Do cyclists have to stick to speed limits?

Do cyclists have to stick to speed limits?

Author
Discussion

Nick1point9

Original Poster:

3,917 posts

179 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
A lot of competent road bikes and with a competent rider can top 40mph, so what would happen if a cyclist was caught doing 40mph in a 20 or 30 zone?

Purely hypothetical, just interested.

Red 4

10,744 posts

186 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Not again.

Using the search feature is quicker than asking.


TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Yes.

Red 4

10,744 posts

186 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
How about a horse and rider in a 20 MPH limit, for example ?

How about an electric assisted bike ?

Furious cycling ?

Let the debate commence...

ps Dangerous and reckless cycling (offences) bill is currently winging its way through Parliament

Edited by Red 4 on Thursday 4th October 14:12

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
TonyHetherington said:
Yes.
No.

daz3210

5,000 posts

239 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
I always thought No.

But since I am usually wrong, the answer may be Yes laugh

Melman Giraffe

6,759 posts

217 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Red 4 said:
Not again.

Using the search feature is quicker than asking.
search feature quicker you are joking?

Everyone knows it doesn't work wink

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Melman Giraffe said:
Red 4 said:
Not again.

Using the search feature is quicker than asking.
search feature quicker you are joking?

Everyone knows it doesn't work wink
Beat me to it!

Probably didn't beat the search function though.

RBOnline

84 posts

167 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Going off what I see on a daily basis, cyclists don't have to adhere to any rules of the road, do they?

Especially red lights. They definitely don't seem to apply.

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

156 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Hooli said:
TonyHetherington said:
Yes.
No.
Definately either of them .......

daz3210

5,000 posts

239 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Being as there is no requirement in law to have a speedo on a bike, could it be enforced in any event?

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
PurpleMoonlight said:
Hooli said:
TonyHetherington said:
Yes.
No.
Definately either of them .......
I'll change my vote to 'maybe'.

KevinA4quattro

11,553 posts

279 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Speed limits apply to motor vehicles, therefore no they do not.

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Well we've cleared that up hehe

I've not investigated, but my memory had that there are many "motor vehicle" based limits in the highway code, but, but there are a couple of all governing "all traffic" ones that means bikes are covered. Happy to be proved wrong!

streaky

19,311 posts

248 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
PurpleMoonlight said:
Hooli said:
TonyHetherington said:
Yes.
No.
Definately either of them .......
Possibly at least one of them.

Streaky

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
In trying to find the answer it's just reminded me why I wrote quite a few letters to the creators of the new highway code website, because it's utter rubbish and you're unable to find anything you actually want.

So, I did try to find the answer, but got annoyed at the crap website.

Willy Holloughby

253 posts

142 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
The cyclist who got caught underneath my car didnt stick to the speed limit for about 3 miles.

Pontoneer

3,643 posts

185 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
daz3210 said:
Being as there is no requirement in law to have a speedo on a bike, could it be enforced in any event?
On the principle that ignorance is no excuse , and nothing prevents you from fitting a speedometer , then the absence of one would be no obstacle to being charged .

The limit is a limit for anyone using the road ; there is nothing to specify that it only applies to certain classes of road user .

Some people seem to think that cyclists are exempt , but I have yet to see LAW which specifically states that .

A cyclist coming down a hill at high speed towards a junction where he might be unable to stop is just as much of a menace as any other type of road user travelling at excessive speed . He may be more of a menace to himself than to anyone else , although a cyclist hitting a pedestrian could still cause serious injury .


MoelyCrio

2,457 posts

181 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Pontoneer said:
On the principle that ignorance is no excuse , and nothing prevents you from fitting a speedometer , then the absence of one would be no obstacle to being charged .

The limit is a limit for anyone using the road ; there is nothing to specify that it only applies to certain classes of road user .

Some people seem to think that cyclists are exempt , but I have yet to see LAW which specifically states that .

A cyclist coming down a hill at high speed towards a junction where he might be unable to stop is just as much of a menace as any other type of road user travelling at excessive speed . He may be more of a menace to himself than to anyone else , although a cyclist hitting a pedestrian could still cause serious injury .
90% of cyclists capable of doing 30mph will have a GPS unit and be well aware of their speed.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
The correct answer is no. The relevant legislation applies to vehicles and defines them in a way that does not include cyclists.

There are exceptions, however. Richmond Park, for example, is subject a different legislation that applies to cycles as well as cars. The police have been known to stand at the foot of some of the inclines lasering all and sundry. Often after there have been a spate of complaints about "bloody cyclists".