Cycling on public footpaths

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Hi all,

Cycling on public footpaths is not permitted, except if the local council has a bylaw permitting it.

Is this the case for Stafford?

I had to stop and move my dogs out of the way of two mountain bikers on a footpath near me and rather than thank me, they expected me to thank them. Now I also ride my bike down said public footpath, but I would never be rude to anyone. Obviously if this happens again I want to inform them of the rules :)
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Shouldn't be on the path unless specified, but in all honesty I often am. I never expect people to move though, I won't even alert them to my presence. Admittedly that sometimes shocks them more!
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Don't believe there's a bylaw in Stafford. I often do because, frankly, it's that or get killed in places. I see myself as a guest on the pavement and either really slow down or stop for pedestrians, as appropriate.

What really pisses me off is when on cycle let routes you get folk walking towards you three or four abreast and they won't move to let you past so you have to stop. If you say something to them they usually tell you that you shouldn't be riding on there anyway. TOSSERS. Have to say this only ever really happens on the Isabel Trail as a significant number of retards seem to use it.
 

Amerlan

Well-Known Forumite
It's all down to a bit of mutual respect really. Footpaths are generally the safest place for cyclists as long as they are not involved in a high speed pursuit. With a little foresight and planning like thinking about the needs of pedestrians it should be relatively safe. IMHO Modern roads are not really the place for cyclist (or horse riders) but I do respect their wish to share the facility. I just wish that the few who spoil it all for everyone would just piddle orf elsewhere. They are subject to the same rules of the road as any user and most of them try to abide by them. We've all seen the red light creepers, the wrong way up a one way rider and the two three or even four abreast rolling road blocks.
Same applies to Canal towpaths, and Bridleways, why can't people just get on with each other instead of trying to be obstructive and objectionable?
 

pop80_uk

Well-Known Forumite
My main gripe with cyclists in Stafford is that 95% do not wear helmets. Its incredible! Id say 60% do not even have haircuts which I would class as "at risk" from helmet related damage.
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
I don't think that's a Stafford problem, but countrywide. Another gripe of mine is when an adult doesn't wear a helmet despite getting their children to do so.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
It depends on the circumstances. http://www.cyclinguk.org/article/campaigns-guide/cycling-on-footpath-trespass says :-

We need to be clear from the start of the important difference between a footway and a footpath.

Footways are paths alongside roads set aside for pedestrians and it is an offence to cycle along them.

Footpaths, on the other hand, are stand-alone paths which include around 80% of public paths in the countryside as well as many urban paths supplementing the road network. In general it is not an offence to cycle on these, except where individual paths are subject to local bye-laws or traffic regulation orders. There do not appear to be any decided cases to suggest that cycling along a footpath is a public nuisance and hence a criminal offence.
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Victoria Park has bye law as identified on all its entrances with the exception of the main cycling route that runs adjacent to the river.

There is also a bye law in the main town centre high street according to the police. Though no idea where one is informed this is the case.

Rowley Park also had a bye law for cyclists, not sure if that is the case.

Not that anyone would enforce it in most cases, SBC have never told anyone riding through park even though some sections are hazardous for both.

I have seen many cyclist pelt it across victoria bridge in the middle of the park in winter to the come off due to ice/ frost on the steep incline in front of the bowling green. Always makes me smile of peoples stupidity. That all said I noticed a lot less bikes in the park early mornings.

Though I have seen many a police/ community officer confront cyclists to dismount in the high street.
 

Kopite76

Well-Known Forumite
My main gripe with cyclists in Stafford is that 95% do not wear helmets. Its incredible! Id say 60% do not even have haircuts which I would class as "at risk" from helmet related damage.

No law that says cyclists have to wear a helmet tho
 

marky

Well-Known Forumite
Reason I have stopped walking to and from town, if they're not confident enough to ride on the road, they should not be riding the bike, under say 14 okay though, often they are the 'thick' ones, tourettes etc, especially the one I used to see around Queensville, once I had someone say, 'let me past, or I will throw you in the farking river' then more recently the nervous Weeping Cross cyclist, 'you're making me farking nervous' scaring me, 'frightened I'm going to run you over'
 

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
... once I had someone say, 'let me past, or I will throw you in the farking river' then more recently the nervous Weeping Cross cyclist, 'you're making me farking nervous' scaring me, 'frightened I'm going to run you over'
Yes, but this is because you are deliberately obstructive, and it doesn't really surprise me. See Amerlan's post ^above, and repeat after me... 'mutual respect' - there, not that difficult really, is it?

As long as cyclists...
... see [themselves] as a guest on the pavement and either really slow down or stop for pedestrians, as appropriate...
... it's a non-issue.

I appreciate that this is not always the case, but let's cut each other a bit of slack, what?
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Reason I have stopped walking to and from town, if they're not confident enough to ride on the road, they should not be riding the bike, under say 14 okay though, often they are the 'thick' ones, tourettes etc, especially the one I used to see around Queensville, once I had someone say, 'let me past, or I will throw you in the farking river' then more recently the nervous Weeping Cross cyclist, 'you're making me farking nervous' scaring me, 'frightened I'm going to run you over'

I cycle daily, I also have a motorbike so am well aware of how to use the road, but there are numerous sections around Stafford where cycling is unsafe and usually exasperated by car drivers.

Take foregate Street, too narrow to overtake a bike in those roadworks, but do drivers really think sitting right on your rear wheel and revving the engine will make you speed up? Makes me slow down and move into the center of the lane as is my right as a road user, but it's that sort of intimidation that puts cyclists back on the paths.

If I had a rear facing camera could I have someone done for dangerous driving in such a situation? I see at least one person on their phone each morning too, could probably reduce Stafford traffic considerably within a few months!
 

Amerlan

Well-Known Forumite
Being aware that the road conditions are not suitable for cyclists AND motors to co-exist in harmony I would take the initiative and choose to cycle on the footpath through the roadworks.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Cycling on a footway renders you liable to a fixed penalty notice - £30 last time I looked - however, a past Home Office minister stated - “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.”

It is intended only to be used against people "cycling dangerously", but that is often a matter of the attitude of the enforcer.

Bit of a lottery. Choose your risk.
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
Sorry for the confusion, but I meant public footpaths, often between fields not the pavements at the side of roads.

As for helmets, they're completely ineffective in the case of a collision with a motor vehicle, which is what most people wear them for. They are designed to protect your head from a minor impact caused by your own bad cycling, a stumble or minor mishap. There's evidence that if you look well protected then drivers think "it's okay they have a helmet" and then pass you closer or take less care.

The british standard that covers bike helmets it the same that covers helmets for skateboard helmets etc.

If there's anyone that cycles badly on pavement it is school kids, often doing over 15mph in a crowded pavement.
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Regularly use public footpaths both on foot with dog and on bike. Dogs should be under control so I wouldn't expect to be thanked by a cyclist if my dog was in his way and I had had to bring him under control but most do anyway. Both those on foot and those on bikes (and horse riders as well) just need to use courtesy and politeness towards other users. Most do because it's not really difficult at the end of the day.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Cycling on footpaths, as opposed to footways, is not, in itself, an offence (in the absence of a bylaw).. Any nuisance or actions causing injury, may well be, though.

Cycling on bridleways is legal.
 

Alee

Well-Known Forumite
I don't blame cyclists for wanting to use footpath tbh , as long as they are respectful of people walking.

Saying that's though , I was driving home down Newport road and got stopped at traffic lights by westway junction and I saw sum idiot flying down the path with no brakes and nearly took out 2 men on the corner..
 
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