Grant Shapps: Cyclists should have number plates, be insured and subject to speed limits

Since the accident that brought this matter to the forefront was a case of a cyclist with a bike without satisfactory brakes, does the moron not also realise that all bikes would also require regular MOT tests. I can't wait to see how that would be implemented.

He's going against research from the DfT showing licencing of cyclists would be of no benefit at all. He's playing to The Daily Mail readership, as that's all he understands. My contempt for this idiot knows no bounds.

Okay, so ignoring the fact that cyclists have a legal right to use the public highway and this would need (presumably) significant overhaul of existing legislation to implement, and ignoring the fact that Shapps is continuing his attack on the group of road users that present 0.01% of the danger on the roads whilst ignoring the thousands of deaths (increasing year-on-year for the ~7 years before being interrupted by the pandemic) caused by cars that are getting faster, heavier, and more dangerous every year (much to the troll's delight, I'm sure).

We are in a climate crisis. The majority of journeys in the UK are short enough to be bicycle rides, and the last thing we need are more barriers errected so that 90% of the people that might consider reaching for thier helmet instead of their car keys are discouraged by bullshit like this.

And this would also (presumably) mean a minimum age for cycling? Or is there going to be a seperate queue at the DVLA for five-year-olds to licence thier Barbie bikes (after having spent a few hours on the phone to sort out fully comp insurance)?

This man needs to engage his brain (if he's got one) before he opens his mouth

Before any of this actually needs looking at he needs to get a grip with the "above the law" motorists, but wait now he won't be doing that because they pay lots in taxes on fuel, VAT, road tax and insurance tax and the poor old cyclist has now become a easy target, well you can get stuffed with your stupid ideas

Shapps spouting more kerosine out of his backside to fuel the culture wars. Just when you think this government can't get any worse they always find a way.

Presumably this will apply to my three year old daughter riding in our cul de sac?

Is he unaware that cyclists, like horse riders and pedestrians, have a legal right to be on the Public Highway whereas motor vehicles are only allowed under an Actof Parliament?

And how one asks will wearing a numbered tabard work when, like me a mountain biker, your covered in mud? Or wear a CamelBak or Rucksack?

As for doing more than 20mph in a 20 limit I suggest he gets out of his Ivory Tower and on his bike to see just how "easy" it really is.  Downhill with a tail wind I might just break 32kph (as recorded on my Garmin) but with the best will in the world I'm not going to be challenging the speed camera anytime soon.

Moron doesn't come close

Wow, you couldn't make this stuff up. Have the UK politicians just doubled down on being the worst, most out of touch and most incompetent in all time? Making it more difficult to ride a bicycle and wasting lots of money in doing that will be a great outcome for making congestion and health worse. That appears to be the strange motivation of the Conservatives who live in a world outside everyone else where logic and respect are non-existent. Have the Shatts checked out what happens in the rest of the world. Of course not as he is part of a government who thought leaving the largest free trade area in the world during an economic downturn would be a good idea.

Dear Mr Shapps

Please note that the vast majority of cyclists never get anywhere near the speed limit wheras the majority of drivers admit that they "accidentally" might drift over the speed limit.

Also you're right, running a red light is unacceptable, so could we have a crackdown on that, particularly those road users who accelerate towards a changing set of lights.

Also could you please stop talking out of your lowest orifice.

Yours sincerely

A cyclist who has experienced far too many close passes.

Oh great! Really looking forward to getting back on the bicycle tomorrow with this crap in the headlines as justification for every deliberate act of aggression no doubt coming my way.

On the plus side, we have a local election coming up...

As both a train driver and a cyclist, oh how I detest this imbecile!
He's obviously out of his depth picking fights with ASLE&F so thinks cyclists are fair game instead?
He was recently quoted as suggesting that train operator Avanti are unable to run their timetable properly because of "unofficial strike action by ASLE&F union members" and that "archaic rules from 1919 mean working on rest days is voluntary."
Firstly, you dimwit, if unofficial strike action had taken place, you can bet your life that Avanti would've had ASLE&F in court as quick as a flash. Secondly, of course working rest days (the term used on the railway for your day's off) is voluntary! Is he suggesting that drivers should be forced to work on their days off? i.e. 7 days a week. How safe would it be having a tired driver at the controls of a train carrying hundreds of people? Plus, I think he should know that the law under The Hidden Report, following the Clapham rail crash, prevents this anyway!

And if he wants to talk about archaic rules, how about starting with the practices in Westminster? Where an MP can be ejected for calling the PM, a proven liar, a liar!
And how about a bloke who dresses in a frock and bangs on the door with a mace? I'd say that was more archaic than people not being forced to work overtime on their days off!
'Failing' Grayling was an absolute nincompoop and now we get this idiot - is Transport Secretary the job where they appoint the least capable moron?

Here he goes again. Shatts. Talking out of his arse. Spending billions on a new CVLA and infrastructure. Who gave you a blank cheque, dimwit?
The problem is 99.99% inside the motor vehicle. You cretin. You're making the divide between driver and cyclist worse, making roads less safe for cyclists with every flippant comment you spew.

What's next? Locking up kids on Grifters cos they ain't got the right paperwork. FFS.

Sack Shatts. You are the subject of a sacking...

You'd hope that this would basically all be unworkable. But thanks to the likes of the DM dragging cyclists/cycling into their culture wars narrative, there's probably an awful lot of people who'd like to see it happen. None of them actually rides a bike of course...

April Fools Day?

If we have to have registration plates, we could presumably get personalised plates. 
 

I'll reserve SHAPP5 U W4NKR