But most of all, I wonder who this poor guy is, cycling off the pavement (!) ... although he's clearly in the wrong, I feel a bit sorry for him for being picked out of thousands, and splashed over the Times to be the "lycra lout" the papers love to hate. Who is he? (Mr Yellow, that is).
A little addition to that post - there's a lovely article here by Keith Bingham - someone who's taken the trouble to go out with the police to see them in action at a traffic lights, stopping cyclists jumping reds and telling cars and lorries which have gone into the box to get back.
6 comments:
I have to admit I sometimes cycle over Kew Bridge on a busy evening commute. But over all its a big NO to pavement cycling; its risky and it enrages the walkers.
At the same time though we have to kick back to the councils by demanding more cycle lanes; where they exist there is no need for sidewalk recidivism.
I have to say that article made me seethe. I live in Westminster and I have seen cyclists being stopped quite a few times. But I have NEVER seen a driver of a bus, car, van or taxi being pulled over for driving or parking in a cycle lane. And my personal beef - pulling into the green cycle box at traffic lights thereby meaning I have to sit behind them and breathe in their fumes. Grrrrrr.....
Can anyone give me a reason why we shouldn't cycle on pavements?
Well, this one is certainly a hornet's nest! Perhaps Muppix needs to read Sanddervish's comment about pavement riding being "risky and it enrages the walkers" ... but you can also take heart from the fact that it seems most cyclists at one time or another do take to the pavement.
And Natalie - quite right. I couldn't agree more about the cycle boxes - yesterday I approached one such box to find it filled by two cars, either side of a motorbike, leaving zero room for the cyclists! Incredible.
I'm in the middle of reading the London Cycling Campaign's news magazine, and it's got a few useful links about such things, so I'll post them up soon in case any of you don't already get the mag.
OK, I accept that pavement riding is risky and may enrage some walkers. So? It's far riskier to cycle on the road, and frankly most people enrage too easily. I've never heard of a pedestrian being killed by a cyclist, neither have I collided with a pedestrian myself. Until that changes I'll make up my own mind as to where it's safest to ride.
I think most of us agree that as long as we're sure we're not going to hurt anyone we can choose our own path (sounds a bit philosophical, doesn't it) ... it would be hypocritical of me to say I never go on the pavement, because I do sometimes go up when there's a van or something parked right in bike lane, and there are too many cars to the right to get around it ... but I think when it comes down to it I'm too much of a coward to tolerate the shouting and anger from pedestrians. Somehow I'd rather endure the shouting and anger from cars and vans. Stupid I know.
Post a Comment