Is it legal for cyclists to ride on the pavement?

[sadamhussein]

i'm with skylark,

 

dude, just do what you want. ride the pavement!!

it's life and death riding with the cars in the road, SA is blessed with some really nice single-track on sidewalks in urban areas, it would be stupid to NOT make use of it.

 

if we were debating riding on the sidewalk in say, New York, i'd be inclined to advise against it, but seriously, nothing is cut and dried here in third world africa. rules that make sense in the first world cannot be applied here.

 

dont expect a motorist backing out of his driveway to yield to you because you shouldnt be there and he's not expecting you, by the same token you must yield to pedestrians because they are as predictable as headless chickens. all in all, these "threats" make riding the sidewalk so much more fun!

Edited April 13, 2012 by sadamhussein

[Skylark]

Read all of his posts in this thread, and you'll come to realise that thinking does not appear to be his strong suit...

 

TNT1 you make for such an accurate intelligence meter.

 

Although a the feeling of giving someone the "finger" can sometimes be justified, the act of doing so will never generate any soluition to the general hatred motorists have towards cyclists.

 

On my commute(50% on walkways/pavements) I always yield to pedestrians an motorists exiting their driveways. When I exit my driveway with my car it is already 2m out of the gate by the time I can see down the pedestrian walkway, and I really appreciate it when a cyclist/pedestrian wait for me, thereby acknowledging the fact that I could not see them. That is the reason why I do the same when I see someone reversing out of their driveway.

 

If you keep an eye on the gates along the walkway/pavement it is also easier to anticipate when a car will come out of a driveway.

 

Yes for sure - there is no need to be a knob and to instigate more bad feelings in anyone and I understand with some driveways it is near impossible to see before crossing a pavement.

 

But it is a drivers legal responsibility to make sure the way is clear before crossing a pavement.

 

The driver that motivated my post was driving straight out of his driveway that has a clear and unobstructed view for a good 5 meters before he reaches the pavement - he saw me (I looked straight into his eyes) and tried not to stop - basically he played chicken . Not pleasant as he had a very big car and was going relatively fast.

 

So I wanted to know if he was in the right or I was.

If he did have right of way I will yield to people driving out of their driveways no matter the situation.

Edited April 13, 2012 by SkyLark

[TNT1]

TNT1 you make for such an accurate intelligence meter.

 

And thank you for introducing the English speaking world to "a pedestrian on his bicycle riding on the pavement"...

[Kranswurm]

Good angle!!

 

Actually I do that quite often , I sometimes enjoy a bit of a walk or jog during a ride , just to loosen up. With the saddle in one hand pushing + balancing the bike you can get up to quite a pace.

 

You will work up a better pace with my big pedestrian boot up your arse if you stuff around on my sidewalk.

Better still,go and ride on the other side of the road and play in the traffic with that weird bunch who think its their right to go against the flow and see the punch coming

[Skylark]

You will work up a better pace with my big pedestrian boot up your arse if you stuff around on my sidewalk.

Better still,go and ride on the other side of the road and play in the traffic with that weird bunch who think its their right to go against the flow and see the punch coming

 

Yeah good thing I'm not in Gabarone

 

Those runners that run in the road against the flow of traffic should be locked up or put in the loony bin - they even claim right of way and force you into the middle of the road if you find yourself on a bike riding past them , not good

Edited April 13, 2012 by SkyLark

[pastapouch]

i'm with skylark,

 

dude, just do what you want. ride the pavement!!

it's life and death riding with the cars in the road, SA is blessed with some really nice single-track on sidewalks in urban areas, it would be stupid to NOT make use of it.

 

if we were debating riding on the sidewalk in say, New York, i'd be inclined to advise against it, but seriously, nothing is cut and dried here in third world africa. rules that make sense in the first world cannot be applied here.

 

dont expect a motorist backing out of his driveway to yield to you because you shouldnt be there and he's not expecting you, by the same token you must yield to pedestrians because they are as predictable as headless chickens. all in all, these "threats" make riding the sidewalk so much more fun!

You're a very interesting person...hey but you're dead

ANYWAY, from the gym at 14th Avenue to my work in Randburg on Golf club terrace(becoming something else(?) ,there are sidewalks, and many wide pavements with single track, and I'm intending to commute that way in the near future, park at the gym, rid eMTB to work, 14k of it. I can sleep a bit later or train before hitting the road at 7. Should be at work 7:45 ish

Edited April 13, 2012 by cervelo

[Bateleur1]

TNT1 you make for such an accurate intelligence meter.

 

 

 

Yes for sure - there is no need to be a knob and to instigate more bad feelings in anyone and I understand with some driveways it is near impossible to see before crossing a pavement.

 

But it is a drivers legal responsibility to make sure the way is clear before crossing a pavement.

 

The driver that motivated my post was driving straight out of his driveway that has a clear and unobstructed view for a good 5 meters before he reaches the pavement - he saw me (I looked straight into his eyes) and tried not to stop - basically he played chicken . Not pleasant as he had a very big car and was going relatively fast.

 

So I wanted to know if he was in the right or I was.

If he did have right of way I will yield to people driving out of their driveways no matter the situation.

 

Straight answer is you were in the wrong.

