It is illegal to ride bikes on pavements

2:32pm Tuesday 25th September 2012 in Letters

WITH reference to one reader's comments “Cyclists too fast”- Globe Mailbox, September 19, about cyclists riding at speed along the pavement.

It seems a great many cyclists are unaware that it is actually illegal to cycle on the pavement (unless it's marked as shared-use cycle path).
 

According to the Highway Code – under the section “Rules for cyclists” (59-82) Rule no 64 clearly states:
 

You must not cycle on a pavement. [Laws HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A 1984, sect 129]

Apparently, cycling on the pavement is actually punishable by a fixed penalty notice of £30 under Section 51 and Schedule 3 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.

James D, Wallasey.

Comments(8)

Barnabas928 says...
7:08pm Tue 25 Sep 12

James does not understand the "spirit" of the Law. Many many acres of Bromborough "landscape" are now simply a soulless suburban sprawl: cars parked in concreted gardens, with the narrow roads also used as car-parks, leaving a tiny pathway for cyclists to now go from A to B. Meanwhile the wide grass verges and pavements are empty (the people are in cars which give off nasty fumes). So people have become selfish and cannot adapt the roads to this "humanscape". Please listen Council: consider promoting electric vehicles. Cyclists are almost squeezed out and if using empty pavements should use slow speed or walk the bike if walkers nearby.

Report this post »

Barnabas928 says...
7:19pm Tue 25 Sep 12

Would James please remember that there is now great danger to cyclists on our roads from vehicles, and going by the "Letter of the Law" would injure and kill many more people. Very few walkers are injured by cyclists, and I thought we were supposed to be encouraging our young folk to cycle after our Olympics success in London. So much for good intentions: motorists just want all our towns turned into one playground/car-park for cars.

Report this post »

steady cyclist says...
3:18pm Wed 26 Sep 12

James D, its also illegal tospeed in a motor vehicle, to park on the pavement, to drive across the pavement unless a droped kerb has ben installed, and lots of other laws that are ignored by the enforcement authorities, perhaps you should write to them and ask them whayt they are going to do to positively enforce them.

Report this post »

barrier36 says...
1:51pm Thu 27 Sep 12

Ho hum. More justification of 'illegal'behaviour by citing other 'illegal' behaviour not relevant to the concern raised. Why not use your love of law-abiding cycling to focus on changing the anti-social behaviour of cyclists who ride through red lights, through pedestrians at crossings, wrong way down one way streets and having no lights at night? No ridiculous answers about trying to change behaviour of motorists as that doesn't address the issue raised. Signed , a pedestrian.

Report this post »

steady cyclist says...
2:56pm Thu 27 Sep 12

Thankyou barrier 36 for highlighting more problems that motorists are guilty of, driving or aiming a 1 ton plus vehicle at vulnerable road users.


You must start taking down registration numbers and
getting the law to crack down on these criminals before they injure someone..

As for your commenta about law abiding cyclists we mostly are, wedont intimidate other road users with our size, polluting fumes, or noise, we go about our travels in a totally environmnetlay way..

Report this post »

Wirralrob says...
10:32pm Fri 28 Sep 12

It is not illegal to shoot a Welshman in some places. So, assuming you are Welsh......

Report this post »

wirral_2011 says...
12:52pm Tue 2 Oct 12

Im not going to get all smart as honestly i don't know the rules let alone understand most. However its a stupid law. What is wrong with a bit of common sense. The road is dangerous to ride a bike on and more and more cylclists are getting hurt but it also causes traffic problems and im sure even a cyclist gets irritated wjen driving behind one in the lanes where you can't get past. So why not b able to ride on the pavement? You got to be a tad silly of you did'nt mind out the way when walking and if people just use common sense and walk with the bike in tight spots untill clear to ride again then whats the problem?

Report this post »

bickyboy says...
11:07pm Tue 2 Oct 12

There probably are cyclists out there who are capable of riding safely on the pavement; cyclists who realise that pavements were made for pedestrians and therefore the people on bikes should give way. However, the majority of the cyclists I encounter on pavements appear to be slack-jawed, scowling numpties who think that its the pedestrians who should get out of the way.

Cyclists: if you really ARE worried about the dangers of riding on the road, you have my blessing to ride on the pavement as long as you move around me, rather than riding hell for leather in a straight line and expecting me to take evasive action.

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree