Cycling on the Footpath?

Asus X540L

Something that bothers me a bit.

Just today a grown man was cycling behind me on the footpath and was ringing his bell to get me move out of his way.

this is from Citizen's information: (basically it's illegal but you can't be fined for it)

Is it legal to cycle on a footpath?

Since 2015 the laws governing cycling have been regulated into specific fixed charge offences. Gardaí have the power to stop and fine a cyclist if they commit a fixed charge offence. Cycling on a footpath is not a fixed charge offence. However other laws do include it as an offence.

• Article 11 of the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2012 prohibits you from cycling beyond a traffic sign that prohibits bicycles
• Article 13 of the 1997 Regulations makes it an offence to cycle on a footpath unless you are entering or exiting a property
• Article 45 of the 1997 Regulations (as amended by the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) Regulations 1998), you must not cycle in a pedestrianized street or area during the period indicated by the sign

What is the AH opinion on this? Is it something that pedestrians should tolerate as it's for the "greater good" or should you clothes-line footpath cyclists off the bike?

Wheety

Did you get out of his way?

Tzardine

Would you not have just let him past and got on with your day?

BabysCoffee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058201942/cycling-on-the-footpath

There may be various reasons why a cyclist needs to cycle on the path and not on the road.

I'm also very tolerant of children cycling on paths for safety.

But I don't think that it is right that a cyclist would ring their bell at a pedestrian and expect them to move out of their way.

Bobblehats

Do you wear a 👨‍🌾 OP? Could have been gone 🙇‍♂️💨

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696353#Comment_117696353

This kind of posting should be banned.

Gregor Samsa

You have pedestrians on the roads. Cars and vans in cycle lanes. Bikes on the footpaths. It’s a big free-for-all. Wouldn’t surprise me to see an aeroplane in a harbour. Trains are the only ones who keep to where they should be.

Bobblehats

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696389#Comment_117696389

Why's that then KV? You jelly?

Liam O

Some cycle lanes merge onto the path or are even drawn onto them.

Some places traffic forces you onto the path as cars make it very difficult for you to change lanes for certain turns such as at the eastlink bridge.

Not ideal cycling on the path for speed so probably a good reason for it.

Darc19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696399#Comment_117696399

Here you go - not a harbour, but a beach. 😃

https://youtu.be/vZrDYfWmzAI

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696425#Comment_117696425

No, just more intelligent.

Bobblehats

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696444#Comment_117696444

Ya think? Do well to remember where you are

- who you're talking to. 🤫 See you 'round..

Rket4000

Same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago, but it was a teenage boy who rang his bell for me to get out of his way. I did move aside (by standing on the edge of the footpath) but I thought he had a cheek. I accept it can be safer to cycle on the footpath than the road in a lot of places but a FOOTpath is primarily for pedestrians so a cyclist should wait behind slower moving pedestrians (or dismount) till there's room to pass safely. Where I was walking, the footpath becomes much wider about 500 yards further on.

corner of hells

How bout we do away with footpaths and cycle lanes and just let everyone go for it ?

Maybe let people use chariots like the ones used in Ben Hur.

stevek93

OP were you on a footpath for both cyclists and pedestrians? I know some of these two-way paths are skinner than a pencil and the picture of a bike on the path has been worn away.

Darc19

For me, once the cyclist is mannerly and cycling in a normal manner, a little tinkle of the bell to effectively ask if he/she can cycle by is ok.

boardise

On a main road where I walk regularly I find cyclists of all ages ,male and female, insist on cycling on the footpath although there is a perfectly demarcated cycle path running alongside. I find this kind of carry-on most annoying and hard to understand.

SlinkyL

I cycle a lot with my 10 and 12 year olds in a busy part of Dublin, around malahide rd where there are lots of disappearing cycle lanes and buses and trucks flying around. So we use the footpaths lots - I stay on the road where possible.. and try to be respectful to pedestrians, thanking them etc when they give us space. The kids frequently use their bells to alert pedestrians that they are behind them.. it’s not a ‘get out of the way’ ring, it’s just to let pedestrians know they are behind them...big problem can be pedestrians with headphones on and oblivious to what’s happening around them. We also encounter irate and rude people from time to time who would apparently prefer children to cycle on unsafe roads than share a very wide footpath. There is one stretch with a very narrow footpath so we usually take a longer way home thru an estate to avoid cycling on that part of the path but on wide footpaths there should be no issue. We all need to share space and try to be tolerant.. big picture is that cycling reduces cars on road, much better for environment and I’m teaching my kids valuable life skill. Bell ringing is really a normal and safe feature of cycling and cyclists should be encouraged to use their bells as they do in European cities with cycle culture..Amsterdam, Copenhagen etc

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696534#Comment_117696534

And the answer should be "no, wait for a safe passing space"

WindWarrior

Don't mind kids cycling on footpaths, adults should be on the road

Dyr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058201942/cycling-on-the-footpath

I had some old boot ringing her bell behind me on a narrow footpath while I was out walking the dog, I pointed to the cycle lane right beside the footpath and told her she could cycle on that, "I'm not wearing a helmet" she goes, neither am I so get off the fcuking footpath

And then you have the Green Party gomaloons who whine on about roads being unsafe for their kids like that's a pedestrians problem. Then don't put little Molly on Toby on bikes, Eamonn.

Cyclists basically think the whole city is a cycle path as a reward for them being planet savers on two wheels.

spurious

Cyclists can do no wrong.

This is the rule.

Redhenrun

If the path was not intended to be shared with cyclists then no, the pedestrian should not be expected to give way to the cyclist.

However, from my experience, cyclists are preferring to use footpaths over roads, perhaps because of safety concerns. And, more often than not will overtake without alerting the unwitting pedestrian.

