[Talk-GB] Cycling, the law and traffic signs

[Ralph Smyth]

I think the confusion here relates to a failure to differentiate
criminal law - in this case failing to comply with a traffic sign - and
civil law - trespass - in this case not being within the class(es) of
users permitted on a particular section of highway.
 
It's not a criminal offence to cycle on a footpath (as opposed to a
footway along the side of a road) but there can still be a bicycle=no
tag. Similarly with a cycle (only) track there could be a foot=no even
if someone walking there would not be committing a crime as they could
still be technically trespassing, which might be relevant if there was a
collision between them and someone cycling.
 
Off the top of my head the no pedestrian sign is simply signifying
another restriction (such as the prohibiting being a pedestrian on a
motorway unless walking from a broken down vehicle) since there's no
equivalent provision to section 36 of the Road Traffic Act requiring
compliance with traffic signs for anyone other than those driving or
propelling a vehicle. 
 
 
Ralph
 
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