Cycling bans in pedestrianised town centres

[Ghostbus]

Cycling will be more dangerous due to council clampdowns, say campaigners

Critics of cycling bans in city centres say they unfairly punish cyclists and push them on to congested roads

www.theguardian.com

A growing number of councils are clamping down on bikes in city centres to tackle a rise in antisocial cycling, but campaigners say the rules will “only make cycling more dangerous” and unfairly punish people committed to active transport.

Birmingham city council is the latest local authority considering a ban on cycling in pedestrian-only parts of the city centre, prompting a backlash from some residents who fear it could block key routes for commuters and shoppers and push cyclists on to congested roads.

It is not the first local authority to consider such cycling restrictions, with at least nine towns and cities around the country implementing similar cycling or skateboarding bans in recent years, with varying results.

I just cannot fathom why all cyclists must be punished for the crimes of the anti-social, specifically the increasing feral youth and hard working to the point of stupidity delivery cyclists. Rule 68 of the Highway Code already adequately covers this. "You MUST NOT....ride in a dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner." A criminal offence with serious fines for the worse offenders.
In my experience, it's not even worth using the fully signposted, marked and segregated cycle paths that avoid the pedestrianised high street on parallel roads, since they are widely ignored by pedestrians, used as a playground by said feral youth on all manner of wheeled gizmos, and is an even more dangerous way to cycle when it comes to potential collisions with delivery cyclists given their habit of crossing the lane at high speed wherever and whenever they like, or otherwise using the lane in a dangerous manner. So a law abiding cyclist is actually better protected by mingling among a reasonably busy pedestrians street, while still being able to move faster than if they dismounted.

I think we need to go back to, or adopt, wholly mixed car free environments, for the urban realm. You have a hierarchy of priority, obviously, and if a lower priority user collides with higher one due to the former's excessive or dangerous speed, they get prosecuted. Given the blanket use of CCTV, successful prosecution would be virtually guaranteed, assuming you can apprehend or trace the offender. And on that score, you only need to catch a handful, for it to be an effective deterrent. As would the negative publicity for delivery companies, hopefully. If not, then start legislating in that specific area for that specific risk, since it would be far easier to register and insure them, than all cyclists.

 

[sprunt]

I just cannot fathom why all cyclists must be punished for the crimes of the anti-social

Collective punishments are easier, and more importantly cheaper than actually addressing the issue and I doubt there's much more to it than that. Of course, the anti-social cyclists will just ignore the ban.

 

[Harpo]

I had a brief walk around Birmingham City Centre between trains a few weeks ago and, aside from it being even more grim than I remember, two things assaulted the senses.

Firstly the level of amplified preaching prevented conversation. Secondly, I was constantly dodging fast electric delivery bikes weaving through pedestrianised areas.

Both need something to change.

 

[takno]

I know people like to get angry about delivery bikes, and certainly they are a danger and an annoyance, but frankly it doesn't matter whether the bike is doing deliveries, or e-powered, or is just being ridden by a generally-law-abiding active traveller.

It just isn't appropriate to be riding through busy pedestrian spaces, and no amount of attention being paid by the entirely untrained operatives of the bikes makes it any less dangerous, unpleasant and alarming to pedestrians. Birmingham have this right.

 

[Bletchleyite]

To be honest I never thought it was allowed to cycle in pedestrianised areas, I always assumed it just (as per many crimes) wasn't really enforced. Though I think in some cases a Redway style cycle path along the middle of such areas (about 2m wide) might make sense.

 

[Ghostbus]

To be honest I never thought it was allowed to cycle in pedestrianised areas, I always assumed it just (as per many crimes) wasn't really enforced. Though I think in some cases a Redway style cycle path along the middle of such areas (about 2m wide) might make sense.

It's banned on the footpath, but almost if not completely unenforced unless on actually injure someone. But if you think about it, for the purposes of the law, even a pedestrianised street is still a highway. Most pedestrianised high streets allow full size articulated trucks to drive down them to make deliveries. Most people don't see it, because it happens in the dead of night.

