“Poll after poll has shown that the biggest reason for people not wanting to cycle is perceived danger. And anyone who has dared to ride a bike on unprotected roads will soon discover that a large part of this danger comes from pure illegality, not least the vast proportion of drivers who speed, especially on residential roads.
This neatly leads us to the other factor highlighted by the report, and its reaction to it: the howls of outrage if people politely suggest that people could perhaps be less of a danger to others when they drive.
Before the report’s launch, the only one of 10 recommendations highlighted in the media was the idea of removing the so-called tolerances in speeding offences, whereby you can currently go about 10% plus 2mph above a limit and not be penalised.”
The link to the parliamentary group report (.pdf file) is here.
theplanlessman@feddit.uk 1 year ago
This reminds me of two recent posts that I got involved in here.
The first was about Wales’ upcoming 20mph zone, where people were complaining that “they’re just trying to generate revenue”. Well, only if you decide to break the law, surely?
The other was a discussion on the cyclists who were “caught” speeding in Devon. Drivers were outraged and wanted cyclists to adhere to the speed limits (good luck without a speedometer). But they would get apoplectic when you suggested that they should do the same.
As a cyclist it always strikes me that we probably don’t need any new laws to make the roads safe, we just need the current laws to be enforced and obeyed. If every driver gave every cyclist 1.5m of space, priority at junctions, kept out of the cycle lanes, etc. as they’resupposed to then the roads would be a lovely place to cycle.
Pons_Aelius@kbin.social 1 year ago
Motorists Break Law To Save Time, Cyclists Break Law To Save Lives, Finds Study
C4d@lemmy.world 1 year ago
From your link:
“Beanland’s study concluded that “cycling experience is associated with more efficient attentional processing for road scenes.” She suggested that road safety would be improved for all if more motorists also cycled.
I suspect they’re right.
HeartyBeast@kbin.social 1 year ago
About 20 years ago, I was caught by a copper using a radar gun and was ticked off for speeding on my bicycle. I admit, I was just having fun. But yes it was dangerous.
He was mainly tickled ar the idea of being able to charge someone with ‘cycling furiously’. He didn’t just told me off
SonnyVabitch@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Same guy, same publication a year prior found that not only do cyclist break the law for different reasons, they also do it less frequently than motorists.
SonnyVabitch@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I’ve found myself dragged into online conversations several times over the years regarding speed limits in Royal Parks, especially Richmond Park which is notorious for its rat running drivers.
Motorists always managed to work themselves up into a frenzy over “speeding” cyclists, no matter how many times it was pointed out to them that in the park the speed limit applies to motorised vehicles only. Cyclists could not possibly be speeding as there was no speed limit applicable to them on those privately managed roads.
brewery@feddit.uk 1 year ago
They have been given out tickets to speeding cyclists for a while now, at least according to a friend who cycles a lot, so I think it applies equally but is just exceptionally harder to enforce. You need multiple police officers physically stopping and giving tickets.
HeartyBeast@kbin.social 1 year ago
That sounds silly. Why on earth is that duality in place?
C4d@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Enforcement of existing rules would go a long way; the parliamentary group also advises increasing tariffs for breaking the law and tightening the what counts for “exceptional circumstances” when it comes to defence.