Cyclists have reacted angrily to warnings they face fines if caught riding on the pavement around the Crystal Palace Triangle.
Dozens of responses condemning the idea have followed a Tweet from Police Sergeant Diane Hill of the Crystal Palace Triangle Safer Neighbourhoods Team.
She tweeted : “WARNING – We are going to start issuing tickets for cycling on the pavement which will mean £50 fine. Please don’t do it and spread the word.”
Shouldn’t have bothered warning them!
Sgt Hill said the response she had received had surprised her, as the rights of pedestrians seemed to have been forgotten.
Sgt Hill said the decision to warn cyclists was a response to concerns raised by the Crystal Palace ward panel, a joint venture between residents and the police.
Elderly people to whom she had spoken had also said they were worried by pavement cyclists.
Grow a pair, Sgt Hill. Point out their selfishness and self-absorption and start issuing those fines! Don’t take to the media to whine.
FIFTY QUID!!!
ReplyDeleteA pure DREAM.
Here it is €5.
I costs more than that to print the bloody paperwork!!!
Golly, Sgt Hill. I haven't seen a more unconvincing rendering of a cyclist since Boris pedalled his.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Highway Code:
ReplyDelete"Section for Cyclists
Rule 64
You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement.
(Laws HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A 1984, sect 129)"
Gee, it's really unclear and hard to understand, isn't it?
Or did I just not realise that cyclists are exempt from all rules, per se?
If the police intend to ticket every cyclist on the pavement that's wrong. The law against cycling on footpaths is aimed at irresponsible cyclists as was made clear by then Home Office minister, Paul Boateng when the legislation was introduced:
ReplyDelete“The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required.”
In January this year, roads minister Robert Goodwill said Boateng’s advice was still valid.
Goodwill said: “Thank you for bringing the issue of cycling on the pavement around dangerous junctions…to my attention. I agree that the police should be using discretion in enforcing this law and would support Paul Boateng’s original guidance.”
Full article at Bikehub
Yes, I'm a cyclist. I'm ashamed to say I screw with drivers' preconceptions by not riding on the footpath and by stopping at red lights. On narrow country roads I've even been known to pull into one side to let drivers overtake. :)
There's a triple standard here:
ReplyDeleteCar drivers drive too close and endanger cyclists.
But on Saturdays, these same car drivers put on their (gay?) Lycra outfits and consider the roads are theirs alone. Then on Sundays, they go for a family walk in the woods and shout at the cyclists for being on the same path. Muppets!
How true that is.
DeleteThe laws of the road not applying to cyclists?
ReplyDeleteWho do they think they are? Taxi drivers?
As a general rule, I only cycle either on the roads or on designated cycle routes or shared spaces. I have to plead guilty to cycling on the path, on my way to work, for two very short stretches, where it never occurred to those who built the cycleway that anyone would want to leave it and join the road.
ReplyDeleteStonyground
"I costs more than that to print the bloody paperwork!!!"
ReplyDeleteYup :/
"Gee, it's really unclear and hard to understand, isn't it?"
Perhaps it needs to be translated into InsuffableOnanistian...
"The law against cycling on footpaths is aimed at irresponsible cyclists as was made clear by then Home Office minister..."
And there's no such thing as mission creep, ever. Right?
"On narrow country roads I've even been known to pull into one side to let drivers overtake. :)"
How many have fainted with shock..? ;)