Scooting on bike - is it legal?

kaybar007

I do the Hackney to Southwark London commute daily and with the extended Moorgate roadworks end up walking for 2-3 blocks on the footpath. When there aren't many pedestrians in front I often will scoot (ie one foot on pedal, and use other leg to push along) - and obviously jump off as soon as I get close to people.

Today I scooted across a pedestrian crossing and was told off by an irate pedestrian. Even though the light was in my favour (I could've cycled but was about to get onto the footpath for my 2 block walk).

Question is: when is it OK to scoot?

snailracer

On a pavement, scooting counts as cycling, unfortunately:

Crank v Brooks [1980], Lord Justice Waller said, in his judgment :
"...a person who is walking across a pedestrian crossing pushing a bicycle, having started on the pavement on one side on her feet and not on the bicycle, and going across pushing the bicycle with both feet on the ground so to speak is clearly a ‘foot passenger’. If for example she had been using it as a scooter by having one foot on the pedal and pushing herself along, she would not have been a ‘foot passenger’. "

Source:
http://www.bikehub.co.uk/featured-artic ... d-the-law/

BG2000

Do you mean you're still straddling the bike, or have you swung one leg over, as if you're about to jump off ?

I often do the latter while on the pavement, just between the road and where I'm locking the bike. Like you, I only do this if there are no pedastrians nearby. I reckon it's OK, as I'm effectively in the exact same position as when walking next to the bike.

I think as long as you always give priority to pedastrians when you're on the pavement, then there's no need for anyone to shout at you. If they were annoyed because you were blocking their path as they diagonally traversed the pedastrian crossing, for example, then they're stupid as the same would happen if you were pushing your bike, or a pram, etc.. some people are just very irritable, so ignore them.

thecrofter

I was threatened with being lifted for scooting along a section of road that was temporarily closed for roadworks. Pedant Copper Alert. :roll:

kaybar007

Thanks for prompt replies - yep I mean leg is already over as if you're about to jump off (not straddled). ie: cannot start peddling as would have to stop moving & then step through. Right leg on pedal, left leg 'scooting' to propel along.

I'm sure I read on a cycle blog somewhere that scooting was OK - wish I'd bookmarked it!

snailracer

kaybar007 wrote:

Thanks for prompt replies - yep I mean leg is already over as if you're about to jump off (not straddled). ie: cannot start peddling as would have to stop moving & then step through. Right leg on pedal, left leg 'scooting' to propel along.

I'm sure I read on a cycle blog somewhere that scooting was OK - wish I'd bookmarked it!

Apparently, it isn't even legal to ride scooters (the no-engine variety) or skateboards on the pavement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/5271874.stm

rubertoe

the Local plod where i work in North londn have become quite hot on all riding/scooting on the pavement outside my office and are handing out fixed penalty fines to anyone that they see.

i quite enjoy it as its mainly "yoofs" with hoodies, on cheap (probably stolen) full suspensions mountain bikes.

spen666

kaybar007 wrote:

Thanks for prompt replies - yep I mean leg is already over as if you're about to jump off (not straddled). ie: cannot start peddling as would have to stop moving & then step through. Right leg on pedal, left leg 'scooting' to propel along.

I'm sure I read on a cycle blog somewhere that scooting was OK - wish I'd bookmarked it!

It is not legal - scooting on pavement I mean, not the blog

t4tomo

I often get shouted at London Midland staff for scooting up the hugely wide platform 17/18 at Euston well away from any pedestrians. I go temporarily deaf.

estampida

I scoot and olny had a row in edinburgh during the fetival in crowded areas, funny as people were on segways at the time in the crowd.........

just go deaf,

if it went to court - standing on 1 pedal, whilst propelling yourself with another foot does not constitute cycling

boneshakers, as close as you will get to scooting are not the modern safety bicycle driven by a rotary motion- fact

spen666

estampida wrote:

I scoot and olny had a row in edinburgh during the fetival in crowded areas, funny as people were on segways at the time in the crowd.........

just go deaf,

if it went to court - standing on 1 pedal, whilst propelling yourself with another foot does not constitute cycling
boneshakers, as close as you will get to scooting are not the modern safety bicycle driven by a rotary motion- fact

Sadly for you, you'd lose if it did go to court. You do not have a right of way to use pavement in that fashion

mikeyboy12345

spen666 wrote:

Sadly for you, you'd lose if it did go to court. You do not have a right of way to use pavement in that fashion

Has the law changed in the last few years, or has this always been illegal? I remember 20-30 years ago people would scoot all the time on pavements and neither pedestrians nor police seemed bothered. I recall asking why a cyclist would do that, as opposed to actually "cycling", and was told that it was legal to propel a bicycle by foot and that it was no different to walking with it. Or was I fed a pack of lies?!

spen666

mikeyboy12345 wrote:

spen666 wrote:

Sadly for you, you'd lose if it did go to court. You do not have a right of way to use pavement in that fashion

Has the law changed in the last few years, or has this always been illegal? I remember 20-30 years ago people would scoot all the time on pavements and neither pedestrians nor police seemed bothered. I recall asking why a cyclist would do that, as opposed to actually "cycling", and was told that it was legal to propel a bicycle by foot and that it was no different to walking with it. Or was I fed a pack of lies?!

1. Law has not changed in recent years ( Before people talk about the statement of Paul Boateng re FPN for pavement cycling- that was not a statement of law and a government minister cannot change primary legislation or court decisions without an act of parliament.

see the earlier post for the case from 1980

2. The interpretation ie what is acceptable may change over time

3. There is no three

jeremyrundle

I am sure the answer is in the question "PEDESTRIAN" not bloke on a bike crossing.