In its first major campaign success, the Stop Killing Cyclists group welcomed the re-issuing of Ministerial Guidance on Pavement Cycling by the Minister for Cycling Robert Goodwill MP, in response to representations made by the campaign to the Minister for Transport.
STOP KILLING CYCLISTS
- Blog (background and copy of letter from MP): Cycling Minister reaffirms guidance to police regarding pavement cycling
- Press Releases:
- 14 January 2014: Minister endorses responsible pavement cycling by vulnerable cyclists if roads are too dangerous
- 14 January 2014: Letter to Sir Hugh Orde, ACPO President
- 17 January 2014: ACPO sends pavement cycling guidance to all local police forces
POLICE RESPONSE
NEWSPAPERS - Nationals
- The Telegraph
- (front page print edition 17 January 2014): Let cyclists go on pavements if roads are dangerous, minister tells police
- Cyclists have been unfairly punished for too long
- Let cyclists go on pavements if roads are dangerous, minister tells police
- The Daily Mail: Minister for cycling: Riders should be allowed to mount pavement without punishment to avoid danger
- The Guardian:
- The Independent: Let cyclists use pavement to avoid dangerous stretches of road, says Transport Minister
- The Times: More than 13,000 motorists and cyclists fined in crackdown on road offences
NEWSPAPERS - Regionals
- Gloucestershire Echo: Minister says ‘go easy’ on pavement cyclists, but Cheltenham campaigners say the road is the best place for riding
TELEVISION
ITV London (15 January 2014): Ministerial guidance on cyclists using pavements (news clip video)
RADIO
- BBC Radio 5 Live: 5 live Drive show
- BBC Radio 5 Live: Stephen Nolan
- BBC 94.9FM London: Vanessa Feltz: Cyclists on pavements
- BBC 94.9FM London: Drive Time with Eddie Nestor
- BBC Leeds
- BBC Coventry
BLOGS AND OTHER PLACES
- Cycling Embassy of Great Britain: Cycling on pavements - our response
- London Cycling Campaign (LCC): Minister for Cycling clarifies pavement cycling advice after 1057 fines in London
- Road Hub: Roads minister tells police: Let cyclists go on footways when roads look dangerous
- Bike Biz: Media to go on offensive over minister’s ‘pavement cycling’ comment
Six months on, I’m not so sure this was a good thing as it’s led to a resurgence of antisocial, fast pavement cycling in cities. This is observably worst in rain, when the pavement-bombers just get their heads down and hit the pedals hard, oblivious to anyone else in their path, SPEED,SPEED,SPEED being the only thing on their tiny selfish minds.
The issue here is that once you declare that an ostensibly illegal action will be tolerated, you create difficulties when it comes to dealing with the more serious transgressors who are creating a public nuisance or hazard.
This is about as good an idea as if we should show greater leniency in enforcing speed limits on boy racers, on the grounds that the more powerful the car, the easier it is to accidentally exceed the limit.
If it’s illegal, it’s illegal for a reason. Years ago, pavement cycling was outlawed, and it still is illegal. It was outlawed by people with greater insight and wisdom than those in office today.
I disagree, the people bombing down the pavement have never listened to what government ministers say anyway, I very much doubt their habits have changed significantly! Six months ago it was still cold and every summer we see more lads on bikes speeding down pavements.
Where the roads are simply too dangerous to cycle, people should be able to cycle considerately & safely on the pavements without breaking the law. There is no change to the guidance, this was simply reminding the police of the guidance issued previously. Guidance like this is used on a very large number of law and order issues and the police make judgements on what is OK or not on a daily basis.