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#1
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fined for cycling on the pavement
Hi,
I just got fined £30 for cycling on the pavement. Here is what happened: I was on my way back from collecting something. my bike gear cable snapped so I was stuck in quite a high gear, making it difficult to accelerate. I was on a busy road going uphill in two lanes of traffic. Also my gear chain kept slipping, making it a bit difficult to ride in a straight line, so I got off the road and onto the pavement, rather than risk getting run over. I was going along experimenting, trying to get the gear to stay in one place so I could at least get home. I was going slowly and I stopped before crossing a road. When the traffic cleared I crossed the road to the other side of the pavement. A "community support officer" stepped out in front of me (he could do this as I was travelling at 2mph tops). He just said " you are riding on the pavement, I'm going to give issue you with a fine". Didn't ask me anything! The fine is £30. Haven't these people got anything better to do? I have never spoken to any police before today. I went to complain at the local station but they just said I'd have to appeal in court and risk incurring costs. Appeal in court? For riding on the pavement at 2mph nowhere near anybody??? His colleague came along and asked me and I admitted I'd been on the pavement, but for the reasons I stated above. I showed them both my snapped gear cable. I normally always cycle on the road. I have never been fined for anything, ever! Has anyone else experience this? Is it worth appealing, or is that just a formality. Thanks in advance, Ben. -- Registered Linux user number 339435 |
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#2
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fined for cycling on the pavement
"Ben Fitzgerald" wrote in message in... Hi, I just got fined £30 for cycling on the pavement. Here is what happened: snippity... I normally always cycle on the road. I have never been fined for anything, ever! Has anyone else experience this? Is it worth appealing, or is that just a formality. Thanks in advance, Ben. I have no sympathy. Cycling on the footpath is a no-no. If you have a need to be there, dismount and push your bike whilst walking alongside it. IMO complaining about being done for cycling on the pavement is a bit like a speeding motorist complaining about being caught by a speed camera "But honest, the road was clear, there was no-one else about! I wasn't harming anyone!" Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, but there was nothing stopping you pushing your bike... Cheers, helen s |
#3
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fined for cycling on the pavement
How did they ID you? Somehow can't see "Ausweiss, Bitte!" getting them
too far in the UK... |
#4
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fined for cycling on the pavement
"Ben Fitzgerald" wrote in message
in... ... I was going along experimenting, trying to get the gear to stay in one place so I could at least get home. I was going slowly and I stopped before crossing a road. When the traffic cleared I crossed the road to the other side of the pavement. A "community support officer" stepped out in front of me (he could do this as I was travelling at 2mph tops). He just said " you are riding on the pavement, I'm going to give issue you with a fine". Was this an officer in uniform? If so how come you did not see him and have the sense to dismount before he booked you? |
#5
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fined for cycling on the pavement
"Ben Fitzgerald" wrote in message
in... snip tale of fine Possibly a bit overzealous - a lot of plod will just tell you to get off (BTDT), rather than jumping in with the fine, provided you're not obviously taking the ****. Community plod may well be keener to fine, since it's closer to their job (real plod's job being to keep the place running sensibly). However the fact remains you were breaking the law, and they are allowed to fine you for it, so you're probably stuffed. Next time look out for people in uniform. (of course if you've got a mechanical problem which requires slow pedalling to try and solve, it may be amusing to ask for their help...) cheers, clive |
#6
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fined for cycling on the pavement
Without looking in detail is smack of another issue posted by this NG's
least favourite troll But I do agree that, if it is real, it was totally right and correct. In my area, around Doncaster- where I cycle daily- I see far more people cycling on the pavements than on the roads at all time of the day. And I am not talking about children! -- Trevor A Panther In South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom. Remove PSANTISPAM to reply "sothach" wrote in message oups.com... How did they ID you? Somehow can't see "Ausweiss, Bitte!" getting them too far in the UK... |
#7
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fined for cycling on the pavement
On 11 Nov 2005 13:29:55 GMT, Ben Fitzgerald wrote:
Hi, I just got fined £30 for cycling on the pavement. Here is what happened: [snip] Sounds a bit strong given the circumstances. Bad luck. I ride on the road but occasionally, I may cut across a bit of path if I think that the situation warrants it and doing so presents no inconvenience to others. Perhaps I should stop risking it as I don't really fancy a 30 quid fine :-0 -- ***My real address is m/ike at u/nmusic d/ot co dot u/k (removing /s) http://www.unmusic.co.uk - about me, music, geek sitcom etc. http://www.unmusic.co.uk/amh-s-faq.html - alt.music.home-studio |
