10 new cycling offences revealed to tackle ‘dangerous’ riding
New offences have been proposed to target anti-social cycling, including ‘dangerous’ riding in south London’s Richmond Park.
Cyclists face an education course or a fine under 10 new offences, including ‘cycling on a road dangerously,’ dazzling others, not using lights after dark and failure to stop for a school patrol.
The offences, put forward by the Home Office, also relate to cycling at other Royal Parks such as Bushy Park, Hyde Park and the Regent’s Park in London.
Some cyclists and drivers are thought to be at loggerheads at Richmond Park over road use and accusations of disruptive behaviour. Royal Parks has pushed for laws to prosecute speeding cyclists after incidents on its grounds.
The announcement was made by the Home Office and an update to the Road Traffic Offender Act is expected this month, road.cc reports.
The government ran a consultation involving police forces, Transport for London, councils and cycling groups.
Some of the offences, such as cycling without due care or cycling on a road dangerously, are already offences. But including them in the proposal means riders could face an education course or fine, the outlet said.
Simon Munk, the head of campaigns with London Cycling Campaign, told Metro: ‘While the police and justice system being handed equivalent powers to enforce the law against errant cyclists as they do motorists seems sensible on the surface, the reality is that these laws should not have been the priority for action if what we want to do is tackle danger on our roads.
‘For the thousands of people seriously injured and killed on London’s streets annually and their friends and families, these new laws will make virtually no difference.
‘That is particularly galling given the last government was already years overdue on a wider piece of work on roads justice across all modes of transport, not just the one the tabloids and some politicians like picking on.’
Full list of new cycling offences
Ten offences made the cut and breaching them could result in an educational course or a fine.
- Failure to comply with any direction given by a constable or by a notice exhibited by order of the Secretary of State regarding the use of a pedal cycle in a Royal Park or other specified land
- Using a pedal cycle in manner that endangers or is likely to endanger any person in a Royal Park or other specified land
- Using a vehicle or pedal cycle between sunset and sunrise, or in seriously reduced visibility between sunrise and sunset, with no lights in a Royal Park or other specified land
- Failure to stop at a school crossing patrol
- Cyclist holding on to a vehicle while in motion on a road for the purpose of being drawn along
- Cycling on a road dangerously
- Cycling on a road without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road
- Using a pedal cycle without lights between sunset and sunrise;
- Using lamps so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort to other persons using the road;
- Using a non-motor vehicle with any lamp so as to cause undue dazzle or discomfort
The government said that since several motor vehicle offences are listed as part of the National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme (NDORS), the new proposal ‘will not produce an undue focus on cycling offences.’
It continued: ‘Fixed penalties make enforcement easier and less time consuming for the police, and substantially reduce the number of cases brought before the courts.
‘Re-education is evidenced to reduce re-offending and decisions on what offences are suitable for NDORS courses are ultimately for NPCC [National Police Chiefs’ Council] and UKROEd [UK Road Offender Education Ltd], who were content with the proposal.’
One cyclist said on social media they welcomed the changes ‘even though they won’t actually be enforced.’
He said he is ‘tired of people cycling at me at speed on the pavement, e-bikes doing 30mph without any training or road awareness, and people on main roads in black with no lights or reflectors.’
The proposed offences come after cyclist Brian Fitzgerald crashed into 81-year-old Hilda Griffiths while riding around Richmond Park in June 2022.
Ms Griffiths never recovered from her injuries and died 59 days later. The incident was not included in her cause of death, according to The Standard.
The speed limit for cars in the park is 20mph, but speed limits do not apply to pedal cyclists.
Following Ms Griffiths’ death, Sir Iain Duncan Smith talked about introducing a new offence of ‘causing death by dangerous careless or inconsiderate cycling, and causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate cycling’ – a cycling version of the law applying to drivers.
However, this proposal didn’t get off the ground before the General Election.
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