Oh dear, indignant lycra lout fined £400 for speeding in Richmond Park

[renault12ts]

Also worth keeping in mind that these sorts of stories come out of London and the SE where they're all packed in like sardines, hence the tension. So while these stories do whip up conflict they aren't indicative of what's going on in the rest of our island.

Thinking about it, I can count on one finger the incidents I've had around my locality and not a GoPro in sight...

I agree...I was reversing out of my driveway this morning and a cyclist was coming down the road...we saw each other. I stopped, she slowed, and nothing happened. Unfortunately...I don't have the evidence on camera.

 

[Alfie]

I am a cyclist and this report pleased me to be honest. Too many cyclists think they own the roads/pathways. They dont. I consider myself a motorist friendly cyclist.

I regularly wave cars past me when I can see ahead and they cant. They have paid to use the roads, I havnt (when on my bicycle). I also encourage cars to pass me at every opportunity not just when there is nothing in sight and they feel they need to give me 16 ft bearth. A couple of feet is fine.

That said, I wouldnt Cycle down Guildford high st at any speed! Its cobbled! Im assuming Patagonian was in North St

 

[BTB 500]

Without knowing whether speed was a factor or not I've seen a number of fatalities reported from cycle/cycle and cycle/pedestrian collisions ... in fact someone died at a junction in London on Monday:

Man dies after cyclists crash in Hammersmith - News - London 24

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I was reversing out of my driveway this morning

Tut. Tut.

 

[renault12ts]

Tut. Tut.

Yep, hands up...my only defence is the skip in the driveway (I know it wouldn't stand up in court).

 

[Deleted96908]

As for the speeder in the park.... was he really doing anything that was worthy of the police being there and 'doing him' for speeding.... we keep hearing how stretched they are manpower wise .... well I would say if they have time to do that they need further culling!!!

It'll be the local residents lobby, which includes Mick Jagger, (bumped into him in there a couple of times running - me, not him) and Zac 'green's my true colour' Goldsmith

That said, I wouldnt Cycle down Guildford high st at any speed! Its cobbled! Im assuming Patagonian was in North St

I didn't say the High Street, although must confess to that one too on occasion. The Exorcist Cathedral at night does strange things to folks....

I also encourage cars to pass me at every opportunity not just when there is nothing in sight and they feel they need to give me 16 ft bearth. A couple of feet is fine.

Can't agree on this one. I've seen plenty of cyclist collide with narrow berthers in London - for that reason I always allow 6ft minimum when overtaking - yes I can cycle that fast - if for no other reason than to show those behind that I am manoeuvring around an obstacle. I always indicate too, and surprised to see that those that follow often don't follow suit.

 

[st13phil]

...but if we invested in Dutch like infrastructure and attitude, these issues might surface less frequently.

The cycling infrastructure in Holland is probably second to none in Europe, but they do have another (not quite unique) factor at play that makes cycling more attractive than it may otherwise be: the country's flat!

The reality in the UK is that we are unlikely to ever have the same sort of infrastructure for cycling that they have in Holland, so it's incumbent upon us all (cyclists, PTW-riders and drivers of vehicles on four or more wheels) to get on with each other and share the available space in a considerate fashion. The guy who was fined £400 for riding at speed in Richmond Park was riding like a complete tool, and his attitude typifies the aggressive stereotype that brings cyclists into conflict with other road users - and I include pedestrians in that statement.

It also strikes me that much of the antipathy between cyclists and other road users in the crowded south-east of the UK is as a direct result of road engineering decisions that were taken in good faith to help cyclists (such as advanced stop lines at traffic signals, cycle priority at junctions, etc.), that actually result in angering drivers of powered vehicles and thus create the very conflict that they were supposed to prevent.

I try not to doubt the assertion that aggressive "lycra lout" cyclists are actually a minority, but whatever their number by their actions they seriously damage the image of cyclists amongst other road users to the point where instead of a cyclist being seen as the vulnerable soft, squidgy, human being that they are, they are instead seen as a violent threat to be countered. Add in a large dose of people riding cycles who patently have no road sense at all, let alone sense of their own vulnerability, and we have the perfect recipe for vulnerable road users being killed and maimed.

