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.

They would not be stolen as often if they had to ride with a number plate, would they!

Why are cyclists so anti being identified easily? Sorry, thats a rhetorical question as the answer is a seriously easy

Why are you so dim?

Sorry, that’s a rhetorical question.

Range Rovers have number plates, don't they?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12876955/Range-Rover-Britains-stolen-car-thefts-keyless-crime.html

Oh dear. I think you missed my earlier post saying I am 100% behind your idea, just as long as you get the bigger problems on the raods sorted out first.

Tell you what - to help you out I'll repost it here. Looking forward very much to having you on board!

Show us that drivers "take responsibility" - no ifs, no buts, no exceptions, every driver licensed, every motor vehicle registered and insured, every transgression investigated, caught and prosecuted.

When the total damage (human and property) caused by unlicensed drivers and unregistered or unisured vehicles is so under control that it is equal to or lower than that caused by cyclists, when that happens, I'll be more than happy to join your campaign.

The day that cyclists are the most dangerous thing on the road will be a happy day for all of us.

Until then, I'm afraid that if you want anyone to accept your proposal that the most highest priority for road safety is to make cyclists carry registration numbers, you'll have to sort out the bigger problems first.

So go on then - get cracking!

Sorry for this but i think i ve outed you, you re Scott Mann MP for North Cornwall?

https://twitter.com/scottmann4NC/status/1106128906480951296?lang=en

For what it’s worth, number plates on cars don’t prevent speeding or drink driving; thousands of motorists are convicted or given a fixed penalty every week

As would likely be thousands of cyclists if only they were identifiable and not allowed to freely ride away from situations they’ve caused.

@DistingusedSocialCommentator how would a number plate prevent bikes being stolen? When unique serial numbers that every bike has do not? Are they actually a force field? Have you identified a new technology?

100% fact.

Those being deliberately obtuse here want riders to ride away 100% of the time as there is no other valid reason not agreeing to having an identifiable number on the cycle and or riders hi-vis.

No one has suggested it will stop all cycle riders from breaking the law but it will definitely reduce the open abuse that some cyclists practice EG jumping red lights, riding on pavements were not allowed, bullying their way through crossings as people/children cross the road, etc, etc

Therefore we all know it will cost money to bring cycle ID's that is a no brainer as nothing is free. We know that some will use fake ID, that is a no brainer. We also know some risers will break the rules regardless of ID, that too is a not brainer.
However, it will reduce the number of cyclists breaking the law and that is not only a no-brainer but a massive fact

HTH

There are actually a few countries that do compulsory registration of bikes and the reason given is to prevent bike theft and aid recovery. More like a VIN than a numberplate.

In the UK there's a free voluntary register for marked bikes that more people should make use of

Therefore we all know it will cost money to bring cycle ID's that is a no brainer as nothing is free. We know that some will use fake ID, that is a no brainer. We also know some risers will break the rules regardless of ID, that too is a not brainer

Whats the cost going to be? there are millions of bike riders in the UK....

However, it will reduce the number of cyclists breaking the law and that is not only a no-brainer but a massive fact

What % of cyclists break the law? we need to know the scale of the problem and if the benefits outweigh the costs?

What public services would you cut in order to fund this scheme?

So can you provide the current numbers of cars damaged, pedestrians killed or injured? and projected reduction in these over the first 3 years of the schemes introduction...

Also what would be the effect on numbers taking up cycling as an exercise or sport? what impact would it have on our medal chances in future Olympics?

What burden of proof would be required? the say so of the driver/pedestrian or would video evidence be required? if thats the case, how many peds strap a camera to their heads? or even drivers?

You must have crunched the numbers surely?

🤣

No numbers crunched, just her wing mirror.

OP drives a massive, child-killing Range Rover. You’re aligning yourself to the wrong side.

What a stupid assertion, on a par with the Americans who say it's the gun that kills, not the person in whose hand it sits! It may come as a surprise to the less intelligent MNers but a Range Rover is no more likely to be 'child-killing' that my 16 year old VW! Why specify 'child-killing', other than faux emotive, would it be OK if it were 'boomer-killing'? It's the people in charge who kill.

Higher fronted vehicles have worse outcomes for pedestrians of all ages but particularly children. That's a pretty well established fact

From the ETSC: (European Transport Safety Council)

For a pedestrian or cyclist hit by a SUV or pick-up, the risk of serious injury increases by 90% and the risk of fatal injury by almost 200%

So perhaps we need to ban the sort of cars the OP drives?