[Akon]

Two Qz here reaaly:

1. Is it OK to ride on the pavement? Yeah, with all the caveats mentioned.
   
2. Is it LEGAL to ride on the pavement? No, but read my comment on the thread referenced by dynamite.
   

 

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.

 

Disagree. Legally, you need to watch out for pedestrians, so you should be able to spot a cyclist too. If you're blind-sided, you need to get out of your car and make sure the pavement is clear.

 

Now, if this dumb@$$ cyclist rides too fast, well then you've got a point.

[pastapouch]

TNT1 you make for such an accurate intelligence meter.

 

 

 

Yes for sure - there is no need to be a knob and to instigate more bad feelings in anyone and I understand with some driveways it is near impossible to see before crossing a pavement.

 

But it is a drivers legal responsibility to make sure the way is clear before crossing a pavement.

 

The driver that motivated my post was driving straight out of his driveway that has a clear and unobstructed view for a good 5 meters before he reaches the pavement - he saw me (I looked straight into his eyes) and tried not to stop - basically he played chicken . Not pleasant as he had a very big car and was going relatively fast.

 

So I wanted to know if he was in the right or I was.

If he did have right of way I will yield to people driving out of their driveways no matter the situation.

You yield for the person in the tricky situation,coming out of a driveway assume, that he doesn't see you, or didn't look to start with.

Ride on the pavement, but give way to pedestrians... easy!

[Skylark]

And thank you for introducing the English speaking world to "a pedestrian on his bicycle riding on the pavement"...

 

Eeish baas waai yoo so kross?

I'm TNT1's biatch today , pity I cant give him a good cuddle to light him up.

[Kranswurm]

who cares if riding on the pavement is legal, this is africa!

 

and forget bells and noisy hubs, only one thing gets the attention of an earphone wearing single track shuffling moron when approaching from behind at warp speed on a sweet section of urban-downhill.....

 

 

it's called the acme thunderer. blow this thing like a ref in the world cup final and pedestrians will clear before you like the red sea did before moses!

 

ps. it works just as well for peletons of dirt-roadies riding 29ers on the spruit when they wont get out of your way

 

I have one !Had it for about 20 years

 

I want to get what they use in Canada to frighten bears off the singletrack

My mate got it when he did the Trans Rockies.Called a Bear Horn or sumthin.On your bars.

[Bateleur1]

Two Qz here reaaly:

1. Is it OK to ride on the pavement? Yeah, with all the caveats mentioned.
   
2. Is it LEGAL to ride on the pavement? No, but read my comment on the thread referenced by dynamite.
   

 

 

 

Disagree. Legally, you need to watch out for pedestrians, so you should be able to spot a cyclist too. If you're blind-sided, you need to get out of your car and make sure the pavement is clear.

 

Now, if this dumb@$$ cyclist rides too fast, well then you've got a point.

 

Yes, you are right. So for a pedestrian walking at 3-5 km /h and a jogger who would be maybe 10- 15 km/h it is not a problem at all. But the pedestrian on his bicycle exceeding afformentioned speeds it does become a problem. They end up being pedestrians with remarkable acrobatics skills but poor landing skills on the other side of your boot.

[Octavian]

Talking about the middle finger....When I was growing up a cyclist threw my dad a middle finger. The cyclist was totally in the wrong, having inexplicably veered into the road infront of my dad's car. So obviously my dad hooted at him. The cyclist then proceeded to zap my old man... Big mistake....my old man jumped out of the car and grabbed the cyclist before beating 7 colours of crap out of the cyclist...I think the cyclist was ok though even though his face would never look the same again...

 

Moral of the story...Think before you zap someone...you dont know the background of the person in the car...

[Clinton1]

And the www.joburg.co.za website has this to say about travelling by bicycle:

 

"A mountain bike is probably best for commuting as it allows you to hop onto pavements or ride through parks to avoid traffic."

 

And on www.bicycling.co.za regarding the cycle paths in Cape Town we have this:

 

"Cyclists need to obey all traffic rules. Cyclists also have to remember that the path is for pedestrians too. The idea is to keep left at all times. At all the intersections where pedestrian traffic is heaviest, the paving is a different design to alert cyclists to slow down to negotiate pedestrians and turning traffic."

 

So pedestrians are allowed on cycle paths but cyclists as not allowed on pavements? And it becomes quite interesting defining a pavement. So on Durban's beachfront I can ride along the entire beach front promenade section but I better not ride on any of the paved areas next to Marine Parade road as these are effectively "pavements" and off limits for me?

[Clinton1]

Talking about the middle finger....When I was growing up a cyclist threw my dad a middle finger. The cyclist was totally in the wrong, having inexplicably veered into the road infront of my dad's car. So obviously my dad hooted at him. The cyclist then proceeded to zap my old man... Big mistake....my old man jumped out of the car and grabbed the cyclist before beating 7 colours of crap out of the cyclist...I think the cyclist was ok though even though his face would never look the same again...

 

Moral of the story...Think before you zap someone...you dont know the background of the person in the car...

 

Moral of the story is that you have a wonderful dad doing that sort of thing in the presence of his child! What if things had got nastier and weapons were pulled?

[TNT1]

Moral of the story is that you have a wonderful dad doing that sort of thing in the presence of his child! What if things had got nastier and weapons were pulled?

 

Oh, and also, imagine the thrill of being arrested for assault. Some people.

Edited April 13, 2012 by TNT1