With rights come responsibilities. Drivers of motorised vehicles have a multitude of regulations that they must adhere to (mostly with good reason) and suffer significant sanction when they don't. If significant numbers of cyclists can't behave sensibly, then perhaps it's time that they enjoyed some sanctions too?

 

[Deleted96908]

The cycling infrastructure in Holland is probably second to none in Europe, but they do have another (not quite unique) factor at play that makes cycling more attractive than it may otherwise be: the country's flat!

Yes, but wrt your south east comments, the most populated urban areas in the SE aren't especially hilly - and even if they are, perhaps we might see better health overall? But I take your point generally.

The reality in the UK is that we are unlikely to ever have the same sort of infrastructure for cycling that they have in Holland, so it's incumbent upon us all (cyclists, PTW-riders and drivers of vehicles on four or more wheels) to get on with each other and share the available space in a considerate fashion. The guy who was fined £400 for riding at speed in Richmond Park was riding like a complete tool, and his attitude typifies the aggressive stereotype that brings cyclists into conflict with other road users - and I include pedestrians in that statement.

I think the fine was half ar5ed tbh. Why not ban him from driving his car (given policing a cycle ban might be difficult) or if no car, then what about community service? To me a £400 fine in this case is a badge of honour for a fast riding, fit cyclist. London is full of them - go along the Embankment at home time and it's like a velodrome down there - sometimes dozens of cyclists pelotoning (word?) along at 30mph, sometimes racing, whatever the conditions.

It also strikes me that much of the antipathy between cyclists and other road users in the crowded south-east of the UK is as a direct result of road engineering decisions that were taken in good faith to help cyclists (such as advanced stop lines at traffic signals, cycle priority at junctions, etc.), that actually result in angering drivers of powered vehicles and thus create the very conflict that they were supposed to prevent.

Yes, although not just cyclists, or specific rules for cyclists. The juxtapositioning of all differing types of transport is dangerous - Thinking here of the mother who lost her cyclist daughter to a left turning juggernaut in the east end a year or so back. I'd like to see a blanket 20mph limit for everybody in the centre of London and other big cities during congestion charging hours - I think that would help a lot.

I try not to doubt the assertion that aggressive "lycra lout" cyclists are actually a minority, but whatever their number by their actions they seriously damage the image of cyclists amongst other road users to the point where instead of a cyclist being seen as the vulnerable soft, squidgy, human being that they are, they are instead seen as a violent threat to be countered. Add in a large dose of people riding cycles who patently have no road sense at all, let alone sense of their own vulnerability, and we have the perfect recipe for vulnerable road users being killed and maimed.

With rights come responsibilities. Drivers of motorised vehicles have a multitude of regulations that they must adhere to (mostly with good reason) and suffer significant sanction when they don't. If significant numbers of cyclists can't behave sensibly, then perhaps it's time that they enjoyed some sanctions too?

Agree on all points but when the issue of licensing, regulating and ensuring cyclists is raised the legislative say it's unenforceable without costs exceeding benefit. And if any party were to put something like this in their manifestos, the press would start shouting loony lefties quicker than Boris could eat another donut.

No easy answer I guess - not whilst the country is full of cars at least.

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

Bike number plates should help obviate the need of wasting police time on things like this. Half tongue in cheek

In 1985 I had a touring bike and managed to clock up 43mph on a downhill adjacent to University of Florence...scary! oO

Oh and reminiscing...averaged about 25mph+ for 2 hours riding southwards down the Rhone valley...downhill wind tunnel! Looovely! 50 miles (80 kilometres) in 2 hours

 

[baxlin]

I try to accommodate cyclists (I act as support driver to a group of "mature" long distance cyclists) where I can, but Sunday mornings around here are awash with lycra clad HDAU (head down A*** up) cyclists using the "streamlining" handlebar extensions, and who therefore have little or no control over their bikes, certainly their hands are nowhere near the brake levers....................

 

[219]

..... if we invested in Dutch like infrastructure and attitude, these issues might surface less frequently.....

