PH wrote:mjr wrote:PH wrote: right back at you. Since when did the definition on pedestrian include cyclists? You may be right about the sign’s legality, but most people will accept that cycling in a pedestrian zone isn’t permitted.
Pretty much every pedestrian zone I've seen outside the UK permits it, but of course you have to give way to walkers (so no frantic bells and often during the day you'll be at walking pace!). Since 1987, it's been UK policy it should usually be here too, but we're mostly such a backwards bike-hating nation, it's only a few great cities like Norwich, Cambridge and Bristol that have implemented that.
I can't figure out what point you're making. He wasn't riding outside the UK and as you say it's pretty much the norm for pedestrian zones in the UK to exclude cyclists.
The points I am making:
1. the norm for over 30 years is for pedestrian zones in the UK to allow cycling, but only a few places have implemented it yet;
2. a round-the-world cyclist is probably familiar with pedestrian zones around the world allowing cycling because they generally do.
That isn't the case, certainly not my experience, I've had more close passes by bikes while a pedestrian than by motor vehicles while a cyclist - of course I know the risks are of a different magnitude, but the experience is no less unpleasant.
What? Narrowly missing a 10mph-differential similar-mass bump "is no less unpleasant" than feeling you were nearly pulverised by a many-ton metal vehicle with a 40-50mph differential? Wow.
Also, you must walk much more than me and/or cycle much less than me and/or drivers near you are much better-behaved and/or cyclists much worse for that to be your experience.
Even then there's an acceptance that they don't always mix, I don't think I've been in any city where there are no areas cycling isn't permitted, there's a few in Amsterdam though they're often ignored. It needs an attitude change and ignoring the signs then whinging about the fine isn't helpful. These are no more bike-hating places than cyclists are pedestrian-hating.
Oh sure, you're going to find a few small back alleys and densely-shopped zones with restrictions, especially in a capital city like Amsterdam, but even a few in places like Cambridge or Gent, but not the large zonal cycling bans that are still far too widespread in English shopping centres, covering many wide roads that motorists use with gay abandon if they've a blue badge or loading permit.