Cyclists face on the spot fines

platypus

platypus

platypus

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Did a search nothing came up, so...

The swelling ranks of badly behaved cyclists may soon face more than an angry cabbie honking his horn or a pedestrian giving the V sign.

A council determined to make them obey the Highway Code is to deploy enforcers in a hunt for so-called “Lycra louts” as they whizz through red lights or ride listening to iPods.

The Times has learnt that Westminster Council, in Central London, is seeking to become the first local authority to have its own staff issue penalty notices to cyclists for breaking the law. The council’s city inspectors — who enforce regulations relating to licensing, noise and waste — would be given the power to stop cyclists and issue penalty enforcement notices.

The Metropolitan Police would be approached to delegate authority so that the powers, already contained in existing legislation, could be enforced. Almost 30,000 cyclists enter Westminster each day and the council estimates that up to one in five breaks the Highway Code, jumping lights, riding on pavements and ignoring “one-way” signs. Angela Harvey, chairman of Westminster’s scrutiny committee, which has put together the proposal, told The Times that a growing number of cyclists were compromising the safety of other road users and errant cyclists were the biggest cause of complaints from residents.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6946724.ece​

Good news for most people I'd imagine if it's introduced. I'd definitely support it and I'm a keen cyclist/reluctant driver.
 
I was in London last weekend, and the number of idiots i watched going through on a Red light was shocking....
It's about time cyclist started to be held accountable for their actions!
 
Edit: NM missed the bit about police deligating powers :P

I assume therefore that refusing to give details could be made an arrestable offense?

The thing i dont understand is this. As a car driver you have to have a reg number, which can be looked up and an address confirmed. How then do they do this with a cyclist who has no ID on them? i can only think that the only possible 100% way to find their correct details ( if they refuse to say ) would be to arrest them and make them phone someone to bring in some ID to the police station?

If not i suspect there will be a lot of penalty notices going to "Mr M Mouse, 999 Letsbe avenue" :p
 
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I can't stand cyclists who weave in and out of standstill traffic, jump red lights or ride on the pavement. And then they're shocked when they get knocked off! :confused:
 
I would love to see these steps brought in, I tend to walk most places and it really annoys me the amount of cyclists that use the pavements and jump red lights, they are breaking the highway code and need to be held accountable.
 
Gaygle said:
I can't stand cyclists who weave in and out of standstill traffic, jump red lights or ride on the pavement. And then they're shocked when they get knocked off! :confused:
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As a motorist and cyclist I too hate it when I wait at traffic lights only for somone else to whizz past and through the red light. Cyclists on pavements don't bother me as long as it's not busy (and some cyclists must ride on the pavement by law, like 20" bikes). I don't understand what enrages you about them filtering through standstill traffic though?
 
Filtering through stationary traffic is perfectly legitimate and I do it all the time. RLJing and using the pavement should be capital offences, as should ninja commuting (wearing black with little or reflectives / lights).

iPods is tough one, the deaf are allowed to cycle and drivers rely on sight not sound to avoid other road users. I don't wear headphones when on a bike, but the combination of hemlet, skull cap and wind noise means that you can't hear a lot most of the time anyway.
 
Don’t agree with the bit about riding whilst listening to an iPod; I don’t see how that’s any different from a car driver listening to a radio personally, if this was rolled out across the country and I was ever stopped for listening to my iPod whilst cycling I’d tell them to **** off.
 
Good. Speaking as a motorbiker and a cyclist, I think it's about time that cyclists were made to follow the rules of the road more strictly.
 
Cyclists in Cambridge certainly seem to exist in some parallel universe - and I know a few who have come to grief for their casual approach to the rules of the road. However, they do probably deserve leeway and priority there since there are so many :)

As to weaving through traffic - objection to that is just 100% jealousy - get out of your car and onto a bike. Pavements are a bit more of a problem - the use of a bell would make a nice change.
 
platypus said:
Well it would be quite nice if cyclists were required to have insurance, which would make them more accountable.
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Most cyclists have insurance, they just don't realise it.

Most home contents insurance will include a third party liability section, which will cover cycling (and almost anything bar motor powered transport).

Hence there is no need for mandated insurance cover.
 
Scort said:
Don’t agree with the bit about riding whilst listening to an iPod; I don’t see how that’s any different from a car driver listening to a radio personally, if this was rolled out across the country and I was ever stopped for listening to my iPod whilst cycling I’d tell them to **** off.
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Whilst I agree with the sentiment, I think cyclist should be a bit more sensible about this. Drivers can have radios, but then they have a big metal box around them for protection. I wouldn't wear an Ipod whilst cycling as I rely on my ears to warn me when someone is approaching.

Unfortunately in this country you have to expect most (but not all) drivers will not respect the cyclist as they should and you have to make allowances for that for your own safety.
 
Scort said:
Don’t agree with the bit about riding whilst listening to an iPod; I don’t see how that’s any different from a car driver listening to a radio personally, if this was rolled out across the country and I was ever stopped for listening to my iPod whilst cycling I’d tell them to **** off.
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I agree. if a copper asked me to take my headphones off I'd ask the question "are deaf people not allowed to cycle?"

The problem here isn't what you can't hear (mostly wind noise anyway), it's what you can't/don't see. Sadly a lot of cyclists (and drivers (those involved in accidents)) don't look where they are going. :/

As for cyclists receiving fines. I don't have a problem with it.
 
Will this mean they'll be forced to use cycle lanes and not the road when they're there as well? The number of times I've seen cyclists on the road when there's a perfectly good cycle lane on the pavement is insane.
 
platypus said:
Well it would be quite nice if cyclists were required to have insurance, which would make them more accountable.
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''Daddy, why can't I ride a bycicle?''
''Sorry son, you need insurance and we can't afford it''

:o

As always, I'm of the opinion that cycling should be encouraged, not discouraged... It should not cost any money in any way but buying a cheap bike...
 
Cyanide said:
Will this mean they'll be forced to use cycle lanes and not the road when they're there as well? The number of times I've seen cyclists on the road when there's a perfectly good cycle lane on the pavement is insane.
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No. Sounds more like they will be enforcing existing laws rather than introducing new cycling specific legislation. Plenty of good reasons for cyclists not to use cycle paths mostly due to how half-assed the implementation often is.
 
Shmo said:
No. Sounds more like they will be enforcing existing laws rather than introducing new cycling specific legislation. Plenty of good reasons for cyclists not to use cycle paths mostly due to how half-assed the implementation often is.
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That depends if the alternative is cycling along a city ring road during rush hour. Nothing angers me more than having to try to switch lanes in heavy (but moving) traffic to get past a cyclist when there's an empty cycle lane on the pavement.
 
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