Police set trap for pavement cyclists in Leicester's Golden Mile

“I totally agree with greenbridge. I am blind and have been hit on three separate occassions by cyclists on the pavement. Each time they just rode away as quickly as they could. This is along a road that has a proper cycle lane but these people are only interested in what makes their lives easier.

By riding on the pavement they don't have to bother looking out for other traffic at all. They don't have to bother with the highway code. This is not driven by fear of being hit by a car. This is driven by pure self interest and lack of regard for those of us that walk.

I believe all bikes should have number plates so that the rider can be identified when they injure someone or ride on pavements so that they become accountable for their actions. At the moment they just ride off as fast as they can and totally get away with injuring someone.

And if the road is too busy then let them get a bus, or drive. Or dare I suggest actually walk.

But no, that would never do. They might actually be hit then by another illegal cyclist on the pavement and injured. But hey, what are a couple of cracked ribs or a broken hip. They would only be off work for a few months and be in a lot of pain or if they are elderly or a child risk being killed even.


Pavements are for pedestrians. Not for cyclists. We have a right to be safe as we walk along. If they consider the road is not safe then campaign to make the road safer. That does not mean they have the right to make pavements unsafe for those of us that walk.

They should not me allowed on pavements at all so well done to the police for taking this action. I would like to see it done again and again in all parts of the country.

Pavements are for people that walk. We have a right both morally and legally to be safe while we do that. We should not have to be scared of being injured by cyclists like I have been.”

“Slight correction, my figure for minor injuries should be ~16,000 not ~19,000.

Though since we're talking about safety of children I will also point out that 75% for fatal or serious accidents are urban and that 1/4 of them are children, with most happening at or near a road junction.”

“@greenbridge - I'm not actually much of a cyclist beyond country parks and my own village (which quite reasonably has cycle paths on the pavement despite complaints from drivers and pedestrians alike), for the very reason that I believe safe cycling on roads just isn't possible in this country. Are you honestly telling me that you would ask someone to risk their lives and the livelihoods of those driving a car so that somebody else doesn't receive a bruise or a broken hip? Everyone has a fundamental and undeniable right to live and people exercising that right are not wrong.

I would be rather unhappy if someone swiped by me on a pavement with a bike, but that's more a question of their inattention and lack of skill, if you can't safely pass, dismount, slow down, many choices that are simple and safe every time; to quote the Home Office: "The fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so."

At the end of the day, the force of a collision is little different from somebody running at high speed, heck, once I was pushed to the edge of a pavement simply by a lady with a pram on an icy day and slipped into the road and hit a car (on the side thank god!). I couldn't ask and haven't the right to ask someone to bike on the road, where they could be struck by several tones at significantly greater speeds, risking not only their own lives but that of the driver and if they swerve, perhaps their passengers.

I'd be most interested to see just how many broken hips have been caused by pavement cyclists vs the number of deaths and major injuries on the road cyclists suffer. The figures for cyclists are well known, 3 million regularly active cyclists (many off-road only), 750,000 that commute to work or part way every day, 3,200+ serious injuries or deaths each year and a further 19,250+ minor injuries. Somehow I suspect despite there being a significantly greater number of child, elderly and disabled walkers that figures don't even come close to matching these.

As I've already said, I don't think that there is a reasonable choice for cyclists and that a better solution, such as a real infrastructure, should be put in-place. With respect to your comment on alternatives, many people can't afford to run a car, move closer to work or travel via public transport in a timely or reliable manner, that's just reality and links into a lack of good infrastructure in general. There are also important health and environmental benefits to cycling. At the end of the day, there's a collision of human rights (rights to freedom of movement, freedom to work etc), both points of view are valid with respect to human rights, however, the primary and undeniable human right is a right to live.”

“"Strangely enough I'd rather hit/scare a kid and give them a bruise than have a car hit me and kill me"


Not strange at all that you would prefer risking injury to a child rather than yourself. Arrogant and utterly selfish, but typical of the attitude of some pavement cyclists.

Also typical is the attempt to downplay all potential pedestrian injuries as "bruises" while suggesting a cyclist who is hit by a car will always die.

There have been deaths caused by pavement cyclist, about 4 in the last five years, plus many broken bones and other serious injuries.

GMScribe, would you also "rather" break an elderly person's hip rather than risk a few bruises yourself?

You say that "it's either break the law and be safe or risk several lives"

That isn't the only choice; you could drive, walk or use public transport, and there are also millions of cycle journeys made safely in this country every year.

You choose to cycle but that does not give you the right to endanger pedestrians, including the elderly, visually impaired, pregnant women and small children, all of whom are very vulnerable and deserve to be able to use safely the pavements that were designed for their use and not the use of vehicles.”

“Strangely enough I'd rather hit/scare a kid and give them a bruise than have a car hit me and kill me whilst at the same time likely placing that driver in prison for the next decade and ruining the life of their family.

It should be compulsory law by now that any and all new roads or widening projects include dedicated cycle lane(s) that are physically separated from the road like in a place such as Holland. The UK doesn't offer any reasonable choices, it's either break the law and be safe or risk several lives.”

“Why do people keep saying that it's safer for cyclists to ride on the pavement? It is in fact debatable as they are very vulnerable crossing roads at speeds greater than drivers are expecting but surely the point here is that isn't safer for pedestrians who deserve a safe space of their own away from speeding vehicles of all kinds.”

“Cycling on the pavement is inconvenient and slow. It's a nightmare. So I wonder why people keep on doing it?”

“I feel I need to comment on this situation , has a Highway Code adhering cyclist , I would like to suggest an idea that will hopefully stop pavement cycling and that is firstly target the amount of illegally parked cars on the double yellow lines that obstruct cyclists and other road users in that area , I travel that way most days and the amount of cars that are regularly parked illegally on double yellow lines is disgraceful , nothing ever gets done , well time in my opinion to be consistent stop the illegal parking so that there is full access for all who use the road , hopefully it will make it safer for all”

“bikes for the roads not paths”

“For those cyclists who are not aware, the Highway Code - rules for cyclists (59-82) states quite clearly:
60. At night your cycle must have white front and red rear lights lit.
64. You must not cycle on a pavement (Laws HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A 1984 sect 129).
69. You must obey all traffic signs and traffic light signals (Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD reg 10(1).

So perhaps every time we see a cyclist breaking one of these rules in the Highway Code we should report him or her to the police, and also to our recently elected PCC. After all, a criminal offence is a criminal offence.......”