Radar speed traps to slow Mountain Bikers on trails?
Discussion
http://www.mbr.co.uk/news/radar-guns-used-limit-sp...
Worrying trend if it gets picked up over here? Only in Denver and San Francisco at the moment, but fines and driving licence endorsements similar to those for speeding car drivers, according to the article. WTF?
I checked the date on it too - April 4th so it would seem that it's not an April Fool stunt, neither. And just to put 15mph into perspective, that's Roger Bannister's record breaking 1954 4-minute mile pace...
All about context.
IF it's a nanny state thing curtailing enjoyment of an MTB run, then it's crap.
If the quote that the walker frequently gets yelled at / forced off the path, then hefty MTB speeds are inappropriate. Trails are shared, they don't belong to bikes, walkers or horses. If everyone has a bit of common sense, there's no need for enforcement of any kind. If mongs turn up tho, you get draconian reactions for all due to the few..
IF it's a nanny state thing curtailing enjoyment of an MTB run, then it's crap.
If the quote that the walker frequently gets yelled at / forced off the path, then hefty MTB speeds are inappropriate. Trails are shared, they don't belong to bikes, walkers or horses. If everyone has a bit of common sense, there's no need for enforcement of any kind. If mongs turn up tho, you get draconian reactions for all due to the few..
I suppose you're right. It probably wouldn't be targeted at 'Trail Centres' with marked one-way trails.
And the thing about the retarded minority ruining it for everybody rings true too. Especially locally to me, where the MOD are doing their utmost to kick MTBing into touch on their (very extensive) training estate. Mostly due to night riders disrupting training and unauthorised digging of trail features by d
heads who have no aptitude or competence in the design or construction of said trail features.
And the thing about the retarded minority ruining it for everybody rings true too. Especially locally to me, where the MOD are doing their utmost to kick MTBing into touch on their (very extensive) training estate. Mostly due to night riders disrupting training and unauthorised digging of trail features by d
heads who have no aptitude or competence in the design or construction of said trail features.^ see green laning by "1 life live it" s.
I live (and cycle) near the peak district. On of the formerly lovely bits near the cat is now full of boulders, because the rav4 brigade chewed up the whole hillside, despite it being a national park. Now, no-one could physically drive there, but it's an eyesore.
This has a knock of effect to the perfecly non-tttish off roaders in the macc forrest - both from undeserved stigma, and less access. Same issue that prevents me from driving at slightly excessive speed up the cat, due to bikers travelling at ridiculous speeds and running out of talent. The few spoil it for the many every time!
s. I live (and cycle) near the peak district. On of the formerly lovely bits near the cat is now full of boulders, because the rav4
brigade chewed up the whole hillside, despite it being a national park. Now, no-one could physically drive there, but it's an eyesore.This has a knock of effect to the perfecly non-t
ttish off roaders in the macc forrest - both from undeserved stigma, and less access. Same issue that prevents me from driving at slightly excessive speed up the cat, due to bikers travelling at ridiculous speeds and running out of talent. The few spoil it for the many every time! 
Max_Torque said:
Er, i'd like to see them make that stick if you challenged it in a court of law!
"You were doing over 15mph, you owe us £500"
"There is no speedometer on my bike, nor any legal requirement to have one"
"Ahh, case dismissed"
;-)
Doesn't work apparently when you get done in Richmond Park for the same thing. Though that will always be my defence if ever I do. "You were doing over 15mph, you owe us £500"
"There is no speedometer on my bike, nor any legal requirement to have one"
"Ahh, case dismissed"
;-)
esuuv said:
You can't be done for actual speeding in Richmond park, as said, bikes aren't obliged to have a speedometer - they fine for "dangerous and careless cycling"
thought it was "furious cycling". Which I would love to actually witness. 
Thinking about it, could "furious cycling" be levelled at those with cameras on their helmets who shout at the bad drivers around them?
AS for this happening over here. I very much doubt it. This sounds like the ski patrol in American resorts, who have the powers to stop and issue tickets, confiscating ski passes, checking for skiing under the influence etc. As far as I know, this practice, although being in the US for many years, has thankfully not made it across to the alps.
prand said:
thought it was "furious cycling". Which I would love to actually witness.
Thinking about it, could "furious cycling" be levelled at those with cameras on their helmets who shout at the bad drivers around them?
AS for this happening over here. I very much doubt it. This sounds like the ski patrol in American resorts, who have the powers to stop and issue tickets, confiscating ski passes, checking for skiing under the influence etc. As far as I know, this practice, although being in the US for many years, has thankfully not made it across to the alps.
Half the mountain huts in the alps would go bankrupt if they started that.Thinking about it, could "furious cycling" be levelled at those with cameras on their helmets who shout at the bad drivers around them?
AS for this happening over here. I very much doubt it. This sounds like the ski patrol in American resorts, who have the powers to stop and issue tickets, confiscating ski passes, checking for skiing under the influence etc. As far as I know, this practice, although being in the US for many years, has thankfully not made it across to the alps.
In order for there to be speed traps, first there needs to be a limit, I've not come across a trail with a posted limit (yet)
RP always comes up.. I believe that the salient points are:
1) Bikes are not technically governed by normal national speed limits established for vehicles under the road traffic act as they don't meet the definition of a vehicle, therefore the limits (which are for vehicles)
2) The speed limit in RP is established by the parks authority (possibly by order of the secretary of state, but I may have imagined that), therefore the definitions are different, and (anecdotally) that includes bikes, which is different from the 'public' road.
As to whether anyone has actually been done, I don't know personally.. but one of our group certainly had a long and serious talking to from the man with a speed trap one lunchtime. No further action beyond a serious telling off in that case, but he certainly didn't think the speed limit was optional for bikes.
As to no speedo defence, I'd be surprised if that actually has any standing. I'm not required to have a tread depth gauge, but I can still be done for having bald tyres..
RP always comes up.. I believe that the salient points are:
1) Bikes are not technically governed by normal national speed limits established for vehicles under the road traffic act as they don't meet the definition of a vehicle, therefore the limits (which are for vehicles)
2) The speed limit in RP is established by the parks authority (possibly by order of the secretary of state, but I may have imagined that), therefore the definitions are different, and (anecdotally) that includes bikes, which is different from the 'public' road.
As to whether anyone has actually been done, I don't know personally.. but one of our group certainly had a long and serious talking to from the man with a speed trap one lunchtime. No further action beyond a serious telling off in that case, but he certainly didn't think the speed limit was optional for bikes.
As to no speedo defence, I'd be surprised if that actually has any standing. I'm not required to have a tread depth gauge, but I can still be done for having bald tyres..
upsidedownmark said:
As to no speedo defence, I'd be surprised if that actually has any standing. I'm not required to have a tread depth gauge, but I can still be done for having bald tyres..
er, i guess you haven't seen the "tread depth" markers fitted (and required to be present by law to get tyre type approval) to your tyres then???Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff