Is there special provision on road law for bike races?

Is there special provision on road law for bike races?

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Discussion

AA999

Original Poster:

5,180 posts

216 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Just a general question : as motor vehicles are specifically prohibited from racing on public roads and generally special permissions have to be given even for the likes of Rally cars that use public roads between timed stages.... does the same apply for bicycle races and time trials?

Similarly any grouping of cars more than 12(?) is generally classed as illegal (or used to be I think), .....I'm guessing this law doesn't apply to groupings of other road using vehicles? (bicycles)


I know this is likely to stir up a car vs bicycle rant from some, but its not really my intention in this thread to do that (honestly!)


One of the reasons I ask is that where I live they often do bicycle time trials on one of the main 'A' roads. They used to have "cycle race" boards out to warn traffic of their presence on the road, but now they only use "cycle event" boards due to them thinking that "racing" on public roads is illegal, even for bicycles.

Zigster

1,636 posts

143 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
I don't think time trials count as races. It's individuals against the clock rather than directly against each other.

SS2.

14,455 posts

237 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
AA999 said:
Just a general question.... does the same apply for bicycle races and time trials?
Some info here:

Section 31 Road Traffic Act 1988

Cycle Racing on Roads Regulations 1960

Proposed changes to the 1960 Regulations

AA999

Original Poster:

5,180 posts

216 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for those links. Just had a quick scan through them.
I guess its more or less the same 'law/regulations' as for motor racing on public roads:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/part/I...




akirk

5,376 posts

113 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
we get it a lot around here...
'cycle events' with all the cyclists wearing race numbers / wearing those streamlined helmets and wobbling around in the middle of the road oblivious to gravel lorries doing 60 past them!
Last year I followed some where 3 cyclists overtook a pack of others - but did it on a blind right-hander on the wrong side of the road, and a car coming the otherway only missed them by shoving the car into the verge... I stopped to speak to one of the marshalls and received a very dismissive reply suggesting that they had more 'right; to the road than the cars who should see the signs out and slow down!

so darwin would suggest these events won't last long wink

GreatGranny

9,097 posts

225 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
akirk said:
so darwin would suggest these events won't last long wink
Taken from Wiki:

"The first UK individual time trial on public roads is reputed to have been held on 5 October 1895 over a 50-miles course ...."

120 years and still going strong :-) Don't hold your breath.

aclivity

4,072 posts

187 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
akirk said:
more 'right to the road than the cars who should see the signs out and slow down!
But they do have more right.

I think they are second to walkers, though, so if you wanted to be a pain for them you could walk in front of them?

S10GTA

12,645 posts

166 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Having arranged some of these events you have to seek police permission about 6 months in advance.

Edited by S10GTA on Wednesday 29th July 11:04

Retroman

961 posts

132 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
aclivity said:
But they do have more right.

I think they are second to walkers, though, so if you wanted to be a pain for them you could walk in front of them?
Yep, pretty much.

Cars can cause more damage to a cyclist than the cyclist can to them so there is more expectation for the driver to be careful when approaching cyclists.
Likewise with cyclists vs pedestrians, cyclists should be more careful when approaching pedestrians.

aclivity

4,072 posts

187 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
quotequote all
Retroman said:
aclivity said:
But they do have more right.

I think they are second to walkers, though, so if you wanted to be a pain for them you could walk in front of them?
Yep, pretty much.

Cars can cause more damage to a cyclist than the cyclist can to them so there is more expectation for the driver to be careful when approaching cyclists.
Likewise with cyclists vs pedestrians, cyclists should be more careful when approaching pedestrians.
I meant, cyclists have a right to use the roads, whereas drivers have to own a licence to use the road.

Fer

7,707 posts

279 months

Wednesday 29th July 2015
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Anyone else getting a strange feeling of deja vu?

Parsnip

3,122 posts

187 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
But what about road tax!

akirk

5,376 posts

113 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
aclivity said:
akirk said:
more 'right to the road than the cars who should see the signs out and slow down!
But they do have more right.

I think they are second to walkers, though, so if you wanted to be a pain for them you could walk in front of them?
maybe - but they don't have the right to set up private events and not comply with the highway code etc...
if they are running an event on a public road, then they still have to take note of and coexist with other road users, they do not have the right to expect other road users to change their habits / driving any more than would be necessary in coming across any cyclist on the road...

some edited statements from the Highway Code - all of which are noted more in the absence around here when cyclists are racing...

Highway Code said:
rule 66
You should
never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends
not ride close behind another vehicle
be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Let them know you are there when necessary, for example, by ringing your bell if you have one. It is recommended that a bell be fitted.

