Thoughts on bicycle legalities on UK roads.

[chinajack10]

I've been having a long hard think about this. I've read multiple threads on this forum about issues with cyclists and have been on the road myself and witnessed idiotic road users cause havoc. I'm not bunching all cyclists into the same bracket as I know every type of road user in the UK have their own idiots. Only lorries, cars, bikes etc are less likely to perform crazy manouvres due to fear of retribution. Personally I ride a bike and I cycle, but I'm also aware that I'd rather come off my bike than my bicycle at 30mph due to the clothing I wear on each. Because of this I am perhaps even more aware of my surrounding on a bicycle.

Cycling at the moment has minimal governance and and where it is governed is within the built up areas ie London, Manchester, Birmingham. Whether this is due to funding I don't know, but I would imagine public money (in the public's eye) would be better spent elsewhere. Here is my proposal:

It would be a legal requirement to wear helmets whilst riding a bicycle on UK roads. This helmet would carry a registration for the rider (not the bicycle the rider is using). This would prevent the often caused head shake at cyclists that feel they can jump lights, speed and cause problems for other road users as there would be a greater chance of prosecution if the rider uses the public highway.

When purchasing a bicycle (not anually, just per bicycle), a rider should pay a Cycling Road Duty which would be used to govern bicycle riding within the UK and be put to increasing safer riding zones i.e. not stupid cycle lanes on pavements that pedestrians use as their own walk way. This tax should be at a % cost of the bicycle being purchased. Perhaps 5%-10%. Be aware, that cycling has been going through a massive evolution over the past 5-10 years and is now now a means to an end, but more of a choice people make. More often than not there a bicycles worth more than my motorbike on the road.

I ride my bicycle on public roads because there is often no alternative. If there is a bicycle lane, it's more than likely that it is populated with pedestrians which hampers my affective progress when on a bicycle. We need to look at the continent when improving the abilities to promote cycling, however, our funding may not be as free.

This isn't a witchhunt. I cycle myself and would be more than happy with the above charges/legal requirments. Perhaps it is because I ride and drive too, but I really think something needs to change.

What do you guys think? Any improvements, alternatives to what I have said? Also, apologies crap spelling/grammar. My England very best.

[lihp]

At what age do all bicycle users have to be registered?

What about a 3 or 4 year old on their first bike?

Is there evidence that supports the use of bicycle helmets to reduce injury?

Why do you wish to tax a vehicle with no emissions when there are cars with zero duty?

There are already plenty of rules governing cycles which are ignored and I'm sure you ignore them too.
Does your cycle have reflectors on the pedals? Do you have front and rear reflectors, wheel reflectors? If used at night do you have a stationary front and rear light? As just flashing one isn't acceptable.

Cycling is massively impractical to police and with no benefit to the safety of society.

Oh, it's also in the wrong sub-forum
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Cycling forum, current affairs or Dear Auntie BCF? Doesn't appear to be about motorbikes.

[LustyLew]

[Mudshark]

so the youths on their BMXs heading to the BMX track at the park along my street, prosecuted for helmet on the bars/in rucksack?, no lights?, not having paid "duty"?; some might not even own the bike they are on or have one of their own.

nah, won't work
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[smallfrowne]

Yes! That's the spirit, more rules for everybody please! Who doesn't love a bit of bureaucracy

[chinajack10]

Apologies for submitting this to the wrong forum. It was more about what I see when I'm commuting on my motorbike and isn't a witch hunt against a certain type of road user, more about seeing how other road users see the issue. As bikers, I like to think we are more aware of our surroundings and our vulnerabilities on the road.

I agree with lihp about the pitfalls of implementing rules when currently anybody can take up cycling. I just wanted to gauge what others see as an improvement on how people ride.

My bicycle does have reflectors both front and back, and I retained the reflectors on my pedals and wheels. I have lights both front and back (the front one dipped) as I know how much of a pain it is to be blinded by LEDs. I want to move off the vehicle itself after all my bike has a not for road exhaust and other various modifications. It's more about liability and ownership of how one uses the road.

The "Tax" issue isn't so much a tax, but a duty that would be put into improving cycle lanes and governance of this method of transport. We are not taxed on our vehicles but on emissions. If I buy a car that has a higher emissions value than another then I have to understand that I have to pay the duty for using said vehicle. The VED discussion can go on forever about where it is spent and how it is allocated.

I don't know of any statistics around the safety of helmets and other such things, I am going by what I see on the roads when i'm riding, driving and cycling.

Again, i'm not posting to infuriate anybody, just to see what people think would be a good way to improve road use by cyclists in particular.

I'll also get this moved to another sub-forum. Cheers.

[chinajack10]

[Mysteriass]

[Mudshark]

[UnknownStuntm...]

[grr666]

Only to apply to adults so 18 onward.
Bikes are toys to kids so they don't count.

Adult bikes should be manufactured with permanently fitted lights like every other road going vehicle has to be.
If not they MUST be retro fitted and able to be shown working on demand by the Police.

Being caught riding on pavements or anti socially or aggressively should result in confiscation and crushing
since we can't endorse a cyclists licence.
It's only fair if untaxed/uninsured cars can be crushed.
That should set a few lycra nazis straight when they watch their 2k Cannondale become a keyring. It's usually
these flash bike and all the gear guys that get pissiest out there on the roads as if lycra is a suit of armour and tarmac
can't hurt them or break their bones.
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[SofaBear]

I believe it should be mandatory for people to have basic CBT style testing before you can use your bicycle on the road or anywhere you interact with traffic.

The problem i have with cyclists is their lack of road sense for other people because they are either behind them so they don't need to worry about it, they can see me, or their complete lack of regard for how someone is to manoeuvre around them because they are riding two abreast or change lanes without looking or signalling.

I agree with the principles of what the OP is saying, but i doubt it will ever be enforced.

I enjoy cycling, i don't enjoy cycling on the road. I don't enjoy the militant nature of most cyclists either.
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[chinajack10]

[chickenstrip]

My view is that the modern ( ) road system is designed first and foremost for motor vehicles, able to move up to the speed limits designated, with the few exceptions of bicycle lanes. I do not think that bicycle, horse and other slower traffic has been catered for, and believe that because of the speed differentials involved, if such traffic wishes to use the road network, this needs to be taken more fully into account for everybody's safety.

If we are serious about encouraging more people to cycle, then money needs to be spent ( ) on the relevant, separate lanes etc to allow for this. Currently we are just bunging everybody together and it just doesn't mix very well (imo). Just insisting on licenses so dodgy riders can be prosecuted, or making laws so that they must wear certain safety gear, isn't enough, again, imo. Better to have a road system that keeps everyone safer in the first place.
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[hazza]

There seems to be a lot of negative generalisation towards cyclists on here. I personally haven't seen that much idiotic or aggressive behaviour on bicycles aside from cycling without lights. I imagine it may be a different story if I lived in London (God forbid!) but around my city I see much more aggression from road users. Lot's of bad overtakes before turning right and forcing cyclists into the kerb etc. It's easy to bully the most vulnerable road users so you have to be aggressive in order to survive, just like motorcyclists do by dominating their lane.

I think the OP must work for the Met. Police.
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[chinajack10]

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[lihp]

[chinajack10]

[Monkeypony]

[UnknownStuntm...]

[Mudshark]

[lihp]