Cyclists riding on footpaths - have you nearly hit one?

Forums › Off topic › Cyclists riding on footpaths - have you nearly hit one?

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20141 posts

Uber Geek

#638544 10-Jun-2012 18:02

GregV: I regularly bike on the footpath on one particular section of road. The roadway is quite narrow, and prone to sun-strike on the way home. On the other hand, the footpath is quite a long way out from the fenceline, so I have good visibility of cars exiting their driveways. Hopefully any police officer pulling me over will agree with me :)

I think it depends on how fast you are going. As long as you aren't riding faster than someone walking, so there is plenty of time to see cars exiting driveways, I don't really have a problem with people riding on footpaths. It is the cyclists that speed on footpaths that are the problem. Not sure if there is a speed limit for people traveling on footpaths.

mikerussellnz

283 posts

Ultimate Geek

#638545 10-Jun-2012 18:11

Its not just a problem with cycling, I don't ride a bike, but walk and have been almost hit so many times by people coming out of driveways at speed. People just don't look.

With the way cyclists are treated on the road, I would rather my kids on the footpath where they are at a distance from 90% of the traffic.

Phexx

415 posts

Ultimate Geek

#638546 10-Jun-2012 18:13

I cycle daily, as well as competitvly. On my commute, I almost always use the road. However, when I was younger I got hit by a car pulling out of his driveway whilst riding on the footpath. Luckily I wasn't injured and his car wasn't damaged. Since then whenever I cycle on the path I always make sure to look for cars as much as possible.

It is difficult to tell younger kids to cycle on the road, since it obviously more dangerous BUT there does become a point where enough is enough, and people need to learn to cycle on the road. Emphasis on the LEARN.

On the note of cyclists not following rode code. I completely agree with keewee, A LOT of cyclists have appalling attitude towards riding on the road. I always stop at lights, give way but I am continuously seeing cyclist burst through reds without even thinking to stop; pulling out/around cars and generally not givbing a damn. Sometimes I wish they would get what's coming to them, they really give cyclists a bad name.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#638559 10-Jun-2012 18:33

Phexx: I cycle daily, as well as competitvly. On my commute, I almost always use the road. However, when I was younger I got hit by a car pulling out of his driveway whilst riding on the footpath. Luckily I wasn't injured and his car wasn't damaged. Since then whenever I cycle on the path I always make sure to look for cars as much as possible.

It is difficult to tell younger kids to cycle on the road, since it obviously more dangerous BUT there does become a point where enough is enough, and people need to learn to cycle on the road. Emphasis on the LEARN.

On the note of cyclists not following rode code. I completely agree with keewee, A LOT of cyclists have appalling attitude towards riding on the road. I always stop at lights, give way but I am continuously seeing cyclist burst through reds without even thinking to stop; pulling out/around cars and generally not givbing a damn. Sometimes I wish they would get what's coming to them, they really give cyclists a bad name.

I used to do a lot of cycling, and always rode on the road. But the biggest danger I found, wasn't the other moving traffic, it was the parked cars, and parked cars opening doors. As many cars now have tinted windows, it is nearly impossible to know if a parked a car has an occupant that could open a door. I have had quite a few near misses, and now don't bother riding much. I know someone who was killed a couple of years ago cycling, after a driver opened their door, and they were then run over by a truck.
When I did ride on the footpath when doing a paper run, I always rode slowly, as you do feel nervous when you approach a driveway.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#638561 10-Jun-2012 18:35

mikerussellnz: Its not just a problem with cycling, I don't ride a bike, but walk and have been almost hit so many times by people coming out of driveways at speed. People just don't look.

With the way cyclists are treated on the road, I would rather my kids on the footpath where they are at a distance from 90% of the traffic.

Yes, I have been nearly hit too by speeding drivers coming out of their driveway, and you feel like kicking their door. With speeding cyclists on footpaths, I think you often find that they will hit the car, rather than the car hitting them, as they will run into the side of the car.

plod

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

#638564 10-Jun-2012 18:38

mattwnz:
plod: Not 100% correct on this, but since you are crossing over a footpath with your car to get to the road it is up to you to make sure the way is clear. If you have obstacles affecting your view, put up one of those mirrors you seen on some drives. A cyclist on the footpath even though technically illegal still has the right of way.?

Isn't that an oxymoron?

That fact is that it is illegal to ride on the footpath, so if a cyclist hits you as you exit the driveway, then I think it is their fault. The roadcode says cars exiting a driveway, have to give way to pedestrians , they don't mention cyclists. They only mention cyclists on cycleways. You have to look at why it is illegal, and that is because of the speed cyclists travel. If a car is backing out slowly from a driveway, they essentially have no way of seeing what is coming along the footpath at speed, even with mirrors, although depends on the driveway. As long as they are backing out slow enough, they will be able to give way to pedestrians, as pedestrians will see them. But cyclists on the footpath will be going to fast, which is one reason why it is illegal. However you do still see cars backing out at great speed and almost hitting pedestrians, which is illegal.
I think they need more cycle lanes. Our local council has got rid of the cycle lanes, and turned them into transition bays, as I think there were some laws around cycle lanes that changed.

I can name 3 times where cycling on a footpath is perfectly legal, postman bike, postman motorbike, and on a combined cycle/pathway. Not to mention children on skateboards and scooters or should we throw them out on the road as well. I still believe the responsibility relies on the motorist even if the cyclist isnt meant to be there.
We can also add runners to the list of fast moving objects on a footpath. Now if any of the above are on the road then I say go for gold

Dratsab

3946 posts

Uber Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#638589 10-Jun-2012 19:51

The backing out of driveways is part of a few problems associated with drivers attitudes in this country. We semi-regularly hear about kiddies being run over in driveways because of this obsession. Unfortunately it's a practice encouraged by councils who insist on having angle parking on roadways so that people have to reverse into oncoming traffic.

