Cyclists get pulled for 39mph in a 30 limit.

[glasgowcyclist]

Not only that: I've seen them. They still are visible and do not teleport.

You’re the only one talking about teleporting.

 

[rogerzilla]

Isn’t a legal requirement on all new cars sold in the eu now?

They are highly fallible. GPS records of speed limits don't keep pace with changes, and camera-based systems pick up signs on adjacent roads. My car was moaning at me on the motorway because there was a 20mph sign in the construction lane to the left. It often picks up erroneous limits from side roads, like here:

Northampton Rd
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zh5Ej4UynwwFdSrz7

Note the error can be too high or too low - it's not failsafe at all.

Most of the driver assistance rubbish required on modern cars to pass NCAP is highly fallible. LDWS can be lethal if you need to swerve over a white line. "Smart" City Brake panics when you have to weave along a street with parked cars. Adaptive cruise control panic-brakes if you go round a curve and a car in a different lane seems to be in front, or if a car leaves the carriageway for a slip road. Luckily it can all be turned off on my current car, which it couldn't on the previous one.

 

[mjr]

Any such limiters would be set to the maximum speed those vehicles are allowed to go on UK roads - namely 70mph. Which would have msde no difference whatsoever in this type of case.

I'm sure that at some point in the not too distant future, new electric cars will be fitted with systems that monitor the current speed limit and prevent you accelerating above that. We first need reliable GPS speed limit recognition though, which is why I say not too distant.

I thought e scooters had GPS -controlled speed limiters. If they can work around any reliability problems, why can't less vulnerable road users?

 

[the_mikey]

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/...d-to-be-mindful-after-being-stopped-by-police

View attachment 705279

A couple of cyclists got pulled by Devon and Cornwall police after they clocked them above the 30 limit. Not an offence as such but could potentially have been charged with dangerous cycling.
Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, a spokesperson for the force wrote: 'Cyclists, please be mindful of your speeds and just how this will affect you in the event of a collision. Their comments were received positively by the group reportedly.
Comments from motorists suggested they should be fined.
Irresponsible or not posing any real danger? What do you think?

I think the police should probably not use X as their primary social media outlet. The cyclists probably should scrub some speed off.

 

[Profpointy]

apart from the gummy bears , I would have thought cars , cyclists and pedestrians all do pretty much the same when hitting an immovable object at over 30mph - not that ive got any data to show it , but guessing its gonna hurt something . if I had just gave a grandma a 39mph head butt I would be curious what the copper would say if I said " but speed limits don't apply to me "

It's about kinetic energy or momentum. A 100kg bike plus rider doing 30mph has 5% of the KE or momentum as a 2000kg vehicle doing the same speed

Following this logic is why a car or motorcycle is allowed to do 70mph on the motorway but a heavy lorry is only allowed to do 56mph

 

[Profpointy]

I actually ran that experiment when I was 18 or so. Doing about 30mph down a hill, near a school. Small child ran into the road from between parked cars. I hit the child and went for a short flight. The child had a big bruise IIRC, I had a broken collarbone and the bike was totalled. Kid went to school, I went to hospital.

Quite! Whilst not exactly OK, the kiddie would likley have been killed or at least very seriously injured by a 1 or 2 tonne car doing the same speed

 

[classic33]

Why aren't these heavy motorised vehicles required to have speed limiters like e scooters or even speed and power limits like ebike assistance?

I'll assume you've never had a seizure.

And I hope you never do.

 

[classic33]

I thought e scooters had GPS -controlled speed limiters. If they can work around any reliability problems, why can't less vulnerable road users?

Only the legal ones in use. In the UK at least.

 

[classic33]

Law abiding person pays for own shopping is a particular favourite of mine.

I paid for someone else's shopping once. She'd lost her purse, and was getting worked up at not being able to pay for it, she'd put it back. Unpacking her bags. Apologising for delaying everyone. There was only me behind her.

Easiest way to calm her down was to pay for it. It was a little over £10.

 

[Alex321]

I thought e scooters had GPS -controlled speed limiters. If they can work around any reliability problems, why can't less vulnerable road users?

Not linked to road speed limits though. It is easy enough to put in a limiter which uses GPS to determine speed, but sets a fixed limit.

The issue is reliably knowing what the limit is on any stretch of road, and varying the limit accordingly.

There have been attempts to do I, as noted above. But I know when I was using the GPS satnav on my phone, which supposedly showed speed limits and flashed up a message if you exceeded them, they were quite often wrong. Though that was 5-6 years ago now. I've had a car with built in satnav since late 2019, which doesn't attempt to show speed limits.

There is also the issue that limits change (and even new roads are built) and you normally have to pay for map updates, at a fair sum.

 

[DaveReading]

I'd guess that the market for e-scooters that actually have satnavs with a roads and speed limits database is vanishingly small.

 

[berty bassett]

Once someone said ‘ provide the stats of anyone ever maimed by a bike travelling at 39mph’ I knew what way this thread was going . Have I got any stats - no , does this mean no one’s been maimed by idiots travelling too fast - definitely not . If this was a motoring forum there would be someone arguing that with all new tech in cars with sensors controlling direction and speed , all powerful braking systems and computers overriding some decisions that the speed limit is outdated and should be raised . There is always someone who thinks this shouldn’t apply to me because I am better than average but speed limits are out there to keep the average person from accidents . I can’t see the problem with bikes keeping within limits myself and can’t see a problem with law being changed - that’s not saying I never go over 30 in a 30 area , if conditions are right it’s easy , nothing to get excited about . Only today on facecrack there was a complaint by a motorist coming downhill where two young teenager girls were jumping out in front of cars to make them swerve or stop - if this happened while I was riding bike down said hill , dodging potholes while being aware of car up my backside , 2 youngsters jump in road , I think I would find out that I couldn’t stop safely in time - but that’s just me , I understand there are some who would stop , escort girls back to the kerb , check tyre pressure and have a swig of drink all before the car behind even touched his brakes . I don’t think I will follow anymore on this thread as I now just think there are some who think it’s fine and some who don’t and it’s just going to keep going on and on , so all I will say is do what you want , hopefully it makes not a jot of difference to me 👍

 

[Jameshow]

I use the 30 zone to ease off and look for a watering hole!

Now should I have a pint and then ride on?! 🤔🤔

 

[markemark]

A 39mph flounce.

 

[Slick]

I use the 30 zone to ease off and look for a watering hole!

Now should I have a pint and then ride on?! 🤔🤔

Great point, and proves an unconscious bias in me as I wouldn't in a car, but happy to discuss on here how we forgot to come out the pub and got on the bikes to pitch our tents in a bit of a rain storm.