Legality of of pushing broken bike?

Legality of of pushing broken bike?

Author
Discussion

catso

14,798 posts

268 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
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cmaguire said:
catso said:
My 916 broke down about a mile from home, I pushed it the first 1/4 mile or so (to be fair it was uphill) and thought I was about to have a heart attack so I called my Son to run down the road and help me - good luck with pushing 3.7 miles...
The gradient does make all the difference. If it was downhill you could sit on it and freewheel the whole way.
You would likely risk a prison sentence for that unfortunately.
I doubt I would have been in trouble as the bike was fully legal (just had a fuel line blockage) but yes, pushing 200kg of bike 100 yards up a steep hill on a hot day in full leathers nearly did me in...

CaptainMorgan

1,454 posts

160 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
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Over 3 miles? fk that, my brothers bike would often cut out when it'd run out of electric (Regulator fault) and pushing it was a right pain in the arse (that was with no bike gear on because he was a knob and wore jeans). Plus to be honest, even if the risk is tiny I'd rather not take the chance given the trouble it could cause.

slk 32

1,491 posts

194 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
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In the 80's I had a heat seizure on my 125 and pushed it home (about a mile and a half)

Never again

Roads that you think are billiard table flat aren't..you notice every slight incline

Next time i'll just set it alight and claim on the insurance*


  • not really

catfood12

1,426 posts

143 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
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OP, B & Q hire vans by the hour. First hour £15. Some tie in deal with Hertz. Have used them several times, as they have a hi-top transit, and it's by far the cheapest way to do a one off move of something like a bike.

jamoor

14,506 posts

216 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
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From a legal perspective, surely if it's not moving under its own steam it's not a vehicle?

SS2.

14,478 posts

239 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
jamoor said:
From a legal perspective, surely if it's not moving under its own steam it's not a vehicle?
It remains a motor vehicle whether it's running, being pushed or even parked up - in all cases, this constitutes being 'used'.

And a motor vehicle must be insured to be 'used' on a road or other public place. Tax and MOT requirements also apply.

jamoor

14,506 posts

216 months

Thursday 29th December 2016
quotequote all
SS2. said:
It remains a motor vehicle whether it's running, being pushed or even parked up - in all cases, this constitutes being 'used'.

And a motor vehicle must be insured to be 'used' on a road or other public place. Tax and MOT requirements also apply.
Well in that case he should insure it and he will be fine as you can take a vehicle for an MOT.

carmadgaz

3,201 posts

184 months

Friday 30th December 2016
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Legality aside having shoved a moped a mile or so last summer when a friend wanted some repairs I think you're mad!

Unless you come across a complete knob of a copper (or you kick him in the nuts) common sense would dictate they would use discretion on a vehicle which is essentially a push bike!

anonymous-user

55 months

Friday 30th December 2016
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Regarding pushing my bike, Newmarket is on the edge of the Fens so is very flat and a big bonus is the T160 sits low and I had a pair of high US export which all aided pushing. Pushing a modern sports bike with low bars with leathers on in Hovis land takes on a total different outcome the only thing going for pushing a modern bike is I'm guessing they are considerably lighter.

RWD cossie wil

4,324 posts

174 months

Friday 30th December 2016
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cmaguire said:
SS2. said:
No need to - a motor vehicle doesn't cease to be a motor vehicle simply because it can't be started.

Your view of how you'd like things to be and how they are in reality seem to be poles apart. Again.
And you think that is a good thing do you?
That somebody pushing a non-running bike on the pavement to get it back to his house where he can work on it is committing a crime. The exact same thing that might have happened 25 years ago without a second thought. And, the important thing, in both cases entirely harmless.
That's laughable, and no question that if I was so inclined I would push it there. I doubt I would interact with anyone en route and if so I expect it would be along the lines of "That looks like hard work mate, rather you than me".
Not "Have you SORN'ed that pal?"
FFS
Exactly... sleep easy in your bed while plod protect us from career crims like this rolleyes