#8
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fined for cycling on the pavement
If it were me I would definitely appeal. There are guidelines issued
regarding the use of FPN's including by community wardens, and it does not seem there were followed. After all if the guidelines on speed enforcement are not followed to the letter (and the almost always are) motorists are very quick to appeal. I feel you no more deserved a fine than a motorist illegally doing 71 Mph on a clear motorway. Imagine the outcry if the police started doing that! First of all you should quote what Home Office Minister Paul Boeteng said when he issued a letter making it clear when FPN's should be used. to quote: 'The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required.' Secondly, I have a letter sent to me from the Home Office regarding the Use of FPN's by 'Community wardens which reinforces the above: The Home Office 7th Floor, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT Telephone: 0870 000 1585 Fax: 020 7273 2065 Textphone: 020 7273 3476 E-mail: publicenquiries (at)homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk Web Site: www.homeoffice.gov.uk Reference: T5080/4 23 February 2004 Thank you for your e-mail dated 22:01:2004 14:07:11 about cycling on the pavement. The enforcement of cycling offences is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. The Government wishes to promote cycling, but are concerned about irresponsible cycling which cannot be condoned. One of the key aims in the police reform process is to free up police officers for front line operational duties and to harness the work of the extended police family in supporting the police in tackling low level crime and anti-social behaviour. To help the police deal with cyclists who use the pavement inconsiderately or irresponsibly the Government included provisions in the Police Reform Act which received Royal Assent on 24 July 2002 which will enable Community Support Officers (CSOs) and accredited persons to be given the power to issue fixed penalty notices for offences such as cycling on the pavement. CSOs and accredited persons will be accountable in the same way as police officers. They will be under the direction and control of the chief officer, supervised on a daily basis by the local community beat officer and will be subject to the same police complaints system. The Government have included provision in the Anti Social Behaviour Bill to enable CSOs and accredited persons to stop those cycling irresponsibly on the pavement in order to issue a fixed penalty notice. I should stress that the issue is about inconsiderate cycling on the pavements. The new provisions are not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other road users when doing so. Chief officers recognise that the fixed penalty needs to be used with a considerable degree of discretion and it cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 16. The cycling infrastructure and environment are currently under improvement as a result of our National Cycling Strategy. We expect this improvement to reduce the incentive to cycle on the pavement. Yours sincerely John Crozier So at the very least make a fuss and send them copies of the above. I have heard of cases where over-zealous 'Community wardens' have been moved on after such complaints have been made. Definitely get onto the CTC's legal team if you are a member. At one time they were supposed to be monitoring abuses of the use of FPN's such as this. |
#9
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fined for cycling on the pavement
On Fri, 11 Nov 2005 13:35:45 +0000 (UTC), helen s wrote:
"Ben Fitzgerald" wrote in message in... Hi, I just got fined £30 for cycling on the pavement. Here is what happened: snippity... I normally always cycle on the road. I have never been fined for anything, ever! Has anyone else experience this? Is it worth appealing, or is that just a formality. Thanks in advance, Ben. I have no sympathy. Cycling on the footpath is a no-no. If you have a need to be there, dismount and push your bike whilst walking alongside it. even if I was just trying to get my gears working? I couldn't do this on the road as it was busy. There were no pedestrians! IMO complaining about being done for cycling on the pavement is a bit like a speeding motorist complaining about being caught by a speed camera "But honest, the road was clear, there was no-one else about! I wasn't harming anyone!" slightly different case. typically this will be a photograph making it difficult to validate this claim. in this case the guy knew I wasn't causing a danger. he could have used his common sense and I would have taken that warning. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, but there was nothing stopping you pushing your bike... well, no but I was just tring to get it going in the hope of getting back on the road. ben. -- Registered Linux user number 339435 |
#10
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fined for cycling on the pavement
On 11 Nov 2005 05:37:30 -0800, sothach wrote:
How did they ID you? Somehow can't see "Ausweiss, Bitte!" getting them too far in the UK... ah hindsite is a wonderful thing! being a law-abiding guy, when asked for my name and address I didn't dare lie. he didn't ID me so if I could do it again I would...well! cheers, ben. -- Registered Linux user number 339435 |
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