As far as I'm aware its note requirement to wear a cycle helmet yet. it
would be hard to enforce on an unlicensed, uninsured vehicle anyway. No its
not legal to ride on footways except where they are designated as shared.
There needs to be signage and most authorities actual paint a line on the
footway, but blind people are opposed to this as we cannot see either and
are thus unaware of cyclists.
I think your friend can count themselves lucky they are not dead, get a
helmet and wear it has to be the right thing. Also, even though its not
compulsory, get insurance!

Brian

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From the Bed of Brian Gaff.
The email is valid as
Blind user.
"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
. uk...
Female reversed at speed out of a drive, without looking and hit a friend
who was cycling on a grass verge adjacent to the footpath, between
footpath and road. Location is close to, but not in a village and footpath
is rarely used by pedestrians.

Police were called and PC suggested it was now the law to have to wear a
helmet if on the road, but as he was on the grass verge it was OK. PC also
suggested he would have been 'done', if riding on the actual footpath. The
road is ex-A1, wide, with very little traffic.

Have helmets become compulsory on the road and I thought it was now OK to
ride on footpaths in the country?

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Regards,
Harry (M1BYT) (L)
http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk