Judge fines cyclist for using road

Samtheman1k

Samtheman1k

Samtheman1k

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National cyclists’ groups reacted with outrage after a Shropshire judge ruled that a cyclist broke the law because he chose to ride on the road instead of a cycle path.
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WTF?????

I didn't realise that it was LAW to use cycle lanes...surely a bicycle is a road vehicle and can use the road if they want to?

Linkity link
 
Samtheman1k said:
WTF?????

I didn't realise that it was LAW to use cycle lanes...surely a bicycle is a road vehicle and can use the road if they want to?

Linkity link
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Well hell, figured something like that would happen sometime soon.

There was a cycle lane there for his use. He claimed it was "dangerous and slow" - what the hell? More dangerous that riding along with a bunch of irate motorists right behind you who can't overtake due to the double white lines? As for slow....nope, sorry, it cannot be that much slower than riding on the road.

By all means use the road when you aren't going to end up holding quite a few vehicles up, who will be wasting petrol as they'll be running at an inefficent speed, causing more pollution etc. But when you have a cycle lane built for you, it seems a bit silly not to use the damn thing.
 
It's a crappy article, to be certain.

As I read it, the man was convicted of cycling without due care and consideration for other road user.

That he was on a bike, or on the road, is irrelevant.
 
I read it that he was cycling on the road as it was quicker, but resulted in holding up traffic, so the judge fined him as he should have been on the cycle path. :confused:
 
JRS said:
Well hell, figured something like that would happen sometime soon.

There was a cycle lane there for his use. He claimed it was "dangerous and slow" - what the hell? More dangerous that riding along with a bunch of irate motorists right behind you who can't overtake due to the double white lines? As for slow....nope, sorry, it cannot be that much slower than riding on the road.

By all means use the road when you aren't going to end up holding quite a few vehicles up, who will be wasting petrol as they'll be running at an inefficent speed, causing more pollution etc. But when you have a cycle lane built for you, it seems a bit silly not to use the damn thing.
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you can overtake on doublewhite lines if the vehicle is doing less than twenty afaik.

bicycles dont pay tax so imo they shouldnt eb on the road anyway ;)
 
JRS said:
Well hell, figured something like that would happen sometime soon.

There was a cycle lane there for his use. He claimed it was "dangerous and slow" - what the hell? More dangerous that riding along with a bunch of irate motorists right behind you who can't overtake due to the double white lines? As for slow....nope, sorry, it cannot be that much slower than riding on the road.

By all means use the road when you aren't going to end up holding quite a few vehicles up, who will be wasting petrol as they'll be running at an inefficent speed, causing more pollution etc. But when you have a cycle lane built for you, it seems a bit silly not to use the damn thing.
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Cycle lanes are full of glass and debris. It's more dangerous to cycle on cycle paths than roads, a blow out on a road tyre could cause me to lose control. Traffic cones, bolts, exhausts, wheel rims, metal/nylon straps litter them. I would get a puncture every 100 yards on cycle paths. They're also bumpy/badly maintained.

There's a cycle path alongside the road (either side) for about 5 miles to OC UK I don't ride on it.
 
CTC director Kevin Mayne said: “Police said Mr Cadden should have been cycling well over to the left — effectively in the gutter — but the judge felt he should have crossed three lanes of busy traffic and used a segregated cycle track to save fractions of seconds off the journey times of motorists.”
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Tell you what - I will use the road, as and how I see fit.

I don't recall the highway code stating that a cyclist must not use a certain stretch of road, if it slows other road users down. :mad:
 
Borris said:
You afaik wrong, iirc.
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108: Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less.

sorry my mistake.... 10mph and its ok :)
 
Was said:
108: Double white lines where the line nearest you is solid. This means you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10mph or less.
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So what's the problem exactly?
 
I had a police officer (rather large and intimidating one) tell me off for not using a cycle path for going in the *opposite* direction instead of using the road to go up it (one way street, with cycle path in opposite direction.) :( :mad:

most cyclists go over 10mph though. ;)
 
Most cycle lanes in Brum are just glorified car parks (Well most people who constantly park on them seem to think so) so we're forced to use the roads. Does the council do anything about it, no, so tough **** to anyone who's journey is delayed by 30 seconds because they can't get around me.
 
geeza said:
Do they have special cyclist speed guns and cameras now?
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huh?

speedguns can and do get used on bicycles..... you can get fined for doing over the speed limit on a bicycle

as for the 10mph thing it would be down to the local coppers discretion, but then how often do you see one these days?
 
geeza said:
my bmx doesnt even have working brakes :( (and the chain fell off 6 times when i went to the shops yesterday!)
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the police can fine you for not having working brakes too.....
if its on the road it has to be road worthy whatever it is
 
Was said:
huh?

speedguns can and do get used on bicycles..... you can get fined for doing over the speed limit on a bicycle

as for the 10mph thing it would be down to the local coppers discretion, but then how often do you see one these days?
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Usually whenever you go for a night out, and they're too busy trying to keep the drunks at bay. :rolleyes::(
 
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