Cycling on pavement (Dulwich College)

[womanofdulwich]

computed shorty- are you by any chance a male of the species?

[LegalEagle-ish]

Which species though?

[computedshorty]

?

[thexwinglessxbird]

Another thing is, cyclist do not think rules apply to them. They should stop at the lights, not continue to whiz past! If you want to ride a bike, you must take on the responsibility. Just like cars are meant for the road & not the pavement.

[star13uk]

trinity :

Deaths caused by cyclists hitting pedestrians are very rare. Cylist hitting pedestrians and doing the whole range of just frightening them, grazing them and all the way up to broken bones and rather more frequent. Every annual survey shows that one of the highest concerns raised by pedestrians is cyclists. More cycle lanes, less road and pavement even, has to be the way. One of the most common compliants I have heard over my six years has been about cyclists - usually from the elderly folk who tell me how often they have been knocked over by cyclists. Er.. my better half don't qualify as elderly and she is constantly bending my ear about it.

[star13uk]

taper : re CAN CHILDERN CYCLE ON PAVEMNENTS. As we have been taught at Hendon, technically, no - it is an offence. But as 10 is the legal age of responsibiltiy no one really bothers about kids under 10. It is still an offence mind you - just not enforcable. If they persist in being a problem, we (TPCSO)are not suposed to ignore it. They can be detained, the police can be called and they can be taken home and "words" had with their parents.

I can issue an FPN(N)508 "Cycling on the footway" to anybody aged 18 or above. 10 - 18 can still be issued in presence of a parent. So... it could be case of then being in the company of their parent, or if you are really keen, taking them home and doing it there. Name checks etc would be done on them and they can be detained while all that goes on. The "attitude" check plays a large role in that. I have seen too many accidents involving cyclists v buses and HGV's that unless they are really being a problem, riding through people etc, stopping them for a simple word of advice has usually sufficed for me.

[Steady Eddy]

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[fionab]

I do the school run on the pavement with my 5 year old daughter on a tag along (like a tandem) behind me. I am always really considerate and if space is tight I get off and push. It's a 2 and a half mile journey each way and no bus route- surely better for the community to cycle than drive?? If we had decent cycle routes of course I would use them be we don't. Isn't this basic common sense stuff? Stats on people hit by bikes / cars anyone?

PS Thoughtness, dopey and annoying teenage boys cycling on pavements is a right of passage, it's hardly mugging old ladies.

[peckhamboy]

Lots of good points made on here - not all cyclists who use pavements are dangerous (most of them are just trying to avoid being run over) and not all cyclists are responsible road/pavement users. This weekend, one cyclist pulled out of a side road at speed and without looking, right in front of my car, then swerved across the front of me without indicating to turn right at the next junction, before coming up behind me at the next junction (where we were both turning left) and as I pulled away, taking the corner without braking by cutting across the pavement (there was a high fence so he could have had no idea if there were any pedestrians coming round the corner) and jumping off the kerb right in front of me again. Without wearing a helmet. Three times in the space of about two minutes that he could easily have been knocked off.

[James Barber]

Came across some fascinating UK facts.

40 pedestrians are killed every year WHILE ON PAVEMENTS by motor vehicles.

Over the last 10 years 3 pedestrians have been killed by cyclists. 400 to 3.

Whether a reckless motor vehicle driver or reckless cyclist the full force of the law must be excercised.

Wierdly people only seem angry with cyclists on pavements even when they are not being reckless.

[Loz]

Fair enough Mr Barber, but what is the ratio of bikes:vehicles on the roads. I could make an equal case that redheads are far less dangerous than brunettes.

Not taking sides, just don't like sloppy stats!

[James Barber]

Hi Loz,

Transport stats show 92% of journeys made by road transport in billions kms - 6% bus, 84% motor vehicles, 1% motorbikes and 1% cycles.

So motor vehicles on distance travelled clearly much more dangerous for pedestrians.

If you allowed for time travelling then even more stunningly safer.