Pavements for people?

The front door to my upstairs flat, at the end of a very narrow corridor, opens straight onto a 3 foot pavement. In recent years on more than one occasion, I've opened my door to find a moving car 2 feet away from me, with a driver who doesn't even notice me! Fortunately DGD is not in a buggy any more (that was terrifying), and will happily hold my hand, but I also take the dog out!

Know the feeling well. I have two dogs I walk regularly and am forever having to either void people on bikes or cars/vans parked on the pavement. So infuriating. Was shouted at some weeks ago by a pedal cyclist because I was taking y time crossing the road due to my old Labrador having difficulty walking. Won’t repeat what my comments were!!!

Pavement parking and cyclists are maddening. Near me we all have driveways most double, and there are also parking bays for anyone to use. During the day there are often cars parked on pavements on corners. These are usually cars used by young people visiting other young people with children. Sometimes there is only one car in the driveway would say partner gone to work, but don't ask folk to use the space or the parking bay. Too difficult to turn a wheel to get onto a drive or to walk 50 feet from parking bay to a house. No, just abandon the car anywhere and on the footpath. Cyclists come in droves. Live near a park and cyclists use the streets to access wooded areas so we have groups, clubs, them all really all on footpaths and you daren't get in their way. One that especially annoys me is these headlamps they use when dark. When sitting in a car they shine right in your face blinding you for a few seconds. As for respect from cyclists, just doesn't exists. DH is hearing impaired, doesn't hear anything approaching from behind, lije bells are of no use whatsoever, neither is shouting. The number of times I have nearly resorted to violence when out for a walk and a cyclist has started mouthing off about us not getting out of the way I cannot count. I do try to haul or push him out of the way but I am scared I knock him off balance and he falls. In reality we have stopped walking in parks and anywhere where cycles are allowed to mix with pedestrians - Governments need to realise this does not work. Sorry this is so long but the cycling in particular really affects our life.

I support cycling, because it avoids pollution, congestion and using up irreplaceable fossil fuels, so I don’t mind cyclists on the pavement IF they exercise care and don’t put pedestrians in danger. I was once nearly knocked over when very pregnant by a cyclist coming round a corner on the pavement in a city centre.

As a young mum I was more bothered about drivers pulling out of their parking spaces made in their front gardens as my children went along our road with me. If they used a tricycle or scooter and were a bit ahead of me they risked someone pulling out without looking.

I never park on pavements. I don’t think it’s fair. But I can see why someone might if there was no other way to park near their house.

Cyclists anywhere drive me mad. We have a lot of narrow country lanes round here & the cyclists are so inconsiderate. They ride2or 3 abreast & will not move for cars to get past. I think it is time they can only go on cycle tracks. It is a real issue locally.

The problem here in the UK is that our towns and cities have grown from little villages and often have very narrow pavements which are not suitable for cycling (see my picture of the pub on the corner)! There is sometimes only 24 inches of footpath and yet cyclists still cycle there, sometimes at speed.

Many cyclists today have no road sense whatsoever and do not anticipate danger, something car drivers are taught to do. Unless they are tested, insured and licensed with a number plate I can't see this changing. They are unidentifiable and can just shoot off and disappear.

I use my bike every bike and do use the pavement as the main road is very busy. BUT each time there is a pedestrian I do stop the bike and let them pass often moving to the side as I do not wish to cause any arguments with using the pavement and most people smile at me and they thank me and I thank them. I would add there is a cycle path at the side of the road but cars and buses come so near to you it is frightening. I don't think they realise how close they are to you. But I wouldn't dream of cycling fast and causing a problem to pedestrians because at the end of the day I am fully aware I should be on the road and not on the pavement.

I support cycling. But as a person who can sometimes walk short distances but is not very able, I am often nervous, stressed and tired on footpaths shared with cyclists. In a nearby park, the path is divided into separate lanes with some markings but it is not that clear and if anyone strays onto the cycle path it is very dangerous as they come downhill at great speed. But on narrow paths the practice is that they ring their bells so as not to have to stop as they come up behind you and you are supposed to move out of their way. It is constant. I get flustered and confused. I am coming to feel hatred for them, which is unreasonable, because it just feels arrogant rather than that they actually are arrogant. It is nice for cyclists to be able to cycle off road through the city, safe from cars and their pollution. But it makes some paths unpleasant to use for people like me. But I would say I am less important, really.