I was in Durham over the summer, and I was so busy looking at the sights I nearly got run over by two vehicles. Turns out that on at least for some of that lovely paving, it is legal to drive a bus and a UPS truck, in the middle of the day, when the place is absolutely heaving. Once I looked, I saw there were road signs everywhere, including for the CAZ.

 

[davews]

Cycles have been banned in Bracknell town centre for over 40 years, it is nothing new. As for e-scooters something needs to be done, they are a menace.

 

[ExRes]

Cycling will be more dangerous due to council clampdowns, say campaigners

Critics of cycling bans in city centres say they unfairly punish cyclists and push them on to congested roads

www.theguardian.com

I just cannot fathom why all cyclists must be punished for the crimes of the anti-social, specifically the increasing feral youth and hard working to the point of stupidity delivery cyclists

I can't see why not, many people, including cyclists, want to punish car drivers for the stupidity and/or inabilities of some, what's the difference?

 

[Ghostbus]

....many people, including cyclists, want to punish car drivers for the stupidity and/or inabilities of some....

What's that based on?

It's certainly not my philosophy.

I'm a cyclist, bus passenger and a car driver. And a pedestrian, come to think of it.

 

[sprunt]

I can't see why not, many people, including cyclists, want to punish car drivers for the stupidity and/or inabilities of some, what's the difference?

Hundreds of dead people every year.

 

[greyman42]

To be honest I never thought it was allowed to cycle in pedestrianised areas, I always assumed it just (as per many crimes) wasn't really enforced.

That is certainly the case in York where cyclists have to abide by the same restrictions as any other vehicle.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

It's a rather confused article:

Birmingham city council is the latest local authority considering a ban on cycling in pedestrian-only parts of the city centre

By definition there is already a ban on cycling in pedestrian-only areas. They wouldn't be pedestrian-only otherwise.

What seems to be happening is that councils are considering adding cycling in pedestrian areas to the list of offences in a Public Spaces Protection Order, which means an on-the-spot fine can be levied.

I don't have a massive problem with it if there's decent alternative provision for cycling. In many places there isn't - going north-south in Worcester, for example, you have the choice of two horrible A roads, or two pedestrianised roads. Fining someone for cycling slowly through the pedestrianised area at a quiet time seems like overkill. (Fortunately Worcester's PSPO has recently been dropped.)

As the campaigner quoted in the article notes, the real issue is with Deliveroo/Uber Eats/etc. riders on illegal e-bikes (effectively mopeds). I'd far rather see on-the-spot fines for those.

 

[Kite159]

Banning it is one thing. Enforcing the ban will be what we be nearly impossible unless said cyclist stops to hand over they details.

Just look at how many cyclists treat red traffic lights as optional safe in the knowledge the odds of actually getting stopped by the police is remote (same with drivers speeding in the countryside knowing the odds of a speed trap is low)

Banning it is one thing. Enforcing the ban will be what we be nearly impossible unless said cyclist stops to hand over they details.

Just look at how many cyclists treat red traffic lights as optional safe in the knowledge the odds of actually getting stopped by the police is remote (same with drivers speeding in the countryside knowing the odds of a speed trap is low)

 

[Ghostbus]

Just look at how many cyclists treat red traffic lights as optional safe in the knowledge the odds of actually getting stopped by the police is remote (same with drivers speeding in the countryside knowing the odds of a speed trap is low)

I think what you might be missing is that police officers are not bothering to even pull over a cyclist that runs a red light, even when they are sitting right behind them. And I'm pretty sure if they did, in the vast majority of cases, said cyclist isn't going to try and get away. Running a red light is a PCN. Running from the police is a night in the cells and a criminal record. Drivers speeding in the countryside know exactly what will happen if a police car appears behind them, or more likely passes them from the other direction. Maybe it's a macho thing. Maybe the cops in cars see it as a job for bicycle mounted plod to enforce the laws that apply to cyclists?

