Why do grown men ride on the pavement?

A question about : Why do grown men ride on the pavement?

Smallish village. Good wide roads. Good visbility.

So why do so many blokes ride on the pavement like small children? I see maybe two or three a day when it isn't raining.

And while I'm on my soapbox. When you ride past me on the trails and I've put my dog on his lead so he doesn't get in your way. Would be be really be expecting too much for you to mutter Thanks as you ride by?

Really looking forward to the answers as I'm genuinely curious about both of these.

Ta,

HD

Best answers:

• Because they are ill manner cowards with no back bone.
• I doubt you'll get an answer here as I'd be surprised if anyone here cycles along the pavement for no reason. Mainly up here it seems to be people cycling without lights who cycle on the pavements when it's dark although I do see some people cycling on the pavement for no obvious reason which I find odd as the road is much better for cycling on.
  With regards to people saying thanks, I find it depends where I am. When I'm walking the dog on the streets around the house I find cyclists pretty much never say thanks and rarely even slow down which is extremely irritating particularly as when they're cycling in the dark, at speed with no lights or anything reflective I frequently have to quickly yank my poor dog out of the way. I guess those inconsiderate enough to be cycling on the pavement anyway are not going to show any gratitude.
  When I'm out walking in the countryside though I find most cyclists slow down, give me time to hold my dog and thank me for doing so.
  John
• Because they are breaking the law ? Just like you are with your dog not on a lead.
• Even the police ride on the pavements around here... They never mention it when I ride on the pavement past them.
• Could be safety. Around here you take your life in your hands cycling. Most of our cyclists use the pavements were possible.
• I much prefer riding in the road. If only they weren't full of huge machines capable of killing me!
• hi all i am 32 and i cycle on the pavement becos there is a lot oc idots driving on the road that dont look out for cyclest like the driving insturter who wos driving a lener car while on the mobile. u know when i cought up to him i gave him a pice of my mind. i have been cycleing for 27 years and know the roads better than some of the drivers out ther
• Bit of a sexist question. I was forced off the pavement by a grown woman cyclist on Saturday. I was walking by the way!
• I ride on the pavement from my house to the end of the road due to the two cars I have had written off outside, one parked wholly on the pavement, plus a rear end hit and run. Three neighbours have also had cars written off, one had their wall knocked down. There is regular evidence of further accidents all along the road. Its a 30mph road, most cars travel at 35-40mph. These speeding cars are regularly overtaken despite no safe overtaking areas due to crossings and side roads. Most of the pavement I ride on is 20+ feet wide. I give pedestrians priority and have had no complaints in over 10 years. When riding on the road I regularly feel unsafe and unwelcome. I have had a car drive into me while stationary and in broad daylight.
  I don't thank dog owners as their dog is their responsibility, although I am always friendly toward them. If it needs to be on a lead, put it on one. This may sound harsh but I am nearly as concerned about your dog as you are and will happily slow or stop if needed.
  One thing that bothers me with dog owners. If your dog is on the side of a path and you move aside when you see a cyclist, can you move to the same side as the dog. Many owners move to the opposite side of the path. When the cyclist gets near the dog wants to be near the owner and has to cross the cyclists path. This would not happen if the owner joined the dog on whichever side it is on.
• If i'm somewhere that there are no or very few pedestrians i ride on the pavement or if it's early morning or late afternoon when the viability is poor. I'd rather ride on the road but often you just don't feel safe.
• Just ask them why, especially the police!
• Highway code says max Ј1000 fine!
• I tend not to move myself or my on-lead dog out of the way of cyclists on the grounds that pavements are for pedestrians. Cyclists are not pedestrians.
  (I'm talking specifically about pavements here, not trails or tracks.)