Bike riders on paths

Captain Slog

Hi Everyone,
I agree with CAT17, and "dthought." Foot Paths are for FOOT Traffic only. The ONLY Exceptions are small kids and Posties.
In the kid's case, they MUST be taught by their parents that they can ONLY ride on the footpaths because it is far too dangerous for them to ride on the roads. They should also be taught that they MUST be aware of people walking down the paths, and to be careful not to hit them. Also, to slow down and watch out at Driveways in case a car is backing out.
In the Postie's case, they have a LEGAL Right to ride on the Footpaths because they would otherwise not be able to do their jobs. They too, being adults also know, or should, that they, too, need to be very careful of prdestrians.
The real problem these days is most people can't be bothered to teach their kids about Road Safety or how to ride their bikes safely. Most kids, and or adults don't even CARE about Road Safety and tend to ride anywhere they like in all directions as if it was their right to do whatever they like. Even to the point of, as I saw with one absolute IDIOT, doing one wheel stands and "Tricks" on a busy road. They have even taken over the Shopping Malls.
People NEED to be educated about Road Safety. We were taught in School about it. THe Traffic Cops used to come to our School every month to instruct kids about their bikes and their LEGAL Requirements, such as BELL or HORN, Brakes, Lights, Reflectors and how to behave on the Roads. Using Turning Signals, etc.
These days, Bike Manufacturers must think that EVERYONE is into Mountain Biking or Road Racing ala Tour de France, because just about EVERY bike you see today has. . . NO MUD GUARDS!!! Mud Guards are there for a reason! So you don't get CRAP up your back when you're out in wet weather. It is also a place to have a Rear Red Reflector and Strip. In the front, you don't get the muck flicked up and all over your feet. Also, today's bikes arre ALL those crappy things with 10+ Speeds and those crappy damned Shifters and Derailers.
I grew up in an age where only Racing bikes had that crap on them (See above comments about that.), and we all had either One Speed with either Foot Brake or Free Wheel and Hand Brakes, or a Three Speed Sturny Archer Type Bike. ALL had Mud Guards and all the fittings.
Bikes are a mode of TRANSPORT, just like a Motor Bike and a car is, and should be treated as such.
Imagine how the world would look if people in cars behaved they way cyclists do. Oh! They do! In CHINA and ASIA General. We saw it not only on TV, but You Tube has a lot of this stupid behaviour. Just look up "Bad Day for Scooter Rider in China." What a NUTTER!!! Bloody hilarious though.