Police crackdown on people cycling on the pavements

[Geri]

I almost got caught today - I had pushed my bike across the pedestrian crpssing, and hopped on to it at the other side when I spotted a copper on the pavement a bit further up, so I got off again and pushed it past him. Not sure if I am allowed to cycle on that bit of pavement though as it has a dropped kerb both sides with a bike painted on it.

 

[fjydj]

I got caught cycling along a pavement in Battersea last week (towards Latchmere Road)

where exactly is this police trap? Is it coming south from Battersea Bridge after Prince of Wales Drive to avoid the one way?

BTW I've seen the police stopping cyclists a few times recently the north side of Vauxhall Bridge just along the embankment. Again, a very empty pavement alongside a nasty dual carriageway it should be dual use.

In fact wouldn't it all work out better if pavements like this (ie without shops/busy pedestrian routes) were automatically considered dual use unless otherwise sign posted. The one up the side of battersea park is pretty good apart from the bus stops in the middle of it!

 

[zoltan]

I jumped across a pavemtn to beat teh trafic today and stacked teh bike after hitting wet leaves behinmd a bus stop

there is blood running down my leg even an hour later

there is a self evident moral here

 

[beeboo]

Oh and just to point and laugh

WTF?!?!

 

[nino_savatte]

Say what you like about Stevenage but it does have excellent cycle paths.

 

[beeboo]

Cyclists using the cut-through have to cross the pavement leading to the PO. If it's declared an official route it will be more heavily used, and pedestrians will no longer own the pavement. At busy times you can imagine them having to dodge between the cyclists

Shared use seems to work where the peds and cyclists travel alongside each other on wide and relatively undersused pavements, as at Vauxhall, but by the PO the pavement is often crowded with people walking, mostly across the line the cyclists take.

To be honest I only use that route on my commute to work when there aren't many pedestrians around, but if it's busy later maybe it's not so suitable.

But I can think of a number of examples where there are marked cycle paths over short stretches of pavement (which get busy) which seem to work OK - I use one every day on New Bond Street.

At the pedestrian crossing areas at Vauxhall there are often 20-odd pedestrians and 3 or 4 cyclists all crossing round each other and it seems to work.

I know it's not always right but people will try to make things faster and easier for themselves (like pedestrians will always cut a straight line rather than following a meandering path). Where it can be worked in safely, it makes sense to try to work with, rather than against, this tendancy.

 

[ovaltina]

where exactly is this police trap? Is it coming south from Battersea Bridge after Prince of Wales Drive to avoid the one way?

That's it exactly! I hate going through that three-lane one way system - the cars go way too quickly. It'd be good if they got rid of a couple of parking spaces and made a contra-flow cycle lane. From now on I'm going to use Albert Bridge instead of Battersea so I can avoid it altogether.

 

[Ms T]

do the police fine cyclists without lights as well?

I don't often drive at night, but last night I was shocked by the number of cyclists on the roads without lights. Are they mad? Or stupid? Or both?

 

[chymaera]

do the police fine cyclists without lights as well?

I don't often drive at night, but last night I was shocked by the number of cyclists on the roads without lights. Are they mad? Or stupid? Or both?

I have yet to see a cyclist with lights in this rural idyll, or riding in the road where there is a pavement.

 

[stat]

I got caught cycling along a pavement in Battersea last week (towards Latchmere Road) by two cycle-mounted police.

[...]

So there's some sort of crackdown on at the mo. Thought I'd let you know

I've been reading about crackdowns in Hackney too (via the Hackney LCC)

 

[goldenecitrone]

I've been reading about crackdowns in Hackney too (via the Hackney LCC)

crackdowns or crackdens? Haven't noticed much of the former, plenty of the latter.

 

[Termite Man]

In fact wouldn't it all work out better if pavements like this (ie without shops/busy pedestrian routes) were automatically considered dual use unless otherwise sign posted. The one up the side of battersea park is pretty good apart from the bus stops in the middle of it!

I never use that lane . I prefer to cycle in the bus lane on that stretch of road ( unless I'm doing my normal route of going through the park instead )

 

[Kierz]

Its ridiculous, I go on pavement and get told off by old ladies "you should be on the road you little hooligan"

so i go on the road and get beeped by stuck up shits in suits!

Piss off motorists!

 

[Jambooboo]

Its ridiculous, I go on pavement and get told off by old ladies "you should be on the road you little hooligan"

You should steal their handbags to enforce their prejudices.

 

[Herbsman.]

Are those the special cycle-police jumpers with little flashing red lights all over them? Wicked!

 

[beeboo]

do the police fine cyclists without lights as well?

I don't often drive at night, but last night I was shocked by the number of cyclists on the roads without lights. Are they mad? Or stupid? Or both?

I was driving round London the other day and it was dark and pissing it down so visibility was dreadful, and there is a cyclist casually weaving in and out of the traffic on Elephant & Castle roundabout with no lights and dark clothing. Death wish?

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

Someone on here once claimed to me that wearing black clothing at night on a bicycle made you more visible, not less

 

[Crispy]

There's loads of the fuckers