Even more cyclists now breaking the law

[DistingusedSocialCommentator]

Most drivers and pedestrians will be aware of this as many have seen or been victims of a cycle rider.

Watching Talktv this morning there was a lady who had lost her mother due to an e-scooter rider on the pavement. The show had a lawyer on talking about what I agree with, IE cyclists are very hard to identify if they get away from an accident.

E-scooters we all know are against the law unless provided for by your local council in central London. Several times over the years, me and the family have had close calls with them on pavements and parks as they zoom down, you cant hear them and they often dress in all black clothing.

Push bike riders are travelling faster and faster as many more have those battery packs on them

With the introduction of 20mph zones in vast areas of London, even more, push bike riders are now breaking the law, EG travelling well over 20mph in a 20mph and passing slower cars travelling at 20mph We are all aware how some push bike riders have ignored the rules for years, EG jump red lights, ignore pedestrians on crossings, cause accidents and walk of or rise off and now, much more able to break the speed limits off 20mph with almost 100% impunity and some that at red lights get o the pavement and cross a red light that way or some just ride on pavements

For the record, note, Its some cyclists not all but we have all seen them more so as going to work, or dropping off children at schools the speed of some of these riders

The Talktv debate also talked about those who kill people while riding a push bike/scooter, I think they said the maximum prison sentence was two years (I may be wrong) but the laws needed vast improvements.

This had been talked about a lot before but nothing happened.

AIBU proposes that all cyclists have number plates/easily identifiable markings, all have insurance, all have a bell and lights, and all wear a helmet and hi-vis jacket (This would in my judgment make many more riders more responsible for their actions and our roads/pavements safer for all)

The police need to be more proactive on e-scooter riders. However, as cyclists are almost impossible to identify, my proposal as above will aid the police and hopefully, modify the dangerous behaviours of those cyclists that are now regularly breaking the law, EG, travelling at more than the speed allowed, jumping red lights, putting pedestrians at risk on crossings and pavements.

Let’s just hypothetically pretend the back end of this system is cheap and easy to implement for one second and humour your ridiculous statement. I’m not against ‘carrying’ an ID in the form of a race bike number, but I am against you fixing one that would actually be readable from a distance to my bike until you can prove it offers no aerodynamic or weight penalty, and you accept that by using the race number mount that I will no longer fit a suitable rear light to my seatpost. Fixing it to clothing is no good because how do you deal with adding coats, gilets etc over the top of jerseys while you ride. Absolutely not feasible. I have getting on for 30 cycling top half items so are you going to label them all. Which bit of our already insufficient tax income is going to fund this?

I don’t habitually break the law without having all this stupidity so I’m unlikely to start because I’ve got a sticker on my arse. I probably inadvertently exceed the speed limit more frequently in my car and that’s got a big fat number plate on it, than I break any of your major cycling gripes. For a start there is only one set of traffic lights on any of my regular routes so no need to jump that. There aren’t many pavements on country lanes so no maiming grannies there either. What would you gain from the costs associated with labelling up my 6 bikes and many items of clothing, with a number readable from that of a car number plate.

how would you administer the second hand sale of bikes and clothing which happen regularly? The passing on of team kit to new club members? The charity jersey you get given at the start of a fundraising event ride?

Come on OP let’s have your actual proposal with cost benefit analysis please. I think the people of mumsnet are at least owed a diagram of how you propose to mount number plates on each and every type of bike in circulation.

Yes, those that don't break the law can. You know what will happen but just in case you don't, I'm hear to help.

The introduction of the requirements as per my posts will result in a massive, very massive reduction in the highway code lawbreaking by those that flout the rules now.

Once a few dozen get a few points on their licen and a fine, watch what happens for the better

But it won’t will it. Those that break the law are going to continue doing so, just like drivers.

I’m also intrigued to see how you think a number plate on a bike will work. The size, weight, how it would affect the bike.

You can keep on saying as many times as you like that this is all that needs to happen, doesn’t mean you’re right.

Incredible!!
Please read my previous posts and stop making feeble excuses

"system is cheap" - it is cheap when compared with saving injury or worse.

"labelling up my 6 bikes" Have you not read the posts about ID on hi-vis???

If you have six bikes, those with 6 cars have six number plates and each has to be covered by insurance. You can choose that way or the easy way, IE hi-vis rotue and insurance

"second-hand sales"" - The Hi-vis is a few quid even if its 50 quid it will have the unique reg to your name, simple as that. If someone clones your ID, jsut like victims of car crime where plates are cloned - you have nothing to worry about if a cycle rider on the pavement did a hit an run in X and you live in Y and was at home asleep.

I know why people are against the ID - tis because they dont want to be held responsible for their actions in my judge - please prove me wrong but I doubt you can.