 

[greyman42]

I think what you might be missing is that police officers are not bothering to even pull over a cyclist that runs a red light, even when they are sitting right behind them.

They do in York, speaking from personal experience, but York is a city with a lot of cyclists.

 

[MikeFromLFE]

These bans seem to spring from the nuisance caused by delivery riders. My observations are that what these people are using are motorbikes not electric bicycles - they have throttles and don't require pedalling, may seem to reach 30mph (one passed me easily doing 40).
The legal definition of an ebike requires that it have limited assstance up to 15.5mph and no throttle above walking pace.
The existing laws around motor vehicles are being ignored and cyclists are being collectively punished for the failure of policing.

 

[takno]

These bans seem to spring from the nuisance caused by delivery riders. My observations are that what these people are using are motorbikes not electric bicycles - they have throttles and don't require pedalling, may seem to reach 30mph (one passed me easily doing 40).
The legal definition of an ebike requires that it have limited assstance up to 15.5mph and no throttle above walking pace.
The existing laws around motor vehicles are being ignored and cyclists are being collectively punished for the failure of policing.

I know you think that, but there's been an explosion in the numbers of people riding on pavements and in pedestrian spaces over the last few years, and it's becoming untenable. The disguised motorcycles are a huge problem in some areas, but all bikes are causing inconvenience and danger to pedestrians more generally.

Between 8 and 15 times as many journeys are done on foot as are done on bikes, so making it harder and less pleasant to walk is likely to have significantly more negative impact on the environment and personal health than the sum total of all likely movements to bike usage.

We need urgent and significant action now to support pedestrians before bikes become as much or more of a menace to foot traffic than cars

As has been noted above cycling is often already banned in the affected spaces, so any claim that enforcement of that is some punishing cyclists for the activities of others is just plain wrong.

 

[ChrisC]

These bans seem to spring from the nuisance caused by delivery riders. My observations are that what these people are using are motorbikes not electric bicycles - they have throttles and don't require pedalling, may seem to reach 30mph (one passed me easily doing 40).
The legal definition of an ebike requires that it have limited assstance up to 15.5mph and no throttle above walking pace.
The existing laws around motor vehicles are being ignored and cyclists are being collectively punished for the failure of policing.

I have a legal ebike, and even if I change the settings to turbo mode and additionally hold down the booster button for extra power to assist on hills, as soon as I stop pedalling the power goes and I soon come to a stand. The other day I was in the centre of Nottingham and there were so many of large ebikes with huge wheels, where the riders were going at speed through an uphill pedestrian street with no pedalling whatsoever. They rode with no regard for pedestrians and older people and people with young children were expected to quickly get out of the way. I’ve had a number of near misses with these bikes when walking through Nottingham and I know of some elderly people who don’t like gong into the city these days because of them.

I have no problem with people riding legal bikes in city centres if they keep to roads and cycle tracks. I know it’s illegal to ride through pedestrianised streets but I don’t have any problems with careful cyclists doing this at quiet times. It’s just not on to ride through busy shoppers at speed at peak times such as Saturday afternoons when it’s heaving with pedestrians. Incidentally, most of my ebike riding is along quiet country lanes or cycle trails, and I wear a cycle helmet and don’t see the need to cover my face with a mask and hood.

 

[BingMan]

I have a legal ebike, and even if I change the settings to turbo mode and additionally hold down the booster button for extra power to assist on hills, as soon as I stop pedalling the power goes and I soon come to a stand. The other day I was in the centre of Nottingham and there were so many of large ebikes with huge wheels, where the riders were going at speed through an uphill pedestrian street with no pedalling whatsoever. They rode with no regard for pedestrians and older people and people with young children were expected to quickly get out of the way. I’ve had a number of near misses with these bikes when walking through Nottingham and I know of some elderly people who don’t like gong into the city these days because of them.

