Readers Comment
“I would love to cycle rather than drive to various places, but it would mean putting my 3 year old in a child seat on the back. I feel by doing this whilst cycling on the road I would actively be putting her life at risk. Countless cyclists get killed every year on the roads and I don’t want myself and my daughter to join them thank you. In my opinion cycling on the pavement should be legalised in the same way cars are on the road, with due care and attention. If you catch me bombing down the pavement putting pedestrians at risk then by all means, fine me.” From: post)
I had a lot of sympathy for this comment on cycling on pavements
If you are going to cycle slowly and considerately, then I think it can work cycling on pavements. Maybe there should be greater use of shared pavements / cycle paths?
Once this was just a pavement – no cycling allowed. Now it is a cycling path and it is legal. – How much has changed apart from a blue sign and some white lines?
The incidence of cycling accidents is less than people often fear (see: dangers of cycling). But, I still understand why parents would be reluctant to cycle with kids on the back. Modern cars are so well protected on a bike you don’t have this. Cycle accidents are still rare, but, it can be intimidating cycling through dense and quick moving traffic.
The problem with allowing cyclists on pavements is that some people would abuse the privilege and cycle too quickly, scarring pedestrians (especially old people). In fact, some would say this pretty much already occurs.
But, you could also say, that we allow cars to use the road on the grounds that they stick to speed limits and drive with consideration. Why can’t we allow cyclists with similar rules? The danger from cyclists on pavements is far less than faced by cars. Pedestrian groups make a lot of noise about cyclists on pavements. But, the biggest danger facing pedestrians is still cars – cars mounting kerbs, cars knocking over pedestrians crossing road e.t.c.
Personally, I’m not keen on the idea of cycling on pavements, even if made into legal shared cycle paths / pavements. But, I am more keen for the benefit of young children / parents who would be cycling less than 10mph.
You may think it is appropriate to cycle at 10mph on a pavement but the increasing number of people who have been hit by pavement cyclists would disagree.
You have no right to put pedestrians in danger or make them feel anxious or afraid. Have you any idea what it is like to be elderly with osteoporosis and know that a fall which results in a broken hip can actually end your life?
How are people who are visually impaired supposed to make their way around independently if they know that they are not safe because cyclists are using pavements when they should be in the road?
If cyclists are on the pavement or on the hated “shared pavements” then they should go no faster than 3mph.
We have a few of these shared pavement things close to where I live, the trouble is there are so few cyclists that the pedestrians never seem to know which bit they’re supposed to be in and look at cyclists when they do see one like they shouldn’t be there.
I rode through my home town last week, so many crazy adult cyclists wizzing through pedestrians-scaring them etc.
The key point is that it should not be danagerous on the road for any vehicle-yes we have to be careful but that lady is only showing her projection as some car drivers are terrible and have rage problems.
Still I would agree I wouldn’t take my child, maybe walk but unless it was a dedicated cycle lane.
Hi, if you cycle in Germany and similar parts of Europe you find that cycle lanes, pavements and roads almost merge. The cycle paths swap from road to pavement sometimes every few yards. Everybody learns to get along. Pedestrians look out more, cyclists become predictable and cars expect cyclist to share the road.
Certainly if you want to do 25mph on your carbon stallion then you should use the road and not cycle paths. But generally even the Lycra clad are riding older bikes for commuting and going slower in the centre of the town.