Public footpath gone AWOL

[thenorthwind]

though of course you could do this by standing still on foot and being an arse

That would be criminal trespass though, right?

[benp1]

Wow, news to me that walking your bike along a footpath is wrong

[whitestone]

They also say that because cycling on a footpath has been held not to be a public nuisance, then because of what was decided in Jones that to do so must be lawful, this is not the case as there is a specific offence of riding, driving or leading a carriage on a footpath.

So if the sharks don't get you the crocodiles will

Has there been a case of criminal damage brought about by cycling on a rural footpath? I'd reckon both parties would have to be pretty arsey for something to even get to court. In fact have there been any cases brought about due to simply riding a bike on a footpath? Even if the cops were called you'd most likely just get a bollocking and told not to do it again.

[lune ranger]

Mistake

[ericrobo]

If you are on a footpath (pushing a bike) because it links to a BW, or to a road, then the bike IS a reasonable accompaniment....

Too many small minds around...

[Lazarus]

That would be criminal trespass though, right?

Yes as you are stopping others from exercising their rights - like blocking the road- yes you can legally be there but you cannot legally block it for others who can legally use it

Has there been a case of criminal damage brought about by cycling on a rural footpath?

Not that i am aware of and i agree it would take two particularily beligerent individuals to end up in court.

[Wotsits]

All seems nuts to me!

Is it also 'illegal' to push your bike whilst on a pavement? What do you do instead, step onto the road & risk getting run over? If you're pushing your bike whilst on a road are you no longer a pedestrian?

Even though riding on footpaths is a no-no, always thought that for it to be an issue, you had to be 'causing damage', or wanton & furious cycling!

The law just seems to be antiquated & almost not fit for purpose with regard to 'off road' cycling..

[macinblack]

I doubt anyone would ever get prosecuted for cycling on a footpath (as opposed to a pavement.) Courts recognise that some laws are perverse in modern context and so I doubt that any CPS lawyer would run such a case, it will fail almost certainly at the test of in the public interest. So unless your cycling activity has an aggravating feature, I'd say you were safe. Of course there is a time and a place and so bullishly cycling along a footpath were there are lots of walkers is breaching Rule 1 and potentially a trigger for Section 72 & 78 of the Highway Act.