A question of the law....?

WeirdFishDiver

Hi
Another newbie here making the move from MTB to Road cycling (why didn't I do this sooner!! :roll: ).

Anyway, I am starting to ride further each week and am now venturing on to main roads from country lanes. One of the main routes out has a cycle / pedestrian path that runs alongside the main road. This is a busy single lane road with two white lines running down the middle of most of it.

I have been told that I should not ride on the road and should keep to the path as cyclist can get a 'ticket' for causing an obstruction to traffic if they do not use the cycle path. Am I forced to use the path if there is one there? I have seen road cyclist use the road but I am in danger of getting fined?

Cheers

sub55

you can ride where you like.

no compulsion to use the cycle path.

sungod

^^^ this

unless it's signposted as no cycles, you can ride it

but i would just love it if all the drivers of cars obstructing me in london were subject to fines and so encouraged to get off the road

MrChuck

Who told you that? Just out of interest.

Rockhopper

I have heard of someone who got a fine for doing exactly that. It was a while ago and I can't remember where I read it..

WeirdFishDiver

MrChuck wrote:

Who told you that? Just out of interest.

I know a couple of people that use the path to get to commute and they have mentioned that I should be using it. They come from the opposite direction where it is easier to get on to the path and avoid a roundabout.


Cheers

napoleond

You can get your bike confiscated by the police for doing this. The police can then sell the bike to fund CCTV projects targeting anti social riding.

sub55

While your at it, whilst you're on a bike ,
speed limits don't apply ,
you don't have to wear a helmet ,
you don't need lights or reflectors unless its dark,
you don't have to have a bell,
you can have bald tyres ,
you are perfectly entitled to ride any where on the left hand side of the white line,
no, they can't put points on your licence,

Bobbinogs

sub55 wrote:

While your at it, whilst you're on a bike ,
speed limits don't apply ,
you don't have to wear a helmet ,
you don't need lights or reflectors unless its dark,
you don't have to have a bell,
you can have bald tyres ,
you are perfectly entitled to ride any where on the left hand side of the white line,
no, they can't put points on your licence,

...but red lights do apply to you, although you may be forgiven for thinking the opposite sometimes :roll:

JonnyJH

I always thought that if caught on a bike drunk they can take your car licence away and/or put points on it for some things?
Is this wrong?...

essjaydee

JonnyJH wrote:

I always thought that if caught on a bike drunk they can take your car licence away and/or put points on it for some things?
Is this wrong?...

Section 30 Road Traffic Act 1988 says: "It is an offence for a person to ride a cycle on a road or other public place when unfit to ride through drink or drugs - that is to say - is under the influence of a drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the cycle.

You can not get points on your licence for 'drunk cycling' , but max fine for cycling dangerously is (I believe) £2500.
Also agree that in general speed limits do not apply. However local bye laws may be in place that do apply speed limits to cyclist.

Mike39496

sub55 wrote:

While your at it, whilst you're on a bike ,
speed limits don't apply ,
you don't have to wear a helmet ,
you don't need lights or reflectors unless its dark,
you don't have to have a bell,
you can have bald tyres ,
you are perfectly entitled to ride any where on the left hand side of the white line,
no, they can't put points on your licence,

I prefer to think of speed limits as a target to beat, if they weren't there I wouldn't try to break them.

I still haven't set off a 40mph speed camera yet though.

Note: I have never cycled furiously if the law is watching.

esspeebee

You don't need a driving licence to ride a bike, so nothing you do on a bike can affect the licence that you might or might not have.

JonnyJH

esspeebee wrote:

You don't need a driving licence to ride a bike, so nothing you do on a bike can affect the licence that you might or might not have.

Funnily enough I was having this discussion a few days ago and I questioned this, but was told that doesn’t stop them giving you a driving ban. Much like they can if someone who doesn’t have a licence is caught driving.
Ahh the good old days of cycling back from the pub wasted! To be 16 again

Mike39496 wrote:

I prefer to think of speed limits as a target to beat, if they weren't there I wouldn't try to break them.
I still haven't set off a 40mph speed camera yet though.

Is it true you need to be wearing a high vis jacket to get cameras to go off??

sub55

JonnyJH wrote:

esspeebee wrote:

Funnily enough I was having this discussion a few days ago and I questioned this, but was told that doesn’t stop them giving you a driving ban. Much like they can if someone who doesn’t have a licence is caught driving.
Ahh the good old days of cycling back from the pub wasted! To be 16 again

no mate,
Pedestrians, horse riders and cyclist use the public highway as of right. Drivers of motor vehicles don't , they are licenced in order to do so and that licence can be removed .
There is nothing you can do on a push bike that has any bearing on your driving licence.
What you're suggesting is abit like , if you get nicked for speeding ,we'll take your tv licence away from you for watching clarkson on it. It just doesn't make sense. The two things are completely unrelated.

DrLex

Rockhopper wrote:

I have heard of someone who got a fine for doing exactly that. It was a while ago and I can't remember where I read it..

You may be thinking of the case of Daniel Cadden, a few years back. Conviction overturned on appeal - cycle path is optional, not mandatory.