should cyclists be treated as road-users, or pedestrians?

skivenov

Naf wrote: »

Its a fair point to get 100% safety. But the principle is that motorists should be more aware of how a cyclist needs to operate. I'd rather be right and get someone annoyed, then corrected that it was them in the wrong. I do my best to make it very clear to cars exactly what I intend. At the same type of junction these days I stop my bike at an angle right in the middle of the lane, preventing cars from setting off and passing me until I'm well underway and my intentions are obvious.

Fair point. When I'm on my scooter I do the same thing (it ain't fast). Say I'm on a 2 lane roundabout, I don't generally sit to the left or to the right in a lane if I think someone's going to try and squeeze past putting me in danger. I use the lane that I've been given, hold the centre of the lane to declare it "mine" and indicate. Yeah, someone might be annoyed for a few seconds, so I make sure I open up an overtake for them as soon as possible.

asset2004

Got stopped last week by the police for riding on a pavement :mad: now bearing in mind this is in Scotland where the Access Code allows cyclists, walkers and horse riders to use any path, or track, it was 8am, and the pavement is about 8 ft wide with no residential area nearby, nor is populated with pedestrians at any time of the day I was slightly miffed. Also I use it as a route to the canal path which is only a short distance further on from where I was stopped.
The police officer then proceeded to inform me she could give me a £30 fixed penalty fine for cycling on the pavement.
I have complained to the local police station that this police officer did not know the access code but because I would not give my name, address etc I doubt the message would be passed on.
I will continue to ride on the pavement at this particular stretch, but fear the police may be lying in wait again :mad:

The_ICT_Engineer

asset2004 wrote: »

Got stopped last week by the police for riding on a pavement :mad: now bearing in mind this is in Scotland where the Access Code allows cyclists, walkers and horse riders to use any path, or track, it was 8am, and the pavement is about 8 ft wide with no residential area nearby, nor is populated with pedestrians at any time of the day I was slightly miffed. Also I use it as a route to the canal path which is only a short distance further on from where I was stopped.
The police officer then proceeded to inform me she could give me a £30 fixed penalty fine for cycling on the pavement.

That code does not apply to the section of highway set aside for the use of pedestrians in other words the pavement along side the road.

Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835 applys and you were correctly stopped by the police.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Will4/5-6/50/section/72

Torry_Quine

asset2004 wrote: »

Got stopped last week by the police for riding on a pavement :mad: now bearing in mind this is in Scotland where the Access Code allows cyclists, walkers and horse riders to use any path, or track, it was 8am, and the pavement is about 8 ft wide with no residential area nearby, nor is populated with pedestrians at any time of the day I was slightly miffed. Also I use it as a route to the canal path which is only a short distance further on from where I was stopped.
The police officer then proceeded to inform me she could give me a £30 fixed penalty fine for cycling on the pavement.
I have complained to the local police station that this police officer did not know the access code but because I would not give my name, address etc I doubt the message would be passed on.
I will continue to ride on the pavement at this particular stretch, but fear the police may be lying in wait again :mad:

Good on that police woman. The pavement unless marked otherwise is not for cyclists. :mad::mad:

Naf

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Good on that police woman. The pavement unless marked otherwise is not for cyclists. :mad::mad:

Agreed, they were rather lucky at £30: the fine can be up to £500 I believe...

mr_fishbulb

Naf wrote: »

Agreed, they were rather lucky at £30: the fine can be up to £500 I believe...

It depends on council bylaws. I know round me there are signs saying £500.

Naf

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

It depends on council bylaws. I know round me there are signs saying £500.

The highway code lists a £500 fine for cycling on the pavement, so presumably is the same right across the UK.
Hadn't looked it up before, so wasn't certain if it was in there of if I'd heard it elsewhere.
https://www.gov.uk/highway-code-penalties/penalty-table

thelawnet

It's a £30 fixed penalty.

To make it £500 they'd have to take you to court and then give the max fine.

Realistically £30 is the penalty, unless you behave like a total %!-£ when stopped by a policeman.

bhill83

discplayer wrote: »

The complicating factor is road planners running their crap cycle lanes up to junctions on the left without other measures such as banning other road users turning left or giving cyclists advance green lights.

This encourages novice cyclists into this space at all junctions and where such markings exist, tempts some more experienced cyclists who wouldn't otherwise.

Well said! Here here!

mttylad

I am neither a professional nor amateur driver - I am just a person that drives a car.

No matter if a person is walking, pushing, or sat on a bicycle, a motorbike, a horse or a purple spotted octopuss called george - if they are waiting at a zebra crossing and have a foot on it I WOULD STOP FOR THEM if it was possible to do so safely. Not to do so could lead to an accident and we all know who will come off worse.

Man overboard - you have made a statement that you have failed to backup with fact - so it is clearly fiction, you were obviously not a professional driver. (!!!!!! is one of them anyway? many of us drive a vehicle as part of our profession.)

We should plan our roads to be more like the dutch ones, then change the laws to be like theirs too.