Number plates for cyclists...

[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.

 

[Gregvivi0401]

Commuting to the city and walking from Liverpool Street station to Tower Hill 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.

And after highway code changed they are more aggressive.

 

[b0rn2sk8]

where are you going to display a plate which is big enough to be easily visible, but not get in the way/cause significant wind resistance?

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….

 

[mjt]

Electric bikes in Belgium are fitted with the same number plates as scooters because they can easily go above 30km/h (max 45km/h legally). Makes sense.

I've seen businessmen hurtling down cycle paths at silly speeds. If you need a number plate on a moped, why should e-bikes get away with it? And some will be doing more than 30mph downhill.

 

[SDK^]

No it really is! I can comfortably maintain 18mph on a mountain bike with all-mountain gearing and big fat tyres. 20mph on a commuter or road bike is comfortable.

As already pointed out - speed on a bike is dependant on fitness. If you're cycling fit then holding 20mph is easy. For the avg person holding 12mph over short distance (10 miles) is a challenge

 

[Dis86]

As already pointed out - speed on a bike is dependant on fitness. If you're cycling fit then holding 20mph is easy. For the avg person holding 12mph over short distance (10 miles) is a challenge

But cycling commuters aren't really the average person if they're doing it daily.

 

[CapitalOne]

It's Grant Shapps though isn't it so you can be comfortable that this is a well thought through idea

 

[Bear]

Most cyclists have insurance via their house insurance, some even hold a specific policy.

Most serious cyclists or club cyclists will have membership to British Cycling or Cycling UK which gives you third party insurance cover (its mandatory for club cyclists AFAIK) as part of the membership fee which is only £44 a year

 

[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.

 

[SDK^]

Most serious cyclists or club cyclists will have membership to British Cycling or Cycling UK which gives you third party insurance cover (its mandatory for club cyclists AFAIK) as part of the membership fee which is only £44 a year

Yep - from 2017 my club ran ID plates too

 

[delta0]

Enforcement is going to be the hard bit. Otherwise cyclists need to be accountable and will certainly be more likely to follow rules if they can easily be caught.

 

[Feek]

Insurance is an unnecessary tax on cyclists, the vast majorty are responsible and safe

Ahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahaha *breathe* hahahahahahahahahahahah

 

[-westy-]

A quick google suggests 20 million cycles in the UK. Those number plates are going to have to be loooooooooong.

Not really, 6 digits gives you over 308 million combinations

 

[Haze]

I hope they do this, then I can report the ****** that peddle 3 abreast down single track roads, and won't let me past

 

[Bear]

Enforcement is going to be the hard bit. Otherwise cyclists need to be accountable and will certainly be more likely to follow rules if they can easily be caught.

Loads of drivers dont follow the rules despite being easily traceable. Hell you can paint a yellow box and put warning signs all over the place and people still get caught by them and then complain its a money making scheme and a war on the motorist

 

[delta0]

Loads of drivers dont follow the rules despite being easily traceable. Hell you can paint a yellow box and put warning signs all over the place and people still get caught by them and then complain its a money making scheme and a war on the motorist

Could you imagine the chaos if they didn’t have number plates!

 

[Yaayuh!]

Great, another thing to get stuck in the grill...

 

[SDK^]

But cycling commuters aren't really the average person if they're doing it daily.

Fair point.
Also, with the rise of e-bikes any fat chump can move along at 20mph+

 

[b0rn2sk8]

Fair point.
Also, with the rise of e-bikes any fat chump can move along at 20mph+

They can’t legally. A ‘fat chump’ isn’t going to be able to pedal at that speed once the motor cuts out at 15.5mph.

 

[Bear]

Could you imagine the chaos if they didn’t have number plates!

For sure it would be chaos if no one was traceable in cars but being traceable doesnt stop people breaking the law and millions of people do so every day. I dont see cyclists causing chaos because they arent traceable but I guess it depends on where you live. Im sure people that live in London would say otherwise