| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re: Doesn't the 20mph now include cycles? | |
| Posted by: | Alex Greenbank | |
| Date/Time: | 15/06/19 21:31:00 |
| It's not entirely clear whether the speed limit applies to bikes though. The amendment that made it apply to all vehicles was further amended in a way that introduced ambiguity. More info here: https://road.cc/content/news/95155-are-police-fining-speeding-cyclists-richmond-park-exceeding-their-authority I think someone is wanting to try and get a ticket so they can crowdfund a challenge in court to find out once and for all. I think that everyone who has been fined for speeding on a bike in RP has just paid the fine rather than contest it. The reasons why it is a tricky issue are:- a) As stated above, the law isn't clear. b) I believe that the speed-guns that the Police use are not rated for use against bicycles, only motor-vehicles. So there's no legal way the Police have to know that someone on a bike is doing more than 20mph. The lack of speedometers is a complete red herring. No cars are fitted with breathalysers but it's still illegal to drive with a blood alcohol level above a certain value. Ignorance of your speed is not a valid defence. Most of the people going more than 20mph are going more than 30mph (and some more than 40mph) down the main three hills. Anyone going that speed is quite aware that they're going more than 20mph and don't need a speedometer to tell them that. |