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"Crackdown on cyclists who use pavement"

(44 posts)
  • Started 10 years ago by chdot
  • Latest reply from Morningsider

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12

  1. chdot
    Admin

    "

    It is illegal to cycle on the pavement in Scotland - apart from sections which are officially designated as cycleways - but police officers often turn a blind eye to the offence while many cyclists are unaware of the law. Cyclists who fall foul of the law can receive a fixed penalty notice – which includes a fine – but if they challenge the charge the offence can be passed on to the procurator fiscal.

    "

    http://m.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/crackdown-on-cyclists-who-use-pavement-1-3260596

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. crowriver
    Member

    I suppose the trams are nearly finished so the EEN needs another easy target to get the readers wound up...

    Also, will there be a central database of complaints about anti-social driving too? Where can we log complaints about that?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    I think it's well worth asking if there will be a database of anti-social driving which cyclists and pedestrians can log incidents to. Surely that's only fair?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Illegal to cycle on a pavement in Scotland, but thanks to section 21.4 of the RTA 1988, perfectly legal to park or drive a car in a cycle lane....

    http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/21

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. EddieD
    Member

    I could well be wrong, but isn't the picture taken on an off-road footway (i.e. one crossing a park) not a roadside footway (i.e. a pavement)?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. crowriver
    Member

    Indeed, that looks a lot like the Meadows or some other park, where it is PERFECTLY LEGAL to cycle (responsibly, of course).

    Someone may want to drop a line to David McCann at the EEN and point this out? His e-mail is on the article.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. Morningsider
    Member

    IWRATS - not to worry, it is an offence to drive or park on a cycle track in Scotland under Section 129 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 - which is why that provision doesn't extend to Scotland. It is worth noting that there are very few formally designated cycle tracks - which are not the same as on-road advisory cycle lanes.

    I could post a full explanation of the law on pavement cycling, but it is pretty long and even duller than it is long - I may well have done it before.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. crowriver
    Member

    As this appears to be a (populist) Council initiative, here are the search results for 'inconsiderate cycling' on the CEC web pages.

    Can't find much evidence that it's a massive issue, however in 2011 Wards 10 & 15 (Meadows/Morningside and Southside/Newington had some gripes about 'careless and inconsiderate cycling' such that it became a priority to tackle it.
    Presumably these are the 'hotspots' for students "dangerous cyclists"?
    Coincidentally also the areas of Edinburgh with the highest cycling modal share...

    Anyone for e-mails to Leslie Hinds asking for anti-social/reckless/careless/inconsiderate driving/parking to be added to the new web site/database?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. crowriver
    Member

    it is an offence to drive or park on a cycle track in Scotland under Section 129 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984

    You'd have a hard time driving a car around the velodrome at Meadowbank anyhow. Just getting it down the stairs into the underpass would be a big effort.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. neddie
    Member

    Anyone for e-mails to Leslie Hinds asking for anti-social/reckless/careless/inconsiderate driving/parking to be added to the new web site/database

    Or just log your motoring complaints to the new cycling complaints database!

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. crowriver
    Member

    I see there's some numptie complaining about cyclists on the footpath at Lower Granton Road - which is officially designated as shared use.....sigh.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. crowriver
    Member

    @eddie_h: Aye, but according to the article (which could be balls) "Complaints about people riding on the footways are to be centrally logged for the first time in order to build up a city-wide picture of problem areas."

    So it only, ans solely, for that purpose it would seem. Rather bizarre if you ask me, but then so was a certain notorious petition and that seems to have been taken very seriously by the Council...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. chdot
    Admin

    "Or just log your motoring complaints to the new cycling complaints database!"

    Sounds like a plan...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. EddieD
    Member

    Interesting - there's a slightly differently toned comment on this article on the EEN site...

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/comment-cycling-crackdown-must-be-sensible-1-3260712

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. algo
    Member

    although the first comment to that is a bit menacing:

    "Fit and able pedestrians need to take action against selfish cyclists"

    inciting rule of the mob, and as has been pointed out - often people object to considerate cycling on shared use paths and the objection is ill-informed....

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. DaveC
    Member

    "Crackdown on cyclists who use pavement"

    So I presume this extends to cyclists walking their bicycles along the pavement? ;O)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Yeah, that first comment is basically saying "Even if I could get out of the way of a cyclist I won't, and more so will deliberately try to act to make them fall off." Basically admitting to attempted assault... Yes, pavement cycling is wrong, but violence in response ain't the answer.

    "CRAZY,CRAZY,CRAZY. Why is it illegal to cycle on pavements but not illegal to cycle on the promenade at Portobello. Every weekend whilst walking along the prom you can witness many 'near misses'. Cyclist travel along the prom at high speed knowing that they will be safe with their helmets on if they hit a pedestrian. Why did the police change the rules so that it is now legal to cycle on the prom but not on the pavement. CRAZY!!!!"

