I have been reliably informed that if there is any discussion of cycling on internet, it is inevitable that, some poster (or several) will bring the conversation around to the stock comment – that cyclists use the pavement and are a real nuisance. It can be about any topic related to transport, such as improving road safety, the dangers of using mobile phones. But, the fact that some cyclists use the pavement is used ad nauseam – as a sweeping statement to tarnish all cyclists and negate any sensible discussion. I’m sure that somewhere in the Bacchanalian depths of the Daily Mail comment section there is the logic that since some teenagers cycle aggressively on the pavement we should ban all cycling on the road.
The law on pavement cycling
Firstly, it is against the law to cycle on the pavement, unless it is a shared footpath
It is illegal to cycle on the pavement, unless there is a sign indicating a shared use cycle path. Cycling on footways (a pavement by side of a carriageway) is prohibited by Section 72 of the Highway Act 1835, amended by Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1888.(Highway Code)
This includes children. Children are not allowed to cycle on the pavement. Though the police are generally advised to use their discretion and not prosecute in this instance.
Why do people cycle on the pavement?
- Safety. Many roads and junctions are dangerous to cycle on. Cycling on the pavement can be a way to make a journey safer for the cyclist and avoid dangerous roads / junctions.
- Ignorance of the law. A study by researchers at Lancaster University found many people (especially children) were not aware that cycling on the pavement is illegal.
- Laziness / impatience. Sometimes you see people cycling on the pavement because they want to get their quicker and are too impatient to wait at a light or they see the pavement as a short-cut. This motive may be mixed in with the first motive about safety. Also, you get the impression with some road users that they just don’t care if they inconvenience other people.
Problem of cycling on the pavement
- Cycling on the pavement is one of the most frequently raised local issues to the police. Many people really dislike having the pavement space threatened by fast moving cyclists. Even if there is no accident, old people can feel uncomfortable when a bicycle passes by at close speed.
- Accidents. Accidents can happen when fast moving cyclists collide with pedestrians. In rare cases it can be fatal or lead to serious injury. Very roughly, on average one pedestrian is killed by a cyclist per year.
- It creates ill feeling towards other cyclists. When a drunk driver kills a pedestrian because he is speeding and loses control, we don’t go around hating other drivers. But, it does happen with cycling on pavements and it is a problem because it exacerbates tension between different road users and makes non-cyclists less sympathetic to any cyclists.
Sense of Perspective
In terms of fatalities and serious injuries, it seems that the threat posed by cyclists is exaggerated. Pedestrian and motorists are quick to complain about nuisance cyclists, but it is motor vehicles which are responsible for the vast majority of serious accidents. In 2011, there were 480 pedestrian fatalities. (cycle stats) These were not caused by cyclists on the pavement. It’s not just cyclists which invade pedestrian areas, but also parked cars and cars which lose control.
One thing about cycling on the pavement is that it is highly visible nuisance. Motorists using mobile phones, passing too close, not paying attention are accidents waiting to happen, but it is not so obvious. It is easy to ticket a cyclist on the pavement, it’s harder to ticket a driver who passes far too close to a pedestrian / cyclist.
Slightly off topic, but worth mentioning here. Pedestrians often don’t look when crossing the road. I have been knocked off a bike by a pedestrian who crossed the road without looking (only listening for cars). I agree 100% cyclists need to be more considerate, but don’t forget to look! cyclists can be quiet! (It’s surprising how many cyclists have been knocked off their bikes by pedestrians)
Is cycling on the pavement ever justified?
From a personal point of view, I don’t want to cycle on the pavement for four reasons:
- It’s against the law.
- It’s inconsiderate to pedestrians. I appreciate that if you are a pedestrian and a cyclist comes past you at speed, it is unpleasant. Just as I want roads to be safer for cyclists, I want pavements to be safer for pedestrian. I’m not just a cyclist. I do often walk around town; it is annoying when an arrogant young person on a bike goes charging through a pedestrian area.
- I want to be able to cycle on the road / cycle paths.
- I feel a sense of responsibility to the image of cycling. I don’t want cyclists to get a bad reputation because I don’t want motorists to get ill feeling towards cyclists, which might make them more likely to try and knock over some random cyclists. (BTW: when driving I never feel a sense of responsibility about other drivers. I don’t think of myself as a ‘motorist’. But, I do think of myself as a ‘cyclist’
However, having said all that. There have been times when I thought this road is so bad and dangerous I really would rather pay a £30 ticket than risk getting killed. Mostly in New York.
I don’t like doing it, but then I really can’t face dicing with 3 lanes of traffic travelling at 50mph. When I have cycled on the pavement, it was always at walking speed, with the intention of giving way to any pedestrian. If I myself was a pedestrian I would have been sympathetic to the plight of the cyclist. It is like when I see a young kid cycling on the pavement at barely walking speed. Personally, I feel glad they are on the pavement and not on the road.
