Cycling Weekly have lost the plot .........

dilemna

Anyone else see the following in this week's Cycling Weekly on the letters page?

CW has lost the plot........... Having published a letter a few months ago sent in by some idiot cyclist extolling how good using flashing blue bike lights was he had noticed vehicles gave him a lot more room than usual, I wonder why???? The idiot cyclist then went onto complain however that he had been stopped several times by plod and told not to use them as blue lights are reserved for the emergency services, surprise surprise. However no disclaimer from CW under the letter such as an Editor's note highlighting the illegal use of lights by this cyclist and that it was highly irrresponsible.

But CW have only published yet another similar letter from a plank called Robbie from St. Albans and only given it "Letter of the Week" top billing. The author Robbie says that he gets a lot more room given him using flashing blue lights when he is on his bike, no sh1t! He says he has also sought advice from traffic police who have however advised against using them as they are not legal. But Robbie takes the view that police have much more pressing issues to deal with than pursuing him using blue flashing lights on his bike and so will continue using them!!!!!!! Cycling Weekly have awarded Robbie the plank a cycle computer as they do every week for the author of the star letter. WTF!!! Again no Editor's note or disclaimer distancing themselves from the irresponsible use of the blue lights.

SO IT IS OFFICIAL CYCLING WEEKLY CONDONES USING FLASHIING BLUE LIGHTS ON YOUR BIKE IN CONTRAVENTION OF ROAD TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION AND USE LEGISLATION AND POLICE ADVICE. It condones cyclists who are not members of the emergencies services impersonating them when they have no busness doing so.

It's sutff like this that gets cycling and cyclists a bad name and does so much damage to our image.

Unbelievable ........... :roll:

Red Rock

Can CW be prosecuted by the CPS for promoting/rewarding an offence (if there is a law that covers this) or would it be a matter for the PCC?

Garry H

Apart from it being illegal, I can't see what the big deal is.

spen666

are the blue lights illegal?

I'm not sure they are


They are not fitted to his bike

spen666

dilemna wrote:

...SO IT IS OFFICIAL CYCLING WEEKLY CONDONES USING FLASHIING BLUE LIGHTS ON YOUR BIKE IN CONTRAVENTION OF ROAD TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION AND USE LEGISLATION AND POLICE ADVICE. ...:

Police advice is irrelevant. They do not make the law.

If you believed police advice it would be illegal to photgraph them and you would think police owned copyright of photos taken of them

see for example
http://www.bindmans.com/index.php?id=672


I have no problems with people ignoring police advice. It is not the law

nolf

NapD is a copper, be interested to see what he's got to say.

Will he give the rant the stamp of approval?

drewfromrisca

Police advice is irrelevant. They do not make the law.

They don't make the law they just enforce the law that's been made.

What photography has to do with this thread is beyond me. Just another chance for you to bash coppers maybe?!?!

spen666

drewfromrisca wrote:

Police advice is irrelevant. They do not make the law.

They don't make the law they just enforce the law that's been made.

What photography has to do with this thread is beyond me. Just another chance for you to bash coppers maybe?!?!

No, the police don't make the law. Their advice is irrelevant.

The photography example is a clear case of the police giving wrong advice.

Its not bashing the police. its showing that police advice is not the law and that it can bewrong.

You cannot be arrested/ prosecuted for not following police advice. You can be arrested / prosecuted for breaking the law.

the police are regulalry wrong in their interpretaion of the law.

Brassknocker

I think you're being a little bit pedantic here! and why does it give cyclists a bad name?


BTW where can I get a little blue led flashing light from? If it reduces the risk of me getting hit by a car in the dark - I want one too!


I saw a cyclist with one on the back of his helmet the other day and thought that it was a great idea!

spen666

Can anyone point me to the relevant bit of legislation that they say outlaws these lights?

Homer J

Legal or not, if it means getting stopped by your friendly bobby every time you go out i'd not bother with them.

scwxx77

spen666 wrote:

Can anyone point me to the relevant bit of legislation that they say outlaws these lights?

It's on wikipedia, it must be true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_ ... ed_Kingdom

Restrictions on fitting blue warning beacons, special warning lamps and similar devices
16. No vehicle, other than an emergency vehicle, shall be fitted with-


(a) a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp, or


(b) a device which resembles a blue warning beacon or a special warning lamp, whether the same is in working order or not.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_3.htm

vitesse169

Statutory Instrument 1989 No. 1796
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 - continued

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back to previous page




PART II


REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE FITTING OF LAMPS, REFLECTORS, REAR MARKINGS AND DEVICES
(2) No vehicle shall be fitted with a lamp which is capable of showing any light to the rear, other than a red light, except-
(k) blue light from a warning beacon or rear special warning lamp fitted to an emergency vehicle, or from any device fitted to a vehicle used for police purposes;

teagar

They lost the plot years ago.

passout

Using coloured lights may get you seen and may have some advantages but clearly flashing blue lights will confuse everybody and should be stopped. The guy is clearly an an idiot. I am suprised at cycling weekly.

