posted by Catherine on Jul 11
Just because you can go faster down hills – doesn’t mean you have right of way!
When you are riding your bicycle, you don’t want to keep stopping all the time to wait for a family to move over, or to get through a gate – but do you know you right of way ‘rules’ and when and where you can’t cycle?
There are different rules for different paths and routes – so make sure you plan your route and know your rights!
General:
Obviously, wherever you cycle, make sure that you are courteous at all times. Don’t barge your way through crowds ringing your bell or shouting. Sometimes other traffic has the right of way and if some cyclists are always grumpy towards others then it gives a bad name to everyone else on a bike!
You may come up against walkers, other cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users – so you need to think ahead as to what is suitable behaviour. And there may be many path users that are hard or hearing or partially sighted – so never assume that people will move out of your way at the last minute, and don’t rely on your bell alone to warn people of your approach.
And – unless it is legally adapted for doing so – you cannot ride with a passenger on your bike! No ‘backies’ or other seating arrangements are allowed on the UK roads (or pavements).
Footpaths:
You cannot cycle on a Footpath. Only foot travellers have a ‘right of way’ over the land that makes up most Footpaths – and so cycling on one is against the law.
Footpath Sign
Therefore if you use a Footpath on your bike (or are even pushing your bike – which is still technically illegal) make sure that you are uber courteous to any walkers you meet and make their journey past you as easy as possible by either stopping or waiting to one side!
Bridleways:
These paths are usually wider than Footpaths and allow walkers, cyclist and horse riders to pass along them. However, a cyclist must give way to the other 2 in all cases.
Pavements:
You cannot cycle on a normal pavement – and you can legally get an on-the-spot fine from an enthusiastic (or particularly picky) police officer. You can however push your bike along by your side on the pavements and of course can cycle in a specific and well marked cycle lane on a pavement surface – but you must stay within the lines.
Roads:
You are allowed to cycle on all roads except motorways (or any other road that is signed as such) - and you must follow the highway code in terms of road signs, junctions and traffic lights!
At night there are rules about how you light your bicycle and specific colour reflectors on the pedals and the bike itself. And it is recommended that you should always be wearing a safety helmet for your own safety.
It is also recommended that you make yourself as visible as possible on the roads, whether that is by wearing bright clothes, bright accessories, adding further reflectors to your wheels and accessories. It’s obvious really, but the easier you are to see, the less likely you are to be hit by a car.
Public Transport:
Don’t always assume that you can get your bike onto a train or a bus either!
Some trains have ‘bike specific’ times – or only allow those city fold-up bike on board as a space saving initiative. And many country buses just don’t have the space for a mountain bike as they are fully seated inside.
And even attaching your bicycle to your own car needs to be thought out in advance and you need a specific bike rack to be correctly fitted to a suitable vehicle for driving on the road yourself. Flailing cables and spinning wheels could draw the attention of a traffic officer!
So take care out there!
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