MPS Cycle Task Force (bicycle advance boxes/ASL)

For those of you who took an interest in my recent post regarding bicycle advance boxes/ASL, the article copied at the foot of this post from http://www.bikehub.co.uk as well as Rule 178 of the Highway code http://www.directgov.co.uk may be useful.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070332

178
Advanced stop lines. Some signal-controlled junctions have advanced stop lines to allow cycles to be positioned ahead of other traffic. Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red and should avoid blocking the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times, e.g. if the junction ahead is blocked. If your vehicle has proceeded over the first white line at the time that the signal goes red, you MUST stop at the second white line, even if your vehicle is in the marked area. Allow cyclists time and space to move off when the green signal shows.
[Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10, 36(1) & 43(2)]

Although the Highway Code is not necessarily always enforceable by law or actively policed, referring specifically to rule 178 [Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10, 36(1) & 43(2)], above, according to Bikehub, the MPS Cycle Task Force has recently recruited a small unit aimed at traffic enforcement and cycle safety in London.

While this does not single out motorists, bus drivers or bikers in favour of cyclists as all transgressions (including cyclists ignoring red traffic lights) should, theoretically, be targeted it does mean that cyclists may now have some backing to support the much debated argument that vehicles and motorbikes rolling into advance boxes unnecessarily or by choice (when the traffic lights are against them) should be deterred and penalised in the same manner as they would be when crossing the solid white line at intersections where bicycle advance boxes do not exist or when stopping in box junctions.

As not only a cyclist but also a holder of a driving licence I believe that bicycle advance boxes are and should be exclusively for cyclists (unless it is unavoidable for a vehicle or motorbike to be in the box because of the genuine inability to stop as the traffic light changes to amber before going red or as a result of waiting to turn once the split signal has changed to green).

In my opinion the time-saving, if any, that a vehicle or motorbike gains is pointless when the safety of cyclists is at stake. However, I do feel that the animosity demonstrated by some pedestrians is warranted when cyclists behave discourteously by cycling on pavements and equally that ignoring traffic signals removes any credibility we have as a unit when we argue that other road users wrongly view cyclists in a poor light and in this instance fight for the enforcement of a rule that is as beneficial as it is sensible for the group of road users it was created for .

If like me you feel strongly about this please consider emailing your MP should this newly launched public service not deliver the desired result.
Thanks

http://www.bikehub.co.uk/news/bike-to-work/london-gets-more-bike-police/

London gets more bike police
29/09/2010 Bike to Work

Extra officers have joined the Metropolitan Police Service (Cycle Task Force to help improve cycle safety and to crackdown on road users who disobey the rules of the road.

10 more officers have joined the Cycle Task Force just three months since the team was introduced.

The MPS Cycle Task Force is part of the Safer Transport Command and is funded by Transport for London. It was introduced to tackle cycle theft and vandalism in the Capital. From this month, the original team, which tackles cycle theft, is being joined by a new unit, which will focus on traffic enforcement and cycle safety in London.

Since its launch in June this year, the MPS Cycle Task Force team, which tackles the problem of stolen and vandalised bikes in London, has already cycle security marked nearly 5,000 bikes, made nearly 20 arrests for bike theft and reunited some Londoners with their stolen bikes.

Ten extra specialist traffic police officers, who recently swapped their police cars for bikes, have now joined the MPS Cycle Task Force to help promote cycle safety and to crackdown on drivers – and cyclists – who break the rules of the road. The unit ran a six week long operation this summer to target road users who disobeyed traffic signals, encroached on advance stop lines, cycled carelessly or on pavements, or used their mobile phones on the two pilot Barclays Cycle Superhighways.

The operation resulted in:
More than 900 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) of up to £60 issued to drivers and motorcyclists;
Over 400 FPNs of up to £60 issued to cyclists;
Around 300 people attended an Exchanging Places safety education course to encourage considerate and safe behaviour from all road users and to promote sharing the road safely;
106 cyclists who were given FPNs for less serious offences were given the option to have their ticket cancelled if they attended an Exchanging Places safety education course. Fifty per cent of those offered the opportunity attended and had their ticket revoked;
More than 20 arrests made for a variety of offences, including for bike theft and driving while disqualified to do so.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor of London’s Transport Advisor, said: “The Cycle Task Force is a fundamental part of the cycling revolution the Mayor has delivered in London and has proven to be hugely effective. This task force, through both education and enforcement, has already helped thousands of London’s cyclists, by catching bike thieves, security marking bicycles and reuniting people with heir stolen bikes. The real success of this team is that it is helping both cyclists and those Londoners who do not cycle by ensuring that there is better behaviour on our streets by all road users.

“However there is always more that can be done to make London the best cycling city in the world and these additional officers should reassure everyone who cycles in the Capital that making London safe and secure remains our focus.”

Commander Mark Gore, Safer Transport Command, said: “The Safer Transport Command welcomes these officers into the Cycle Task Force as we move a step closer to realising the Mayor’s vision of a cycling revolution.

“While the vast majority of cyclists and motorists behave with care around London, a visible police presence helps all road users, including cyclists, to use the road responsibly. The MPS Cycle Task Force will continue to organise targeted operations to tackle bike theft and vandalism, as well as encourage considerate, safe and lawful behaviour from all road users.”

Steve Burton, TfL’s Director of Community Safety, Enforcement and Policing, said: “London is a fantastic city to get around on two wheels. However people can sometimes be put off by other road users or the fear of getting their bike stolen, and we are determined to put a stop to this.

“The MPS Cycle Task Force has done a cracking job to tackle bike theft since it was launched and these additional officers will strengthen the excellent work done to date.”[/b]