Do cyclists need regulation?

[Alex]

No perhaps that's not how it came across, I can see that.

The thing is I see so many cyclists behaving like idiots, endangering themselves and others, that I think something needs to be done. Now how many cycling related deaths are purely due to drivers incompetence I don't know, but I would be very surprised if many of the deaths were at least partially the cyclists' faults.

The reason behind the regulation question is that cyclists, as far as I see on forums anyway (and as sparked the question, on the BBC website) seem to want to blame motorists for all their woes and accidents. I have no doubt that many accidents are mainly due to the motorists but I'm equally sure that many bring it on themselves by being invisible, ignoring the rules of the road and pulling unexpected maneuvers. Simply education and the current policy of ignoring things isn't working.

I agree that segregation of cyclists and motorists is a great idea, but rarely practical as you have to have the existing space to do it.

Thus my belief that motorists need to be prosecuted where possible for dangerous driving around cyclists, but also that cyclists should be prosecuted to cycling without lights at night, for running reds and for dangerous cycling. It may be mainly for their own safety, but then so is the wearing of seatbelts and no-one complains about that law now (do they?) The only way I could see to do this practically was licensing or bike identification, but I'm open to other ideas

[Tumble]

If you run a red light, you run the risk of hitting something that's in the road where it should be and you shouldn't. If that something happens to be me then yes - you'll lose. Simples. I've been hit twice myself crossing the road by an idiot cyclist going through the red light, and worse, I've seen a small child literally run over by a courier who didn't even slow down - she wasn't badly hurt, but there was blood and it wasn't nice at all. Both times I was struck, I got abused like I shouldn't have had right of way, when they had a red light and the crossing was beeping.

[TheAnimus]

Alex, you've seen Santa's list of deaths in London, I know 4 of them from last year were large veichals turning left..... Now ultimately that is not the cyclists fault, thou myself I'm so **** scared if I don't know I can get through in time and I have an escape area, I simply won't do it, but that is me ignoring the highway code.

When driving your always taught to know when its your right of way and take it because ultimately if you didn't it would create confusion which could end quite badly.

[santa claus]

No perhaps that's not how it came across, I can see that.....cut

If there is more regulation it will discourage cycle use; that's exactly what we need to avoid. When I deliver bikes to kiddies at Christmas, their little faces light up. Let's not spoil that by saying "now, don't forget to get your, MOT, Insurance, number plate, tax, helmet and flak jacket". A lot less bikes would appear on Christmas lists. I mean, come on, what has all this Health and Safety stuff done to your brain?

There are plenty of instances when running a red light is perfectly safe. I would say that sometimes a cyclist should do it for their own safety.

I have encountered far more pedestrians crossing when the lights are green for me so they're taking a chance running the lights too. Do I mow them down? No. Do we share a smile and go about our business? Yes. Should all pedestrians have a number plate and insurance so they can be nabbed too under your New Order? Nah.

I am responsible for managing my safety when I cycle and car drivers are trained formally to contribute to my safety. I don't need traffic lights or other road paraphernalia; come to that, I don't need roads (although I can see why they are handy).

I don't know how much cycling you have done but I guarantee an opinion-changing event won't be a long time coming.

[Kata]

I think we have perfectly adequate laws, for both cyclists and motorists, already. What is lacking is the enforcement. It might be illegal to cycle through a red light, but if you can do it with impunity for years on end, in front of the police, and have them do nothing...then of course people will do it.

I am highly amused by the people who say that it is unsafe to cross a red light, no matter where or when it occurs. If you are unable to think for yourself, then maybe I can understand that logic. However, if you think that it can never, ever be safe to cross a red light, I suppose you'd also go on a green light, even if a truck was barreling towards the crossing and not stopping? After all, YOUR light is green, so it MUST be safe - right?

Try and think for yourself sometime, you might like it

And I would just like to say...WOW! I am agreeing with santa on something!

[peterb]

<---snip

And I would just like to say...WOW! I am agreeing with santa on something!

It happens from time to time - even I do!

But your point is well made - however a red light is a mandatory requirement - a green light doesn't give a right of way in itself - a road user still has to exercise caution.

That isn't to say that there may be times when crossing a red light may be 'safe' but in the eyes of the law it is an absolute offence, although one would hope that a police officer enforcing that law would use his discretion - not always the case in 'target driven' policing, but that is another topic altogether!

[Georgy291]

so how soon is it going to be before were all going to need a license and helmets just to walk the streets? pedestrians cross red lights to....

[aidanjt]

so how soon is it going to be before were all going to need a license and helmets just to walk the streets? pedestrians cross red lights to....

Not long at this rate, and look forward to the thinking permit any time soon.. Although it could be argued that we already have that via the education system.

[santa claus]

And I would just like to say...WOW! I am agreeing with santa on something!

It happens from time to time - even I do!

Now steady on fellas, I'll end up in therapy if this goes on. Try just to think of me as the yin to your yang - even opposing views can compliment each other sometimes