Is it legal for cyclists to ride on the pavement?

[Skylark]

I like taking a spin round the neighborhood on my Mtb but seeing I'm petrified of cars I ride on the pavement as much as is possible - its rather like riding trails anyway , you have to dodge trees , hop stuff etc.

I'm always very courteous to my foot stepping brethren and always give them right of way , maybe go on the road for a short while. I even slow right down when I see the grannies so I don't give them a speed wobble .

 

But is it legal for cyclists to ride on the pavement?

 

Some people do give me the evil eye and drivers coming out of their driveways seem to think they have right of way - they do get the middle finger extended if I almost get knocked over by their lack of decency. But I got ready to knock some lights out when a particularly smug trophy hunting Toyota Fortuner driver tried to get me under his bumper . I stopped myself from launching some foul language into his general direction because I wasn't sure if I as a cyclist am even allowed on the pavement and if so do I have the same right of way as a pedestrian?

Edited April 13, 2012 by SkyLark

[Kranswurm]

I like taking a spin round the neighborhood on my Mtb but seeing I'm petrified of cars I ride on the pavement as much as is possible - its rather like riding trails anyway , you have to dodge trees , hop stuff etc.

I'm always very courteous to my foot stepping brethren and always give them right of way , maybe go on the road for a short while. I even slow right down when I see the grannies so I don't give them a speed wobble .

 

But is it legal for cyclists to ride on the pavement?

 

Some people do give me the evil eye and drivers coming out of their driveways seem to think they have right of way - they do get the middle finger extended if I almost get knocked over by their lack of decency. But I almost got ready to knock some lights out when a particularly smug trophy hunting Toyota Fortuner driver tried to get me under his bumper . I stopped myself from launching some f-bombs into his general direction because I wasn't sure if I as a cyclist am even allowed on the pavement and if so do I have the same right of way as a pedestrian?

 

No its not.Pavements are for pedestrians.

[GLuvsMtb]

Use your common sense (difficult for most cyclists, but not impossible). Operate your bike in a safe and responsible way. Cycle at a speed where you are able to react if a pedestrian or motorist acts unpredictably. If your choices are riding on a road with a good shoulder and riding on the pavement, ride on the shoulder. If the roads are quiet, ride in the road.

 

As to the legallity of riding on the pavement, remember that pedestrians have right of way here, so ensure that you respect that. As corny as it may sound, fit a small bell to alert people of your presence. Getting knocked over by a bike while strolling on the pavement is never a good experience.

[kosmonooit]

I use the pavement of Jhb extensively as a survival tactic. The roads are murder.

 

But I always give pedestrians right of way. And have a small bell to ping them in necessary, and try and be as courteous as possible.

[TNT1]

Dunno, still googling.

 

But I did discover that Arrive Alive is trying to kill us:

 

Position on the road

The law says you must ride on the left of the road, but that does not mean on the very edge of the road. You should ride about one metre from the edge of the road/pavement to ensure that motorists can see you. If you ride too close to the edge, they generally try to squeeze past you, but if you ride one metre away, they will need to wait until it is safe to pass before trying to do so.

 

Are they focking nuts.

 

Actually, I'm gonna send this page http://www.arriveali...ages.aspx?i=420 to that prick from yesterday's thread.

 

F**kkit! City of Cape Town is trying to kill you okes in la-la land as well:

Why do cyclists ride in the road – not on the very edge?

• Because cyclists have the RIGHT to safety, and a right to the road.
  
• Because safety is a priority, and that’s where a motorists is most likely to see a cyclist!
  
• Cyclists should ride about one metre from the edge of the road/ pavement to make sure that motorists can see them, and overtake them with due care.
  
• Because the far-left section of a road is often covered in glass or ‘cats eyes’, making it dangerous for cyclists.
  
• Because the road camber (‘angle’) and gutters are often dangerous on the road edges.
  
• Because if it’s windy, they won’t be blown off the road.
  
• Because that’s where cyclists can avoid being hit by a car door.
  

http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/Pages/Bicyclesarelegaltraffictoo.aspx

Edited April 13, 2012 by TNT1

[gummibear]

Dunno, still googling.

 

But I did discover that Arrive Alive is trying to kill us:

 

Position on the road

The law says you must ride on the left of the road, but that does not mean on the very edge of the road. You should ride about one metre from the edge of the road/pavement to ensure that motorists can see you. If you ride too close to the edge, they generally try to squeeze past you, but if you ride one metre away, they will need to wait until it is safe to pass before trying to do so.

 

Are they focking nuts.

 

Actually, I'm gonna send this page http://www.arriveali...ages.aspx?i=420 to that prick from yesterday's thread.

 

F**kkit! City of Cape Town is trying to kill you okes in la-la land as well:

Why do cyclists ride in the road – not on the very edge?

• Because cyclists have the RIGHT to safety, and a right to the road.
  
• Because safety is a priority, and that’s where a motorists is most likely to see a cyclist!
  
