To think that cyclists should no longer be treated as ‘exempt’ from the law?

[Amch]

I’m in no way trying to be difficult, but this is a situation that I find is getting rather problematic, dangerous and very unfair.

In my opinion, ALL road users should be identifiable and able to be held accountable for any wrongdoing.

I am in complete support of cyclists, but the fact that it is lawless for them is very unfair. Sometimes, like all road users, cyclists decision making and actions are unjust, these actions can cause and has caused serious harm.

I’ve had various personal experiences where on multiple occasions cyclists have completely ignored red lights, they’ve narrowly missed pedestrians whilst crossing roads. Just recently a cyclist knocked on the rear window of a car in front of me (the car had stopped due to traffic) in order to try to get the car to move over for them to squeeze through.

This particular cyclist had a camera on their helmet, as a lot of them now do and I do believe it’s a great move for them to wear cameras on their helmets. Of course other road users can also cause harm, drive aggressively, competitively and can cause harm to cyclists who are clearly more vulnerable in the sense that their mode of transport offers nil protection.

However, it seems very one sided that cyclists cameras are able to identify and report other road users, yet cyclists themselves cannot be in any way be held accountable for any wrongdoing on their part.

I’m interested in hearing other opinions, from all points of view.

YANBU. I think that they should have to take a test to be allowed to ride on the roads. I absolutely hate driving near cyclists as some of them can be so unpredictable and ride far too close to cars, disregard traffic lights or just don’t look where they’re going and swing out right in front of you.

@CherryValley5 Agree. A short course and to obtain a license which must be visible, just like cars and motorbikes.

We have the most congested roads in Europe. Car drivers cause vastly more deaths and accidents. Our air quality has literally been held responsible for killing at least one child. And you want to make it more difficult for people to cycle?

Let's start by making drivers who are far more dangerous accountable. Drivers who get away with killing people, drivers who use mobile phones, drivers who drive at speed through zebra crossings etc. etc. Being identifiable does nothing to bring these drivers to justice so all your scheme will do is cost a fuck ton of money and stop people who need to use it as a cheap method of transport
What is needed is a proper concerted effort to build proper decent and safe cycling routes across the whole country. More cyclist and less drivers which will be a win for everyone.

@DrRichardWebber I agree to a certain extent. However when a large number of cyclists are causing serious harm themselves, should we not rethink the current laws (or lack of)?

Your privilege is showing: why would you put up barriers to the cheapest form of transport by requiring people to get a licence? Cyclists can be dicks, but so can drivers and drivers cause death and destruction on the roads every day. A guy banging on a car's window is annoying, yes, but really?!

Yes, all road users....
Including the horse riders and pedestrians.
The danger here is vehicles, not cyclists.

"when a large number of cyclists are causing serious harm themselves"

Citation needed

@tygertygers But then why should I be ok being recorded by passing cyclists when I cannot record them cutting me up, sailing through red lights and nearly hitting crossing pedestrians?

Get a camera then..

100% agree.Its barmy that it's still legal to be unidentifiable for anyone on the road

@ToBeOrNotToBee And do what with my recordings? Cyclists are not identifiable.

So, you want to make it more difficult and more expensive for children to cycle?

Children are cyclists too

If cyclists are actually causing "serious harm" rather than just slowing you down/forcing you to be more careful, then report them. If it's as serious as you say then the police will get involved.

I cycle and have cycled to work I'm the past. I felt for a long time that all road users should comply with the highway code and cyclists should be registered and held accountable, with insurance etc. I feel that this would garner more respect for cyclists.

The same way you can record anyone in a public space.

Do you also campaign against pedestrians crossing the road recklessly, and moan they also can't be identified.

Do you want licence plates on a horses arse too?

Providing a registration plate to the police doesn't confirm ID by the way, many many serious incidents have resulted in driver not being identified because the registered owner of a vehicle will not cooperate with the police or provide details. Why don't you focus on them too.

Yep.
Additionally, countries like the Netherlands, where cycling is far more common don't have licensing schemes. They just have better designed road systems and a culture that encourages cycling.
And cyclists aren't outside the law here. they can still get prosecuted for breaking the laws of the road.
Now tractor drivers... they're my bug bear. Every other 16 year old driving one of those giant machines is on their mobile phone round here...

But this is the problem @tygertygers, how can I report them if they are unidentifiable?

You go to the police and report an incident. The police then investigate.

People including cyclists have been identified from CCTV.

Cyclists are not exempt from the law and can and do get prosecuted.

Absolutely overwhelmingly, the main danger on the road comes from motorised vehicles.

Children are cyclist too, and that is part of the reason this should be important. Being accountable and made to take proper safety lessons before riding on a road would likely mean less children end up injured on the roads whilst cycling.

I agree with you OP. A colleague of mine was seriously injured on a pedestrian crossing when a cyclist rode into her.

If they are causing "serious harm" as you say, the police can track them down the same way they investigate other crimes. Burglars, muggers, shoplifters - they're not registered either.

But car vehicles still account for vastly vastly more accidents. If your aim is to reduce danger on the roads then surely the sensible course of action is to make car drivers take tougher tests/have zero alcohol limits etc etc rather than focussing on cyclists

Who here thinks burglars should get a licence so we can identify them more easily? 🙋

But they are just as identifiable as any one else. They have faces, they have names.

The only way to make them more identifiable is to put a licence plate on their bike, but it's going to be very unwieldy if it's to be big enough to read at a distance, so it's not really feasible.