Gareth79

7,722 posts

247 months

Friday 30th December 2016
quotequote all
cmaguire said:
I would like to think that if in the unlikely event they stop you that it will only be to check you haven't pinched it, which is fair enough.
The problem is that I'm sure the #1 way police officers would start by checking ownership is to run a PNC check to identify the RK, which will instantly flag is as being uninsured (etc). As the thread has mentioned, using a vehicle on the road without insurance is not overlooked these days.


cmaguire

3,589 posts

110 months

Friday 30th December 2016
quotequote all
Gareth79 said:
The problem is that I'm sure the #1 way police officers would start by checking ownership is to run a PNC check to identify the RK, which will instantly flag is as being uninsured (etc). As the thread has mentioned, using a vehicle on the road without insurance is not overlooked these days.
"Using"
Hmmmm...
Hypothetically let's say he was a hard bar-steward training for World's Strongest Man and was carrying the bike or pushing it in a modified wheelbarrow. Would that make a difference?
The Law is often an ass. What I don't get is how some people will never concede that. And suggesting that it should be enforced when it is so patently an ass is actually morally wrong.

SS2.

14,478 posts

239 months

Friday 30th December 2016
quotequote all
Surprised this thread still has legs, but..

cmaguire said:
"Using"
Hmmmm...
In the context of this thread and for the purposes of the relevant legislation, yup.

Riding = using.
Parked up & unattended (road, or other public place) = using.
Pushing along a footway = using.

Trailered = not using.
In the back of a van = not using.

Easy.

anonymous-user

55 months

Saturday 31st December 2016
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F
SS2. said:
Pushing along a footway = using.

Easy.
Catching proper criminals = too much hard work
Easy

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

199 months

Saturday 31st December 2016
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What if you're pushing it, whilst taxed and insured but you don't have a licence.

Still trouble?

Bright Halo

3,010 posts

236 months

Saturday 31st December 2016
quotequote all
I haven't read the whole thread so this may have already been suggested.
It does come some risk.

Call into the police station and tell them what you are going to do and see if they are ok with it.
If they are then get pushing!
If not then go get a van.

Durzel

12,296 posts

169 months

Saturday 31st December 2016
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To be fair to the Police they wouldn't know at first glance that he wasn't going to ride it at any given point, or that he wouldn't lose control of it on a downhill slope and have it careening into parked cars or people, etc. Much like those people who get stopped for no insurance who definitely-won't-carry-on-driving-as-soon-as-the Police-drive-off-honest-guv types.

The Police are compelled to enforce the Law. The Law clearly and unambiguously states that it has to have insurance & tax to be used on the road. Pushing it (or even being on the road surface) counts as using. Any treatment disregarding that would be discretionary and open the cops up to inquiries should something bad happen after they've left the scene.

caelite

4,280 posts

113 months

Saturday 31st December 2016
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carmadgaz said:
Legality aside having shoved a moped a mile or so last summer when a friend wanted some repairs I think you're mad!

Unless you come across a complete knob of a copper (or you kick him in the nuts) common sense would dictate they would use discretion on a vehicle which is essentially a push bike!
Hehe, I pushed a fat (relatively speaking) 140kg chinese 125 about 2miles when the carb decided to piss all my petrol out the overflow on to the exhaust. Honestly pushing it on the flat wasn't to bad, only got bad when I decided to take a quick shortcut over a field behind my house, got the bike good and bogged down in the muddy grass and nearly fell on my arse several times, never again biggrin.

Plus I echo your sentiment. Whilst I agree with the consensus that the OP is probably commiting an offence pushing his SORNed bike, I think its very much an 'attitude test' offence with most reasonable officers turning a blind eye unless you give them a reason to fk you.

scorcher

3,987 posts

235 months

Saturday 31st December 2016
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Strap some roller skates under the wheels. You couldn't be "using it" as the wheels would be off the road and would be unable to turn.

Davel

8,982 posts

259 months

Saturday 31st December 2016
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Surely you must know someone with a van,trailer or anything who would move it for you - even if you just slipped them a few quid.