 10 year olds to be riding down. So I take them on the sidewalk. But I rarely ever ride on the sidewalk by myself.

http://cmis.milton-keynes.gov.uk/CmisWebPublic/Binary.ashx?Document=10309