Sometimes when you’re heading out for a ride on your fat bike, riding on the pavement is the easiest way for you to get to your destination. Whether you’re just cutting across a path quickly to get to an off-road track, or you’re stuck in traffic and want a safe way to get around the cars.
But is riding a fat tire bike on the pavement safe?
In this guide, I will cover the rules of riding your bike on the pavement and how to remain safe when doing so.
What Is A Fat Tire Bike?
Fat bikes were originally built for use on softer surfaces, such as sand and snow, but they are not just for off-roaders anymore. These bigger, wider tires keep riders going without getting stuck in the mud. They’ve also become more mainstream on the streets for their durability, impact absorption and because of how cool they look.
Fat bikes are designed to have wide tires are better because they provide riders with more traction on the trail. They also offer more cushioning for bumpy terrain. A wider tire can also make it easier to roll over obstacles like rocks and logs that may be in the way of the trail.
Specialized bikes, such as wide mountain bike tires, require special frames and forks. More than just fitting wider fat tires onto a standard frame, they require tuning and alterations to most of the components.
Riding a Fat Tire Bike on Pavement
When considering whether to ride your fat tire bike on the pavement, you should think about whether the bike is physically suited to riding on the pavement as well as whether it is legal to do so.
Are Fat Bikes Able To Ride On The Pavement?
Fat bikes are generally classed as all-terrain bikes, meaning they can be used on any surface, this includes surfaces such as pavement and roads. As a result, they are perfectly suited to ride on the pavement, but there are a few compromises when doing so:
Fat Bikes Are Slower On Pavements Than Other Bikes
The roads that you and I know are not the same as those for a fat bike rider. Fat bikes are slower on roads than other bikes.
The tires on a fat bike can be as wide as five inches. This, coupled with the lower pressure in the tires means that they have an increased amount of friction when riding. This friction will slow the bike down and make it more difficult to get up to the sorts of speed that road bikes seem to do with ease.
Fat Bikes Are Heavier Than Other Bikes On The Market
The increase in the width of tires, as well as the increased size of wheels, makes fat bikes heavier than traditional bikes. This is because it takes more raw materials to create the wider tires, as well as the larger wheels. The way that fat bike frames are constructed also adds weight to them, making them heavier than traditional road bikes
All the components on a fat bike are also more durable than those found on a standard mountain bike because they have to bear so much weight and they are designed to last for years of daily use.
Fat Bikes Are More Expensive Than Most Other Bikes
The higher cost of fat bikes is due to the specialized parts and fewer manufacturers.
A fat bike requires more specialized parts to be durable and safe. Plus, because there are fewer manufacturers in comparison to other bike types, this means that the costs are higher as well.
Is It Illegal To Ride Your Bike On The Pavement In The UK?
Whilst it is physically possible to ride your bike on the pavement, the question is whether it is legal to do so.
According to section 72 of the Highway Act 1835, vehicles are prohibited from ‘wilfully riding’ on footpaths, which is the same as a pavement in the UK.
The original law from 1835 doesn’t mention cycling or cyclists because bikes weren’t common possessions back then. It also doesn’t reference pavements because this word was only coined much later on.
From the perspective of the law, it’s not permissible for cyclists to ride their bikes on the pavement. The Highway Code also states: “You must not cycle on a pavement.”
If you get caught riding your bike on the pavement, you will be charged an on-the-spot fine of £30, with another £30 penalty if you don’t pay it within 14 days. This applies under Schedule 3 and Section 51 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988.
The only time where you can ride on the pavement is where there is a designated share footpath, or there is a bike lane on the pavement.
Are You Likely To Get Fined For Riding Your Bike On The Road?
Only a tiny number of cyclists are issued fines for riding on the pavement in the UK. Most officers, if they spot someone breaking that law, would give informal warnings and just advise people to not do it.
You are most likely to be fined when riding on the pavement if you do so in a reckless way and if you are persistently causing a nuisance to pedestrians.
There are other laws that cyclists using the pavement could break, such as careless or furious biking. If you’re on your bike and collide with a pedestrian or otherwise injure someone/damage property, then you might get in trouble with the law as well.
Staying Safe When Riding A Fat Tire Bike On The Pavement
If you are going to ride on the pavement, either to avoid the roads because they are too dangerous or because it is easier to get to your destination, there are a few things you should consider to keep yourself and others safe:
- Always wear a helmet when riding your bike. It can save your life if you ever fall off or hit something.
- Wear bright colors and use reflective materials to make sure you can be seen in low light conditions by pedestrians.
- Use lights when it gets dark so that you can see where you are going and so that others can see you approaching.
- Try and stick to one side of the pavement when riding your bike so that you don’t take up the space that pedestrians need.
- Use hand signals to indicate a turn or a stop
- Dismount from your bike and push it if that path is particularly busy. You’re not going to make any friends by ringing your bell behind people when you’re in the wrong.
- Try and use bike lanes where possible to avoid causing problem for pedestrians on pavements.
Summary
Hopefully from the above, you now know more about riding your fat bike on the pavement. Whilst it is illegal to ride your bike on the road, you are unlikely to get fined for doing so. It is only in extreme circumstances that you would be fined, such as riding recklessly and endangering pedestrians.
If you liked this guide, please share it on Pinterest. Also, please check out our other guides to all things outdoors.
Happy cycling!