Between cyclist, pooping dogs and electric scooters our footpaths have become more hazardous in the last year or two.

John_Rambo

Same happened to me. Elderly man on a bike rang his bell, I turned around, acknowledged him, walked to the side and he cycled by with a friendly wave. Thankfully I survived the incident and didn't need therapy or post various articles on boards.ie.

Akrasia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117697334#Comment_117697334

Somehow I think this post might be a work of fiction

Ted_YNWA

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696444#Comment_117696444

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696425#Comment_117696425

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696389#Comment_117696389

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696353#Comment_117696353

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696474#Comment_117696474

Mod - knock it off the pair of you.

Pretend to step out of the way and accidentally clothesline them off the bike. They won’t do it again.

That lot are always looking for courtesy but wouldn’t know the meaning of it from their end.

Randy Archer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117697879#Comment_117697879

I hope you try it- don’t go crying when you have their group come up and looking to cave your head in . Those sharp multi tools can come remarkably handy

whisky_galore

Waiting for: but but motorists...

Pinch Flat

What did you do OP? personally, I have no issues with cyclists on footpaths - I understand the reasons they do it. You can just be mature and move out of the way, but this is Ireland after all - we seem to make the biggest drama out of the smallest things.

bladespin

I'd have been letting them past UNTIL the bell rang, that'd be a no then.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698208#Comment_117698208

Why? That's what the bell is for, it's designed to alert people to a (silent) bike approaching. Why would you purposefully block a cyclist approaching from behind that alerted you of their presence? Are you a hormonal teenager trying to seem tough?

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698231#Comment_117698231

The bell's for other traffic and alerting those around you, it's not a 'get out of the way' switch, much better to just ask, you're not going that fast that you couldn't, I've done it myself anytime I've meet a pedestrian on a path, be we're not supposed to be there in the first place so it's up to us to resolve the situation, as already said I'd be happily l moving aside but not is they used the bell, be ignorant and you'll be met with ignorance, and no I'm not hormonal but quite big and wide enough to be difficult to pass is I choose to be.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698269#Comment_117698269

Very odd. Quiet angry at such a normal mundane thing.

I just move out of the way & give a friendly hello, usually reciprocated. Easy.

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698282#Comment_117698282

Where are you finding anger? I've already said I'd just move, unless the bell was used at me, they're on a bike, just go round, it's not as if I'm threatening to push them off or ring their bell for them- that's a thought though ;)

Easiest solution all round would be to ride responsibly and not be on the footpath in the firstplace, they're for pedestrians and children though I'll admit I've cycled on them myself.

Billgirlylegs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696399#Comment_117696399

I thought I saw a massive train on Abbey Street once. Maybe I was imagining it.

a_squirrelman

Bloody snowflakes offended about having to take one step to the side. And their poor ears and manhood destroyed by the tinkle of a bell. 🤣

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698231#Comment_117698231

If the pedestrian is on the cycle path or the road then the bell is OK to warn them that a cyclist is approaching behind and get out of the way. If the pedestrian is on the footpath and an adult cyclist rings a bell is not on, you should be giving way to the pedestrian and wait for a safe place to pass.

Could you imagine the outrage if car drivers went around blasting their horn to get cyclists to get out of their way when they are cycling on the road!

magicbastarder

all the postmen (postpeople?) cycle on the footpath around here, and there's no exemption in the law for them. and they have wide bikes these days.

The J Stands for Jay

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698350#Comment_117698350

But car drivers do go round owing their horn at cyclists as they pass them on blind corners into oncoming traffic.

Liam O

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698282#Comment_117698282

I think there's a strange attitude in Ireland towards bells and horns. You see people in cars having mini meltdowns when someone behind them beeps when they miss the light change while on their phones. In other countries it would be regular for someone to beep as they attempt an overtake but here that would likely lead to the person slamming the brakes or something. The bell is the horn of the bike so it must be some mental thing with us.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698023#Comment_117698023

I've never had a motorist come up behind me on a footpath and honk for me to get out of their way.

Pherekydes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117696399#Comment_117696399

You trying to derail the thread?

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698382#Comment_117698382

Try 'beeping' someone in Italy (happens regularly as you say), results can be interesting.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698386#Comment_117698386

True they generally don't warn you before running into to you. Bad manners indeed.

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698332#Comment_117698332

Oh, I wouldn't be offended in the slightest, honestly, I don't waste time with that.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117698453#Comment_117698453

There's a whole load of hand gestures you can use to tell someone theyre being an asshole without beeping at all.

Billgirlylegs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058201942/cycling-on-the-footpath

Just for clarity, it is an offence to cycle on a footpath (some footpath space may be designated for use for cycling, but it is are clearly marked as such).

Bicycles are Road Vehicles and use of them in public spaces is subject to Road Traffic Legislation dating back to the introduction of same.

Paschal Donohue (surprise, surprise) muddied the waters by designating the offence of cycling on the footpath as non Fixed Penalty Offence. It is an offence, and it not being a FP Offence does not give permission of any sort for anyone(regardless of age) to cycle on the footpath.

This is for reasons of safety (for pedestrians). Cyclists should be familiar with the legislation and stay off footpath and pedestrianised areas. It is not "safer" that cycling on footpaths happens, and it is not a matter of the cyclist's opinion whether he/she is "safer" on the footpath.

sergioaguero

much safer to cycle on a footpath, the amount of drivers who are texting etc on their phone and going all over the road is crazy

bladespin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117699083#Comment_117699083

Not for the pedestrians it isn't.

sergioaguero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117699137#Comment_117699137

im taking about run of the mill paths down the country, not in the major cities around the country