Proposal to permit cycling on footpaths
Seen on Breakfast news, proposal from Cycling body to lobby government to change law regarding cycling on footpaths in England.
Much talk of the safety and health benefits to cyclists, keeping them off those dangerous roads with fast moving vehicles.
What about pedestrians, confronted by fast moving cyclists ?
I'm perfectly happy for cyclists to use footpaths, provided that they do not exceed 4mph or human walking pace. I'd also apply the same condition to users of mobility scooters, when riding in pedestrian areas.
Comments
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OH NO ! Agree Richard,
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Amongst the arguments put forward for this was that it would enable cyclists and walkers to meet each other and undestand the other's point of view.
What tosh.
Even as someone who is keen on cycling, I can see that this won't work, based on experiences on bridleways (both as a cyclist and as a walker).
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Certainly don't agree despite being a cyclist. In my experience ramblers tend to 'own' any path including cycleways, and tend not to move out of the way despite warnings by either calling out or ringing bells. Civilised cyclists always slow down past
walkers and children.It would be nice to share pathways but can't see it happening.
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Works perfectly well in Germany. The alternative is the spend millions of pounds on special cycle tracks. However it does depend on how wide the pavement is, if its three foot wide, perhaps not but at twice the width its a possibility.
David
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We are in England, and thousands of pounds has already been spent on cycle paths that are not used.
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I watched the report and it was for off road cycling ie mountain bike and rough toain cycling a very big sport now , not your normal thin wheel cycles so it won't take them off the roads
it appears to work very well in Scotland ! a few interviews with country walkers and ramblers didn't seem to keen because of the dangers as the OFF road cyclist ride so fast and there have been some serious and nasty accidents and a number of dogs and cyclist have been hurt , so there saying if the bikes take over the pathways it's dangerous for the walkers
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I must admit and I make no apologies, we frequently cycle on the footpath.We would not do it where the footpath isused by pedestrians but very many aren't. I have no wish to be crushed by a HGV .
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It would work if only cyclists would use their bell to warn of their approach, we call them 'whispering death' when we are out walking, when we are on our bikes we use our bells.... Silmple
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I must admit and I make no apologies, we frequently cycle on the footpath.We would not do it where the footpath isused by pedestrians but very many aren't. I have no wish to be crushed by a HGV .
You won't be crushed by HGV's if you use common sense and don't cycle up the inside (nearside) of them when approaching junctions etc.....
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Recently purchased bicycle for hubby. Informed that it against the law to sell a bicycle without a bell. Why do so few cyclists have them or fail to use them?
We have 'shared' paths with a dividing line in some places, width wise one cyclist one pedestrian. Cyclists still 'creep' up and woosh past and if there's one in each direction it's the pedestrian who is expected to shift onto the verge! Other places total
free for all. This is through the town so why do cyclists ride like they're in a race?0 -
Its not the activity that's the problem but the attitude. There are considerate walkers and cyclists and inconsiderate and rude walkers and cyclists.
I have stood aside for cyclists without thanks and been told not to ring my bell by walkers.
The roads are unsafe in many places due to volumes of traffic so I cycle off road so this move could benefit me but I won't be holding my breath waiting.
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Quite a few of the 'sports' cyclists around us use LED flashing lamps at front and rear (quite effective even in daylight) but rarely seem to have bells fitted! Seems like vehicles pose more of a threat to them but what of the threats to the pedestrians?
The proposal was for off road pathways by the way!
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My road bike has no bell. Nor does it have lights, mudguards or anything else that would add weight. But there again, I would never dream of riding it on anything but roads.
I have ridden my mountain bike on bridleways shared with pedestrians. I don't have a bell on that either, but it's really not that difficult to stear around the pedestrians. Other than when they string themselves right across the path, 4 or more abreast
(as they often tend to do).No amount of coughing, noisy gear changing, crunching gravel etc seems to alert them, as they are engrossed in their conversation. Eventially I shout "Excuse Me!!!" and they look around in shocked anger - the very thought that I should disturb them.
No, bikes and pedestrians do not mix well.
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Im a cyclist and a hill walker and I live in a country where cyclists and walkers share hill paths.
