Comments on: Cyclists on Pavements

By: Ray Davis

Ray Davis — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:24:50 +0000

Such a typical attitude from a cyclist. My journey to work has an excellent cycle path bordering the road, yet a very large percentage of them choose to totally ignore it and slow down the rush hour traffic to a crawl as a result.

Half of them have their ipods on and are clad in dark clothing. I have no sympathy for them at all. Yet i’m still forced as a tax payer to fork out millions for cycle paths for them that they don’t use.

Please do go live in Belgium.

By: Greg Moran

Greg Moran — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:20:01 +0000

Around 6 weeks ago I was in collision with a small van while I was cycling home. Fortunately, after i came round in the ambulance i received only severe grazing down the left side of my body. The van driver didn’t see me and failed to stop at a roundabout which meant that I collided with the drivers side wing and was thrown over the bonnet. I received a letter from his solicitor claiming that I was riding negligently. Is this advise the driver would be given by his insurance/solicitor?

By: No

No — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:20:36 +0000

I agree with not putting cyclists on pavements except in exceptional circumstances.

However, I disagree that – “In theory pedestrians are squeezed into a one foot gap by the wall.” In most situation the pedestrians have every right to use the whole pavement. The cycle sign does not mean cycles only.

Which is another reason to oppose shared use path (separated or not). While pedestrians have the right to use the road too, it is not a comfortable environment and the pavement is (or should be) vehicle free and much preferred. If we mess that up with shared use it just makes it worse for everyone except the car drivers. And I see no reason to pander to them.

By: Hortoris

Hortoris — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 17:42:12 +0000

A shame planners and highway engineers won’t read this!

By: Chris Bainbridge

Chris Bainbridge — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:58:30 +0000

I understand the frustration about cycle paths but on the continent this is exactly what happens. We spent a while in Heidelberg this summer. Cycle paths switched from road to fottpath to road, all the time. Nobody cared because cyclists were so common they “essentially” always had right of way. We simply need to get more people cycling.

By: Lee Hall

Lee Hall — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:33:01 +0000

I used to cycle on the pavement, I always gave pedestrians the right of way, I never rushed them as I should not have been there. A lot of my cycle paths are mixed and pedestrians walk on the cycle paths and cars park on them (and get away with it) so I just risk it and use the road.

As a car driver I would have gone nuts at a 20mph speed limit in urban areas. However as a cyclist I so wish it was made compulsary.

My personal conclusion is either provide good safe cycle paths or introduce a 20mph urban speed limit, I imagine it will be down to cost. Looks like if I were in control thinking of cost and implementation the quickest and most simple option is 20mph.