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Riding Bikes on the footpath - is it illegal

AnonoBoy

I remember being a kid and Guards stopping us and telling us we weren't allowed cycle our bikes on the footpath.

But these days cycle couriers do it all the time, spinning over pedestrian bridges and up on footpaths, weaving around pedestrians and getting annoyed if people won't get out of their way.

Is it illegal to cycle on footpaths or just rude? Either way I'm not getting out of your way.

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dresden8

Cyclists have it lucky, red lights never apply to them, especially when there's a few dozen pedestrians trying to cross the road.

Oh, those romantic tree-hugging eco-friendly knights of the road.

Tossers.

Macha

dresden8 wrote: »

Cyclists have it lucky, red lights never apply to them, especially when there's a few dozen pedestrians trying to cross the road.

Oh, those romantic tree-hugging eco-friendly knights of the road.

Tossers.

God yeah and all those people in their cars & SUVs are just SUCH nice people, causing congestion, pumping out dioxins & C02 and taking up huge amounts of space parking.

I always stop at red lights.

Edit: This is somewhat indicative of UK & Irish cycle lanes:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/4794198.stm

[Deleted User]

Have you seen the state of most of the cycle paths around the country? They're in complete disrepair. If you own a racing bike, you have to stick to the road just for the fact that if you even tried going on the paths, you'd risk punctured tyres/damaged wheels.

It should be like Holland. They have lanes completely dedicated to cyclists and then ones for pedestrians. Not just some crappy path with one grey, one black.

[Deleted User]

I was actually coming here to ask this same question. I'm sick to death of cyclists nearly knocking me over and looking at ME as I'm I'M in the wrong! This morning I walked round a corner and nearly got flattened by some muppet on a bike who rolled his eyes at me! WTF? I told him he shouldn't even be on the bloody pavement. It is illegal and totally rude to cycle on the footpath, and where I live, there's no reason to. The roads aren't overly busy and the footpaths are narrow as it is.

I know the cycle lanes are bad or non existent, which is why I choose not to cycle. Why should pedestrians be put in danger? If you aren't capable of cycling on the road, then don't cycle! Use the bus, use the Luas, or walk, it isn't that difficult! Stop being selfish idiots! Footpaths are for pedestrians!

Dade: We're not in Germany. Would the same rule stand for a pedestrian standing in a cars way? Cyclists get the worst treatment from all other road users, supposed to act like pedestrians sometimes ("Cyclists dismount" - wtf?? I'm going 20km/hr like f**k I'm going to stop & dismount) and then as cars at other times. We get the worst of both worlds.

No, cyclists have the BEST of both worlds. You like to be a car when it suits you and a pedestrian when it suits you. You are supposed to cycle on the road and obey the rules of it. I can't count how many times I've been nearly hit by a cyclist who thinks the rules don't apply to them at a pedestrian crossing. If the light is red, you stop. That is what happens in Denmark, Sweden and every other country I've been to with lots of cyclists. When the pedestrian crossing light goes green, you see a row of cyclists stopped at the red light alongside the cars. I've never seen that here because Irish cyclists seem to be too thick/selfish to know how to behave. Yes, it is rubbish that there are no proper cycle paths, but that doesn't mean you can put pedestrians in danger. Nobody is FORCING you to cycle, are they? If you find it to difficult to do it properly, then don't do it, IMO.

gixerfixer

Dont know but ya know what really bugs me....Foreigners on bikes on the footpaths :pac:

Macha

[quote=[Deleted User];56212689]I was actually coming here to ask this same question. I'm sick to death of cyclists nearly knocking me over and looking at ME as I'm I'M in the wrong! This morning I walked round a corner and nearly got flattened by some muppet on a bike who rolled his eyes at me! WTF? I told him he shouldn't even be on the bloody pavement. It is illegal and totally rude to cycle on the footpath, and where I live, there's no reason to. The roads aren't overly busy and the footpaths are narrow as it is.