I always try to back into driveways and spaces in parking lots. I go by the theory "park facing the direction you wish drive". It makes things safer for everyone, although it'll never get around cyclists travelling at speed on footpaths.

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cokemaster

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Uber Geek

Retired Mod

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Lifetime subscriber

#638618 10-Jun-2012 20:47

I can't say I've nearly hit one on the footpath while backing out, but I have had several occasions where I have nearly hit cyclists ignoring the traffic lights and riding into oncoming traffic. Its nearly as bad as the drivers who enter intersections "because its only been a red line for 5 seconds so it must be alright!".

I have a lot of respect for other users of the road except for the the people (motorists included) who flout the very rules that are supposed to keep everyone safe on the road.

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simplestuff

84 posts

Master Geek

#638632 10-Jun-2012 21:12

The rule believe states that motorist leaving or entering a driveway must give way to people using the footpath. ( People) are cyclists included as people

Something else of interest Different topic
White Diamond markers on the road

It warns a driver that there is a pedestrian crossing ahead, and they are placed at a distance from the crossing to enable a vehicle to stop safetly if the driver sees a padestrian waiting to cross. If the driver sees a padestrian waiting to cross before he/she passess over the white diamond he/she must stop and let the pedestrian cross. If already past the diamond and a pedestrian approaches the crossing he/she should stop if can stop saftely.
For the pedestrian : if they see a car beyond the diamond they can assume the driver of the appropaching car will be able to stop safetly to let them cross, but they should not not step onto the road until they are sure they driver is stopping. If the perdestrain sees the car is inside the diamond ( has already past the diamond) the pedestrian should wait until the car has passed before stepping onto the road, or step onto the road only if the car has stopped to let them past. liabilty: If a pedesrtain steps onto the road after a car has passed the diamond, it is the pedestrian who is a at fault if hit by the car. If a pedestrian is hit by a car that was outside the diamond when they stepped onto the road, the car is at fault.

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_a_white_diamond_on_the_road_mean#ixzz1xSEgcG9H
I wonder how many pedestrians are aware of this. I think it applies to NZ

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#638634 10-Jun-2012 21:17

simplestuff: The rule? believe states that motorist leaving or entering a driveway must give way to people using the footpath.??

Read the roadcode. It actually says 'Pedestrians' . Pedestrians are not cyclists.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#638636 10-Jun-2012 21:20

Dratsab: The backing out of driveways is part of a few problems associated with drivers attitudes in this country. We semi-regularly hear about kiddies being run over in driveways because of this obsession. Unfortunately it's a practice encouraged by councils who insist on having angle parking on roadways so that people have to reverse into oncoming traffic.

I always try to back into driveways and spaces in parking lots. I go by the theory "park facing the direction you wish drive". It makes things safer for everyone, although it'll never get around cyclists travelling at speed on footpaths.

It would depend on the situation. In the ideal situation, you would always drive forward. But there is a reason it is illegal to cycle on the footpath, and car exiting driveways is one, due to the relative speeds, and the relative high probability of collision. I recall when I did a paper run, that we were told off for riding on the footpath, but it was impracticable not to, and postal workers have exemptions.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#638657 10-Jun-2012 22:01

plod: Not 100% correct on this, but since you are crossing over a footpath with your car to get to the road it is up to you to make sure the way is clear. If you have obstacles affecting your view, put up one of those mirrors you seen on some drives. A cyclist on the footpath even though technically illegal still has the right of way.

+1 on that.

My driveway is tricky to see the footpath too.

Every time I reverse out, I stop at right the footpath and look both ways and behind to make sure noone is there.

It's a pain, but, the only sure method to ensure someone is not hurt. A couple of times I've been in a bit of a rush, and given pedestrians a scare but I always stop.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek

#638658 10-Jun-2012 22:02

mattwnz:
simplestuff: The rule? believe states that motorist leaving or entering a driveway must give way to people using the footpath.??

Read the roadcode. It actually says 'Pedestrians' . Pedestrians are not cyclists.

So it's ok to run a few over :)

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#638662 10-Jun-2012 22:16

surfisup1000:
plod: Not 100% correct on this, but since you are crossing over a footpath with your car to get to the road it is up to you to make sure the way is clear. If you have obstacles affecting your view, put up one of those mirrors you seen on some drives. A cyclist on the footpath even though technically illegal still has the right of way.?

+1 on that.?

My driveway is tricky to see the footpath too.?

Every time I reverse out, I stop at right the footpath and look both ways and behind to make sure noone is there.?

It's a pain, but, the only sure method to ensure someone is not hurt. ? A couple of times I've been in a bit of a rush, and given pedestrians a scare but I always stop.?

I always walk out to the footpath just to check, there is noone coming along, and inch out slowly when driving out, when I get to the footpath. That way you will never hit a pedestrian. But cyclists can move so quickly that even going out frontwards, they could run into the side of the bonnet, which goes onto the footpath first, which I have seen happen.

raytaylor

4014 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#638669 10-Jun-2012 22:36

I have a narrow driveway - the neighbours built tall fences on both sides
So i back into the driveway, so i am driving forward and can easily see in front of me when i am leaving onto the road.

Ray Taylor

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