Britons back 20mph speed limits for cyclists – ‘Should conform to same rules as drivers’

As a part of a collection of latest street legal guidelines for cyclists, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps proposes to shut a loophole that permits bike riders to interrupt pace limits and overtake automobiles in low-speed zones. Earlier this week, he mentioned: “Someplace the place cyclists are literally not breaking the regulation is after they pace, and that can’t be proper, so I completely suggest extending pace restrict restrictions to cyclists.

“I don’t wish to cease folks from getting on their bike, it’s a unbelievable option to journey, and we’ve seen a giant explosion of biking throughout Covid and since.”

READ MORE: Shapps plan to clamp down on cyclists with quantity plates hailed

Talking to the Day by day Mail, he added: “However I see no purpose why cyclists ought to break the street legal guidelines and be capable of get away with it.”

At current pace limits on UK roads solely apply to motor automobiles and their drivers.

Native authorities can implement cycle pace limits, however this has hardly ever been carried out.

In a ballot that ran from 1om on Friday, August 19, to 11am on Sunday, August 21, specific.co.uk requested readers: “Ought to cyclists face 20mph pace limits?”

In complete, 2,401 readers responded with the overwhelming majority, 88 p.c (2,123 folks), answering “sure”, cyclists ought to face 20mph pace limits.

In the meantime, 12 p.c (271 folks) mentioned “no” they need to not, and an additional seven folks mentioned they didn’t know.

Within the a whole lot of feedback left under the accompanying article it was clear readers felt strongly about cyclists going through pace restrictions.

Username Cornflower mentioned: “A pace restrict is a pace restrict, no matter car.”

 Username noelw1969 mentioned: “Velocity limits are set for the street, not for the kind of car used.

“Cyclists needs to be punished precisely the identical as motorists for dashing.”

One other, with the username Bandersnatch wrote: “Cyclists and their bicycles ought to conform to the identical guidelines, rules and taxes that different street customers have to adapt to.”

Different readers questioned the practicality of limiting biking speeds.

Username Isambard mentioned: “20mph pace restrict? Get actual, how on earth would that be enforced?”

And username Slarti B mentioned: “Cyclists will not be obliged to have speedometers. How will they understand how quick they’re going?”

Along with pace limits, Mr Shapps is trying to introduce obligatory third-party insurance coverage for riders and a registration system.

This comes after he pledged to create a “demise by harmful biking” regulation to make sure cyclists who kill pedestrians are handled the identical as motorists.