RLJing

[Tim Hall]

I wonder if we had some of these guys over here it would help.

Police uniforms by Tom of Finland.

 

[ianrauk]

we could police riders who break the terms of their licence and throw the off of city roads.

Who's we?

Sorry Jon, this is such a crap idea that it's laughable. Who would administer and pay for it. It's a one way street to stopping people cycling, and that is a bad thing.

 

[mjr]

A trained, card carrying, fully licenced rider, entering a city with full knowledge and understanding...would be better qualified than the other road users.

Better qualified doesn't mean better behaved! Some of the worst city riders are trained card-carrying fully licensed racers who won't/can't hold back the racing spirit when in ordinary traffic. They know they shouldn't take chances but do it anyway - just like I'm sure most RLJers know they shouldn't and do it anyway because they're not getting caught... and they still wouldn't get caught to have their licence revoked... and probably wouldn't get caught if they carried on after having their licence revoked, just like loads of unlicensed motorists do for ages.

It also imposes a whole load of admin costs, which I guess cyclists would have to pay - or just give up and start driving into cities, polluting them, which I guess is what you want, so you can have the cycle lanes to yourself? Except it won't be any quicker with the police stopping you to do doing licence checks.

And what about all the edge cases like children or visitors? It's a crazy unworkable system.

And does anyone really trust government to come up with a sensible cycling test nowadays and not buckle to motoring lobby pressure to make the test or licensing system obnoxious bow-to-Mr-Toad stuff?

If nothing else, it would remove an argument that city cyclists are a law unto themselves, may even earn us some respect.

No, having cyclists attack other cyclists with crazy ideas like this just diminishes what little respect we currently have. Focus on things that neutralise the effects of the bad road users for the good ones, not on burdening the good ones because there are bad ones.

 

[jonny jeez]

Who's we?

Sorry Jon, this is such a crap idea that it's laughable. Who would administer and pay for it. It's a one way street to stopping people cycling, and that is a bad thing.

Self funding. £60 for a one day cbt, renewable every three years.

As far as stopping cyclists, well...it will help to stop cyclists who don't take it seriously...better that than trying to segregate us..at huge expense and with dubious outcomes.

 

[ianrauk]

Self funding. £60 for a one day cbt, renewable every three years.

As far as stopping cyclists, well...it will help to stop cyclists who don't take it seriously...better that than trying to segregate us..at huge expense and with dubious outcomes.

Sorry Jon, your on a complete wind up here and it's not a very funny one.

And for those that couldn't afford the £60?
And I ask again, who is we? You said 'WE' could police other cyclists.

Stopping cyclists who don't take it seriously? Seriously? That is just elitist.
What about the millions of Boris Bike trips that are taken in London? I would imagine that most of those are not serious cyclists. What would happen to that scheme?


Bonkers.

 

[jonny jeez]

Better qualified doesn't mean better behaved! Some of the worst city riders are trained card-carrying fully licensed racers who won't/can't hold back the racing spirit when in ordinary traffic. They know they shouldn't take chances but do it anyway - just like I'm sure most RLJers know they shouldn't and do it anyway because they're not getting caught... and they still wouldn't get caught to have their licence revoked... and probably wouldn't get caught if they carried on after having their licence revoked, just like loads of unlicensed motorists do for ages.

It also imposes a whole load of admin costs, which I guess cyclists would have to pay - or just give up and start driving into cities, polluting them, which I guess is what you want, so you can have the cycle lanes to yourself? Except it won't be any quicker with the police stopping you to do doing licence checks.

And what about all the edge cases like children or visitors? It's a crazy unworkable system.

And does anyone really trust government to come up with a sensible cycling test nowadays and not buckle to motoring lobby pressure to make the test or licensing system obnoxious bow-to-Mr-Toad stuff?


No, having cyclists attack other cyclists with crazy ideas like this just diminishes what little respect we currently have. Focus on things that neutralise the effects of the bad road users for the good ones, not on burdening the good ones because there are bad ones.

I take your point but its not an intention to make life harder...actually easier. Training just helps minimise collisions. Removal of the liscence I what stops bad behaviour.
I'm sure visitors could sign up to the terms if the licence as part of their. Hire agreement (this one is tricky but I'm sure could be worked out)

No road side stops are needed. Anyone seen breaking the terms of the licence can be stopped (by any law enforcement officer) and identified by their registration...a small flag under the seat, attached to the seatpost...just like all those sportive/audux/triathlon riders sport for months after entering an organised ride.

All pretty simple really. As for cost to the cyclist...£20 a year...my guess is most cyclists spend more than that on compressed air for their tyres....which is free already.

 

[jonny jeez]

Sorry Jon, your on a complete wind up here and it's not a very funny one.

And for those that couldn't afford the £60?
And I ask again, who is we? You said 'WE' could police other cyclists.

Stopping cyclists who don't take it seriously? Seriously? That is just elitist.
What about the millions of Boris Bike trips that are taken in London? I would imagine that most of those are not serious cyclists. What would happen to that scheme?


Bonkers.

We...is just society and I agree the word seriously is the wrong one.

 

[benb]

Well seeing as tested licenced drivers KSI thousands every year, I fail to see what problem cycle licences is trying to solve.

 

[jonny jeez]

A renewable licence every three years sounds a fine idea but I reckon it would be expensive to put into place for all drivers.

I suppose if the experiment proved to work for cyclists, it could actually roll out to all city road users.

Would certainly aid congestion.

I am half joking in this point.

 

[Milkfloat]

I take your point but its not an intention to make life harder...actually easier. Training just helps minimise collisions. Removal of the liscence I what stops bad behaviour.
I'm sure visitors could sign up to the terms if the licence as part of their. Hire agreement (this one is tricky but I'm sure could be worked out)

No road side stops are needed. Anyone seen breaking the terms of the licence can be stopped (by any law enforcement officer) and identified by their registration...a small flag under the seat, attached to the seatpost...just like all those sportive/audux/triathlon riders sport for months after entering an organised ride.

All pretty simple really. As for cost to the cyclist...£20 a year...my guess is most cyclists spend more than that on compressed air for their tyres....which is free already.

Don't forget the cost of the mandatory insurance, helmet replaced on a yearly basis and full head to toe high vis clothing.

 

[jonny jeez]

Well seeing as tested licenced drivers KSI thousands every year, I fail to see what problem cycle licences is trying to solve.

The problem of respect. Of not being treated as equals on the road. Of being assumed to be lawless and treated as such, regardless of the evidence.

 

[ianrauk]

We...is just society and I agree the word seriously is the wrong one.

And the rest of my post? Care to answer that?

 

[jonny jeez]

Don't forget the cost of the mandatory insurance, helmet replaced on a yearly basis and full head to toe high vis clothing.

None of those are requirements or proper arguments against.

So far, to me the biggest issue is casual riders, which I admit I don't have an answer to but it doesn't stop me thinking that we can do more to improve the perception.

 

[ianrauk]

Bottom line is Jon. You are putting up barriers that will stop people cycling. And that is wrong, very wrong.

 

[jonny jeez]

And the rest of my post? Care to answer that?

Sorry, Ian I thought the other points were answered in the replies prior to this one.

Apologies if they aren't I'm reading this on a tiny phone screen