    I really still don't get this thinking. People genuinely seem to believe that as cyclists we actually don't care if we hit people and fall off. I really don't want to fall off, it hurts (whether wearibng a helmet or not - my helmet did nothing for the arm I broke coming off my bike at the cycle speedway).

    The other aspect of the prom is... Well I'm nearby, I've walked and cycled on it a lot. And I've seen a couple of riders going a little too fast, but posts like this suggest there are pedestrians scattering left, right and centre, which just isn't true. People will onyl see what they want to see.

    Stop reading the comments...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  18. Roibeard
    Member

    @DaveC - it may even extend to those that carry their bicycles...

    in parts of London!

    Robert

    Posted 10 years ago #

  19. PS
    Member

    That first comment refers to pretty normal behaviour from certains folks on shared use paths. Seen it on Middle Meadow Walk (memorably on the way to POP2) and on the canal path going through Wester Hailes. It attempts to cry "I know my rights" but, as it tends to be directed at perfectly considerate cyclists, instead says "I'm an anti-social tool".

    Posted 10 years ago #

  20. Cyclops
    Member

    It's amazing that despite all these "near misses", that must surely number in the thousands daily if the EEN comments are to be believed, there are very few or possibly even no reports of collisions. Either these pavement cyclists must have superb bike handling or the pedestrians the reflexes of a ninja.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  21. Nelly
    Member

    I dont agree with the nutter EEN commentators - but there are a minority of cyclists who do use pavements in what could sometimes be construed an inconsiderate manner - and I am not talking about people 'mistaking a pavement for a shared use path' either.

    And - unpopular if this statement might be here - it is getting more noticeable (I saw two this evening - Edin Park and Newington).

    I dont think the paper stories are helpful as they propogate the car v bike stuff, however we cant be blind to poor cycling as it just gives the trolls ammo.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  22. SRD
    Moderator

    Agree nelly. I just don't see how it can possibly be as common as EEN commentators and community councillors appear to believe it is.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  23. gembo
    Member

    Today I was cycling up the ginnel at the side of the White Horse pub - many huge bins. Pedestrian coming towards me. I stopped to let me through. He thanked me for my courtesy but waved me through. a lovely exchange of pleasantries. I did then cross the pavement on the royal mile but very carefully.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  24. Nelly
    Member

    SRD - absolutely, it is hardly the menace that these people state (as we have asked many times, how many injuries are caused by bike on ped incidents I wonder?)

    And let me state (a-la Gembo) that I am not without sin here - I use about 10 feet of pavement every day to ease my journey - and have managed to never knock down a pensioner ;-)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  25. gembo
    Member

    Oops that should have read,,I stopped to let him through, it is all me me me with me.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  26. ARobComp
    Member

    Nelly I similarly use about 5m-25m of pavement daily. I am a horrible person.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  27. allebong
    Member

    Confession time for me as well. I regularly use 5m or so of pavement at the WoL path crossing at Stenhouse/Saughton here. The path that goes straight on following the river isn't much fun. Rough surface, slippy when wet, often busy with peds/dogs and ends with either having to drop down a kerb or going onto another dodgy bit of the path down the back of the river/shops at Chesser.

    Simply going left and down the road bypasses all that and takes you to Fords road much easier. I do think though, if I cross at a green man there anyone in a car would see me disappear behind like I was riding carefree on the pavement, if they didn't see me turn off on the road.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  28. EddieD
    Member

    FWIW I used to see* a couple of cycle cops who go round Bristo Square, and then use 5ish meters of pavement before bumping off the kerb at the taxi rank outside the Medical School.

    *My office has moved, so I can't see that bit of Bristo anymore.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  29. Morningsider
    Member

    You can legally cycle across a footway or footpath - I'm pretty sure you could argue that crossing a pavement at an angle is covered by this, although I would think that anything more a few metres is likely to be considered cycling along a pavement as opposed to across it.

    See - Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, Section 129(5)(a)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  30. ARobComp
    Member

    Quick Question.

    I was out for a longish night ride last night and decided to mooch along porty promenade. I went relatively fast except when there was ANYONE around at which point I slowed right down. I also had my spot pointing straight down and a flasher on the front.

    I went past plenty of people and quite enjoyed the community atmosphere. As I was passing that arcade thing I passed a small family with a wee lad on his bike with stabalisers. I passed on the wall side where there was less space but also less erratic child cycling.

    I think the mum made some osrt of nasty comment about me being there. I didn't quite hear as I had headphones in. But I was under the impression I'm find cycling there especially as I was being super cautious. Am I right?

    Posted 10 years ago #

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