Can you believe it, I had to ride my bike on the pavement for like 30 seconds and got stopped by a couple of police officers and some community support officers.
They gave me a £30 fine because people had been moaning about people riding on this bit of pavement between two cycle paths.
I notice they weren't giving out penalty's for people walking in the cycle paths though
Fixed Penalty + Points?
If not, I would dispute it - seems ludicrous that you would have to endanger yourself because poor local council planning meant cycle lanes didn't meet up...
tbh, you shouldnt be riding on the pavement in the first place. (before the flames start, im a cyclist) It drives me up the wall, theres a perfectly serviceable road, ride on that.
Im not avers to the odd cheeky trail, but then only stuff like disused railway lines (which for some reason are all footpaths round here, despite being gravel surfaced & about 15 feet wide)
I would have gone of the road but there is only pavement to connect the two paths. It's my stupid fault though I did see the cops in the distance and believed they wouldn't bother stopping me.
My pet hate is cyclists that don't use cycle paths, we have near me a 40 limit road with a very good off the road type cycle path yet so many seem to prefer the dangers of the road
TBH, they are as entitled to use the road as Car/Motorcycle drivers are, the fact there is a cycle path is irrelevant (according to the highway code at least). The difference comes when riding in pedestrianized zones, where people on foot have right of way - not cars, not cyclists, but people on foot. Half of me feels you were unlucky to get a jobsworth copper who had no sense of leniency, but half of me thinks if you saw the coppers then this one time you should have got off and walked your bike - then you wouldn't have had a problem.Originally Posted by MaddAussie
My pet hate is cyclists that don't use cycle paths, we have near me a 40 limit road with a very good off the road type cycle path yet so many seem to prefer the dangers of the road
The only thing I would say is local government are meant to be including non-motorised modes of transport into their transport plans, so penalising bike riders is the wrong way to go about it (as is charging bikers for parking *cough cough Westminster cough cough*)
Dave
TBH, if there is a cycle path then I get really naffed off when cyclists use the road!
However I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that cyclists can't use footpaths, only roads, designated cycle paths and public bridleways. So, if you were on the footpath Nick, the Police were well within there rights to give you a fixed penalty. It sucks, I know, I am a cyclist too!
As a pedestrian, I have nearly been mown down on many occasions by cyclists on a footpath and as such when I get on my bike, I stay out of the way as much as I can!
Beer is life, life is good!
Yes there are some really good cycle paths that for some reason are under-utilised:My pet hate is cyclists that don't use cycle paths, we have near me a 40 limit road with a very good off the road type cycle path yet so many seem to prefer the dangers of the road
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/pete.me...cember2006.htm
If cyclists are sensible and when appropriate, there is absolutely no reason why they should not cycle on pavements, or ignore cycle paths and cycle on the road instead, because often this is safest for everyone. My route to work used to involve a NSL single-carriageway road between two villages alongside which was (inexplicably) a tarmacked path for pedestrians. In three years I saw a total of maybe three joggers use that path. I'd like to meet the CSO who would say that I should cycle on the road rather than the path
£30 fine, you got off light. consider that ther slap on the wrist that stops you doing it again
mate its better than points..
Yeah I guess thats one thing about riding thats better than driving. Still if a car got stopped on a pavement I would be slighlty worried.£30 fine, you got off light. consider that ther slap on the wrist that stops you doing it again
mate its better than points..
Been there, done that! Got the points....... Come on it was only 2 wheels on the pavement and I did have a flashing yellow beacon! (Dont ask!!!!!)
Beer is life, life is good!
Consider yourself lucky, if they'd issued a summons, you'd have ended up in court and could be facing a £500 fine.
Pavements are for pedestrians, and cyclists can and do injure, and occasionally even kill (yes, kill) pedestrians by cycling on pavements.
Pedestrians are entitled to expect they can use pavements without having to look out for cyclists, often moving at some speed.
If the circumstances (30 seconds) are as described, then it does seem a tad harsh but, as stated, there'd been complaints about cyclists in that area before, and we don't know the circumstances of those complaints. Maybe someone had been hurt, or had very close calls.
In any event, if you cycle, you should know the laws that apply, and follow them ... or at least not bitch about it if you break them and get caught. You took a chance, and with police officers present and seen, a bit of a cheeky one at that.
And yes, I'm a cyclist.
Well you can still get points on your license for cycling offenses...
Cars & Motorbikes pay extortionate amounts of road tax for that entitlement though....TBH, they are as entitled to use the road as Car/Motorcycle drivers are
my Virtualisation Blog http://jfvi.co.uk Virtualisation Podcast http://vsoup.net
Thats true, but according to the Highway Code, at least, they have equal entitlement..
No they don't - not any more than drinkers pay duty on alcohol to pay for off-licences to be built, or smokers pay for those little ashtrays in the tops of litter bin to be provided. Road fund licence is just a tax that funds the central treasury.
How do pavements get paid for?
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