Rules of riding on paths

[Fordulike]

I know it's naughty but sometimes i have to travel on a stretch of path or pedestrian walkway. Usually due to the road being too dangerous to travel on.
Which side of the path should i be riding on and how should i pass other pedestrians and cyclists?
It seems that nobody seems to follow any set rules and i usually end up doing a tango with oncoming people.

 

[Alex728]

how should i pass other pedestrians and cyclists?

carefully

It seems that nobody seems to follow any set rules and i usually end up doing a tango with oncoming people.

this is because you are not really supposed to be there ...

that said, a commonsense approach would be for the cyclists to be on the part of the pavement nearest the road..

it might also be possible with a bit of local knowledge/exploration to vary your route and avoid this bit altogether, after all with an e-bike a slight detour isn't a hardship.

a medium/long term solution would be to find your local cycling campaign group (most towns have one) and lobby the Council for better facilities - you may even find they have done this already, for instance one illegal (and risky in traffic) short cut cyclists take in Ipswich is being converted into a proper Toucan crossing!

 

[Straylight]

Ideally what you should do is to stop and let them past as they have absolute right of way. The bonus is that they will generally say thank you, and there'll be very little chance of them complaining about you to the police .

 

[Fordulike]

Thanks for the replies.
Unfortunately, the place i usually travel to involves a stretch of dual carriageway. No other realistic route there. Unless i fit a 100AH battery.
It has a path running the length of it which doesn't really indicate whether it's pedestrain only or pedestrian/cyclist.
There's no way on god's earth that i'm going to ride on the road for two reasons.
It gets very very windy with the risk of being blown into the path of vehicles.
Also it's a regular route for HGV's and boy racers. Not a good combination
Anyone who knows Herrington/Penshaw area will know what i mean.
I think i'll use the stop and let them pass tactic and my bell to warn if i'm passing.
But don't tell the fuzz

 

[timidtom]

Ideally what you should do is to stop and let them past as they have absolute right of way. The bonus is that they will generally say thank you, and there'll be very little chance of them complaining about you to the police .

Perhaps if, when you see a pedestrian approaching, you were to wave a red flag then rapidly dismantle your bike (remembering to disconnect the power supply) and hid it (and yourself) in a doorway or, preferably under a flagstone (ensuring you do not thereby create a tripping hazard) all should be well. Employing a poor person at the minimum wage to wave the red flag and jog in front of you may be helpful? Singing The Red Flag at the top of your voice may not be seen as helpful. Just trying to be of assistance ...

 

[Fordulike]

I am that poor person and my flag is a pair of old underpants. That's why i've only got a Cyclamatic

 

[Morag]

I find screeching 'out of the way, woman wearing hat coming through' usually works a treat people tend to scatter to the four winds

On a serious note, as I understand it and as someone said you aren't really supposed to be there so there are not set rules, however a good friend of mine was advised if he had to use the pavement instead of the road for safety reasons he should dismount and push his bike if there was heavy pedestrian traffic or if the walking folks were few just stop and let them pass then carry on, that way the coppers were less likely to have a word.

 

[flecc]

You can cycle on the pavement when in fear of traffic Fordulike. There is no correct side, just consideration for pedestrians should be given and speed slow where necessary. Here's the rulings on this:

On 1st August 1999, new legislation came into force to allow a fixed penalty notice to be served on anyone who is guilty of cycling on a footway. However the Home Office issued guidance on how the new legislation should be applied, indicating that they should only be used where a cyclist is riding in a manner that may endanger others. At the time Home Office Minister Paul Boateng issued a letter stating that:

"The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required."

Almost identical advice has since been issued by the Home Office with regards the use of fixed penalty notices by 'Community Support Officers' and wardens.

"CSOs and accredited persons will be accountable in the same way as police officers. They will be under the direction and control of the chief officer, supervised on a daily basis by the local community beat officer and will be subject to the same police complaints system. The Government have included provision in the Anti Social Behaviour Bill to enable CSOs and accredited persons to stop those cycling irresponsibly on the pavement in order to issue a fixed penalty notice.

I should stress that the issue is about inconsiderate cycling on the pavements. The new provisions are not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other road users when doing so. Chief officers recognise that the fixed penalty needs to be used with a considerable degree of discretion and it cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 16. (Letter to Mr H. Peel from John Crozier of The Home Office, reference T5080/4, 23 February 2004)
.

 

[Fordulike]

Thanks flecc. I have printed the info and laminated it as my get out of jail free card
Seriously though, it is the lack of consideration from certain motorists that cause me to fear for my life on some roads.
Bring back the days of horse and cart, where dodging horse poop was the only danger.

 

[Alex728]

My geography of Northern areas isn't so good so I may have got the wrong location, but if not this is a page of links to the Council and various other local cycling organisations

it sounds like this pavement is being used by a number of other cyclists anyway and there would be a good argument to converting it to legitimate shared use...

Sunderland City Council : Cycling Contacts

 

[Fordulike]

Ok, back tracking slightly to my original question. If you are riding on an official cycle path, not the dedicated lanes on the actual road, and it is the only one, which side should i ride on.
Hope this makes sense

 

[Beeping-Sleauty]

or flip a coin...

Ok, back tracking slightly to my original question. If you are riding on an official cycle path, not the dedicated lanes on the actual road, and it is the only one, which side should i ride on.
Hope this makes sense

...good question, the lanes should be marked with the cycle symbol for a shared path, but... often the person painting the symbols assumes the rule of the road ie: UK equals keep to the left, so you will frequently come across cycle symbols in both lanes depending which end the painters started,

we have just had a concerted exercise in Colchester to standardise this nonsense because it was creating havoc,

if there are no cycle signals painted, take your cue from the shared path sign-pole, assuming there is one.

 

[flecc]

Yes, from the same source:

When using segregated cycle-paths ie signed footways shared with pedestrians, cyclists ought to keep to the side intended for cyclists.

which doesn't give much guidance. I use a sort of "sail before steam" method on shared unmarked paths, i.e.letting the pedestrian have the right of way at all times, taking the side the pedestrian has left me if there is one. If necessary, I slow to near walking pace and say "excuse me" or similiar with a smile when they look round, adding a pleasant "thank you" to all who make way for me.

With this courtesy there's no possibility of causing offence and it's good publicity for cycling, helping to offset the bad impression given by the two wheeled oafs.
.