I have no problem with people riding legal bikes in city centres if they keep to roads and cycle tracks. I know it’s illegal to ride through pedestrianised streets but I don’t have any problems with careful cyclists doing this at quiet times. It’s just not on to ride through busy shoppers at speed at peak times such as Saturday afternoons when it’s heaving with pedestrians. Incidentally, most of my ebike riding is along quiet country lanes or cycle trails, and I wear a cycle helmet and don’t see the need to cover my face with a mask and hood.

It is a little known fact that if you give a speeding cyclist a firm push to the shoulder he is likely to slow down very wuickly.
Or if you insert your walking stick into his wheel

 

[Doctor Fegg]

I know you think that, but there's been an explosion in the numbers of people riding on pavements and in pedestrian spaces over the last few years, and it's becoming untenable.

I would be interested in seeing statistics on that. My impression in Oxford and thereabouts is that there hasn't been any significant change in pavement cycling recently other than illegal e-bikes for food delivery, but presumably you have a source you can cite?

 

[takno]

I would be interested in seeing statistics on that. My impression in Oxford and thereabouts is that there hasn't been any significant change in pavement cycling recently other than illegal e-bikes for food delivery, but presumably you have a source you can cite?

I have my eyes. Admittedly I haven't been to Oxford, which has always been weird for bikes anyway, but I've been in a few other cities. It's particularly problematic in places like Exeter where if a pavement is wide enough for two people to pass it's usually been designed as a shared space. That in itself is problematic, but cyclists just continue to ride on pavements when they aren't designated, leaving you to either face them down or squash yourself against the wall.

I get the impression that a lot of people who took up cycling during lockdown simply don't feel that they should be forced to share space with other traffic ever, so if there isn't a cycle lane and there is other traffic on the road, up onto the pavement they pop.

The point is that whether they are delivery riders or retired vicars, they shouldn't be in spaces dedicated to pedestrians, and it isn't bad government or bad for the environment to try do something about it

 

[PeterC]

It is a little known fact that if you give a speeding cyclist a firm push to the shoulder he is likely to slow down very wuickly.
Or if you insert your walking stick into his wheel

Not recommended, it can damage the walking stick.

 

[MikeFromLFE]

Cycling is permitted - and encouraged - in the pedestrianised areas of Leicester city centre and it was working well until the explosion in the numbers of delivery drivers on electric motorbikes.
It's probably best not to generalise about 'cycling being banned in pedestrianised streets' as it varies by Local Authority .

 

[Falcon1200]

Oxford, which has always been weird for bikes anyway

There is a strange situation on a road I know well in Oxford; The pavement has been widened and designated a shared path (for pedestrians and cyclists); Except for a section in the middle which is untouched! Cyclists do not switch onto the (very busy) road for this section and therefore cycle on the pavement; And I can't say I blame them.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

It is a little known fact that if you give a speeding cyclist a firm push to the shoulder he is likely to slow down very wuickly.
Or if you insert your walking stick into his wheel

It is a slightly better known fact that encouraging violence is (a) a criminal offence and (b) remarkably stupid.

Someone with your attitude caused the death of a 79-year old cyclist in Huntingdon in 2020.

Pedestrian Auriol Grey jailed over Huntingdon cyclist death

Auriol Grey gestured and swore at Celia Ward, who fell into the path of a car and died.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Peter Sarf]

I have noticed a really big increase in eBikes on pavements and they ride really fast. They seem to be faster than the 20mph which the cars on adjacent roads have to stick to. I am seriously concerned for my safety and I have had a few near misses.

I think the solution is to regularly enforce the rules. I notice most eBikes can be used without actually having to pedal them which is an illegal modification aiui. I would say most of the eBikes I see are being used for delivery purposes. So just have an officer hanging around a food outlet checking all the bikes. Eventually the food outlet will be requesting delivery people they can trust not to be breaking the law.

The funniest sight I saw was a guy on the underground platform at Euston Charing Cross Branch. It was an eBike with the big wheels. He got on and the driver refused to depart until he got off. How the hell did he get that monster all the way down to the tube platform ?.

 

[Belperpete]

It is a slightly better known fact that encouraging violence is (a) a criminal offence and (b) remarkably stupid.

