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Cycling laws could soon be updated including fines for speeding
03 October 2022
Former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps suggested that cyclists should be fined for breaking speed limits in residential areas, just as drivers are, are more 20MPH zones are introduced.
He told The Times Newspaper UK, “There is definitely a hard core of cyclists who seem to think the laws of the road don’t apply to them. I do think the Highway Code should be updated to recognise speed limits for cyclists.
“How can it be right that some people are able to break the speed limit and bomb through red lights? The time has come to have a look at a review and potentially update laws so they apply to cyclists as well.”
This is in addition to other new proposals including a ‘death by dangerous cycling’ law, and a requirement for cyclists to be registered and insured.
In some countries, there are greater legal requirements of cyclists, including identification such as licence plates.
Analysis by The Times finds that cyclists, including children, in Japan are required to be insured and registered with their local authority. In some states of America, riders are required to obtain a licence sticker from their local police station. Germany is currently attempting to introduce a law to make licence plates mandatory on bikes.
Interestingly, the Netherlands, which has the highest number of cyclists in Europe, does not have a bicycle licensing scheme. It does, however, have more than fifty laws which apply to cyclists and separate ‘cycleways’ with their own traffic lights.
Some of the general cycling rules in Holland include:
- Since July 2019, you are no longer allowed to hold a telephone or other electronic device in your hand while riding a bicycle.
- Two cyclists are allowed to ride side by side, no more.
- If cycling side by side hinders traffic, you must cycle in single file.
- Cyclists are allowed to turn right at a red traffic light if there is a sign that reads: ‘rechtsaf voor fietser vrij’ (cyclists free to turn right).
- Cycles can be parked on the sidewalk unless there is a sign that forbids it.
- Cyclists are only allowed to transport children under 8 if they are in a safe seat.
- Cyclists must pass each other on the left; they are allowed to pass other vehicles on the right.
- Cyclists must have a working light on the front and back of their bicycle at night.
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