By contrast, when I see a teenager charge down the pavement, it is annoying and I wish they would get a ticket.
The other time I occasionally use the pavement is when a big vehicle is trying to go through a narrow road between parked cars. By going onto the pavement the vehicle can squeeze through the gap of parked cars. Always I get a wave from the driver because he is grateful I’ve used my common sense to let him past.
How to stop cyclists using the pavement?
Ticketing. I think it is good to enforce rules of the road. The recent crackdown in London on bad cycling and bad driving has good benefits. I would only say that the police should use discretion, by all means give fine to rampaging cyclists, but if someone is just avoiding a dangerous junction and cycling very slowly, they should use their common sense and discretion.
Give alternatives to dangerous roads and road junctions. Do we need three lane motorways in city centres? Can we not give more space to cycle paths. Is cycling on pavement in the Netherlands a problem? not as far as I’m aware because there isn’t the same dangerous layout of roads.
For example, see this post – How to stop cycling on pavement By – As easy as riding a bicycle
Conclusion
Cycling on pavements is an emotive issue and will continue to be a big issue for cycling. It seems the best way forward is twofold
- Using discretion enforce the rule and penalise cyclists who are flouting the law about cycling on the pavement. However, there should be discretion shown about the manner of cycling on the pavement. There is a big difference between a child cycling slowly on the pavement to avoid a dangerous junction and an older cyclists cycling furiously, just because they are impatient.
- Provide safe alternatives to cycling on the pavement. Consider more separate cycle facilities or at least shared use facilities around dangerous junctions.
I am sympathetic to pedestrians who want to be able to walk in peace on the pavement. I hope people on bikes would become more considerate. Just as I hope drivers would also become more considerate.
For those who are entirely unsympathetic to any difficulties cyclists face, I wish they would cycle from one side of London to the other. If petrol heads like Clarkson actually cycled in London, I’m sure he would understand why at times, you need to think of self-preservation.
Related
- Tips for cycle commuting
- Police to meet Stop killing cyclists pressure group to consider more discretion in enforcement of pavement cycling rules at Cycling Weekly.
As someone who first rode a bike at 28, I’m put in a precarious position. I don’t want to inconvenience cyclists, but I find roads terrifying.
The level of skill required to ride on the roads is not trivial. As I can’t even raise my hands to signal without falling off a bike, I can’t really consider it right now, unless the road has barely any traffic.
I get the feeling that complaints about nuisance cyclists are levelled at people charging down pavements at high speeds? For someone who is learning and is riding relatively slowly, as long as I dismount when there are pedestrians about, I don’t think there should be a problem with it.
That said I am slowly trying to ride on roads more and more. But if a car comes up behind me and I can’t even sense how close it is, or it tries to go around me, it’s genuinely scary. I can’t even imagine riding 50mph+ on busy roads surrounded by trucks and buses, sheesh!
As a motorist of some 40+ years experience of driving, I always give plenty of room to cyclists and am always considerate to them and other road users. However, the huge rise of cyclists using pavements and footpaths meant for pedestrians as their own personal racetrack in recent times is totally unacceptable. I have narrowly missed being severely injured on several occasions by these selfish idiots saving myself by jumping out of the way even though it’s a designated pedestrian footpath and not a cycle path. There have even been incidents of cyclists racing down the narrow footpath on my road straight for me when I have been walking up the hill to visit the local shops. On both occasions the road itself was completely empty. Why? Other times I have witnessed cyclists still using the pavement and ignoring the very extensive cycle path that has been built for them alongside the road. Again why? That sort of selfish dangerous behaviour is why cyclists are disliked so much. Pedestrians have been severely injured and others killed. It’s time irresponsible cyclists started being held to account.
I’m a pedestrian, Yes, I agree laws should be abided… but also, yes there are times that can be a little dangerous, especially for newer riders like Mr Harris in the previous reply.
I live on a main road which traffic has been known to get out of hand. It also has a double roundabout at its most busy end and often share a narrow strip of path with cyclists as they dodge the often confusing and dangerous roundabouts.
But wish most of all that cyclists become more aware around pedestrians and here is why
They Need to remember to use their Bells!!
Once on 25th and 3times on the 26th, all cyclists came up behind me without warning that they were on the path and close, the amount of traffic often drowns out the sound, I would have heard a bell and would happily make way, one was even smoking a dodgey substance and blew it in my face as they passed. There are no visible signs to state that bikes are to share the paths, no matter how narrow.
I don’t wish to sound like I am moaning, I often look behind me, passing obstacles on the path or not, and even more so when I have my 3year old daughter with me, but don’t always see cyclists who like riding up in the middle of the road or in between traffic. My reactions may also be magnified by other issues that have caused myself and my daughter to be more nervous and often too scared to even go outside of our own home some days.
But I think that it should be addressed that cyclists should pleeeaaassse give pedestrians as much warning as possible when on a pavement for any reason.