• Cyclists should ride about one metre from the edge of the road/ pavement to make sure that motorists can see them, and overtake them with due care.
  
• Because the far-left section of a road is often covered in glass or ‘cats eyes’, making it dangerous for cyclists.
  
• Because the road camber (‘angle’) and gutters are often dangerous on the road edges.
  
• Because if it’s windy, they won’t be blown off the road.
  
• Because that’s where cyclists can avoid being hit by a car door.
  

http://www.capetown....traffictoo.aspx

 

 

What happened yesterday?

[patches]

small bell or hope hubs. They both work! hahaha!

 

but yeah, on occasion when I commute to work, I spend 90% of the time off the road. Whether it be on pavement or on a path worn in the veld running next to the road, I try stay off the tar as much as possible. (also due to a phobia of cars).

 

When I do cross paths with a pedetrian, I smile, greet them and move out of their way. When there is not enough space for me to move around them safely, I either slow down to their walking speed (if they are walking the same direction), or I stop and wait for them to pass if they are coming towards me.

[TNT1]

Ok, so according to NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 93 OF 1996

[ASSENTED TO 12 NOVEMBER 1996]

[DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 AUGUST 2000]:

 

 

'sidewalk' means that portion of a verge intended for the exclusive use of

pedestrians;

 

Sorry for you, fella, stay on the road...

[dirtrider]

Use the pavemunt a lot . It is only illegal if they catch you .

[Skylark]

Ok, so according to NATIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 93 OF 1996

[ASSENTED TO 12 NOVEMBER 1996]

[DATE OF COMMENCEMENT: 1 AUGUST 2000]:

 

 

'sidewalk' means that portion of a verge intended for the exclusive use of

pedestrians;

 

Sorry for you, fella, stay on the road...

 

Yes I'm a pedestrian , on wheels?

[TNT1]

What happened yesterday?

 

This prick happened (wait, is he a prick or a jerk?):

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/115149-we-still-our-own-worst-enemy/page__hl__own+worst+enemy__fromsearch__1

 

Notice the part where he berates the "fat" cyclists for breaking the law, and then proceeds to break the law himself with an illegal overtaking manoeuvre.

[Skylark]

small bell or hope hubs. They both work! hahaha!

 

Hope hubs - nothing breaks the silence quite like hope hubs and letting the cadence fall to zero

Edited April 13, 2012 by SkyLark

[Bateleur1]

Kranswurm nailed it. To my knowledge cyclists should cycle on the road and only be on cycling paths when they are available.

 

What interrests me is the way you interact with a motorist driving out of his property and becomes a problem to you. I do not know Durban well but most of the suburban areas that I know in SA will have pretty much the same setup. If I reverse out of my property with my car, by the time I am at a possition to see traffice before rolling out on the road, I will definitely be in your way as a cyclist on the pavement. So take into consideration that the motorist will not be able to see you soon enough most of the time and now you are swearing and showing middel fingers to him. Exactly that type of response which is making it dangerous for the rest of us cyclists on the roads.

[dirtrider]

But it is cool to wave your finger around on the road ? Seriously I been doing pavemunts for many,many years and have never waved any finger at anybody . 5 minutes on a road and I get a cramp in my middle finger . So a pavemunt is for pedestrians and no bikes allowed , so basicy 99% of these single tracks we bomb down ourside MTB parks are also pedestrian walkways and should be avoided . Or is it only because our lawless govermunt made a law and we all shall obey ?

[Skylark]

Kranswurm nailed it. To my knowledge cyclists should cycle on the road and only be on cycling paths when they are available.

 

What interrests me is the way you interact with a motorist driving out of his property and becomes a problem to you. I do not know Durban well but most of the suburban areas that I know in SA will have pretty much the same setup. If I reverse out of my property with my car, by the time I am at a possition to see traffice before rolling out on the road, I will definitely be in your way as a cyclist on the pavement. So take into consideration that the motorist will not be able to see you soon enough most of the time and now you are swearing and showing middel fingers to him. Exactly that type of response which is making it dangerous for the rest of us cyclists on the roads.

 

No the guy was not reversing out of his driveway - he was driving straight out.

He looked straight at me with his cold-dead eyes and carried on going becuase he had the "i'm bigger than you so I do what the I want" expression on his face.

I used my spindly body to let him know that was quite an incorrect assumption.

Not the moment when my superior intellect was elevated through use.

But he realized he had been owned.

 

I will give the finger where necessary , its a form of communication for situations were words cannot be expressed clearly enough to facilitate neural recognition in the respondents brain.

 

See that's the crux of my whole inner turmoil

A car driving forward or reversing out of a driveway that crosses the pavement needs to give way to pedestrians - but do they need to give way to a pedestrian on his bicycle riding on the pavement?

 

Was the Fortuner's driver correct in bumrushing me or should I have reworked his features for willfully endangering my life?

[Tumbleweed]

…a pedestrian on his bicycle riding on the pavement?

 

 

Huh?