Number plates for cyclists...

[Uther]

Looks like the fun times could be over for some cyclists, speed limits, which means number plates, which I reckon will lead to insurance...

Cyclists could face speed limits and may need number plates, reports say

The transport secretary told the Daily Mail that we should not "turn a blind eye" to cyclists who break road laws, speed and "bust red lights" and "get away with it".

news.sky.com

 

[Uther]

I have commuted to work by bike for the past 11+ years, doing 14 miles a day, number of incidents = 0. Just like I drive ~60,000 miles a year for work, number of incidents = 0.

Well yeah, but you still have to have a number plate and insurance / rfl for your car. I've been driving for 40 years, never had a car accident either...

 

[Uther]

I thought cyclists were already subject to speed limits; I've learned something new.

I believe the issue is that once we are all limited to 20mph, having a cyclist in lycra whizzing past you with no consequences would be rather ridiculous...

 

[Uther]

Granted I'm a bit of a porker, but on a road bike, I would only be getting near 20MPH going absolutely hell for leather with a a tailwind. I'm not sure it's as easy as some make out.

Good Average Road Cycling Speeds (1hr Ride)
Beginner Cyclist	8 - 12 mph (13 - 19 km/h)
Intermediate Cyclist	12 - 16 mph (19 - 26 km/h)
Advanced Cyclist	16 - 24 mph (26 - 39 km/h)
Professional Cyclist	>24 mph (>39 km/h)

What's The Average Cycling Speed? | 10+ Cycling Speed Tips

Many cyclists wonder what the average cycling speed is. It's only normal to want to compare your speed to others, right? It turns out it's not that simple....

www.bikelockwiki.com

 

[Uther]

Maybe it's more about money, if you had a number plate I'm sure it would have to be registered for a fee, not to mention if they went down the insurance / tax route...
Cyclists I think are the one group of road users that's (directly) not been fleeced yet...

 

[Uther]

Have you see the price of bikes lately

Nope, my old clunker is several decades old.

 

[Uther]

Exactly - prices have massively jumped in the last 10 years. A basic carbon road/MTB bike is now £3-4k. Top end off the shelf bikes are £10k-£12k !! [Top end used to be about £4k in 2008]

Ah, so if they can afford that they can afford the number plate / rfl / insurance then. Signed, G. Shapps esq.

 

[Uther]

Commuting to the city every day I see countless cyclists jumping red lights with the worst offenders not stopping when pedestrians are crossing. Not sure how they can be prosecuted though.

Well if there was a camera and they had a number plate...
I'm sure there would just be dodgy plates though, and it's not as though there are any police around.

 

[Uther]

That’s the elephant in the room isn’t it? A number plate on a car is the size it is because it should be readable by all drivers from a certain distance.

There is literally no where you can put a number plate on a bike that is big enough to be read from any reasonable distance. Particularly on the rear where it would be needed. If you can’t read it, there is no point.

Likewise any plate that is big enough to be read would interfere with the normal operation of the bike, E.g. mounting and dismounting and effectively act as an air brake.

That sounds great….

A big flappy yellow vest with the number printed across the back.

 

[Uther]

Thought someone would say this.....

So what happens when a car comes the other way? They have to drive into a ditch to let the cyclists past? No.... They would go down to single file, so that the car can get past, have a car behind is no different

If they weren't arses, they would move into single file to let you past anyway. I've found that especially since the highway code change some don't, as if it's their god given right to make you wait. It's a strange attitude considering how vulnerable they are.