I know the cycle lanes are bad or non existent, which is why I choose not to cycle. Why should pedestrians be put in danger? If you aren't capable of cycling on the road, then don't cycle! Use the bus, use the Luas, or walk, it isn't that difficult! Stop being selfish idiots! Footpaths are for pedestrians!

No, cyclists have the BEST of both worlds. You like to be a car when it suits you and a pedestrian when it suits you. You are supposed to cycle on the road and obey the rules of it. I can't count how many times I've been nearly hit by a cyclist who thinks the rules don't apply to them at a pedestrian crossing. If the light is red, you stop. That is what happens in Denmark, Sweden and every other country I've been to with lots of cyclists. When the pedestrian crossing light goes green, you see a row of cyclists stopped at the red light alongside the cars. I've never seen that here because Irish cyclists seem to be too thick/selfish to know how to behave. Yes, it is rubbish that there are no proper cycle paths, but that doesn't mean you can put pedestrians in danger. Nobody is FORCING you to cycle, are they? If you find it to difficult to do it properly, then don't do it, IMO.[/QUOTE]

Do you think anyone would be any happier if every cyclist in Dublin got off their bikes and got into a car?? That would be an extra 37,000 cars on the road every day!!Think of the feckin traffic jams that would cause! People are so quick to criticise cyclist but don't realise that cycling is inherently good. Plus what if you can't afford a car & live where there's crap public transport (which is just about everywhere)? Jeez I AGREE that cyclists should stop at lights and obey all road signs but cyclists in Scandinavia have WAY more facilities and respect from pedestrians and other road users than Irish cyclists.

Plus, it's a two-way street: both sides are disrespectful to each other & it has to stop. I don't cycle on the pavement or go through red lights. But I do get drivers driving right up my ass, which is VERY dangerous, and generally disregarding my safety and right of way. They just assume that I'm one of those cyclists who breaks the rules of the road & decide to be totally inconsiderate.

'Ol Jack Chance

ban cars altogether we can be one big cycling mass of bikes

Drummo

I think cycling is fantastic!!! It's clean, it's economical and it's healthy. Of course people are going to have a problem with it!

I'm an ex cyclist (I only say that because I don't own a bike right at this moment) and I ride a motorbike. I don't have much time whatsoever for cars. Two wheels good, 4 wheels bad

I must say, I don't think people in cars realise (at least I hope they don't) just how much danger they are putting cyclists in when they drive up their arse, take a left without checking their mirror or cut into the cycle lane when undertaking a car turning right. I've been on the edge many a passenger seat biting my lip while the driver narrowly misses a cyclist while cursing them in the mean time.

On the other hand, there are alot of cyclists out there giving themselves a bad name. Not stopping at red lights, cycling two abreast in a cycle lane meaning one of them is actually isn't in it at all and cycling on the path. The cycling on the path thing I can understand when it's done briefly and respectfully, which I think can be done, but when you get these crusty couriers on a fixed wheel wh*ring up onto the path with a smug look on your face because they're the dog's kahunas, that drives me nuts!

[Deleted User]

Do you think anyone would be any happier if every cyclist in Dublin got off their bikes and got into a car?? That would be an extra 37,000 cars on the road every day!!

Who says you have to drive a car? You can get practically anywhere in Dublin by using public transport and/or walking. I don't have a car, and I manage fine. We're not in rural Arizona. Yes, I could cycle to walk much more quickly and easily than taking public transport, but as I said, I don't feel comfortable cycling on the roads. So I don't do it. I don't put other people in danger just so I can do what I want (illegally).

People are so quick to criticise cyclist but don't realise that cycling is inherently good.

Yes, of course I do. I love cycling. That doesn't give you the right to cycle on the pavement and run pedestrian crossings. You moan about the driver's selfish and dangerous behaviour, then turn around and do the same to pedestrians. It's so hypocritical. I would have much more sympathy for cyclists if I hadn't nearly been hit by one at 30mph on a crossing. I would have broken my hip, and the moron couldn't even see what the problem was. And it's annoying to dodge them on the footpath every day on my way to work. Why should I be put in danger when I'm legally where I'm supposed to be? The point is, YOU are in the wrong here. You should not be on the footpath, regardless of the fact the cycle lanes are rubbish or whatever other excuse you want to come up with.