Jez mon

spen666 wrote:

dilemna wrote:

...SO IT IS OFFICIAL CYCLING WEEKLY CONDONES USING FLASHIING BLUE LIGHTS ON YOUR BIKE IN CONTRAVENTION OF ROAD TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION AND USE LEGISLATION AND POLICE ADVICE. ...:

Police advice is irrelevant. They do not make the law.

If you believed police advice it would be illegal to photgraph them and you would think police owned copyright of photos taken of them

see for example
http://www.bindmans.com/index.php?id=672


I have no problems with people ignoring police advice. It is not the law

Tbh, it seems a lot of coppers often completely ignore the "spirit" of the anti terrorism law but they're hardly the first group of people to try and push the limits of laws are they? [lawyers cough cough]

In the case of the blue lights, it seems a rather silly thing to do, to do. Firstly, it a appears to be illegal. Secondly, it's liable to confuse motorists, thirdly it's going to get you stopped by police and finally their effectiveness is probably going to reduce quickly as drivers get used to them.

Pokerface

dilemna wrote:

Anyone else see the following in this week's Cycling Weekly on the letters page?

CW has lost the plot........... Having published a letter a few months ago sent in by some idiot cyclist extolling how good using flashing blue bike lights was he had noticed vehicles gave him a lot more room than usual, I wonder why???? The idiot cyclist then went onto complain however that he had been stopped several times by plod and told not to use them as blue lights are reserved for the emergency services, surprise surprise. However no disclaimer from CW under the letter such as an Editor's note highlighting the illegal use of lights by this cyclist and that it was highly irrresponsible.

But CW have only published yet another similar letter from a plank called Robbie from St. Albans and only given it "Letter of the Week" top billing. The author Robbie says that he gets a lot more room given him using flashing blue lights when he is on his bike, no sh1t! He says he has also sought advice from traffic police who have however advised against using them as they are not legal. But Robbie takes the view that police have much more pressing issues to deal with than pursuing him using blue flashing lights on his bike and so will continue using them!!!!!!! Cycling Weekly have awarded Robbie the plank a cycle computer as they do every week for the author of the star letter. WTF!!! Again no Editor's note or disclaimer distancing themselves from the irresponsible use of the blue lights.

SO IT IS OFFICIAL CYCLING WEEKLY CONDONES USING FLASHIING BLUE LIGHTS ON YOUR BIKE IN CONTRAVENTION OF ROAD TRAFFIC AND CONSTRUCTION AND USE LEGISLATION AND POLICE ADVICE. It condones cyclists who are not members of the emergencies services impersonating them when they have no busness doing so.

It's sutff like this that gets cycling and cyclists a bad name and does so much damage to our image.

Unbelievable ........... :roll:

I didn't see a disclaimer under your post telling me that the illegal use of lights by this cyclist and their use is highly irresponsible. Therefore I can only assume that you condone such behaviour.

rhext

vitesse169 wrote:

Statutory Instrument 1989 No. 1796
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 - continued

---

back to previous page




PART II


REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE FITTING OF LAMPS, REFLECTORS, REAR MARKINGS AND DEVICES
(2) No vehicle shall be fitted with a lamp which is capable of showing any light to the rear, other than a red light, except-
(k) blue light from a warning beacon or rear special warning lamp fitted to an emergency vehicle, or from any device fitted to a vehicle used for police purposes;

....which might imply that if it's not fitted to the bike then it's OK?

Mr_Cellophane

Just to confuse things. Blue (or any other colour) lights on your wheels are legal - flashing or static.

dilemna

I'm sorry but this just goes back to what is right and what is wrong which has been fiercely discussed on another thread. You just don't use blue lights unless you are part of the emergency services or police. If you are doing so contray to this you are clearly using blue lights to give the impression you are the emrgency services which is an offence AFAIK.

In any case a bright red light(s) is very visible. Why don't the muppets who claim they use blue or advocate using blue lights use a decent set of legitimate red lights instead? They don't because they want to give other road users the impression that they are the police. Impersonating the police is a criminal offence. If the emergency services used green, pink, or orange lights these muppets would start using the same colour lights. These people are a menace, period.

Why not use flashing orange lights that bin and council lorries and Highways Agency use - they are bright?

pepelepew

The public seem to ignore them on top of a big white police van, even when combined with two tone sirens. I'd be amazed if half the planks could see a bike with blue lights on.

As has already been mentioned, it's a summary offence. Usually dealt with by issuing a non-endorsable fixed penaly for £30.

