Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835 made it a criminal offence to “lead or drive” a “carriage of any description” on “any footpath or causeway by the side of any road made or set apart for the use or accommodation of foot passengers”. In 1888, s85(1) of the Local Government Act declared that “bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes, and other similar machines are ‘carriages’ within the meaning of the Highway Acts”. The maximum court fine is £500 or the police can issue a £50 fixed penalty notice (FPN). In short, it is illegal to cycle on a pavement alongside a road, unless it has been marked as a cycle track.
However, children under the age of 10 are below the age of criminal responsibility. Therefore, they cannot be prosecuted for a criminal offence. They cannot be issued with a fixed penalty notice either as they cannot be given to anyone under the age of 16.
This means that, whilst police officers can theoretically stop young children (aged under 10) who are cycling on pavements, they have no powers to arrest, fine or even caution them. This is sensible, as young children should not be expected to cycle on the road. To prepare them for this step as they get older, Cycling UK thoroughly recommends high quality cycle training.
If parents are teaching children to ride bikes on the pavement or on a footpath then they should be able to control them. It’s reckless to do so if they can’t. If a child on a bike or scooter rams into a frail person they can do them terrible damage. In fact, they don’t even have to collide with a frail person to do them damage. Frail people often have poor balance and a near miss can also cause them to fall. It can be very frightening for a frail person or someone with balance problems to be on a pavement with cyclists.
Agreed. I think schools should open their grounds for both formal and informal cycling lessons during weekends and holidays. They could do it now.
We have a couple of huge playgrounds at Kelvin Grove, including the one at the front of what was until recently the Adult Education Centre. It’s padlocked shut for most of the year. What a waste of a publicly owned and funded resource.
I’ve had to dodge a lot of adults (and children …) cycling on the pavement. If you’re elderly, infirm or deaf it is particularly hard to just suddenly leap out the way. A bit of thought for other people would be nice. One guy was cycling on the pavement with a large dog bounding along on a lead. Last weekend as I was passing the bus stop opposite HOP station a guy veered towards us as he cycled along the pavement - I stopped and pinned myself against the wall as he seemed very much to be cycling at us rather than away, then he shouted ‘jump over the bridge! Just jump over the f_ing bridge!!’ at us…
Yes – while waiting at the bus stop near the station (main entrance side), I once saw two women cycle by at speed on the pavement, yelling aggressively at everyone in the queue to get them to stand aside. Given the sharp blind bend going under the railway bridge, there could potentially have been a very nasty accident if someone was walking in the opposite direction. I’ve even seen someone ride down the subway steps on the station side. One of the worst spots seems to be the stretch outside the Capitol. Cyclists take advantage of the wider pavement, then stay on it when it narrows opposite Energie/Sainsbury’s. I’ve had a few close calls there.
Eurgh the MAMILs are the worst. Last year I had an ongoing feud with a guy on my commute. He would go through every single red light and tell me to hurry up as I filtered through traffic on my motorbike. I would over take him then it would repeat when he overtook me at a red light again. He was my nemesis and I will one day name and shame him at his place of work… if only he would obey the traffic laws so I can keep up with him.
I used to have a couple like that, one of them drafting so closely to me he failed to see the massive pothole I swerved out of the way and sent himself down the road. Fortunately no broken bones for him though his front wheel wasn’t so lucky.
So I suppose I am a MAMIL - So that makes me the worst I guess in your eyes? A chosen mode of transport and clothing is an odd way to judge and denigrate a group…
But an accurate one It’s a bit like the Rossi wannabes on motorbikes with all the gear and the 46! If I had the shape for lycra I would wear it but sadly I would look like a multicoloured Michelin Man, and no-one needs to see that
I guess I don’t understand why some people are so fascinated by me and other men wearing tight fitting clothing!
Personally I don’t care if I look like a sausage wearing an elastic band - I don’t have to look at me.
I had to look that up! Too true.
It’s a bit like the Rossi wannabes on motorbikes with all the gear and the 46! If I had the shape for lycra I would wear it but sadly I would look like a multicoloured Michelin Man, and no-one needs to see that 