Plus, it's a two-way street: both sides are disrespectful to each other & it has to stop. I don't cycle on the pavement or go through red lights. But I do get drivers driving right up my ass, which is VERY dangerous, and generally disregarding my safety and right of way. They just assume that I'm one of those cyclists who breaks the rules of the road & decide to be totally inconsiderate.

Plenty of people do do those things though. I'm well aware that drivers endanger cyclists, the point I'm making is that it isn't OUR fault (pedestrians)! Maybe if more cyclists did obey the rules, they'd get more respect?

truecrippler

dresden8 wrote: »

Cyclists have it lucky, red lights never apply to them, especially when there's a few dozen pedestrians trying to cross the road.

Oh, those romantic tree-hugging eco-friendly knights of the road.

Tossers.

Nice joke... I always stop for red lights. Cars coming towards me could be taking a right turn, so I'd have to stop.

Chips Lovell

I cycle a couple of hundred kilometers a week and would have pretty strong views on the state of the roads, the quality of so called cycling facilities and the attitude of motorists to cyclists.

Having said that, I think a lot of cyclists, possibly a majority, do the rest of us no favours, whether its cycling on the footpath, down the wrong side of a street or just plain ignorance of road traffic law. There's been countless times when I've been out for a training spin after work and haven't met one other cyclist who actually stopped at a red light.

Macha

[quote=[Deleted User];56214351]
Yes, of course I do. I love cycling. That doesn't give you the right to cycle on the pavement and run pedestrian crossings. You moan about the driver's selfish and dangerous behaviour, then turn around and do the same to pedestrians. It's so hypocritical. I would have much more sympathy for cyclists if I hadn't nearly been hit by one at 30mph on a crossing. I would have broken my hip, and the moron couldn't even see what the problem was. And it's annoying to dodge them on the footpath every day on my way to work. Why should I be put in danger when I'm legally where I'm supposed to be? The point is, YOU are in the wrong here. You should not be on the footpath, regardless of the fact the cycle lanes are rubbish or whatever other excuse you want to come up with. [/QUOTE]
You can stop with all the collective YOUs here. If you had read the thread properly, you'd see I said that I don't cycle on the footpath and I do stop at the lights.

For every anecdote you have of almost being hit by a cyclist, I can give you one of pedestrians crossing on a (car) green light, watching me coming right at them & just sauntering on their merry way. Like I said, it's a two-way street.

[quote=[Deleted User];56214351]
Plenty of people do do those things though. I'm well aware that drivers endanger cyclists, the point I'm making is that it isn't OUR fault (pedestrians)! Maybe if more cyclists did obey the rules, they'd get more respect?[/QUOTE]

Again, see above. In my experience, pedestrians are very happy to jaywalk when they see a cyclist coming, when they would never do it with a car. I have had such CLOSE misses with parents pushing prams onto the road, just as I come around a corner. So no. Pedestrians can just take their shiny halos off & join the rest of us in the sin bin.

[Deleted User]

The point I'm making is: it's illegal to cycle on the footpath and run red lights. Yes, you can give a million examples of bad pedestrians and drivers but that isn't really relevant here. Footpaths are for pedestrians and cyclists have no right to use them and then act like we are in the wrong for walking there. So many cyclists give out about bad drivers and then are more than happy to do the same to pedestrians. That is the point. Cycling on the footpath is illegal and dangerous. If the road is too dangerous, that's not my problem as a pedestrian. I'm not breaking the law, you are (or they are). Quite simple really.

flanum

its rare enough to see cyclists using lights also.

