when did it become OK to ride a bicycle on the pavement?

Question

when i was a kid if you were caught riding on the pavement a copper would thicken your ear, an adult caught could expect a summons and a fine
ok so traffic is heavier now, but it is impossable to walk on the pavment without being mown down by some hairy oaf on a mountain bike- even where there are cyclepaths morons still persist in riding on the pavement- presumably to cause harrasment

cry baby
as it happens should i so wish i could afford to purchase a bicycle
you might be well advised to spend your money on either
learning how to spell, or
getting someone to teach you how to use a spellchecker

Answer 1

It didn't, its still against the law and is actually in the highway code stating that you can be fined £500 if you are caught - but sadly it is never enforced.

Cycling on the pavement is my pet hate, I have actually been hit by these morons who use the pavement as their own personal road.

When I become Supreme Overlord of Britain I will not make it illegal to cycle on the pavement - instead every pedestrian will be issued with a two foot wooden stick and if they encounter cyclist on the pavement, it will be totally legal, nay, encourgaged to thrust the stick into the back / front wheel of the moving bike.

That'll teach the B*******s to get back on the road.

"Oh you cannot do that" I hear you cry "What about Health & Safety!!!"

Well if they want to reamain Healthy & Safe GET BACK ON THE ROAD.

Answer 2

In the Uk it is legal for you to ride a cycle on the pavement upto the age of 10. But yes people do- i hate cyclists who have little or no consideration for pedestrians, or the ones who just pull straight of side streets without even glancing at the traffic to see if its safe- i have lost count of the amount of times i have swerved to avoid them- it is very annoying.

Answer 3

I work in Bristol and there are more cyclists on the pavements than on the road. The police should enforce the law which prohibits riding on pavements and adult cyclists should be made to have third party insurance.

Answer 4

i was knocked down by a cyclist on the pavement, had six stitches in my arm, two internally and four outside. The police and ambulance were called. Police took statement I identified the male as he lived on the same estate as myself. I was taken to hospital for the stitches and and x-ray tought my arm was broken. The police did nothing about this incident. I see this male most days and would like to stick the bike right up where it hurts.

Answer 5

Its my biggest bug bear. Especially adults that cycle on the pavement. I can sort of forgive kids from cycling on pavements especially the younger ones, as the roads are often not safe. But there really is no excuse for grown adults to. It makes my blood boil to be honest.

Answer 6

Has anyone here ridden on the road recently, it's a nightmare. Those divs at the council have put up road calming measures that jam the cars over to one side and lots of dumb mini sucking roundabouts with bollards in the roads just before them so cyclists get squeezed by the threat of us petrol heads driving past them threw the gap.
Who wouldn't cycle on the path.
And as for cycle paths they're a joke! there's no room left, and the only roads with people, cars and pedestrians on them are residential enough to include PARKED CARS which means cyclists have to leave the cycle route, swerve out into the road ie looking over their shoulder to avoid speeding motorists whilst trying to miss the parked car at same time.
The only thing that gets my goat is any one individual group that thinks it has sole rights to the highways and byways.

Answer 7

They ride on the pavement because they are cowards. They are too scared to ride on the road lest they get hit, but they think it's OK to bully pedestrians. Yes, bullies and cowards!

Answer 8

So they can't get done for going through the red lights!!

But really, more cycle lanes is the only solution. I'm a driver and there bad cyclists and bad motorists, but I wouldn't get on a bike on a city road - too dangerous.

I agree though, if there's a cycle lane use it! And use front lights as well for goodness sake! I cannot see you in my mirror in the dark if you have no lights!!!

Answer 9

We get them riding through our town centre.
I went in a shop yesterday and when I came out had to climb my way out of all the bicycles that had just been dumped in the doorways.
Not my fault if I accidently stood on one and had something sharp in my shoe that accidently punctured one of the tyres.

Answer 10

I think that the psychedelic stick insects decided for themselves that it was OK. They do ride the high moral ground.