Garry H

You have a very strange idea of "right and wrong". This is just some bloke having a laugh with a flashing blue light and you're full of indignant rage about the chap. Yet I seem to remember that on another thread you advocated that it would be "justice" for someone who caused accidental death, to herself be killed in a RTA! Get a grip.

nick hanson

I've got a flashing blue light on my bikealongside a red one.
Whilst out training I was riding with an off duty officer of the law,
I mentioned about the blue flashing light & question of legality.
He said that He very much doubted the average copper in a car would even know it was illegal.
He went on to mention the amount of chavs in corsas with the little blue lights in the grills,& some have heavily tinted headlights.Said no one had an issue with them,so If I was stopped,reconned best course of action was the line of
"sorry officer,I didn't realise it had switched to flashing mode,I'll just switch it back to fixed mode now"
If people on here REALLY have an issue with the aforementioned light,then,instead of pontificating on here,stop being an armchair cyclist,& get your ass out on the bike,in the real world,& realise that any lighting that gets you seen is NOT to be complained about. :roll:
Don't know about Cycling weekly loosing the plot,More like a few folk on here

rake

its a pitty the police use blue because there is sound science behind blue being more visible at night. i wonder what the limit is as the light becomes more greenish. your night vision in your eyes uses different nerve endings when your pupils dilate. the nerves are 2.5 times more sensitive and have evolved for seeing in bluegreen moonlight. cyan coloured leds will appear far brighter for a given power and have greater periferal vision. i wonder if cyan is illegal.

Mithras

The point here is that the use of illegal lighting of one sort or another is becoming more and more prevalent.
The use of flashing blue lights IS for emergency services use only! For some reason steady blue is legal. I can see the point some people make of saying "if it gets me seen I'll use flashing Blues". So it works on your bike and makes you safe, will you put flashing Blue lights on your car? No, didn't think so! But what's the difference? A bike is a vehicle, the same as a car is a vehicle. So why would you think it is OK too use flashing blue lights on your bike when you would not put them on your car?
At the moment very few people will use flashing blue lights, however as it becomes more widespread, drivers will take less notice of these blue lights leading to other problems (ie not moving out of the way, ignoring Blue lights of cycle mounted paramedics and police officers etc). So what next? "I've started wearing this police jacket and now cars give me loads more room!"

There are a thousand and one ways, legally, to make yourself more visible so be a bit more inventive!
The police don't have time too chase people just because they have flashing blues on their bikes. However if I catch anyone on my patch they will be getting their lights confiscated as a minimum!
:evil:

Le Commentateur

Most people would categorize cyan as a shade of blue.... so, yes.

Mithras

rake wrote:

its a pitty the police use blue because there is sound science behind blue being more visible at night.

Possibly why Emergency Services do use Blue!

rake

yes. i wont be using them though for obvious reasons. an intense white led is good enough.

giner1961

can not belive that people are arguing the t**s over what colour light to the rear, how many of you used the led's in red when they came out even though at the time a flashing red led was illegal.
Can not belive the person whom started this thread is a cyclist because if he was then he would understand anythink to save your life is fair game, and to the person who said you would not but blue lights on yer car, erm excuse me but a car is HOW much wider then a cyclist with its big two halagon front lights d**k

Cunobelin

(2) No vehicle shall be fitted with a lamp which is capable of showing any light to the rear, other than a red light, except-

(h) blue light and white light from a chequered domed lamp fitted to a police control vehicle and intended for use at the scene of an emergency;


(k) blue light from a warning beacon or rear special warning lamp fitted to an emergency vehicle, or from any device fitted to a vehicle used for police purposes;

Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 2004

There is also a good guide herre

Blue lights are for emergency vehicles only!

dilemna

giner1961 wrote:

can not belive that people are arguing the t**s over what colour light to the rear, how many of you used the led's in red when they came out even though at the time a flashing red led was illegal.
Can not belive the person whom started this thread is a cyclist because if he was then he would understand anythink to save your life is fair game, and to the person who said you would not but blue lights on yer car, erm excuse me but a car is HOW much wider then a cyclist with its big two halagon front lights d**k

Well you better believe it you charmless nurk. As Mithras to whom I also think you also refer is a serving police officer, he will take them from you if he sees you with them on in his patch .

What is it with people like you?? Do you not realise the implications of your stupid behaviour which have been succinctly explained above? The legislation posted by others on here covering use of lights on vehicles is clear. There are more than enough good bike lights and high viz products on the market to make yourself very visible on the roads without resorting to using blue lights solid or flashing. Buy yourself some DealExtreme or Exposure lights and a hi-viz reflective gilet which will get you seen no problem. Or if you can't afford these then get some cheap Smart lights which cost £3.00 and are excellent. BLUE LIGHTS IS NOT A COLOUR THAT IS ALLOWED. How many more times do you have to be told? The fact that chavs in Corsas and BMWs use blue lights on their cars is indicative of just how many planks there are out on the roads making the polices' job even harder if they are passing themselves off as the police. There are enough morons on the road without cyclists adding to them them by using blue lights :evil: . Most chavs dressed in black on bikes however have trouble fitting any lights to their bikes let alone blue ones :roll: .