We've certainly seen some of the infrastructure put in around Glasgow and Ayrshire with hundreds of thousands , if not millions , spent on cycling infrastructure in recent years - particularly in the run up to the Commonwealth Games , with fabulous facilities being put into the city , particularly on the approaches to the velodrome . There are extra wide shared use footpaths with brand new smooth surfaces , a recently completed cycle bridge to enable them to cross the M8 safely , and many miles of a newly surfaced and completely separate lane , with a physical barrier separating it from the old A77 all the way from just outside Newton Mearns to just short of Kilmarnock . Besides those , many disused railways have been resurfaced to become part of the national cycle network , again offering fast , safe routes away from other traffic ( I regularly cycle on these both recreationally and , on occasion , when I use my bike to commute part of the way to work ) .

Alas , we still get unappreciative idiots who ignore brand new cycle paths and lanes , fully segregated from other traffic for their safety , and who choose to make nuisances of themselves by cycling on the ( now reduced in width ) roads , holding up traffic and endangering themselves at the same time .

It is my strong feeling that , if vast amounts are spent from the public purse to encourage cycling and make life safer for those who choose to cycle , it should be mandatory to use cycle lanes and paths where they are available , and those who choose to ignore such paths should be made to pay a fixed penalty of a similar level to a parking ticket .

I know there are some badly implemented cycle lanes which are impractical to use ( a small minority of those in existence ) , and in such cases some discretion could be afforded , with anyone who feels unjustly penalised having the right to argue their case in court .

 

[Deleted member 6183]

While I agree with Pontoneer above I believe that the cyclists view is that the cycle tracks are poorly maintained/cleaned and full of 8 year old girls wobbling about on pink stabilised bikes slowing their progress.

Incidentally, it is rather amusing to read about the chinless wonder bitching about being caught cycling dangerously, his personal attack at the policemen is a real insight into his character.

 

[Dryce]

It is my strong feeling that , if vast amounts are spent from the public purse to encourage cycling and make life safer for those who choose to cycle , it should be mandatory to use cycle lanes and paths where they are available , and those who choose to ignore such paths should be made to pay a fixed penalty of a similar level to a parking ticket .

I know there are some badly implemented cycle lanes which are impractical to use ( a small minority of those in existence ) , and in such cases some discretion could be afforded , with anyone who feels unjustly penalised having the right to argue their case in court .

I would go a bit further.

On some busy narrow roads - whether there was an alternative cycle path or not I'd ban cyclists between 1630 and 1830.

In return I'd suggest that more money be spent on segregation and on specific cycle only routes aimed at making things easier and safer for commuting.

 

[Dryce]

full of 8 year old girls wobbling about on pink stabilised bikes slowing their progress.

AKA 'other cyclists'

Incidentally, it is rather amusing to read about the chinless wonder bitching about being caught cycling dangerously, his personal attack at the policemen is a real insight into his character.

It just takes a few and it taints everybody.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

AKA 'other cyclists'

Yep, but in their eyes 'slower' cyclists.

I'm not defending this type of cyclist BTW, far from it. However, we see enough threads on here about doddery old motorists holding the rest of us up so I begrudgingly can see some of their point in this instance.

 

[boxbrownie]

Yep, hands up...my only defence is the skip in the driveway (I know it wouldn't stand up in court).

I probably would if you leaned it up against the witness stand

 

[219]

I would go a bit further.

On some busy narrow roads - whether there was an alternative cycle path or not I'd ban cyclists between 1630 and 1830.

Tractors too - especially during the morning peak periods

 

[PhiliusM]

I hit 45MPH on the flat once on a road racing bike. I was considerably younger, stronger, slimmer and fitter then I'd be lucky to go fast enough to balance these days!!

 

[219]

I remember having a 'Huret' speedometer on my Raleigh Riviera bicycle in the 1970's , with 3 speed Sturmey-Archer gearing , and can recall only once pegging it to its 30mph maximum , coming down 'The Flints' on the A706 from Linlithgow into Bo'ness .

 

[Felstmiester]

I hit 45MPH on the flat once on a road racing bike. I was considerably younger, stronger, slimmer and fitter then I'd be lucky to go fast enough to balance these days!!

I had a Raleigh equip racer when I was around 16. I had some serious speeds out of that!! I think my record was 120mph. Of cause I had my mate slightly behind me on his lc350 with his foot on my back. And they say cyclist can get in the way. Only problem was I couldn't flash anyone to move over out of my way lol.