CYCLING on the pavement is illegal but an Innerleithen Community Councillor believes it is the safest option.

Council member Brian McCrow said: “I am not against people cycling on the pavement, they just have to do it with pedestrians in mind. At the end of the multi-use path I cycle into Peebles on the pavement. In other areas such as between Clovenfords and Galashiels the pavement has been changed to multi-use.” Mr McCrow made his comments at a Community Council meeting when members discussed a report, in the Peeblesshire News during October, about mountain bikers who came close to knocking an elderly lady down on an Innerleithen pavement.

Council member Jim Calder said; “This is not just restricted to visitors to the town, local teenagers also ride on the pavements but adult cyclists should be aware of the Highway Code.” Since the Peeblesshire News story there have been two further complaints about cycling on the pavement but Paul Faris said that some feel justified as cycling down Innerleithen high street can be very dangerous due to all the parked cars.

Councillor Stuart Bell said: “This is something which needs to be discussed with our community policeman before any decisions are made.”