On Mon, 8 Sep 2003 16:38:08 +0100, "Stephen \(aka steford\)"
<
[email protected]> wrote:
...snip...
>But why should someone behind me at a red say, when I go through it, be annoyed. OK if I went
>through and a car comes out from the side street and has to brake, swerve etc then fair enough ( I
>don't do this!!), but the only reason me going through a red would infuriate the car behind me is
>that he can't. Of course he does go through when the lights *just* change to red (probably with 2
>or 3 others). The only thing infuruating to the cars behind in this case is that they didn't make
>it through - no blame of the car drivers themselves as going through reds in those circumstances
>seems to be standard.
Because if you do it, then someone else may do it, then another, then eventually drivers start
ignoring the reds because "everybody else does it", then we have total chaos as people go when they
shouldn't & bail when they could go and you end up with slippery red all over the place instead of
safe driving/cycling/walking.
...snip...
>Not illegal to cycle on pavement I believe although there are various minor laws which could be
>brought into play although not specifically for that. I got told by a copper to get off and push on
>Acton High St the other day with one half of it dug up and not a sole in sight on the pavement. I
>very, very nearly ignored him but thought better of it as there were cops everywhere. It was very
>petty on his part I thought.
>
Most areas have some bylaw or other that prohibits cycling on footpaths. Sometimes the powers that
be forget that when they create cycle paths & ways that also use footpaths that these bylaws do not
apply to them. It causes confusion.
Most of the police I know cycle themselves and know what it can be like so unless it's a
****'ead-on-a-bike or somewhere that could be problematic, they tend to ignore cycles on any paths
round here.
Typical examples - long 8' wide path joining most of the estate round here with the industrial area
- nobody gives a rat's, even though there is a sign citing the no cycling bylaw. Mildenhall high
street, any weekday, if they think nobody is looking, they may kick you into the road.
The difference is that there is a completely clear view on the path but lots of sharp corners & some
alleyways in town. If you go tootlin' up the high street pathway, you are more likely to hit someone
walking around a corner or find a coach making a wider than expected turn out of a narrow side
street and all over your front wheel.
Gary
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Reply to gary <at> data <dot> mildenhall <dot> com
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