Safe Speed Forums

Exercise in pointless red tape. If cyclist ist about to hit a rpedstrain they will shout warning instead.

Cycling yobs remove the bell anyway., Bad cyclists should be charged with reckless und inconsidertate cycling Only civil servants could come up with such a daft idea

Cyclists breaking traffic laws should be prosecuted. If cyclists want to be treated sympathetically they have to behave responsibly. Some behave obnoxiously und do a great deal of harm to cyclists

I have a horn instead of a bell - am I OK with that?

£2,500 - As Labour targets cycle safety, the huge fines serial offenders could face for not having a bell
By TIM SHIPMAN

Last updated at 22:53pm on 10th September 2006

Cyclists will be threatened with jail or a fine of up to £2,500 if they are caught riding without a bicycle bell, under draconian new laws Labour is studying.

Every bike in Britain will have to have a bell fitted and riders will be told they must use them to safeguard pedestrians or risk on the spot fines or even two years in jail.

Cyclists can already be hit with fixed penalty notices, fines of between £500 and £2,500 or have their driving licence endorsed if they are found guilty of dangerous riding, ignore red lights or ride on the pavement.

But now Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman has said it would be 'sensible' to extend the rules to bells mounted on the handlebars.

Current regulations dictate that every bicycle sold in Britain already has to have a bell fitted, but there is no obligation for the rider to keep the bell after purchase.

A Transport Department spokesman insisted that it would be up to the police to use their discretion about whether to prosecute errant cyclists.

But critics branded the proposals another example of the nanny state run wild.

The proposals are being considered by the Department of Transport as a response to new regulations from Brussels on the sale of cycles, which come into force in the autumn.

They are expected to be the subject of a public consultation, in which ministers would invite the views of cycle and motoring organisations before proceeding with the plans.

Official figures show that 12 pedestrians have died after being hit by cyclists in the past five years. Some 148 cyclists were killed on the roads last year - the most since 1999.

In a written answer laid before Parliament as MPs left for their summer break, Mr Ladyman said: 'Bells are currently required to be fitted at the point of sale of a bicycle, but there is no obligation to retain the bell when the cycle is in use, or indeed for the bell to be used.

"New harmonised European construction standards for bicycles come into force in November this year. Although they do not cover bicycle bells, the introduction of these standards makes this a sensible moment to review our current policies on cycle construction, including the question of bells.

"I would of course undertake a public consultation before making any proposal to amend regulations."

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Alistair Carmichael said: "At a time when our country's transport infrastructure and especially our airports are creaking, you would have thought that the Department for Transport would have better things to do with their time.

"To call this part of the nanny state would be an insult to nannies."

Tory MP Robert Goodwill, who sits on the Commons Transport Select Committee, said: "If you are riding a bike you can shout and that often has more effect.

"If I see a pedestrian meandering around in the road, I shout 'Good Morning' quite loudly. That seems to do the trick and it is more friendly. If you ring your bell, people take it as an affront.

"If I was drawing up a list of things I would like to change about transport in Britain, I think cycle bells would be about 110th on the list."

His views were endorsed by Graeme Obree, the Scottish world record-holding cyclist, who branded the move a "pointless exercise in red tape".

He said: "If a cyclist is about to hit a pedestrian, they're not going to hit a bell - they are going to shout. What bobby is going to enforce a law like this? Yobs will take the bell off anyway. Only civil servants could come up with crazy ideas like this."

A Transport Department spokesman did not deny that the regualtions are being examined but downplayed the prospect of people being fined or jailed.

He said: "I wouldn't read too much into this. The European standards were a chance for us to re-look at a number of our policies. It is not certain that the regulations will change. The operational decisions are a matter for the police. Whether they would devote resources to this, would be an operational matter for them. I'm sure common sense will prevail."

A Transport Department spokesman did not deny that the regualtions are being examined but downplayed the prospect of people being fined or jailed.

He said: "I wouldn't read too much into this. The European standards were a chance for us to re-look at a number of our policies. It is not certain that the regulations will change. The operational decisions are a matter for the police. Whether they would devote resources to this, would be an operational matter for them. I'm sure common sense will prevail."

hmm, so if a pedestrian steps onto the road and into my path should I
(a) take one hand off the handle bars and therefore the brakes to ring my bell
or
(b) yell a warning while braking and possibly taking evasive action?

I know which option I'm going to continue opting for.