I can tell those considering allowing this in England to think again. ......... Its not working in Scotland,
It causes friction and anger between groups.
Cycling and Walking on the same path does not mix.
K
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My road bike has no bell. Nor does it have lights, mudguards or anything else that would add weight. But there again, I would never dream of riding it on anything but roads.
I have ridden my mountain bike on bridleways shared with pedestrians. I don't have a bell on that either, but it's really not that difficult to stear around the pedestrians. Other than when they string themselves right across the path, 4 or more abreast
(as they often tend to do).No amount of coughing, noisy gear changing, crunching gravel etc seems to alert them, as they are engrossed in their conversation. Eventially I shout "Excuse Me!!!" and they look around in shocked anger - the very thought that I should disturb them.
No, bikes and pedestrians do not mix well.
Write your comments here...Then why not get a bell..Ian ?
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Where we live there are "shared" foot/cycle paths a white line divides them,but cyclists still obstruct the road running alongside these paths,and their "excuses" are mostly they do not use the cycle path as there are to many pedestians impeding their journey, in other words they cannot go fast enough, so it would only cause more problems if footpaths nation wide were opened up to cyclists
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There is a regulation that states that bikes must be supplied with a bell when purchased new. However there is no regulation that requires it to stay on the bike!! In fact the Government in their wisdom were/have thinking about scraping that regulation as an effort to reduce red tape!!!
Here in Milton Keynes we over 160 miles of shared pathways called Redways for mixed pedestrian and cycling use. They are about two metres wide. If a family are out for a stroll they do tend to use the whole width of the path so I give a single ping on my bell from a suitable distance and they make room for me. The important thing is that I also smile and thank them as I ride by.
David
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My road bike has no bell. Nor does it have lights, mudguards or anything else that would add weight. But there again, I would never dream of riding it on anything but roads.
I have ridden my mountain bike on bridleways shared with pedestrians. I don't have a bell on that either, but it's really not that difficult to stear around the pedestrians. Other than when they string themselves right across the path, 4 or more abreast
(as they often tend to do).No amount of coughing, noisy gear changing, crunching gravel etc seems to alert them, as they are engrossed in their conversation. Eventially I shout "Excuse Me!!!" and they look around in shocked anger - the very thought that I should disturb them.
No, bikes and pedestrians do not mix well.
Write your comments here...Then why not get a bell..Ian ?
..Because he is useing his "discretion"
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We both have cycles not used as much now , there seem's to be a number of comments regarding walkers walking 2/3/4 abreast , when in car we have seen and have to put up with cyclist doing exactly the same thing on road's and off road paths
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We, both now and with the children when younger, have cycled and walked on duel use paths. Never found it to work, mainly because of three things:- speed differential, cyclists not warning walkers of their approach and walkers who lack awareness of their
surroundings. We can see disadvantages from both sides!0 -
Agree there's lots to be considered. Walkers, parents with children and pushchairs / prams nobody as mention people in wheelchairs or using walking aids there are lots to be considered
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Agree there's lots to be considered. Walkers, parents with children and pushchairs / prams nobody as mention people in wheelchairs or using walking aids there are lots to be considered
Write your comments here...AND, AND Dogs on extended leads of up to 15ft !!!!!!
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if councils cut back hedgerows fully and properly, we could reclaim about 50% of our existing paths and cycleways.
some of our paths are about 90% overgrown, with walkers and cyclist forced out into the carriageways by brambles, overhead and low lying branches, etc...
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the other main difference in the paths in europe and the uk is the priority of the users...
in holland (say), emerging traffic from a side road must first check that its safe to cross the cycle path before easing further forward to check the traffic on the main carriageway....ie both bikes and cars (in their separate lanes) have priority over emerging
(secondary) traffic.in the uk, its the cycle path that suddenly has a give way line, forcing an upto speed bike to give way to secondary traffic emerging from a minor junction.
multiply this up dozens and dozens of times on a good bike ride and you can see why proficient cyclists choose to mix it with the main traffic flow....they get the priority they 'should' have when on a (main carriageway tracking) cycle track.
a change in the priority would instantly make cycle tracks more user friendly, safer and more attractive to bikers, moving them back from the roads.
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