Speed Limits

Do speed limits on roads apply to Bicycles?

Not including places where bye-laws have been passed (parks for example)
as the Highway Code seems to suggets they relate to Motor Vehicles only

Great Eastern wrote:
Do speed limits on roads apply to Bicycles?
No they don't.

--
Peter 'Prof' Fox
Multitude of things for beer, cycling, Morris and curiosities at
http://vulpeculox.net

On 03/08/2010 16:55, Peter Fox wrote:
Great Eastern wrote:
Do speed limits on roads apply to Bicycles?
No they don't.


Anyone know of any websites etc which state that clearly?

On 3 Aug, 16:55, Peter Fox wrote:
Great Eastern wrote:
Do speed limits on roads apply to Bicycles?

No they don't.


Unfortunately that doesn't stop car drivers from braking hard 20yds
before the yellow 'camera' housing. This is a considerable danger for
cyclists on downhill stretches. The apparent lack of knowledge by
car drivers on a 'derestricted' dual carriageway gets them braking
from a legal 65-68mph down to less than 40mph, this causes much
trouble and disruption, the effect backing up a couple of miles at
least. The actual road is safe beyond 80mph at that point in any
maintained vehicle built since 1960 but drivers fail to observe the
difference between moving and stationary vehicles ahead in the
distance and do not maintain adequate following distances.

--
Peter 'Prof' Fox
Multitude of things for beer, cycling, Morris and curiosities at
http://vulpeculox.net

On Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:02:36 +0100 someone who may be Great Eastern
wrote this:-

Anyone know of any websites etc which state that clearly?

As you have mentioned it the Highway Code,
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/index.htm.

if that isn't enough then follow the references to the laws
themselves in the Highway Code and look them up. Many statutes are
now on the web.

From the Highway Code web site

"[Law RTRA sects 81, 86, 89 & sch 6]"

and

"Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 [RTRA]"

I hope you can work out what to do next for yourself, rather than
expecting to be spoon fed.



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000...#pt3-pb3-l1g54

On Aug 3, 4:24*pm, Great Eastern wrote:
Do speed limits on roads apply to Bicycles?

Not including places where bye-laws have been passed (parks for example)
as the Highway Code seems to suggets they relate to Motor Vehicles only

As bicyles do not have to be fitted with working speedometers (unlike
cars, motorbikes and HGVs), I assume not. There is such an offence as
furious cycling though. See:

http://www.criminal-solicitors.com/bicycles.htm

Bicyles

It is against the law to ride on footpaths or pavements by the
roadside. Magistrates can fine £1000.
A £200 fine is set for furious cycling.

The Licensing Act 1872 makes it an offence to be drunk in charge of a
bicycle (or any other vehicle or carriage) on a highway or in a public
place.

Magistrates can hand down a 1 month prison sentence and a £200 fine.

The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 require that
the specifications of the bike are fixed on a secure plate; there
should be brakes to comply with section 6 of British Standards (1981)
fitted to the front wheel.

The bike should only be under power by means of a switch biased to the
off position. The height of the saddle should be more than 635mm above
ground level.

Magistrates can set a fine of £1000 if they are contravened.

Electric bikes cannot be ridden by children under the age of 14 (£500
fine at Magistrates).

Magistrates can fine £200 if a bicycle rider is carrying a passenger
without the bike being properly adapted to do so (ie: a tandem).

It is an offence for more than one person to ride a bike if it is not
under power or adapted. See the cycling sub section for more on this.

Magistrates can set a maximum fine of £2500 for dangerously riding a
bicycle.
Magistrates can set a maximum fine of £1000 for riding a bicycle
without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration
for other people using the road.

It is an offence to ride a bicycle whilst unfit through drink or
drugs.

Magistrates can set a maximum fine of £1000.


I wonder if the requirements for riding an electric bike also refer to
the mental age of the rider? If so, then Doug shouldn't be riding one!

On 03/08/2010 17:44, Derek C wrote:
On Aug 3, 4:24 pm, Great wrote:
Do speed limits on roads apply to Bicycles?

Not including places where bye-laws have been passed (parks for example)
as the Highway Code seems to suggets they relate to Motor Vehicles only

As bicyles do not have to be fitted with working speedometers (unlike
cars, motorbikes and HGVs), I assume not.

That's not a very good clue really.

Not all cars and motorbikes have to have a speedometer, only those built
after a certain date, but they all do have to comply with the speed limit.

