Pavements for people?

I missed that remark. Grammeretto I think you live in a parallel universe. Why do women only choose to go to work, you can no more say that than say Why do men choose to work.

The days when the members of a family had defined roles is long gone, even putting aside those many families that need 2 incomes, why should women have to choose between having a career and having children, when that is a 'freedom' that is castigated in men?

Men and women, fathers and mothers work. They also do the housework and care for the children.

Washing machines and gardens are not necessities but can be essential , but if your definition of a luxury is anything that goes beyond food and drink, then even clothes and a roof over your head count as luxuries, one man resolutely defended his right to live naked in all weathers a couple of years ago, and if he could do it clothes are clearly a luxury and a news item today has featured a mother and AC who have been living on a bench for the last 2 years in all weathers and have resolutely refused all offers of alternative accommodation.

I hold up my hands! Just re-read my posts and l admit to daring to say women are choosing to work. Okay that was ill considered words although we are, to a certain degree, in control of our lifestyle choices.

My DS is a house-husband which is still considered unusual.

I am glad our DS and DD are able to choose without undue pressure from society how they wish to live their lives.
Being able to become parents later as well as having fewer DC or none, is another freedom not shared by even my generation.

Cyclists are a nightmare everywhere.
Also damn mobility scooters,my husband was knocked over by a woman on one as she was going far too fast.
Also they should have a very low speed setting.
In Tesco`s recently and a man was whizzing down the isles I told security it`s an accident awaiting to happen and he should be told,wether he was or not I don`t know.

I think mobility scooters should have a speed restriction on them of walking pace. People are starting to use them as their own personal form of transport whether they are in need of them or not.

Give some of 'em walking frames to try first.

I was discussing cycling on pavements with DGS (15) last weekend. He cycles to school and, part of the time, he uses the pavement. When I objected that a silent cyclist coming up behind me would be lethal if I suddenly changed direction, he countered with the explanation that he had a bike bell. I remember the days when we all had bells on our bikes which seem to be out of fashion now. My GS is probably an exception. His mum said that if he cycled on the road he would cause a traffic hazard. Perhaps, in another year, he will emulate his sister and get a motor scooter.

No Annodomini! Let the youngsters cycle on the pavement. The roads are too dangerous for them, and it's true what you DD says. Cyclists on roads can be a traffic hazard.

Yes Doople shared pavements are becoming more common. No all have a white line painted some, as in y home town, just have a blue sign showing a pedestrian and a cyclists. Its the way forward and more and more towns and cities are using them. Mind you everyone has to be tolerant, cyclists not going to fast and using a bell to WARN they are approaching. Pedestrians should control any dogs they are walking and not take up the whole of the pavements and not be aware of who is around. e.g. on their phones, headphones on etc.

My DS from age of 15 used to ride his bike to school on the roads, as there were no cycle paths and occasionally I would see him when I was out driving and he looked so vulnerable it made me shudder.

He had a couple of minor accidents - knocked off his bike once by a car's wing miror and another time I had a call from the school to ask me to collect him and his bike as he'd had a fall.
His school was 10 miles away and he got travel sick on buses . I'm relieved those days are gone. He walks to work now.

barmey that’s interesting. Thank you. Pavements around here are quite narrow so not sure how they would make them shared.
Yesterday I was walking over a bridge with a very narrow pavement either side. It is a busy bridge with lots of cars driving across it at speed. A cyclist came up behind me and rang his bell. Made me jump so much I nearly fell in the road.

I thought that all new bikes had to have a bell fitted now at the point of sale?

Presumably that means that a cyclist can then remove it after purchase if they wish, but I can't imagine many people could or would bother doing that.
One exception might be serious cyclists who keep the weight of the bike to an absolute minimum, but firstly, they are highly unlikely to be using pavements or shared paths, and secondly, would always use their voice instead if they need to warn someone of their approach (including other cyclists), as the last thing they want is an accident!

