Are cyclists exempt from speed limits?

[classic33]

Has anyone ever set a gatso off?

Yes, down from Ainley Top into Elland, on a Brox Quad.
Not as quick getting up though.

 

[dellzeqq]

Has anyone ever set a gatso off?

ha! Some of us have been awarded the 'double flash'.

 

[swansonj]

The 20mph limit in Richmond park certainly applies to cyclists.

Are you sure? You read conflicting accounts about that. It certainly used to, but there's a version abroad that it was a drafting mistake, and they subsequently amended it to exclude cyclists again. Or have they now reinstated it for cyclists? A mate in the office is adamant that the police stop cyclists for going greater than 20, and didn't seem keen on my suggestion that he should tell them they're wrong.

 

[Mark Grant]

Are you sure? You read conflicting accounts about that. It certainly used to, but there's a version abroad that it was a drafting mistake, and they subsequently amended it to exclude cyclists again. Or have they now reinstated it for cyclists? A mate in the office is adamant that the police stop cyclists for going greater than 20, and didn't seem keen on my suggestion that he should tell them they're wrong.

The speed limit signs include cycles.

And
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2004/1308/pdfs/uksi_20041308_en.pdf
Link courtesy of @Tim Hall from another thread.

 

[JtB]

My bike is speed restricted to 70mph.

 

[dellzeqq]

Are you sure? You read conflicting accounts about that. It certainly used to, but there's a version abroad that it was a drafting mistake, and they subsequently amended it to exclude cyclists again. Or have they now reinstated it for cyclists? A mate in the office is adamant that the police stop cyclists for going greater than 20, and didn't seem keen on my suggestion that he should tell them they're wrong.

it does. The Parks Police pull 'em over and fine them. And that's not a bad thing - it is a park.

 

[classic33]

My bike is speed restricted to 70mph.

Where did you get the restrictor?

 

[JtB]

Self imposed ;-)

 

[swansonj]

I just looked up the thing I was alluding to. The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Amendment Regulations 2010 are what I remembered reading about. Section 1(2) defined "vehicle" (to which the speed limits in the original regulations apply) as a mechanically propelled vehicle and thereby excluded bicycles from the speed limits. Or such was the apparently authoritative opinion on the CTC Forum (am I allowed to mention that here?) at the time. (There was then some discussion of whether pedal-only cycles are mechanically propelled but I think the conclusion of more knowledgeable people than me was that in law as opposed to normal English they are not.) I have zero independent knowledge of whether that was correct or whether anything has changed since.

 

[Beebo]

Ive seen police with speed guns pull cyclists over coming down the hill in greenwich park, which is a bit harsh as it is pretty hard to stick to 20 mph without being on the brakes the whole way

 

[Louch]

i seen traffics with the gun tonight, was a bit gutted i didnt get the gun pointed at me even in jest

 

[02GF74]

How does a cyclist know how fast he's going? :-s

quite easy - you are overtaking cars .... as what happened to me going down Marlow Hill .... shortly before being pulled over by the police..... fortunately got off with a telling off but you can get points on your licence, and this can be applied even if you don't have one too.

 

[classic33]

quite easy - you are overtaking cars .... as what happened to me going down Marlow Hill .... shortly before being pulled over by the police..... fortunately got off with a telling off but you can get points on your licence, and this can be applied even if you don't have one too.

How would that work if you'd never be allowed one!

 

[Fasta Asloth]

The 20mph limit in Richmond park certainly applies to cyclists.

Does it, or is it another grey area since I have seen this debated on other forums extensively but with no clear cut outcome. Grey area appeared to come about due to the 2010 amendment to the royal parks and whether a bicycle is a mechanically propelled vechicle or not....guess they could still prosecute for cycling furiously regardless....?

 

[slowmotion]

Tripping a Gatso requires help from other riders, I believe. Rumour has it that a substantial amount of metal is needed to get the sensor angry. Riding four abreast at 40 mph might do it.
Riding alone at 34 mph will not.