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London cyclist approaching junction.jpgObey! Transport minister tells cyclists to follow Highway Code… well, he asks leaders of cycling organisations to tell them for him
Transport Minister Jesse Norman has asked cycling organisations to remind their members to follow the Highway Code, less than 48 hours after announcing a review on whether dangerous and careless cycling offences should be introduced.
Norman has written to British Cycling, Cycling UK, the Bicycle Association, Sustrans, and Chris Boardman and Will Norman, Cycling and Walking Commissioners for Greater Manchester, and London, respectively, asking for their help highlighting the rules relating to cycling, including use of equipment, clothing and the use of lanes and crossings to their networks.
Norman’s letter, which directly references the recent case in which Kim Briggs died following a collision with cyclist Charlie Alliston, has prompted ire from cycling groups, who question whether Norman has written to motoring groups on the issue, given the relatively greater risk posed by motor vehicles.
Government announces cycle safety review in wake of Alliston case
“I am writing to you following the tragic death of Mrs Kim Briggs to ask for your help in highlighting the importance of cyclists adhering to the rules set out in the Highway Code.” Writes Norman, who is MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire.
“The Highway Code clearly sets out rules for cyclists including on equipment clothing and use of lanes and crossings. It states that every pedal cycle must have efficient brakes and meet the applicable legal requirements”.
Norman also refers to the more detailed information set out in the Pedal Cycles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1983, which states bicycles must have independent working front and rear brakes.
The cycling review was launched in response “to a series of high profile incidents involving cyclists”, including the case in which cyclist Charlie Alliston was this week sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders’ institution for the death of pedestrian Kim Briggs when the pair collided in London’s Old Street in February 2016.
Roger Geffen, Cycling UK Policy Director, told road.cc: "We're responding robustly behind the scenes to the DfT."
Cycling UK would not be drawn further on the matter.
Cycling organisations, such as British Cycling and Cycling UK, already promote safe cycling among their members, and critics would question whether the response to the Alliston case from the Department for Transport has been fair and proportionate. According to the Department for Transport’s own statistics, 1732 people were killed on UK roads in 2015, and 22,137 seriously injured. Cyclists, by contrast, account for around two deaths per year, on average.
Some have asked whether the RAC, AA and driving instructors have been contacted on the issue, given the respective risk motor vehicles pose on the roads.
Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign tweeted the letter today, commenting: “Unprecedented ministerial action after 2 cycle related deaths. Awaiting 750 times this much effort to address the 1500+ motor-related deaths.”
In 2014 Chris Grayling, the then Justice Secretary, who is now Transport Secretary, promised a review into sentencing policy in relation to convictions for the offences of causing death by dangerous driving. Despite more than 22 requests from Cycling UK and Parliamentarians since then the review, nor any legislation, have not been forthcoming.
The Highway Code, where it relates to cyclists, covers legal obligations such as the use of lights at night and reflectors fitted to the bike. It also advises cyclists to wear a cycle helmet and wear light coloured, reflective or fluorescent clothing, though this is not the law. There is also a section on road users requiring extra care, which Norman says “aims to educate and remind drivers of the needs of more vulnerable road users, such as cyclists”.
Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.
Latest Comments
- AidanR 5 hours 8 min ago
Looking at the pictures in the linked article, the bikes aren't actually inconsiderately parked. The only issue is that they're on private property...
- chrisonabike 5 hours 10 min ago
Hope you don't mind some small corrections? Unless it's got much worse since I was last travelling there (over a decade ago now)....
- IanGlasgow 5 hours 22 min ago
"Anything made from an old bike part"...
- IanGlasgow 5 hours 28 min ago
As an urban commuter cyclist I really want a set of indicators that actually work....
- Simon E 5 hours 43 min ago
Ah yes, those are hopefully not the 'master craftsmen' that has constructed a wide range of shoddy Italian cars and motorbikes over the years with...
- Simon E 6 hours 6 min ago
A SuperSix is definitely not an all-rounder....
- JLasTSR 6 hours 12 min ago
Since most of.my clothes come.from.charity shops.or the eBay nearly for.nothing clothing section I don't tend.to.worry if they wear out, I am also...
- chrisonabike 6 hours 58 min ago
Just get them to walk a treadmill - or better, ride exercise bikes to power path lighting.
- AidanR 7 hours 34 min ago
So his advisers were trying to move funds around to cover losses, but in a way that needlessly created additional liabilities? It would have been...
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71 comments
I think it might have some relevance in the US. They are very much more car-centric than us and personally I would hate to go further down that road. I think in the long run we would be much better to develop systems that can cope with all the difficulties than adapt the environment to suit the new vehicles. Most of europe and the rest of the world have more to lose than the US.
Any government introducing these measures would lose my vote for ever and I suspect a lot would agree with me.
Unfortunately there are far more car addicts in this country than people who agree with you. And so far more votes to lose doing the sensible thing and removing cars from the urban environment.
Most of the car drivers are either cyclists or pedestrians. A Jaywalking law is more offensive to me than having to wear a helmet. The whole idea of putting cars before people is my objection.
I am not sure car addicts are entirely on board with autonomous vehcles anyway.
I have to say I much perferred his work as an opera singer than I do now he's a transport minister. At least then he had an excuse to play to the gallery.
Oh wait...
No motoring organisation has ever been sent such a letter. I checked.
Can the transport minister also re-iterate to motorists not to speed, to use their indicators, not to tail gate, not to overtake on solid white lines, not to park on double yellows, not to park in cycle lanes....
I could go on and on. I see this every day on my commute into work - and I drive in half anyway, so it's not like I'm not a motorist myself.
The amount of times I'm driving down a 50mph A road at 50mph and I have someone sat behind me flashing their lights then overtaking on double white lines is ridiculous.
Is he going to write a letter to all car asscociations after someone gets hit by a car?
This is now getting ridiculous but unfortunately I believe this current bout of hysteria has some way to run...
And who is going to tell the pedestrians?
HWC Rule 239, you bloody hypocrite!
This idiot parked up, I was passing and he flung his door wide open and I just managed to miss the edge of it. Put the hairs up on my neck I can tell you. He never even looked to see if anything was coming.
We can see your strings, you puppet.
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