Life on the pavement

THE RELATIONSHIP between cyclists and motorists has never been rosy, but drag pedestrians into the argument and the sparks really fly.

Yesterday, The Press reported how police told sisters Abigail and Brittany D'Arcy to stop cycling on the pavement and ride on a busy road instead.

Their mother, Paula, criticised this decision, claiming that riding on the road was dangerous and could end in an accident.

"The law is an ass," she said. "One minute they are told they need more exercise and then, when they do, the police stop them."

In response, North Yorkshire Police spokesman Tony Lidgate, pointed out that no one, apart from perhaps three-year olds on trikes, should be riding on the pavement.

"It's inconsiderate and it could be dangerous for the riders and for other people," he said. "If it's too dangerous for them to be on the road, the answer is to find some other way of getting there."

Whatever the rights and wrongs of this matter, it is a sad fact that there has been a 50 per cent decline in cycling in the space of just one generation.

According to Cycling England, while 51 per cent of mothers did their cycling proficiency or cycled to school as a child, only 25 per cent of today's children have had any formal cycle training, and 91 per cent have never cycled to school.

To get more children on their bikes, this week the Government launched its new Bikeability scheme.

Hailed as the 21st century cycling proficiency, it aims to give children the skills they need to cycle on the roads.

"We recognise that safety on the roads is every parent's concern, but the first step in creating safer cycling must be to ensure every child gets the proper training," said Cycling England chairman Philip Darnton. "That is Bikeability."

Here in York, opinions remain divided. As York Sergeant Martin Metcalfe points out, no one is legally allowed to cycle on the footpath. But common sense dictates that very young children would not always be safe on the road, he says, and police guidance allows some discretion.

Adults have no excuse, and those who are caught face a £30 fixed penalty ticket. Children over ten won't get an easy ride either, and could be summoned to court.

"There are a lot of problems with cyclists in York," said Sgt Metcalfe.

"A lot of cyclists just don't look at the signs or know their highway code and some contravene the pedestrian zones.

"We've had a few accidents in Davygate when cyclists have come down the wrong way and pedestrians have looked the right way and been run over. It can be quite nasty, especially if you catch the pedals and they're going quite fast."

Tom Bryant, City of York Council's road safety officer, said that every school child in York can train to the national standard. It costs £15 for three levels, he said, and is available through schools.

The training starts with eight and nine year olds in the playground and focuses on control, balance, breaks, gears and signalling. That moves on to a quiet road, where the young riders can build their confidence. Finally, they have a one-to-one session with an instructor along a route familiar to them, such as between home and school.

He says no children should legally ride on the pavement, but adds that it is important they are safe.

"The aim of our training is to encourage more children to cycle to school. We have a target to reduce car usage and we want them to be as safe as possible. We do pedestrian training with young children and develop this over a period of time.

"We want to build up their confidence and equip them with all the skills they need to handle different traffic situations."

If children are young, under-confident or live in a busy area, should they really have to ride on the road?

Yes... says Diane Roworth, chief officer of York Blind & Partially Sighted Society.

IF someone is old enough to ride a bike they should ride them on the road, where they belong, says Diane Roworth.

Diane, who is registered blind, knows how frightening it can be for a pedestrian.

"Cyclists on the pavement can be absolutely horrendous - they give people a great sense of insecurity," she said.

"They travel so fast and come on you so quickly; you don't have to be totally blind to feel in danger from cyclists on the pavement. I think partially sighted and elderly people feel very vulnerable too.

"I've had instances where I have been coming out of my gate at home and a cyclist has whizzed past me and it really does shock me. It can make going out independently very difficult."

Diane thinks the law should prevail.

Schools should reinforce that message too, she says. She likes children cycling, but wants them to appreciate that bikes can cause distress.

"They should respect the right of the pedestrian to walk freely without feeling unsafe," she said.

Pensioner Tom Smith, who is also blind, tries to avoid going out just before and after school hours. He feels threatened he says, especially when children swear at him if he challenges them.

"I don't mind five or six year olds riding on the paths for safety, but you get older children, and adults too, going like the clappers," said Tom, who did not want to give his real name.

"What are the roads for? You can't expect young children to go on the roads but the older ones should and they don't care."

No... says Labour transport spokeswoman Tracey Simpson-Laing.

THERE is a debate to be had about cycling on footpaths, admits Coun Simpson-Laing, but it needs to be sensible.

Her six-year-old daughter, Niamh, still has stabilisers on her bike, and it would be ridiculous for her to ride on the road, she says.

"I don't think any parent would let children under eight ride on the road," she said. It's not just the increase of traffic, but the size of the vehicles that are on the road, such as 4x4s and vans. Children are so small compared with them."

Niamh has been taught to be a considerate bike rider, and knows pedestrians have the right of way.

She often goes to school on her bike or scooter, but does not go fast enough to cause a problem.

By the time she starts secondary school, her mother would expect her to ride on the road.

"I know the Older People's Forum have a lot of concerns about people on bikes but I would hope they would appreciate that small children are too young to be on the road," she said.

Wendy Staughan, of Clifton, York, agrees.

Only two months ago, her 15-year-old son, Ricky Small, was left with a broken wrist when he was knocked off his bike by a motorist.

He had been riding his bike along a cycle lane in Clifton when a car pulled over and a passenger opened the door.

Ricky rode straight into it, flew over the top and fell to the ground, but the driver drove off.

The accident left his bike, and his confidence, in tatters.

"I think it's a lot safer on the pavement," said Wendy, 33.

"Ricky has always been aware of the dangers of the road and he's always been careful.

"Since the accident, he hasn't been on the road very much and has felt safer on the pavement.

"He could have been a lot more badly injured than he was in the accident and I'm surprised it was just his arm and he didn't receive any head injuries."

Wendy would like to see more cycle lanes in York, and more tolerance for young children riding on the pavement.

"My son was doing the right thing riding on the road and keeping in the cycle lane, and the accident wasn't his fault. Motorists don't always look for cyclists and don't see them."

Not sure... says Andy Shrimpton, owner of Cycle Heaven, in Bishopthorpe Road, York.

THE law dictates you should not cycle on the pavement, agrees Andy Shrimpton, but you have to be more sensible than that.

"What is a road in this town? Basically a sewer of traffic," he said.

"Cars are really corroding the quality of life in York. If you want to promote a better form of transport, you have got to give people an alternative. If the Government and local government don't fund high-quality cycling facilities which are segregated properly from the traffic, then what can you do?"

There are instances when it is rational and sensible to ride on the pavement, he says.

In the country, for example, if there is a choice between an empty pavement and a busy road, then what is wrong with cycling on the pavement?

Or, if you are a child under ten, and don't have the skills to ride on the road.

That is different to riding on a city centre pavement, or to teenagers cycling on it.

Adults should ride on the road, he believes.

But where children are concerned, there has to be an element of common sense.

Last year, Andy founded Stop At Red, a national campaign to encourage cyclists to stay within the law.

He thinks the relationship between cyclists, motorists and pedestrians can be difficult.

"It makes me angry when I see cyclists running red lights and it's very common," he said. "I think cyclists should definitely be more responsible and this new Bikeability is a really good idea as it gets them young."

It's difficult to decide what age children should be on the road, but it should be a parent's choice, he said.

"Parents have to use their judgement."