General Chat

Last year, when our son was still at primary school, there was a constant problem whereby parents were parking their cars in the cycle lane directly adjoining the school. There was plenty of choice for parking elsewhere, but they were just too damn lazy to walk even just a small distance. I'm talking, by the way, about fully able-bodied parents. Their children were also able-bodied. The headmistress was constantly sending out letters asking for these parents to respect that - which, I hear, they ignored. Sorry, I'm veering slightly off course here - but the children affected by this, who cycled to and from the school with their cycling parent, had to go onto the pavement to avoid these selfish drivers. Generally, though, I don't like cyclists on pavements.

Elizabeth or liz woodford, tooth fairy did say not a problem for children to cycle on paths.. but better in park so your comment ' they have to get there' is a bit unwarrented isn't it? I agree completely that older people should be on the road.

A few points of law. It is not illegal to ride a cycle in this country without a helmet. All new cycles must be fitted with a bell when sold (this may be removed by the owner). It is illegal to ride cycles on the footway. As a thought on road sence. If teenagers spend all their time riding on the pavements because it is thought to be safer. How do they get road sence for when they buy their first motorbike or car? maybe it would be safer for them to ride/drive these on the pavement as they do not understand the road! Most of the cycle tracks I come across are seperate from the road, have high kerbs at the road crossings, are very poorly maintained and usualy have pedestrians walking down the middle of them. It is far safer to ride in the road where you can dominate the traffic by keeping in the flow not cowering at the kerbside. Bob (a VERY keen cyclist)

Police/older people have alwasy thought that all teenagers are trouble makers. Well not all police/older people, but still a lot of them! It's like that thing in Blue Water shopping centre, people wearing hoodies and baseball caps aren't allowed in there because the minority cause trouble and it intimidate other customers. It's a fashion sense for crying out loud! If it starts there, where does it stop?

It's apparently an offence to cycle on the pavement. It's for walking on!! Stupid rule for areas where it's too dangerous to cycle on the road.

I confess that cyclist on footpaths are one of my pet hates - even more so when they are in a pedestrian shopping area. In true 'grumpy old woman' style, I refuse to get out of the way if one approaches me - and will even point out to them that it is against the law. What scares me is when they are behind you - you cant hear them coming! Not being very firm and agile, I do sometimes vear off course and am sure i will have one run into me one day. (I will have great pleasure sueing the pants off them when they do. lol) And what about the really old, the toddlers and the dogs? None of them stick to the straight and narrow on a pavement - and shouldnt they have the freedom to wander about on the pavement if they want to? And what happened to the good old bell!?!? Bikes nowadays dont seem to have them - and shouldnt that be a law?? Regarding disabled wheelchairs and scooters - I own one of each , and yes, i use the pavements. BUT, i do so with due care and consideration. The wheelchair (I call it my Mean Machine) is a road-worthy one - it has little headlights, indicator lights and a horn! But i rarely use it on the road because it is too scary! Having had 2 very close scares with maniac car drivers (one of my other pet hates) - once when i was crossing on a zebra crossing! The problem being we are so low down we are not visable to other road users. At least a biker's head it higher than the average car. My defination of a pavement is that it is a FOOTPATH - and should therefore be used by people on their FEET - unless they are unfortunate enough not to be able to use their feet and have to use a wheelchair/scooter. Bikes and cars belong on the road - that means for driving AND parking. And that's yet another of my pet hates - cars parked on pavements and bikes just thrown on the ground outside shops.

HARRY - you've just reminded me about the story of a dog being transported in the guard's van of a train, when it escaped at a station, the guard shouted as he gave chase, 'Stop that dog, he's a parcel!' Lily

Tooth Fairy Sparkle - yes children are better off riding bikes in a park, but they have to get there... Lily your question reminded me of an old joke (sorry folks) Isobel necessary on a bike.

we don`t have the problem of cycalists on the pavement in our area, the council solved the problem by letting cars park on them instead. derek

Bob, I know what you are saying, and that pedestrians would be stupid to just step out into the road, however, the fact remains that if people ARE walking in the road they do have priority over other road users. Motorists today seem to feel (especially motor cyclists) that everyone should move aside and let them through. They conveniently forget that they are only driving because it is permitted, it is not a God-given right.

Sorry. i will probably offend although this is not my intention.. Children are okay to ride on pavements but would be better off in a park. TEENAGERS and above should know not to. I think the police are right to warn anyone who rides on the pavement and although you are feeling protective towards your son, how would you feel if he ran into a young child? Also granpa is right, pedestrians have the right of way, you can step off the road, anywhere, and still have the right of way! if a pedestrian has already stepped onto the road that is! xx

Jim, I beg to differ there, if they are on a crossing yes, they have got priority, but they CANNOT just step off the kerb, at a corner. (Not sure if I misunderstood you there) of course they have if they are on the pavement. Bob

At the end of the day the answer is Common Courtesy from all road users. If Motorists were more aware and tolerant of Cyclists, or if Cyclists were more aware and tolerant of Pedestrians there would be no problem. And, of course, PEDESTRIANS HAVE PRIORITY under Law.

Will be of no real interest. Continuing about my police career, we were taught that cyclists had to obey traffic lights. However, if the picked their bike up and carried it through red traffic lights - no offence, as it becomes a parcel. happy days

We have a pedestrian crossing near my home and quite a few times I have nearly been knocked down by cyclists because they completly ignore the lights when they are on stop.! Some cyclists want to classed as 'road users' and pedestrians they cant be both! Davex

As a 12 or 13 year old, many, many, years ago, i was warned by a police officer for pushing my bike on the pavement. When I worked in London, I was regularly almost hit by cyclists weaving in and out of the crowds on the pavements of Tottenham Court Road, including one on a unicycle, also blade skaters. D

So much easier for handbag snatchers to operate! When did people decide that the Law didn't apply to them? We have double yellow lines at the end of the road, but does anyone take a blind bit of notice? Handy for the shops - nobody has legs to walk these days? Lily

Sylvia - the boys/men over there must be different to those in the UK - 'leisurely'? In your dreams........ And what happened to bells on bikes? Lily

Hi I was walking down a cycle path (on the padestrian side) and to my amazement i found i had to give way to one of the councils big motorized grass cutting machines. Apparently they are allowed to drive down cycle paths. Dangerous or what.

It annoys me - and terrifies the dog! He's somewhat deaf now, and cyclists bombing up behind him on the pavement startle him. It doesn't happen very often luckily. What also annoys me is inconsiderate people who park their cars on the pavement - our pavements are narrow here and the road busy, Mums with pushchairs have no chance of squeezing through.