Fallmonk:
I wonder how many cyclist where stopped in this purge for
No lights front or back
No hi viz
Jumping red lights
Driving up the inside of traffic !
Am not anti cyclist far from it but let’s play fair !
The OP omitted the fact that also in the article was the fact that of all the cyclists stopped during the operation one third of them were issued with fines for offences. Given the lack of complexity of a push bike compared to an HGV the things that cyclists are most likely to have been picked up on are a lack of lights and brakes as well as jumping lights all offences that carry penalty points be interesting to see a break down of the cycling offences and the corresponding penalties
Judehamish:
Two thirds of lorries stopped by police are defective or being driven illegally, police records indicate, raising concerns over the safety of cyclists and other road users.
It isn’t really a fair picture of lorries overall. The chances are that the lorries in question were stopped for a particular reason. Maybe they looked particularly rough, had obvious faults, or were being driven badly.
Yeh, that makes sense. Now think of how many cyclists who’ve just bumped someone on a zebra crossing, run through yet another red light, or have defective brakes, lack of high-viz clothing, and don’t even bother with cycle clips around their ankles these days. Oh, then there’s the issue of “no lights at night” as well. How many of those have the police pulled, fined, and banned recently?
Is “not wearing bicycle clips” an offence now?
Personally, I don’t think it’s helpful to divide people into “cyclists” and “drivers”. We’re all road users, and everyone wants much the same thing, which is to get to wherever they’re going safely and reasonably quickly. I’m the same bloke whether I’m on my bike (yes, I wear lycra and ride on the road) or in my ancient 4x4 or driving the DAF 105 I use at work. I try and treat other road users considerately however many wheels I happen to be using at the time, and I get annoyed when I’m passed too closely by a truck or carved up by a car, just as I do when I see a cyclist wobbling along in the gutter with no lights on or tearing along with no regard for traffic signals. I never think of myself as a “truck driver” or a “cyclist”, I’m just a “road user”.
