Good idea or not?

[anotheoldgit]

http://tinyurl.com/6fjoxb7

Do cyclists get off too easy?

Should they be forced by law to take out insurance, have a yearly safety check on their bikes, take a proficiency test and also wear crash hats?

Passing a council owned BMX park the other day, I was amazed at some of the stunts preformed by youngsters of various ages, but what did alarm me was the fact that out of all the kids, only one wore a crash hat, and none wore protective clothing, being a very warm day most had their shirts off.

[237SJ]

I don`t think they should be forced to take out insurance or take the other measures you mentioned but they should definitely be accountable for their actions if someone is hurt due to their reckless cycling. It p1sses me off when cyclists think red traffic lights don`t apply to them or that they can whizz down the pavement and mow down anyone in their path. If a few more were prosecuted maybe others would be more careful.

[Booldawg]

As a cyclist....yes we/they do get off too easily. Third party insurance should be compulsory along with a minmum amount of ppe to be worn at all times (helmet).

Also maybe they could educate drivers about cycle awareness as part of their driving test. Motorists seem to think an inch between their wing mirror and my handlebar is perfectly acceptable whilst over-taking. Most cyclists I know that have been knocked off their bike have never had the luxury of a motorist bothering to stop to see if they're ok/still alive.

[R1Geezer]

They do annoy me by riding on the pavement ignoring red lights etc but It's not practical to introduce all the paraphenalia you suggest. The insurance idea is often spouted but to do that you'd have to have a registration system for bikes, impossible to do. Round here there are thousands of students from gawd knows where on hired bikes how would you keep that lot under administration? Just not really possible. The helmet thing is personal choice, I don't think further nanny stateism is warranted.

Personally I'd stop them riding on the pavement, make them have lights and obey the rules of the road.

[Old_Geezer]

Probably best to ban such risky behaviour for their own well being. H&S and all that. Keep cycles just to the sports track, and limit the speed.

[Gromit]

I would be in favour of an offence of DEath by Dangerous Cycling. It is no different than being reckless in any other vehicle. Though I do not think it would be used very often. I would also extend similar offences to electric mobility scooters which can also be a nuisance.

I would not be in favour of compulsory helmets, because there is no evideNce they save any lives. There is evidence that cars will drive too close to cyclists wearing helmets, and further away from those without. A helmet is useless for most cyclist injuries.

[youngmafbog]

Something needs to be done. Here in the City it is a nightmare. Cyclists tend to be a self centred arrogant bunch, cycling through red lights, pavements at top speed. There also seems to be a growing trend of no brakes and fixed wheel cycles, more appropiate for the track not the road.

I suspect though, as in many cases there are enough laws to stop this. but its probably easier for plod to arrest motorists with a camera and registration than bother to get out their cars and stop cyclists. I have noly seen one stopped in 5 years - by a motorbike cop.

R1, registration and therefore insureance would be possible, but I doubt anyone would want to pay and logistically it would be a nightmare.

[pa___ul3]

I think R1 has it spot in, although the intentions are right, they do get away with too much, they'd be impossible to manage / police.
regarding the BMXers, they're never gonna wear helmets and stuff unless it's cool to, that's kind of what it's all about isn't it, like skaters, and considering their game is to push the boundaries it does seem crazy!

[Jack_Homes]

Not at all! Cycling seems to be a safest mode of traveling a time ago. But kids these are performing stunts without any safety gears. This doesn't work well for them as well as people passing by!

[anotheoldgit]

/// would not be in favour of compulsory helmets, because there is no evideNce they save any lives. There is evidence that cars will drive too close to cyclists wearing helmets, and further away from those without. A helmet is useless for most cyclist injuries.///

That is very interesting Gromit, can you supply evidence of them not saving lives, perhaps motor cycle helmets don't save lives also? Except for the differential in speed, but then one only has to fall off a stationery bike and hit one's head on the curb to do damage, so even speed doesn't come into it.

Also where is the evidence that cars drive closer to cycles if the rider is wearing a helmet?

[Gromit]

They do not want to discourage cyclists because cycling is actually more suitable in crowded cities than cars. They cause no pollution, they kill less people, they don't gridlock and the people using them tend to be healthier and cost the NHS less. The solution would be to ban cars from the cities, but that would not be popular with voters.

That is not to say, cyclists should be exempt frOm braking the Law and the Highway Code. Better enforcement of cycle laws would also benefit cyclists.

[Gromit]

http://news.bbc.co.uk.../somerset/5334208.stm

[Oneeyedvic]

First of all, as previously mentioned, any form of Insurance would be impractical to police and therefore a non starter.

Regarding cycling through red lights - they should be treated in the same way as other vehicles - maybe a large fine (and confiscation of the bike) since points on a driving licence may well be impractical.

Regarding pavement cycling - it's a bit of a Catch 22 - some people I know do this as they state (quite accurately) that they are safer on the pavement than on the road. I never cycle on pavements - indeed I rarely use a cycle path as most pedestrians will be walking on it and they are often impractical.

Incidentally, i had a friend who was stopped the other day by a speed camera trap (by local residents as opposed to the police) for doing a 40 in a 30 zone. Whilst he was probably going to fast, it is also difficult to judge your speed on a bike

[AB Editor]

Dear AOG,

More on the "do helmets help" front:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11110665
http://www.drianwalker.com/overtaking/

More or Less did a Podcast on this last year (I think) - sadly I don't seem to be able to find it.

It's all quite interesting - as it seems to mainly be about the perceptions of the driver. I know for example that the times I've been out on the racer I definitely get less room on the road as I do on other bikes.

All the best,

Spare Ed

[wheaten]

I used to cycle to work, 7 miles there and 7 miles back on a 2 lane road. I always wore a helmet, high vis clothing, lights etc (very dark in Scotland) and obeyed all the road rules, knew the 'cycling code'. One evening I was hit by a car who turned out on me and didn't stop. Shattered knee, stitches and several weeks off work. Don't cycle so much now, so who was to blame?
Wheaten

[anotheoldgit]

AB Editor

/// I've been out on the racer I definitely get less room on the road as I do on other bikes. ///

Now that is strange because personally I always give a wide- berth to 'racers and BMXers, why? Because the riders of these machines generally don't sit down to pedal them, consequently they tend to move from side to side.

[paddywak]

Don't forget that,though it's rarely enforced, cycling on the pavement is actually illegal. Last year a guy in Arnold, was fined and ASBO'd for persistantly riding on pavements deapite being warned about it on several occassions.

[rov1100]

Some of these bikes cost over £2000. Cyclists don't go out of there way to have a crash. If a pedestrian steps out in front of a car they could call it jaywalking. The roads are often too dangerous to ride a bike. On bridleways they have equal priority with horse riders but if the truth were known there are more accidents happening here than anywhere else. Most horse riders are insured, maybe all pedestrians should take out some form of cover.

[boxtops]

Why shouldn't they take out third party liability insurance, in case they cause an accident? You have to in other walks of life!

[joeluke]

Why stop there? Lets make joggers, skateboarders, roller skaters, Mobility Scooter riders take out insurance too in case they injure someone