1 week Ago
The news broke yesterday that cyclists who kill pedestrians by acting dangerously on the road could face life imprisonment under a proposed change to the law. Good, it’s about time cyclists started taking some responsibility for their dreadful riding. Now I know plenty of car drivers are ignorant of the rules too, but I’ll leave them for another day, today it’s all about cyclists.
It’s not everyone on a pushbike but it’s a fair few. Every single day I see cyclists jumping red lights, riding on the pavement or dangerously weaving In between traffic, often at night, with dark clothing on, no reflective clothing or lights on their bikes. If I drove my car like that I’d be pulled over and quite rightly so and face the full force of the law.
Why is it some cyclists, not all of them, but some think they can simply do what they want with impunity. The trouble is because they can, when was the last time you saw a cyclist pulled over by the police? I would hazard a guess not for decades. Just this week I had a group of men in their lycra clad outfits bomb right in front of me going around a roundabout hell for leather with no concern for me whatsoever.
If I’d have done that to them, they’d have probably reported me to the police, I can’t do it to them because there are no identifying marks on their bikes, totally irresponsible. How come so many kids are allowed out on bikes, again with no lights and dark clothing. What are their parents thinking letting them go out like that.
I see it all the time, do they even have a cycle proficiency test these days! Back in my day we did, and we were taught how to be responsible cyclists, now it’s a free for all. At last we’re going to see the law tightened up, but it doesn’t go anywhere far enough. Currently, cycling offenders can be imprisoned for no more than two years under an 1861 law originally intended for drivers of horse-drawn carriages.
A government amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which is currently going through Parliament would see cycling offences brought in line with driving offences. A DfT spokesperson said, "Dangerous cycling is completely unacceptable, and the safety of our roads is a key priority for this government." The changes would mean serious injury caused by dangerous cycling or death by careless or inconsiderate cycling could incur punishments of five years in jail, fines, or both.
A serious injury caused by careless or inconsiderate cycling would result in a two-year sentence, a fine or both under the proposed changes. What about enforcing the rules we already have? Stop people riding on pavements, jumping red lights, the lack of lights on bikes and the poor roadworthiness of some push bikes. If they’re repeat offenders, confiscate their bikes and crush them, that will soon sort the problem out but as always nothing will be done, and more people will get hurt.
So, my message to cyclists is take some responsibility, don’t just blame the motorist, we need to coexist and look out for each other, oh and put some lights on your bike! This opinion column has been written by Mark Murphy..
