Rob Morley wrote:
On Wed, 27 Nov 2013 04:51:09 -0800 (PST)
Derek C wrote:

A hit and run cyclist who critically injured a girl aged 9 after he
knocked her down on a pedestrian crossing is facing jail. He is being
charged with causing grievous bodily harm by Wanton and Furious
Cycling under the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. The collision
occurred near Poole in Dorset.

No he's not, and even if the charge hadn't been dropped there's no
such offence as "Wanton and Furious Cycling" - IIRC the wording of
the act describes driving a "carriage or other vehicle". Bicycles as
we know them, two wheeled vehicles propelled by pedals (they still
had wooden wheels with iron tyres), had only just been introduced in
1861 and can't have been in common use.

According to this page:
http://www.roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/1835highwayact/
In 1878 ... justices Mellor and Lush ... held that bicyclists were liable to
the pains and penalties imposed by the 1835 Highway Act. ... and justices
Mellor and Lush ruled that bicycles were henceforth to be considered
carriages under the law.

--
Iain