Speeding Cyclists

007stuart

I think cyclists should be restricted to a lower speed limit than motorised vehicles.

My reasoning for this to be brought in, is whilst bikes have become lighter and faster, the braking system on most cycles has remained unchanged for many years. I seriously doubt how able many of these cyclists travelling at excessive speed can stop safely, not only for themselves or for other road users especially pedestrians crossing roads.

I am sure this will provoke a vigorous discussion, but should we not look at all measures to reduce casualties that happen when speed is involved.

aleph_0

007stuart wrote: »

I am sure this will provoke a vigorous discussion, but should we not look at all measures to reduce casualties that happen when speed is involved.

Yes, we should. We should then assess the risks involved and make a calculated decision.

For example, kinetic energy is proportional to mass*velocity^2. Many accidents occur without much warning, and humans all have the same reaction time, so we can assume that not much breaking can occur.

Impact energy is going to be proportional to the kinetic energy. Thus, we should instead limit the kinetic energy of a vehicle.

Which would put speed limits for cyclists higher than cars higher than buses/hgvs. Which is the current state of the legislation.

DUTR

007stuart wrote: »

I think cyclists should be restricted to a lower speed limit than motorised vehicles.

My reasoning for this to be brought in, is whilst bikes have become lighter and faster, the braking system on most cycles has remained unchanged for many years. I seriously doubt how able many of these cyclists travelling at excessive speed can stop safely, not only for themselves or for other road users especially pedestrians crossing roads.

I am sure this will provoke a vigorous discussion, but should we not look at all measures to reduce casualties that happen when speed is involved.

What are you calling excessive speed? Realistically, how many cyclists can cruise at over 30mph?
Fastest I've ever been on a pushbike is 47mph and that was downhill and behind lorry.
Many are hard pushed to activate a gatso camera

frisbeej

If you are having to brake so hard in a car that you stop in a shorter distance than a motorbike is capable of then you are driving dangerously or not paying attention. And then the driver following you who also isn't paying attention will slam into the back of you...


Ultimately a car can out brake the equivalent motorbike but its irrelevant to driving on the roads.

Nebulous2

You obviously don't know much about bikes then if you think brakes haven't changed much for years.

Norman_Castle

frisbeej wrote: »

If you are having to brake so hard in a car that you stop in a shorter distance than a motorbike is capable of then you are driving dangerously or not paying attention. And then the driver following you who also isn't paying attention will slam into the back of you...


Ultimately a car can out brake the equivalent motorbike but its irrelevant to driving on the roads.

If you're riding a motorbike you're not a cyclist.

Norman_Castle

007stuart wrote: »

I am sure this will provoke a vigorous discussion, but should we not look at all measures to reduce casualties that happen when speed is involved.

Strict enforcement of the 30mph limit for motor vehicles would have a much greater impact on reducing casualties especially accidents involving pedestrians.

silverwhistle

Nebulous2 wrote: »

You obviously don't know much about bikes then if you think brakes haven't changed much for years.

Well, they certainly couldn't be _worse_ than the ones on my MZ TS250, great little bike though it was!

Actually push-bike brakes have also improved, but my main reaction to the OP's post was a deep sigh at its sheer stupidity.

Johno100

Norman_Castle wrote: »

If you're riding a motorbike you're not a cyclist.

Well it says Bicycle on my tax disc.

frisbeej

Norman_Castle wrote: »

If you're riding a motorbike you're not a cyclist.

People usually moan that motorcyclists go too fast and cyclists ride too slow.


Someone complaining about cyclists riding too fast threw me.


I say ban idiot pedestrians that step out in front of cyclists!

hugheskevi

I think cyclists should be restricted to a lower speed limit than motorised vehicles.

Aside from whether or not this is a good idea, how would it be enforced?

My reasoning for this to be brought in, is whilst bikes have become lighter and faster, the braking system on most cycles has remained unchanged for many years. I seriously doubt how able many of these cyclists travelling at excessive speed can stop safely, not only for themselves or for other road users especially pedestrians crossing roads.

In several years of commuting I've only come close to hitting one pedestrian - I expect many to walk out without warning oblivious to the world around them, but this one fooled me by stopping, looking carefully, then stepping out right in front of me nevertheless.

Reaction times and anticipation when cycling are generally excellent, excepting the young kids riding around in head-phones. Compare that to many of the drivers I see every day completely distracted by mobile phone use, when it does't matter how good their brakes are if they aren't in a position to use them due to distraction.

I am sure this will provoke a vigorous discussion, but should we not look at all measures to reduce casualties that happen when speed is involved.

The two most dangerous types of incident when cycling at speed for me are (i) the left hook, when a vehicle overtakes and immediately turns across me (and to a lesser extent the right hook - I can do more to anticipate those) and (ii) car doors being opened without warning whilst filtering.

A speed limit would do nothing to help either of those. Well, it might mitigate the damage of negligent drivers left-hooking cyclists, but really it would be better to tackle to cause (negligent driving) rather than mitigate the consequences.