67
You should
look all around before moving away from the kerb, turning or manoeuvring, to make sure it is safe to do so. Give a clear signal to show other road users what you intend to do (see ‘Signals to other road users’
look well ahead for obstructions in the road, such as drains, pot-holes and parked vehicles so that you do not have to swerve suddenly to avoid them. Leave plenty of room when passing parked vehicles and watch out for doors being opened or pedestrians stepping into your path
be aware of traffic coming up behind you
take extra care near road humps, narrowings and other traffic calming features
take care when overtaking (see Rules 162 to 169).

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
We get the "Caution: cycle race in progress" signs around here as well from time to time.

I don't care either way myself, but if I'm in the car with my mum or dad it always causes a terrific reaction from them smile

"Look at them!! Just look at them! Using the bloody public road for their own cycle races!! If I put up signs saying Car & Motorcycle Race in progress we would all be arrested!!" Etc


andySC

1,187 posts

157 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
Road Races on the highway require Police approval, they often don't get it. Nottinghamshire Police pulled the plug on road races near me & a circuit that had been used for years was finished with, the same thing has happened in Cheshire also.

Time Trials require the organiser to inform the Police of the event in advance & do not require approval. A few years ago there was a fatality in an time trial event near Hull, Humberside Police decreed that all racing on Humberside roads cease with immediate effect, the road races had to stop but the time trials carried on unaffected including the ones on the stretch of road this lad died on. The ban has since been removed & road races are being held again.

SpikeBmth

1,295 posts

154 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
I have wondered about cyclists "racing" too on public roads.

They certainly don't give much consideration to other road users when in large groups, and some act dangerously.

I have dash cam footage showing this! (excuse the swearing from my better half!!) http://youtu.be/dK57DP3Pa-E

aclivity

4,072 posts

187 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
SpikeBmth said:
I have wondered about cyclists "racing" too on public roads.

They certainly don't give much consideration to other road users when in large groups, and some act dangerously.

I have dash cam footage showing this! (excuse the swearing from my better half!!) http://youtu.be/dK57DP3Pa-E
They aren't racing.

SpikeBmth

1,295 posts

154 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
aclivity said:
They aren't racing.
I didn't say they where, hence the ""...

aclivity

4,072 posts

187 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
akirk said:
some edited statements from the Highway Code - all of which are noted more in the absence around here when cyclists are racing...

Highway Code said:
rule 66
You should
never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends
not ride close behind another vehicle
be considerate of other road users, particularly blind and partially sighted pedestrians. Let them know you are there when necessary, for example, by ringing your bell if you have one. It is recommended that a bell be fitted.

67
You should
look all around before moving away from the kerb, turning or manoeuvring, to make sure it is safe to do so. Give a clear signal to show other road users what you intend to do (see ‘Signals to other road users’
look well ahead for obstructions in the road, such as drains, pot-holes and parked vehicles so that you do not have to swerve suddenly to avoid them. Leave plenty of room when passing parked vehicles and watch out for doors being opened or pedestrians stepping into your path
be aware of traffic coming up behind you
take extra care near road humps, narrowings and other traffic calming features
take care when overtaking (see Rules 162 to 169).
It says "should"

it also says
Highway Code said:
You must not drive faster than the speed limit for the type of road and your type of vehicle. The speed limit is the absolute maximum - it doesn’t mean it’s safe to drive at this speed in all conditions.
Where it says "must"

Personally, I do what it says in the "should" list except for a couple of bikes where I don't have a bell. I do have a "voice", though, which works fine, even when I say "ring ring". Or "get out of my way". (I don't actually say that, I tend to say "excuse me" if needed)

I also always follow the "must" when in the car. I drive a defender, not sure about going over the speed limit anyway!

The whole point about time trials is that you don't usually need to go at the same time as your opponent, you go a couple of minutes distance from them.

akirk

5,376 posts

113 months

Thursday 30th July 2015
quotequote all
it does say should - but that can still be the basis for demonstrating carelessness / responsibility in court...
the bell is less of an issue - there is a recommendation within a should smile not therefore a necessity...

but the reality is that despite the fact that in these events the majority of the participants are ignoring great swathes of the Highway Code, it is simply dangerous - there are three main areas around here where they do it...
- Through a local village from roundabout to roundabout with NSL inbetween - the roundabouts sitting as junctions onto an arterial A road DC. constant streams of gravel lorries & local traffic - includes a layby lorry coffee stop which has lorries reversing into
- through windy roads between two small towns - lorries / local traffic
- on a major A road between two small towns - a road which has numerous M/C accidents / deaths on it, has a lot of arigultural traffic, a number of large lorries, mud frequently on the road, and cars & M/Cs regularly topping 100 along there
who thinks that any of those three is a sensible location for 'time trials' / racing?

It is not uncommon to see cyclists stopped in the road to fix somthing / warming up in the road / parking randomly on the verge and taking bikes off the car into the road - all with cars going past at silly speeds and a lot of gravel lorries hurtling past. I have seen a cyclist who was knocked off his bike (fortunately fine), I appreciate that they may at a technical level be legal by not claiming it as a race - but in reality it is extremely foolhardy...