Cars and motorbikes (or their drivers/riders) aren't compelled to have a
timepiece, but they still have to comply with parking time limits. ;-)

--
Matt B

On Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:55:24 +0100, Peter Fox
wrote:

Great Eastern wrote:
Do speed limits on roads apply to Bicycles?
No they don't.

Other than in some Royal parks.

Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk/
The usenet price promise: all opinions offered in newsgroups are guaranteed
to be worth the price paid.

Great Eastern wrote:
On 03/08/2010 16:55, Peter Fox wrote:
Great Eastern wrote:
Do speed limits on roads apply to Bicycles?
No they don't.


Anyone know of any websites etc which state that clearly?

http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk

Tony

On 3 Aug, 17:44, Derek C wrote:
On Aug 3, 4:24*pm, Great Eastern wrote:

Do speed limits on roads apply to Bicycles?

Not including places where bye-laws have been passed (parks for example)
as the Highway Code seems to suggets they relate to Motor Vehicles only

As bicyles do not have to be fitted with working speedometers (unlike
cars, motorbikes and HGVs), I assume not. There is such an offence as
furious cycling though. See:

You have to be turning the pedals forward and supplying drive for that
to be proven. Many contributers here seem to think it impossible to
exceed 60mph on a bicycle, so perhaps the plod dont believe it
either. I never managed to pass a panda car on a derestricted road,
but there you are, it is derestricted for bicycles anyway, there is no
prescribed limit, the 60mph limit applies to motor-cars, motor-cycles
and motor-tricycles. I've never seen a limit for pedal-cycles when
the 'national speed limit applies' so it must still remain
derestricted or unlimited. This would make it difficult for plod to
prove furious cycling unless there were obvious hazards in quick
succession. I'd still call him a jumped up so and so in court, if
they bothered to turn up.


http://www.criminal-solicitors.com/bicycles.htm

Bicyles

It is against the law to ride on footpaths or pavements by the
roadside. Magistrates can fine £1000.
A £200 fine is set for furious cycling.

This might be worthwhile if I could get a signed certificate with
photographic evidence to show I exceeded 70mph by timings between road
markings.

The Licensing Act 1872 makes it an offence to be drunk in charge of a
bicycle (or any other vehicle or carriage) on a highway or in a public
place.

The act of cycling a racing bike at less than 10mph is totally
implausible when drunk. Being in charge indicates the bike has some
sort of self motive force so cannot truly apply to a pedal only cycle.

Magistrates can hand down a 1 month prison sentence and a £200 fine.

The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 require that
the specifications of the bike are fixed on a secure plate; there
should be brakes to comply with section 6 of British Standards (1981)
fitted to the front wheel.

The bike should only be under power by means of a switch biased to the
off position. The height of the saddle should be more than 635mm above
ground level.

That'll be the spare position for the top deck passenger on a
recumbent then.


Magistrates can set a fine of £1000 if they are contravened.

Electric bikes cannot be ridden by children under the age of 14 (£500
fine at Magistrates).

Magistrates can fine £200 if a bicycle rider is carrying a passenger
without the bike being properly adapted to do so (ie: a tandem).

That's ridiculous, a bicycle does not have , oh hold on, tandem does
not mean a normal driving position, it just means a seat in tandem,
which could be in front of or behind the pilot.

It is an offence for more than one person to ride a bike if it is not
under power or adapted. See the cycling sub section for more on this.

What ya sayin Willis?

Magistrates can set a maximum fine of £2500 for dangerously riding a
bicycle.

I think there might be other offences to consider if a rider has TNT
stuffed down his boots.
What is "dangerously riding a bicycle", knocking the bobby off his
feet on the Zebra crossing?

Magistrates can set a maximum fine of £1000 for riding a bicycle
without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration
for other people using the road.

£100 for a squeaky chain, that's a jumped up charge if ever I heard
it, sounds like "walking in a manner with intent to intimidate"
"posession of offensive hair" etc.


It is an offence to ride a bicycle whilst unfit through drink or
drugs.

Thought we did that. It's a bloody miracle to ride a bicycle while
unfit to ride a bicycle through whatever reason. The fact that one is
riding, means one is not unfit to ride. That's some big blooper
there.

Magistrates can set a maximum fine of £1000.

Unlikely.

I wonder if the requirements for riding an electric bike also refer to
the mental age of the rider? If so, then Doug shouldn't be riding one!

Perhaps he is unfit through drink or drugs. I hear that there is
going to be a crackdown on the ability to drive motro vehicles by
drivers affected by drugs (prescription or otherwise) and I dont see
this not including motorised pedal cycles.