Someone with your attitude caused the death of a 79-year old cyclist in Huntingdon in 2020.

Isn't that the case that was overturned, with the appeal judge determining that the pedestrian had behaved entirely reasonably by putting out her hands to protect herself from the cyclist she perceived as riding too close. In which case, the pedestrian did NOT cause the death of the cyclist, it was the cyclist's fault for arrogantly assuming that the pedestrian would get out of her way.

Of course, I suspect that the case would have had a very different outcome if the pedestrian had deliberately pushed the cyclist off balance, or stuck a walking stick in the bike spokes, as suggested by the previous poster.

I think the solution is to regularly enforce the rules. I notice most eBikes can be used without actually having to pedal them which is an illegal modification aiui. I would say most of the eBikes I see are being used for delivery purposes. So just have an officer hanging around a food outlet checking all the bikes. Eventually the food outlet will be requesting delivery people they can trust not to be breaking the law.

I doubt that the food outlets have any choice over what drivers are used. Could action be taken against the delivery companies if they are employing illegal drivers? Or does it all come down to the individual drivers?

 

[Ediswan]

A pest I have come across in Stevenage pedestrianised areas is mobility scooters set to 'road', which allows up to 8 mph, rather than sticking to the 4 mph limit.

 

[bramling]

It is a little known fact that if you give a speeding cyclist a firm push to the shoulder he is likely to slow down very wuickly.
Or if you insert your walking stick into his wheel

This is a particularly stupid post. Whilst you may feel that injuring someone is fair game, the law is likely to see it differently. Could very well lead to a manslaugher charge, or possibly worse.

I get that (some) cyclists can be a problem, and the massive increase in delivery types hasn’t helped, but deliberately seeking to injure people really isn’t a solution.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Someone with your attitude caused the death of a 79-year old cyclist in Huntingdon in 2020.

The Court of Appeal overturned that decision and the judges were remarkably forthright about the merits of that prosecution:

Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting with Mrs Justice Yip and Mrs Justice Farbey, said: "In our judgment, the prosecution case was insufficient even to be left to the jury.

"In all the circumstances, we have no hesitation in concluding that the appellant's conviction for manslaughter is unsafe."

Watch the video of the incident on the attached link, I don't think it would have ever got to court if the defendant had not had an intellectual disability. It certainly should never have got to court.

I think the solution is to regularly enforce the rules. I notice most eBikes can be used without actually having to pedal them which is an illegal modification aiui. I would say most of the eBikes I see are being used for delivery purposes. So just have an officer hanging around a food outlet checking all the bikes.

I completely agree.

Northumberland Street in Newcastle is no cycling. It has been no cycling for as long as I can remember- at least 20 years. Yet every time I'm back in Newcastle I'm amazed at the number of delivery riders haring up and down at speeds which are, quite frankly, dangerous.

Enforcement from the local police? Non-existent. If they start handing out a few fines then the dangerous riding will soon stop. But nobody seems to care. Sadly I fear it will take an old person or young child being killed or seriously injured before anyone does care.

It is a little known fact that if you give a speeding cyclist a firm push to the shoulder he is likely to slow down very wuickly.
Or if you insert your walking stick into his wheel

I completely understand the sentiment, and probably even agree, but it's not to be recommended.

Whilst the police are seemingly completely unwilling to enforce the existing laws against cyclists riding in pedestrianised areas, you can be sure they will enforce the law against you if you do take matters into your own hands.

Just look at how many cyclists treat red traffic lights as optional safe in the knowledge the odds of actually getting stopped by the police is remote

You can say exactly the same about so many behaviours from car drivers. Speeding. Parking on double yellow lines (with or without the invisibility flashers blinking). Stopping in the advanced stop line (ASL) area.

Trouble is that most traffic offences are now not enforced except when they can be enforced by a camera. It's not a cyclist thing and it's not a motorist thing.

The Met about 10 years ago did a clampdown on both the cars using the ASL and on cyclists running red lights. It was good to see. Perhaps more of this type of intervention should be done.