26Doodle

Yesterday I was walking over a bridge with a very narrow pavement either side. It is a busy bridge with lots of cars driving across it at speed. A cyclist came up behind me and rang his bell. Made me jump so much I nearly fell in the road.

It's horrible when that happens, isn't it? It has happened to me too.
However, as someone who often uses the bell to warn of my approach, I have found that although I start ringing it long before I reach someone, they are often so wrapped up in their own thoughts that they just don't hear it (or my voice) until I am very close, so they too 'jump'.

Yes, I know that some people might not have very good hearing, but this phenomenon happens far too often for that to be the usual reason!

Yes they do MamaCaz. And the shop that sold me my new bike let me walk out without a bell! Grrrrr....

Mamacaz yes I agree about being in a zone when walking but when on the bridge the noise of the traffic thundering past drowns out a bell. Also if I am wearing a hat if it’s cold. Usually, I am chatting to DH and the bell ringing often makes us both jump. Perhaps we should have a sort of yoke contraption with wing mirrors to see who is coming up behind us ?

On a narrow pavement with busy traffic, a cyclist should get off and walk over as a pedestrian.

Both sides need to be much more considerate. Cyclists should acknowledge that pavements are firstly for pedestrians and be prepared to hop on and off as necessary.

Doodle I would have turned round and shouted "bugger off" to that cyclist.

I've just remembered - my husband, aged 76, has an 'electric' bike. He loved riding it when we lived in countryside, so has been trying it here - urban ++++.
It was ok on the council cycle paths, but he used it to go to the dentist about 3 miles away on the main roads and fell off.
Luckily only bruised.
Never told me until later of course. He hasn't used it since.

The problem is I have had a few cyclist 'creeping up' behind me and ringing their bell too late , as they pass. It's often youngsters, who don't think , but it is unnerving . I sometimes don't walk in a straight line which can also be a problem!

Cyclist need to be taught to ring loudly and in advance, taking into consideration a variety of reaction times for the people in front.

A lot of us do exactly that already 11LullyDully (backed up by a friendly, vocal "watch out there!" or something similar when becomes obvious that they aren't hearing the bell), but it's surprising how many still don't hear until the point where our presence makes them jump - by which time I will be crawling or stationary anyway if the path is not very wide, because of because of the potential accident risk.

But you are right - those who don't already do this need educating.

MamaCazz Certainly not accusing all cyclist only a few who don't think.

A lot of bikes don’t appear to have bells. Having had that feeling there’s someone behind me, I’ve turned and thus moved slightly off course and been hit on the arm on more than one occasion. No warning, no excuse me and no bell.

When I first visited Sheffield while baby minding my grand son in the west side of the town . (In early 2013)

The pavements were dreadfully dangerous . You could hardly use a push chair, then there was an influx of EU money which spent a lot of money improving them.

The basic problem now is too many cars everywhere .
In our local ASDA they allow big lorries to park their delivery lorries and coaches to park in the places for the outings . The pavement there is dreadfully broken.
It is not safe.

gonegirl I misread your first post (dyslexia) and thought you said “a cyclist should get off and walk over a pedestrian” ? made me grin.

I apologise if this has already been posted as I haven't read all the posts just a few at the end.
I don't think many motorists are aware of the fact that pedestrians have the right of way on the pavement. When exiting drives they seem to think it's OK to pull out in front of approaching persons on the pavement instead of letting them pass before they pull out.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if there were a shared Highway Code for both pedestrians and cyclists, so it was clear who had priority.

I'm still not convinced that on pavements cyclists should expect people to just move out of their way and give them priority. If pedestrians wandered round ringing bells, or shouting 'Watch Out!' at one another, I'm not sure that it would make them popular.

Pedestrians wait at the kerb for traffic (including bikes) to pass before they cross a road, and IMO if a cyclist wants to use a pavement they should accept that they aren't supposed to be there, and work around the pedestrians. If that is too difficult because of prams/parked cars/whatever, they should use the roads, and keep the pavements safe for everyone.

Yes! What Doodledog says.