I ride a bike.... and believe me when I say the only time I am forced onto pavements is to avoid prams.... groups of usually women gossiping..... wheelie bins.... cars....kids loitering with mobiles ...all taking up space on the cycle tracks. It seems cycle tracks mean anybody can do anything on them or around them. THAT drives me mad. I never shout at people even when they’re sauntering in the track , I slow down and try to get round the. They then have the temerity to yell at me!, There’s two sides to every story!!

Mamacaz, people riding horses take pride in awareness of other road users, but many cyclists are thoughtless. Maybe it's because the riders have to think for their powerful sentient animal whereas the cyclist's bike is a metalic extension of herself

Sorry, Barmeyoldbat, but pavements aren't shared spaces.

The offence of riding a bike on the pavement is punishable by an on-the-spot fine, a fixed penalty notice of £30. This is charged under Schedule 3 and Section 51 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

www.slatergordon.co.uk/media-centre/blog/2018/03/is-it-illegal-to-ride-your-bicycle-on-the-pavement/

Roads are for vehicles and pavements are for pedestrians. Motor scooters are different, as they can't go fast enough to be on the road, and obviously, buggies have to be pushed by a pedestrian - neither of these is a sensible comparison, IMO.

Cycling is a choice - it's not something you have to do (such as use a motor scooter), and if you 'can't' do it on the road, you shouldn't be doing it at all.

reelashosser
They spend maybe hundreds of pounds on their bike and clothing but never spend a few pounds on a bell

But a lot of posters on here are complaining about those who do use a bell. They choose to interpret it as a "get out of my b****y way", instead of a simply warning that something is coming.
It seems cyclists just can't win!

As someone who often cycles on quiet country lanes, where there can be walkers, joggers and horses sharing the road, I know first-hand how necessary it is to alert people ahead to your presence. Walkers tend to rely totally on their ears, and are prone to zig-zag across the road unless they actually hear something approach. Bell-ringing has to start well before you reach them, and often has to be backed up with a vocal warning before they hear you, yet they still glare at you as if you are in the wrong.

Horse riders on the other hand are very alert to a distant bell or vocal warning (their horses too), and very appreciative, giving a wave or nod of thanks as you pass them.

And don't get me started on the huge numbers of pedestrians who step out into roads without looking, assuming that it is clear because they can't 'hear' any traffic, endangering both their own and a cyclist's life.

I agree that cycling on roads can be difficult but that does not mean you can cycle on pavements. It is illegal and extremely dangerous.

It is illegal here in BC (and I believe all of Canada) to ride a bike on a sidewalk (pavement). The only ones you ever see do it is children that are not confident enough to be on the road.

I live in a small town so it is not an issue, but I know in Vancouver and Victoria bike riding is becoming more and more popular. More bike lanes are being created, but at the cost of parking spaces along the road.

I agree that bicycles should be registered and carry basic insurance.

This happens where I live and, in fact, the pavements now are now officially shared with cyclists (bicycle logo painted on ground). The problem is that cyclists seem not to want to share and get cross with pedestrians. Also, why do bicycles not have bells any more?

I was on a cycling and walkers' path through the local country park with my dog. I was calling my dog back to me and the dog was about six feet away responding to my call me when a woman on a bike rose between me and my dog. It's ignorance and thoughtlessness.

Cyclists on pavements annoys me to distraction They expect ME to move...no, they should be on the road.. I also have been known to shout at cyclists who are on the roads "Helmet" when they aren't wearing one too

Well I cycle and many pavements are shared spaces so you can cycle on the pavement. Nobody has moaned about mothers with large buggies and also walking a dog and a kid on a scooter. Mobility scooters, some are huge all use the the pavements and you dodge around them.

