Speed limits for bikes -let's settle it once and for all

[User]

 

[Davidc]

• Speed limits only apply to powered vehicles (can't remember the legislation, help me someone)
• HC 69 -You MUST obey all traffic signs and traffic light signals.

That's a contradiction.

True though

I think it's firstly that most bikes can't exceed the limits. When they were all >=30mph that was almost true, though 35 years ago I could, and now I view 20 signs as a challenge!

Secondly bike speedometers aren't compulsory, and even if fitted they aren't independently calibrated or regularly checked, so no cyclist can legally be expected to know thier speed.

My Garmin ForeTrex is probably very accurate, but gives up under bridges, thick tree canopies, and in cuttings. A cycle computer depends on the wheel circumference being measured accurately and entered correctly, and so on.

 

[bonj2]

• Speed limits only apply to powered vehicles (can't remember the legislation, help me someone)
• HC 69 -You MUST obey all traffic signs and traffic light signals.

That's a contradiction.

I think the consensus is that you can theoretically be stopped and given an NIP for it, but the chances of you being successfully convicted are very very slim indeed, therefore it is unlikely (simply because of this fact) that you would be unlikely to be stopped for it in the first place.
However that may be an incorrect consensus.

Your two points don't technically contradict each other. i.e., if you see a sign displaying a number 30 in black on a white background with a red circle round it, it doesn't mean "all vehicles must travel at 30mph or less" (BUT cyclist don't have to obey this particular sign),
isntead, the sign itself means "motor vehicles must not exceed 30 mph". Therefore if you are cycling at 35mph you are obeying this sign.

 

[thomas]

You can get done for speeding on a bicycle...I've already worked up 12 points on my cycling proficiency

I couldn't really care if it is legal or illegal to speed on a bicycle. If I can go over the speed limit and I think it is safe(ish) I will. I'm not going to slow myself down.

If I ever got pulled over, on my bicycle, for speeding my ego would inflate massively.

 

[bonj2]

You can get done for speeding on a bicycle...I've already worked up 12 points on my cycling proficiency

I couldn't really care if it is legal or illegal to speed on a bicycle. If I can go over the speed limit and I think it is safe(ish) I will. I'm not going to slow myself down.

If I ever got pulled over, on my bicycle, for speeding my ego would inflate massively.

yeah, i was just wondering if you get convicted of "furious cycling" do they offer a medal?

 

[René Artois]

No, no, no this is a cafe not a place to wage a Campaign.

 

[thomas]

yeah, i was just wondering if you get convicted of "furious cycling" do they offer a medal?

haha......

well, I overtook a police car* on my bike the other night. I was doing about 33-35mph in a 30. Now, as the police obviously follow the law to the letter, this means you can speed on a bicycle.

There is a small chance it wasn't a police car. It had what looked like blue lights on top, but no "police" tags all over it...maybe it was semi undercover

 

[thomas]

I want to know what the law is rather than the concensus.

Always try your local police station to ask?

Someone at my cycle club went past the police when they had the hand held things out and they just made a joke that he was okay.

 

[Davidc]

I want to know what the law is rather than the concensus.

There's a bit on the ctc forum about royal parks, but this is funnier (I was going to post it separately)!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...rap-speeding-cyclists-on-beach-promenade.html

 

[bonj2]

I want to know what the law is rather than the concensus.

The law isn't always as clearly defined as we may like.

 

[barq]

I want to know what the law is rather than the concensus.

I think you might need a test case for that.

 

[Mr Celine]

Speed limits are in the road traffic regulation act section 81 et seq, which only refers to motor vehicles.
Cyclists do have to obey road signs, but as others have pointed out the number 30 surrounded by a red ring means 'speed limit for motor vehicles 30mph', so it does not apply to cyclists.
The above link is to the actual law, not the highway code or what some bloke in the pub thinks it is or should be.

 

[XmisterIS]

There is one particular speed camera at the bottom of a long downhill section near me that I always try to set off ... I've definitely gone through it at well over 30 before, but the damn thing just won't flash! Perhaps a pushbike is too small to set it off.

 

[yenrod]

• Speed limits only apply to powered vehicles (can't remember the legislation, help me someone)
• HC 69 -You MUST obey all traffic signs and traffic light signals.

That's a contradiction.

I kick over at a steady 30mph myself when on the road...

Its these other buggers who go faster...tut..tut..!

 

[Davidc]

There is one particular speed camera at the bottom of a long downhill section near me that I always try to set off ... I've definitely gone through it at well over 30 before, but the damn thing just won't flash! Perhaps a pushbike is too small to set it off.

A friend who worked at a calibration lab told me they don't normally go off until 36mph.