Fines for cyclists?

sevenhills

We very rarely hear about cyclists being prosecuted or fined.

What penalties can the police give a cyclist, if they can catch them or identify them?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-60722270?fbclid=IwAR39KVoz_tuJ880ygOLimXc0DmDr6YllmKBODwd35F6G-AXMlt-SG-QGHK0

sand_hun

Pretty sure police can issue them with a FPN if they're caught doing something wrong. However, in reality most offences go unpunished and that counts for motorists too.

Despite identification (number plates) how many of us actually get penalised when we exceed speed limits? The same goes for tailgating and red light jumping - unless seen by a police car/van the offender generally isn't fined - this is because most sets of traffic lights do not have cameras.

The biggest problem I see on the road is the amount of drivers still texting on mobile phones whilst driving. It's so common yet is difficult to fine and prosecute these individuals. Saw a woman yesterday, driving with a cigarette in one hand and typing into her mobile at the same time!

 

[Deleted User]

If seen, red light jumping, obviously drunk, speeding in the parks that have the limits, on the phone.

Police periodically do spot checks for lights in winter/night commuting as well. Technically you can be done for not having rear reflectors and pedal reflectors but they generally don't bother as many pedals now don't have these especially clipless

Generally though if you have scant resources, is it really worth going after the odd Bloke on Bike or cyclist for doing something relatively minor? I know people love to bang on about red lights but in London over 10 years TfL data showed people on bikes were responsible for just 4% of all pedestrians who were KSI by a red light jumper (with no deaths), motorists were responsible for 71%. Similarly, around 40 pedestrians a year are killed on the pavement by drivers, you get 1 or so per 2 years in a fatal collision with a bike

troffasky

Given how little traffic policing is done nowadays, I would rather the police focus their limited resources on the bigger sources of harm, everything on the road other than pedestrians and cyclists. Traffic offences by pedestrians and cyclists are effectively decriminalised unless they are egregious.

sevenhills

sand_hun said:

Pretty sure police can issue them with a FPN if they're caught doing something wrong.

Anyone can ignore a FPN and see if they are taken to court. So, such as this road being closed, the court should not waste their time.

DB1904

Deleted_User said:

If seen, red light jumping, obviously drunk, speeding in the parks that have the limits, on the phone.

Police periodically do spot checks for lights in winter/night commuting as well. Technically you can be done for not having rear reflectors and pedal reflectors but they generally don't bother as many pedals now don't have these especially clipless

Generally though if you have scant resources, is it really worth going after the odd Bloke on Bike or cyclist for doing something relatively minor? I know people love to bang on about red lights but in London over 10 years TfL data showed people on bikes were responsible for just 4% of all pedestrians who were KSI by a red light jumper (with no deaths), motorists were responsible for 71%. Similarly, around 40 pedestrians a year are killed on the pavement by drivers, you get 1 or so per 2 years in a fatal collision with a bike

Is that a specific offence?

Ergates

sevenhills said:

We very rarely hear about cyclists being prosecuted or fined.

What penalties can the police give a cyclist, if they can catch them or identify them?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-60722270?fbclid=IwAR39KVoz_tuJ880ygOLimXc0DmDr6YllmKBODwd35F6G-AXMlt-SG-QGHK0

A lot of the most commonly committed traffic offences (e.g. speeding or using your phone) are difficult or impossible to commit on a bike (for most people).  Also, the risks to other people are significantly lower.

MikeWhite

DB1904 said:

Deleted_User said:

If seen, red light jumping, obviously drunk, speeding in the parks that have the limits, on the phone.

Police periodically do spot checks for lights in winter/night commuting as well. Technically you can be done for not having rear reflectors and pedal reflectors but they generally don't bother as many pedals now don't have these especially clipless

Generally though if you have scant resources, is it really worth going after the odd Bloke on Bike or cyclist for doing something relatively minor? I know people love to bang on about red lights but in London over 10 years TfL data showed people on bikes were responsible for just 4% of all pedestrians who were KSI by a red light jumper (with no deaths), motorists were responsible for 71%. Similarly, around 40 pedestrians a year are killed on the pavement by drivers, you get 1 or so per 2 years in a fatal collision with a bike

Is that a specific offence?

No, it is not.

[Deleted User]

DB1904 said:

Deleted_User said:

If seen, red light jumping, obviously drunk, speeding in the parks that have the limits, on the phone.

Police periodically do spot checks for lights in winter/night commuting as well. Technically you can be done for not having rear reflectors and pedal reflectors but they generally don't bother as many pedals now don't have these especially clipless

Generally though if you have scant resources, is it really worth going after the odd Bloke on Bike or cyclist for doing something relatively minor? I know people love to bang on about red lights but in London over 10 years TfL data showed people on bikes were responsible for just 4% of all pedestrians who were KSI by a red light jumper (with no deaths), motorists were responsible for 71%. Similarly, around 40 pedestrians a year are killed on the pavement by drivers, you get 1 or so per 2 years in a fatal collision with a bike

Is that a specific offence?

No but it's covered under "careless or inconsiderate cycling contrary to section 29 of the Road Traffic Act 1988." per Rule 68 : “You MUST NOT ride in a dangerous, careless, or inconsiderate manner.”

29 Careless, and inconsiderate, cycling.

If a person rides a cycle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, he is guilty of an offence.

It's the same as undertaking which also isn't a specific offence but you can still be done for it

Car_54

Ergates said:

sevenhills said:

We very rarely hear about cyclists being prosecuted or fined.

What penalties can the police give a cyclist, if they can catch them or identify them?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-60722270?fbclid=IwAR39KVoz_tuJ880ygOLimXc0DmDr6YllmKBODwd35F6G-AXMlt-SG-QGHK0

A lot of the most commonly committed traffic offences (e.g. speeding or using your phone) are difficult or impossible to commit on a bike (for most people).  Also, the risks to other people are significantly lower.

Neither speeding nor phone use are offences on a bike, at least on public roads. However, I regularly see phones in use around here, and speeding is really not so difficult.

DB1904

Deleted_User said:

DB1904 said:

Deleted_User said:

If seen, red light jumping, obviously drunk, speeding in the parks that have the limits, on the phone.

Police periodically do spot checks for lights in winter/night commuting as well. Technically you can be done for not having rear reflectors and pedal reflectors but they generally don't bother as many pedals now don't have these especially clipless

Generally though if you have scant resources, is it really worth going after the odd Bloke on Bike or cyclist for doing something relatively minor? I know people love to bang on about red lights but in London over 10 years TfL data showed people on bikes were responsible for just 4% of all pedestrians who were KSI by a red light jumper (with no deaths), motorists were responsible for 71%. Similarly, around 40 pedestrians a year are killed on the pavement by drivers, you get 1 or so per 2 years in a fatal collision with a bike

Is that a specific offence?

No but it's covered under "careless or inconsiderate cycling contrary to section 29 of the Road Traffic Act 1988." per Rule 68 : “You MUST NOT ride in a dangerous, careless, or inconsiderate manner.”

29 Careless, and inconsiderate, cycling.

If a person rides a cycle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, he is guilty of an offence.

It's the same as undertaking which also isn't a specific offence but you can still be done for it

It could be but you'd need a bit more than simply using the phone.