DemocAnarchis

I cycle to work every day, and while I am living in an area where there are some cycle paths, which I use when possible, there are a few intersections that order completely breaks down in. When the cars are actually driving in the cycle "lane", its pretty much impossible to use to road (intersection before roundabout on snugborough road overpass in blanch.) I do use the roads when I can, and dont run red lights. If I need to use the footpath for a bit and there are pedestrians on it I generally dismount and walk with the bike.

beautiation

Don't take it personally pedestrians, we break the law just as irresponsibly on the road where it's our own lives as forfeit as on the pavement. It's just the kind of cool, irreverent people we are. Nothing like a cheeky biker to inject a bit of spirit into the morning trudge of the rat race. My favourite is weaving through lanes of jammers traffic and all the cars trying to shift in their free 3mm of space to block you off as you approach, but being too crammed and sluggish to move enough to stop you sailing on by, muwhahaha! That, or coming to a red light, stopping just long enough to catch a motorist's eye and toss your head back in contemptuous laughter, before trundling off on your merry way. The revolution shall come on bicycle.

tolosenc

Cyclists who saunter into junctions on a red light should not be headed or beeped at. Rather their presence be ignored and them run over.

Some, not all, cyclists are just so self righteous about being eco-friendly, that it makes me(who uses public transport) and others incredibly pissed. I remember a cyclist shouting at a bunch of pedestrians crossing at a pelican crossing on a green man, because they were in his way.

BREAKING RED LIGHTS AND CYCLING ON THE FOOTPATH ARE ILLEGAL. STOP DOING IT NOW!

The gards should come down heavily on it, surely it causes accidents.

BraziliaNZ

I'm a keen cyclist. Once a garda caught me cutting a red light on the quays, and called me over. He just told me to cycle around the light on the path in future. So i don't think they really care. Anyway us cyclists should be allowed do whatever we want on the roads, we're not driving dirty smoky cars around and damaging the environment and clogging the streets and getting fat.

jill_valentine

How about we make a deal - we'll swear to stop coming up onto the pavement if you guys will turn a blind eye whenever we smash somebody's windscreen for parking in the cycle lane? You can even give us a hand. It'll be brilliant!

Mr. Presentable

obl wrote: »

CYCLING ON THE FOOTPATH .............
The gardai should come down heavily on it, surely it causes accidents.

It does - I have been hit twice by cyclists on the footpath, both times from behind! One girl could have been seriously injured - after hitting me she spun off the path and fell into the road.

Rob_l

I wouldn't cycle on footpaths not because its not safe for pedestrians but because its not safe for me, I also refuse to use cycle lanes that are part of the path because those foolish pedestrians so righteous now give me that contemptuous look when Im on a cycle path and they have to move off it, onto the the designated path:rolleyes:. I like to cycle fast rather than crawling along so trying to dodge these tools would be of no benefit to me.

Rob_l

nipplenuts wrote: »

It does - I have been hit twice by cyclists on the footpath, both times from behind! One girl could have been seriously injured - after hitting me she spun off the path and fell into the road.

And I have had two accidents caused by pedestrians stepping out in front of me when I had a green light simply because they looked up the road saw no cars and so it was ok to walk in front of me.

AnonoBoy

Rob_l wrote: »

And I have had two accidents caused by cyclists stepping out in front of me when I had a green light simply because they looked up the road saw no cars and so it was ok to walk in front of me.

Ah those crazy cyclists are walking now? What will they get up to next? :eek:

AlDPal

Well as a pedestrian, who so far has been lucky not to have been hit by cyclist careering along Henry St. or on a footpath. I have a few friends who have been knocked over by a cyclist. one, only yesterday as she was using a pedestrian crossing a cyclist ran the red light and knocked her to the ground, with quite nasty results. My own reaction, and I feel perfectly justified, is to kick out at the wheels of these idiots, if they have no regard for me as as pedestrian, I feel perfectly justified to take this action, and if they fall to the ground, well better them , than some older pedestrian or child that they might injure. After all they take no responsibility for causing injury, they,ve no identification, and are free to just leave the scene scott free. I wish the law of the land would get to grips with this Grey area,
This has gone way beyond, the point of people like me just been called grumpy old men, When I go to cross a road now, My first thought is to look out for cyclist's, and I especially look both ways on one way streets, as theres a very good chance of a cyclist going against the flow of traffic
Anyone else out there that is sick of the present situation of lawless cyclist's... Alan Pigott

K-9

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