Hit a small child

Inactive

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

I really don't know the rights and wrongs of it but I personally would have stopped as I know how unpredictable children can be.

Indeed.

As advised in the HC;

" Take care when passing pedestrians, especially children, older or disabled people, and allow them plenty of room. Always be prepared to slow down and stop if necessary. "

poontang

Inactive wrote: »

Try telling that to Mr. Plod.

Footpath/pavement, same item.

Not so at all, the law specifically relates to 'footways', i.e. the pavement on the side of the road:

Cycling on footways (a pavement at the side of a carriageway) is prohibited by Section 72 of the Highway Act 1835, amended by Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1888. This is punishable by a fixed penalty notice of £30 under Section 51 and Schedule 3 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.


Cyclists have no right to cycle on a footpath away from the road but only commit an offence where local by-laws or traffic regulation orders create such an offence.

For example, the 'fixed penalties' brought in a few years ago do NOT apply to country footpaths where there is no road. Fixed penalty notices also cannot be applied to areas such as parks, shopping precincts etc. unless a byelaw has been passed making cycling such areas an offence
(from http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cycling_and_the_law.php)

NeverAgain_2

If the paved area is mixed use with no markings, pedestrians will have priority.

When there are people about, a wise cyclist would get off and push - you said it was uphill.

The woman may have reacted in the way she did because she and her family had been 'buzzed' by cyclists in the past.

Gandalfthesecond

poontang wrote: »

Not so at all, the law specifically relates to 'footways', i.e. the pavement on the side of the road:

Cycling on footways (a pavement at the side of a carriageway) is prohibited by Section 72 of the Highway Act 1835, amended by Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1888. This is punishable by a fixed penalty notice of £30 under Section 51 and Schedule 3 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.


Cyclists have no right to cycle on a footpath away from the road but only commit an offence where local by-laws or traffic regulation orders create such an offence.

For example, the 'fixed penalties' brought in a few years ago do NOT apply to country footpaths where there is no road. Fixed penalty notices also cannot be applied to areas such as parks, shopping precincts etc. unless a byelaw has been passed making cycling such areas an offence
(from http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cycling_and_the_law.php)

OK, so how should you have passed them?
1. To the left
2. To the rigth
3. Ride straight throught the centre of them hitting the smallest.

You chose the option we all know was wrong.

poontang

NeverAgain wrote: »

If the paved area is mixed use with no markings, pedestrians will have priority.

I am happy to give priority, but I'm not sure that that's the same thing as occupying the entire width of the path thereby forcing me off my bike?

cyclonebri1

jase1 wrote: »

Were you speeding?

If not, you're quite OK.

Serious or not, and I know it's not, but that is the mentallity of the masses so sad

Ps, and without offence, You don't get any points if you don't make them cry,

i'll get mi coat

Gandalfthesecond

poontang wrote: »

I am happy to give priority, but I'm not sure that that's the same thing as occupying the entire width of the path thereby forcing me off my bike?

Where does it say in the highway code pedestrians can't use all of the footpath?

Had you done it to one of mine you'd have had damage to both yourself and your bike.

Gandalfthesecond

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Serious or not, and I know it's not, but that is the mentallity of the masses so sad

Ps, and without offence, You don't get any points if you don't make them cry,

i'll get mi coat

So you'd have been a happy man had one of your children/grandchildren been left crying in similar circumstances?

motorguy

poontang wrote: »

I am happy to give priority, but I'm not sure that that's the same thing as occupying the entire width of the path thereby forcing me off my bike?

Mate, you should either have stopped or dismounted. Either way you shouldnt have tried to cycle through the middle of them.

You've come on here and got our opinion - unanimously that you were in the wrong.

Fortunately, you didnt hurt the child on this occassion, but do you really think cycling along a shared path into some kids was a good idea?

Also, RE: the path leads to a cycle track, therefore you must be able to cycle up it - theres a stock car track close to me with a path up to it that pedestrians use, by your logic i should be able to drive a stock car up it with total disregard for children and other people?

chris_n_tj

A fellow human on seeing a small family group including young children would get off their bike, or at least stop and let the family pass in safety. It would have taken a minute of your time, not ploughing through and hope for the best.
Had you hit my child you wouldnt be disscusing it on MSE you would be in casualty.