I can't cycle in our local high street on the pavement so I do use the road where there are cars parked all along the street with the risk of being pushed off your bike by someone opening a door. So I cycle in the middle of the busy road with a pile of unhappy people in cars trailing behind me.

We should all be a bit more tolerant to other users and that includes us cyclists cycling on the pavement.

My granddaughter’s junior school have just had a Bikeabilty course for the year 6.
First time I’ve seen anything like it since my 2 did cycling proficiency in the 80’s. Good to see.

I have an issue with cyclists in general. The Government is bending over backwards to encourage cycling but not placing any restrictions on the cyclists. They are not registered, they do not have to purchase insurance. Insufficient provision is made for them on the roads.

They spend maybe hundreds of pounds on their bike and clothing but never spend a few pounds on a bell - just not cool enough for them! If you are hard of hearing or your clothing perhaps rustles as you walk, you don't hear them until they are right behind you - at best this simply frightens you, at worst you inadvertently take a step to the side and they collide with you. They always assume you are going to walk in a straight line.

On country roads they ride 2/3 abreast so that cars can't pass.

We lived on the edge of the Peak District and were keen walkers. I have lost count of the number of times cyclists have nearly ridden into me on walking paths. If there are several of them the first one never calls out to warn you that there are more behind - on one occasion as I was walking uphill towards a bend, I had to jump into the hedge 3 times to avoid being run over by a group of cyclists riding downhill at great speed. The Monsal Trail, for instance, used to be a good walk for people who couldn't cope with the hills any more, but they opened the tunnels up and now cyclists flock to it because they can ride for many miles unimpeded. Can you imagine walking through a dimly lit tunnel and having a bike come up behind you at about 25 kmh? It's very scary.

Cycling is being promoted for health reasons, but walkers have been following their sport also for health reasons for years, yet are being driven off their designated paths by arrogant cyclists. I was once walking along the Regents Canal when I was bellowed at : "Get out of the way!" by a female cyclist who certainly didn't slow down for me.

On the odd occasion that a cyclist rings a bell to warn me of their approach, I always thank them, but it's quite a rare occasion.

I have found cyclists to be very arrogant in the main, and obviously realise they have the encouragement of the powers that be and that the likelihood of them being prosecuted for riding on the pavement, for instance, is very unlikely.

Middle aged men in lycra are definitely the worst though.

I was coming out of my daughter front garden a few years back, she has a high wooden gate. Luckily I stepped out slowly, as a cyclist came whizzing past inches from me. I had to step back quickly. I was just glad it wasn't one of my granddaughters coming out if the gate, they would certainty have been knocked over. Cyclist on pavements is not right. I also think cyclist should have to have some form of registration number.

It annoys me when there is a cycle path provided yet cyclists don’t use it and cycle on the road. The main A road leading to the villages here is very busy with lorries, it is narrow and quite windy (twists and turns, not blowy windy! Although it might be as there are open fields each side!). They cause frustration for drivers as they are hard to pass and so cause a back up of traffic. I don’t know why they do it, the cycle path looks well kept, and undoubtedly is much safer for them.

Cars parking on pavements can be an issue particularly on narrow streets and pavement areas. This is often to allow room for a vehicle to pass comfortably on the road. Blocking paths completely is an inconsiderate no no.

Yes schools still do proficiency tests but we all no that everyone adapts their driving/riding skills after taking tests.

Going forward in city areas planners are accommodating cyclists more and more with cycle lanes, some of which I have seen are the equivalent size to the adjacent road which needs to accommodate heavy bus and car traffic. It is currently underused and seems a bit of a nonsense but going forward they are assessing that cycling in city areas will increase.

It will always be more of a problem in smaller areas.

Have you got a mobile phone with camera? Start taking pictures and then show them to the council. You are not supposed to park on a pavement.

I am quite unsteady on my feet due to arthritis and I often wander as I am walking, so have had a couple of near misses when cyclists have crept up behind me on the pavements.
We have had an incident recently in Plymouth where I live of a cyclist going around one of our busiest roundabouts with her dog on a lead (see photo) and the news story caused outrage.