You may recall only 12 months ago people were banging on about the dangerous dogs ban not being enforceable etc, people wont register - sure some wont but many have and the police are taking action - why is that

Please all, stop the indefensible excuses against my proposal of having all cyclists insured, have lights front and back, have a bell, wear a hi-vis jacket and have an easily identifiable registration numbers on hi-vis and wear a helmet

Are you a politician OP? Because I asked you for your business plan and cost benefit analysis. How do you get a hi viz suitable for training, breathable, feed pockets, radio pockets, that’s also suitable for someone really overweight taking their first steps to exercise, and the man with the rucksack riding to work.

Just fuck yourself off to North Korea.

As I said, I am traceable on my bike in exactly the same way as all the murderers, gunmen, stabbers out there. Do you want them registered? There have been 4 stabbing deaths and a death caused by a car driver where I live since Xmas. I can’t remember the last time there was a death or serious injury caused by a bike here. Are you going to licence every knife purchased in Asda and make it have a big tag welded to it incase it’s used as a weapon, because by your logic it would save more lives.

Your dog registration is not the same because the registered dogs don’t have to have a sticker on them. I don’t care about being identifiable but I do care about wearing a shite Ill fitting hi-viz. I’m insured to the hilt to protect me, most cyclists are. I have lights, I have a bell. I own 4 helmets for different uses. If you can find something that actually suits the needs of the very wide breadth of cyclists bike use and body type maybe people will listen to your bullshit but there is a reason the biggest cycling nations in the world don’t bother.

I know why people are against the ID - tis because they dont want to be held responsible for their actions in my judge - please prove me wrong but I doubt you can.

Don't be ridiculous, I don't break the law. I don't run red lights (I see cars do it though), I prepare to stop as soon as anyone moves near a zebra crossing (unlike motorists who floor it), I don't routinely mount the pavement (plenty of cars do), I give plenty of room when passing vulnerable road users (a lorry this morning gave me loads of room, shame about the next-but-one car).

It has been explained to you time and time again why it is a daft idea. Even the President of the AA (the bloody Automobile Association for goodness sake, hardly biased in favour of cyclists) has described the idea as "impractical and unnecessary". Our own petrolhead government (you know, the ones rabbiting on about a fictitious 'war on motorists' and promising to roll back measures that protect pedestrians from cars) have said that the costs of such a scheme would outweigh any benefits. Every country (bar North Korea) who have ever introduced bike badges has abolished them. Yet you think that 192 nations are all wrong and you are right?

Please all, stop the indefensible excuses against my proposal of having all cyclists insured, have lights front and back, have a bell, wear a hi-vis jacket and have an easily identifiable registration numbers on hi-vis and wear a helmet

You clearly don't ride a bike.

If I'm cycling on a bright summer's day I don't wear hi-vis as cars can see me. I just wear normal summer clothes including skirts. The same as the hundreds of other cyclists in my area.

As many PPs have pointed out that a number plate won't work on their bike(s). In my case depending on what I'm wearing or carrying it would be covered.

Also if I did have some form of identification and caused/nearly caused an accident but didn't want to be responsible I would just cycle off furiously. The way that some cyclists have cycled off when they nearly knocked over myself carrying DD when she was a baby.

Hey OP I know how you can really make your point and set a great example!

Starting tomorrow, every time you leave the house, wear a hi viz tabard with your national insurance number on it. Then if you mug or stab someone it'll be easy to find you!

I mean, the numbers of people stabbed or mugged by pedestrians is way higher than the number of pedestrians hurt by cyclists so I'm sure you'll agree it's a great idea. After all, the only people who wouldn't be happy about it are the people who want to mug or stab someone, amirite?

You'll have to pay for the tabard yourself obviously, and make sure you never forget to wear it and never lend it to amyone else but that's not a problem I'm sure. And even better, unlike a cycle registration scheme the system already exists to give you a number. It's just perfect for you! Looking forward so much to see you setting a great example in personal responsibility!

Oh look the thread has descended into all the pro cyclists attacking the OP because they can't handle the fact that someone is asking them to take some responsibility.

All the pro cycle mob are more than happy to preach to drivers etc. about what they should do but when it comes to something as simple as sticking a bit of plastic to their bikes and registering them its soooo unfair and soo much trouble. 😂

Pathetic!

@OooPourUsACupLove

You forgot about the requirement for the OP to ensure the tabard is readable at all times from a distance of 20 metres. (Or how does she expect others to be able to read it when she is walking/running off furiously?)

This means it can never be covered, can't be ripped and must be clean at all times.

As many of us are cyclists, pedestrians and car drivers at different times what is your point?

