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Crackdown to stop cyclists using footpaths



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Published Date: 29 August 2008
A crackdown on cyclists riding on the pavement will be launched in Northampton town centre today as police warn riders they could get a fixed penalty notice for putting pedestrians in danger.
Shoppers and retailers in Abington Street raised the issue with the Town Centre and St Crispin Safer Community Teams, and officers will be in the street reminding cyclists not to use bikes on pavements.

Sgt Matt Phillips, of the Town Centre and St Crispin SCT, said: "It is extremely dangerous for cyclists to use the pavement, particularly if they are travelling at high speeds in an area with a high number of pedestrians.

"There are already signs up around the town centre telling people they shouldn't be cycling in Abington Street and we will be putting more up before we start the operation.

"Police Community Support Officers and Neighbourhood Wardens will be taking part in the operation as they have the powers to stop and issue Fixed Penalty Notices."

Cyclists can also have their bicycles marked with a security code at the mobile police station for £3.



The full article contains 185 words and appears in Northampton Chron & Echo newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 29 August 2008 11:15 AM
  • Source: Northampton Chron & Echo
  • Location: Northampton
 
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1

Roger Mellie,

Northampton 29/08/2008 09:44:33
Excellent idea, except PCSOs don't have the power to request a moving vehicle to stop...
2

TreatOthersAsYouWouldTreatYourself,

Northampton 29/08/2008 09:47:20
Good on them, this is a pedestrian area. Let's just hope the police mobile station will not be placed in the middle of Abington Street, as this would be enticement and any penalty notices unenforceable. Please don’t forget you’re allowed to load and unload for vehicle, one would not expect you to push your car, so pushing a bike when laden with goods is a tricky one to enforce – or not let me know.
3

robert angus,

29/08/2008 11:49:03
Why give a warning,the law has been in place for years, another case of the will till now to enforse it.
4

Shelts,

29/08/2008 12:21:54
Also last i was told the council hadn't given the police the necessary tickets for cycling on a footpath. This must have changed in the last few weeks.
5

TreatOthersAsYouWouldTreatYourself,

29/08/2008 14:00:04
Give Warning: Let's remove the hi-viz boarding on speed cameras, or for mobile police speed checks, let's not warn drivers to slow down first, and have the police hide as in Germany so to catch as many as possible. Alternatively, warn people first, drivers, cyclists, mobility scooters, of their duty and if the offence is not too harsh provide a warning rather than immediate legal action sure to alienate the public.
6

John AY,

Northampton 29/08/2008 15:08:13
Just sat in Abington street arond 2pm until 2.45 by KFC watching one proper policeman, a Community Police woman, and Community Warden in action, for once there wasnt the usual torrent of speedsters, they stopped a couple of eldely cyclists and 4 or 5 teenagers and a 5 year old!

I could tell the policeman was not interested, the other 2 were enthusiastic in stopping and then issueing paperwork. At one stage when the these 2 were booking someone they had their backs to the policeman he stood there watching a young oriental lady cycling sedately up Abington Street towards him, he ignored her when he went past him he watched her ride away, the others then saw her and he shrugged his shoulders with some excuse. I guess he didnt like the paperwork!! I was only a few feet away.
7

TreatOthersAsYouWouldTreatYourself,

29/08/2008 15:35:51
I'm not surprised: Police should be highly skilled and trained; this sort of behaviour should have been sorted out at home, through schooling, and good honest decent respect for anothers instilled. The problem maybe that as parents, schools, and basically any authoritative body has no 'real' powers to enlighten children as they grow-up. As a society we have allowed our young to grow up ignorant and fearless of any authority figure, for the sake of a few horrid people who abuse this possition - obviously the fine line between abuse and 'corrective' measure is difficult but seemingly needs to be urgently addressed, so I support for basic behavioural problems that should have been corrected at home, that these ‘police support types’ aka ‘parents with power’ tidy up, rather than waste ‘real’ police time, so they can find the people who have broken a girls jaw.
8

John AY,

Town Centre 29/08/2008 16:21:35
When I sat watching the CYCLE WATCH I said to someone that people would be saying that the police should have been up Abington Park the other night, and there is some truth in that. This is not aimed at the poor girl and her friend up Abington Park. My observations are this people should be able to walk around wherever they like and do what they want legally 24hours a day, however in this world, many people do not help themselves, I drive around in the course of my business and see young girls walking on isolated roads on their mobile phones not aware of the dangers around, people at cash points during the night, some of them are on their mobiles, people just do not help themselves, why walk across the Racecourse late at night, 30 years ago i wouldnt have done this...anyway I dont want to go on, just take care out there
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