Cyclists

Energize · 23 May 2011 at 00:46

Ahleckz said:
Nope, Section 30 RTA 1988 -

"A person who, when riding a cycle on a road or other public place, is unfit to ride through drink or drugs (that is to say, is under the influence of drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the cycle) is guilty of an offence."

What about horse riding?

Judgeneo · 23 May 2011 at 00:46

You say that, but I know plenty of people whose brakes aren't up to scratch, going 30mph and seeing someone pull out in front of you with bad brakes and your in trouble. Some sort of MOT equivalent should be in force I think

weescott · 23 May 2011 at 00:47

Ahleckz said:
Cyclists....

Then you get the ones who think they are above the law and fly about everywhere with no consideration for anyone.
....

Oh, and if you're 20 stone please don't feel the need to get dressed up in a gimp suit when you go cycling.

Oh I know. Those flying cyclists are a right pain. And heaven forbid horizontally challenged people ever going out in public wearing ill fitting clothes.

I think I look rather fetching in my attire:

Energize · 23 May 2011 at 00:48

Judgeneo said:
You say that, but I know plenty of people whose brakes aren't up to scratch, going 30mph and seeing someone pull out in front of you with bad brakes and your in trouble. Some sort of MOT equivalent should be in force I think

Same goes for cars though, MOT doesn't solve negligence, it just serves the purpose of checking for things that a normal person can't. Bikes aren't licensed so how would you even enforce it?

Marshstyles · 23 May 2011 at 00:49

Judgeneo said:
As a cyclist you have to obey all of the laws of the road, that includes drinking and driving.
I cycled in hung over the other week, in hindsight, it was a very stupid thing to do, I don't even remember the journey :s

Wouldnt effect my driving license if i did?

I'd also say it was safer than walking home :S

Ahleckz · 23 May 2011 at 00:50

weescott said:
Oh I know. Those flying cyclists are a right pain. And heaven forbid horizontally challenged people ever going out in public wearing ill fitting clothes.

I think I look rather fetching in my attire:

[IMGhttp://www.weescott.co.uk/images/fat_cyclist.jpg[/IMG]

Lol.

Ahleckz · 23 May 2011 at 00:51

Energize said:
What about horse riding?

Well it's also an offence to be drunk and in charge of a horse, so don't just park your pony up outside the pub next Friday night

. That's the Licensing Act as well (which states it's illegal to be drunk in public).

Judgeneo · 23 May 2011 at 00:52

Energize said:
Same goes for cars though, MOT doesn't solve negligence, it just serves the purpose of checking for things that a normal person can't. Bikes aren't licensed so how would you even enforce it?

You make a good point.

Marshstyles said:
Wouldnt effect my driving license if i did?

I'd also say it was safer than walking home :S

I've always been told that offences from cycling can take points of your license, and if you don't have a license yet, get awarded points for when you get it

Marshstyles · 23 May 2011 at 00:54

Yeah, that what ive read. how do u decide when someones drunk? - this is what i was getting at?

Sure if your all over the road fine. but u can be 'sober' and be over the drink driving limit

Edit:

ive been told u dont get points on your car license...

do you get 3 points for driving thru a red light on a bike? or a £30 fine

Judgeneo · 23 May 2011 at 00:56

I assume they would just breathalise you and use the same limit as a motorist

Broadie · 23 May 2011 at 00:56

Cyclists? Kill all the hippies :mad:

Energize · 23 May 2011 at 01:00

Marshstyles said:
do you get 3 points for driving thru a red light on a bike? or a £30 fine

3 points on what, your bicycle licence? :confused:

weescott · 23 May 2011 at 01:03

Marshstyles said:
Yeah, that what ive read. how do u decide when someones drunk? - this is what i was getting at?

Sure if your all over the road fine. but u can be 'sober' and be over the drink driving limit

Edit:

ive been told u dont get points on your car license...

do you get 3 points for driving thru a red light on a bike? or a £30 fine

If you are drunk in charge of a bicycle then you would have to be well over the limit for the police to differentiate between a bad cyclist and a driver. I would also think the Police would consider you drunk and disorderly or give you a lift home (if you are a nice drunk) before they consider you a PITA and charge you for everything under the sun.

Marshstyles · 23 May 2011 at 01:06

Energize said:
3 points on what, your bicycle licence?

im not sure how to answer that?

You do not get points on your car license if u run a red light on your bicycle (AFAIK) just a fix fine.

What i was getting at is why would it be different for drinking and riding a bike?

QUOTE:

"Act 1872, it is also an offence to be riding a cycle or to be in charge of any carriage, horse or cattle when drunk. Note, that it needs to be established that the Defendant is "drunk" not merely effected by alcohol. "

I dont get drunk on 2 pints of lager which would probablly put me over the limit. I wouldnt be 'drunk in a public space' or unfit to ride imo

Edit: I think thats about right weescott

weescott · 23 May 2011 at 01:07

Energize said:
3 points on what, your bicycle licence?

I know someone who had 9 points pending on their license before he had even taken a driving lesson. He was caught joy riding when he was about 14. It happens.

Ahleckz · 23 May 2011 at 01:09

The police can't actually force you to give a breath/blood or urine sample when drunk on your bike/in charge of your horse. The Act just doesn't provide for it. So, they'd have to rely on American style coordination tests I suppose.

As for the points - You don't get any points on your license for committing offences on your bike, which is daft.

Judgeneo · 23 May 2011 at 01:11

From my brief reading of the internet, it seems that a cycling offence cannot put points on your license.
It also seems that we can't be done for speeding, but rather for driving furiously

AND the new version of the highway code allows us to overtake on the left. Awesome.

Marshstyles · 23 May 2011 at 01:15

Judgeneo said:
From my brief reading of the internet, it seems that a cycling offence cannot put points on your license.
It also seems that we can't be done for speeding, but rather for driving furiously
AND the new version of the highway code allows us to overtake on the left. Awesome.

Sticky this in the Bike Forums

Also see in the papers the other day the skater going thru the speed camera at 40mph in a 30? lol

Ahleckz · 23 May 2011 at 01:23

Judgeneo said:
It also seems that we can't be done for speeding, but rather for driving furiously

Indeed, it's a joke. We all know the punishments for mowing someone down with your car are too light, but for a cyclist it's even less!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/8197430.stm

Energize · 23 May 2011 at 01:24

Marshstyles said:
im not sure how to answer that?

You do not get points on your car license if u run a red light on your bicycle (AFAIK) just a fix fine.

What i was getting at is why would it be different for drinking and riding a bike?

Because bikes aren't licensed. Many cyclists don't have a driving licence so what are you going to put the points on? You can't revoke a licence that doesn't exist or impose punishments like taking someone's car off the road or banning them from driving etc.

weescott said:
I know someone who had 9 points pending on their license before he had even taken a driving lesson. He was caught joy riding when he was about 14. It happens.

Joyriding in a car you mean? Not a bicycle? Not really comparable, although ridiculous.