No number plate so they can

As many PPs have pointed out that a number plate won't work on their bike(s). In my case depending on what I'm wearing or carrying it would be covered

It would be up to you to make sure it wasn’t covered, just like a car driver.

What makes you think law breaking cyclists are going to have legit “plates”? Oh and you’re expecting the already severely stretched police to have yet another thing on their plate. They can’t even cope with policing the already illegal e-motorbikes.

I've thought about it and I'm on for wearing my NI number at all times, on bike and off, as long as everyone else does as well.

I assume everyone who thinks cyclists should be carrying registration numbers is ready to sign up as well - @DistingusedSocialCommentator @bizzyloop and the others, are you in? You already have an NI number, nothing to stop you starting as early as tomorrow - be the change you want to see!

If not, why not?

Let's put aside why putting barriers in the way of something as beneficial to society as cycling is, is incredibly fucking stupid, let's examine how impractical it is to suggest that it's possible for cyclists to actually carry readable licence plates.

Nowhere on my road or MTB bikes - I've just gone and looked - is there anywhere to put plates front AND back so they are big enough for them to be readable. There is also no way to light the plates. So that's a non-starter.

So that leaves the idea that the person on the bike has to "wear" the licence plate. So that means printing it say on a t-shirt. Multiple t-shirts really, because t-shirts get muddy and stuff and need washed.

But what if I need to carry a rucksack? So that's a rucksack carrier I need as well.

What if it's raining? Oh, need a waterproof with it printed on as well. My decent waterproof cost £200, I'm not buying another one of those, thanks all the same.

And of course none of these things can be lit, so the number will be unreadable at night.

And I have arms and stuff, so it wouldn't be readable from the front. And when I go MTB I get covered in mud, so that renders it useless too.

And as soon as I step off the bike, I still have a stupid licence number printed on me even though I'm not on the bike.

They would be incredibly easy to fake as well.

And if I want to just lend my bike to someone, they need to either borrow my kit - let's hope they are the same size as me - or have their own.

The list goes on.

In conclusion, fuck off with it.

Can’t wait for OP to come for mobility scooters too. These already have to be registered with the DVLA if they are road-going but even then there is no requirement for them to physically display a number plate. What about normal push along scooters? What’s your stance on these? Some of the big wheel ones are fast! Or are you just annoyed that a cyclist jumped a queue that you were stuck in in your precious automobile when you were sold an ideology of freedom and you are butthurt.

Starting tomorrow, every time you leave the house, wear a hi viz tabard with your national insurance number on it. Then if you mug or stab someone it'll be easy to find you!

I propose all citizens should have a their personal details tattooed on their forehead in luminescent ink, readable from 100 yards with a newly commissioned govt laser scanner system, installed on every lamp post throughout this fine and law abiding nation we all share.

I’ve costed this all out, and it can be implemented for £27.60.

The only reason it hasn’t been implemented is because those bloody pesky citizens want to break the law!! It’s time we all stood up and called for action on this.

Nowhere on my road or MTB bikes - I've just gone and looked - is there anywhere to put plates front AND back so they are big enough for them to be readable. There is also no way to light the plates. So that's a non-starter

Despite your protestations to the contrary, it could be done. A rear plate could be fitted to a mudguard, a rear rack or a made for the purpose bracket attached to a rear stay. They don’t need to be that big to be readable. Front plates aren’t likely. Motorcycles don’t have them and, as most bikes are ridden in urban areas, lighting wouldn’t be necessary. It isn’t required in Singapore, for example.

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Many road bikes have dropped rear stays now, so that point you’ve shows falls way lower than the rear wheel. If you could fit one in there it would not likely be readable from behind. Triathlon bikes many don’t have traditional rear stays at all. Our Olympic triathletes still need to train on their race bikes even though they race closed courses. Nobody is fitting a rear rack Or mudguard to their £18k Cadex because it’s not designed to take one. I’m not an Olympic athlete or a triathlete at all for that matter but I can see how this is impractical.

Escooters are not the same as ebikees are not the same as manual bicycles. So leave your ire for those who should receive it and leave us law abiding cyclists out of it.

Quick google and it shows Singapore hasn’t required registration since 1982

Neither OP or you can provide any evidence that his proposals will reduce accidents.
You do realise that 75% of all accidents (involving adults and vehicles) riding bicycles are caused by the car driver?

But instead of better training for drivers.......

If you think cyclists don’t cross on a green light then you are clearly not living in a major city. I see it every single day, multiple times a day in rush hour. As a pedestrian I have to check no cyclist is cycling up on the inside of vehicles waiting at lights so I can cross safely. I do this every time I cross at lights because so many of them ignore them. They cross through red lights at pedestrian crossings, even as I am crossing. It’s dangerous, particularly for children and the elderly.