Physics mainly. And reduced visibility. It’s well established higher, heavier vehicles have worse outcomes for pedestrians/cyclists in the event of a collision. In the way you might survive by being hit by a Smart car but probably not do as well if a massive HGV hit you in your Ford Focus. So not on a par with the gun kills. But could a semi automatic weapon firing more rounds per minute kill a larger number of people in a shooting than a 6 barrell pistol? Yes. Your comparison doesn’t work.

There's only one poster on this ridiculous thread being "deliberately obtuse"

HTH

However, it will reduce the number of cyclists breaking the law and that is not only a no-brainer but a massive fact

Well you have your own unique definition of what a fact is - but I suppose you're not alone in that.

When the total damage (human and property) caused by unlicensed drivers and unregistered or unisured vehicles is so under control that it is equal to or lower than that caused by cyclists, when that happens, I'll be more than happy to join your campaign.

The day that cyclists are the most dangerous thing on the road will be a happy day for all of us.

Until then, I'm afraid that if you want anyone to accept your proposal that the most highest priority for road safety is to make cyclists carry registration numbers, you'll have to sort out the bigger problems first.

Totally agree

For many years we've me and my OH have driven relatively fast saloons, then SUV's. We are only too aware, come the accident even when someone steps out, pulls out in front of our car, we and our car will be checked etc. We are also aware re the potential damage the big Range Rover can do to most other cars and smaller SUV's, we therefore take even more care if that is possible

We also ensure that our cars are 100% road legal and have well above min tyre tread depth and good brakes. The cars we have now come with autonomous braking ect which is an extra layer of accident prevention

Many ignorant clowns around that blame "cars, guns" cause the damage. As you said, its the people behind the gun, the car that do the damage

On the Range Rover, on the plus side, we can see over most cars see further ahead and even works seeing over hedges, fence other cars when turning out of junctions. The negative of the R/Rover and the MErc GLS we had previously, like most larger SUV's, very wide pillars and big blind spots but as the driver is aware, you are extra careful and look around the pillar especially on roundabout etc

Those so anti cycle ride ID wont be saying that if they got knocked over coming out of their front garden by a rider who then picks up the cycle and rides off - then I'd guess they want some form of ID for cyclists

Those so anti cycle ride ID wont be saying that if they got knocked over coming out of their front garden by a rider who then picks up the cycle and rides off - then I'd guess they want some form of ID for cyclists

When the total damage (human and property) caused by unlicensed drivers and unregistered or unisured vehicles is so under control that it is equal to or lower than that caused by cyclists, when that happens, I'll be more than happy to join your campaign.

The day that cyclists are the most dangerous thing on the road will be a happy day for all of us.

Until then, I'm afraid that if you want anyone to accept your proposal that the most highest priority for road safety is to make cyclists carry registration numbers, you'll have to sort out the bigger problems first.

@DistingusedSocialCommentator you might be able to see other vehicles. But it’s harder to see children pedestrians because you are so high up. And if you hit them - even at low speeds - the size and weight of the vehicle does more damage. Not at all comparable to someone on a bike hitting someone at a low speed. An adult on a bike is unlikely to weigh more than 100kg combined. And is unlikely to be doing more than 15mph in most cases. Just not nearly as dangerous and that’s why there’s no need to have ID. Fact is cyclists do get prosecuted for offenses.

here’s some stats on SUV risk to pedestrians.
https://www.codot.gov/safety/shift-into-safe-news/2022/august/study-suvs-light-trucks-pose-significant-risk-to-pedestrian-crashes-involving-children#

Those so anti cycle ride ID wont be saying that if they got knocked over coming out of their front garden by a rider who then picks up the cycle and rides off - then I'd guess they want some form of ID for cyclists
I wouldn't be in favour of a stupid, ill-conceived scheme that penalises everyone because a small minority don't behave no matter what my personal circumstances.

Great. And also, make everybody where hi-viz jackets and and ID number when they go out. That will stop literally ALL crime!
It is so obvious.

What ever care you take whilst driving your suv is nowhere near the care most cyclists take in order to stay alive

You'd struggle to do a cyclist for speeding, it's bloody hard work to go faster than 15mph. Apart from the fact that it's not actually illegal anyway. You can't do someone for drink driving a bicycle either, the law only applies to motor vehicles. In any case they're only a danger to themselves, motorists are a danger to everyone.