Why don't cyclists have lights????

Question

It seems that nearly everthing is against the driver, how about turning one's attention to the cyclists that does not have lights after dark(they must be up to no good) and riding on pavements, which are not designated cycle paths. Both are still against the law in the UK so why dont the Police do something about it, or is that too hard for them , I mean cylists dont have number plates or insurance do they.

Answer 1

the Police can do nothing as you said because cyclists don't have insurance or pay road tax.

If they're riding when it's dark without lights then they obviously don't mind getting run over.

Answer 2

When I went out the other day I walked along a wide footpath which use to be for pedestrians only. Next to the footpath was a road which is very busy with traffic. Some young schoolboys were afraid to ride their bikes on the road and they started riding on the footpath. Some time later...the corporation painted a dividing line down the middle of the footpath which made one half for pedestrians and the other half for cyclists. You'd think that made things better until one boy switched over and bumped straight into me.....I was livid. When I got to the end of the path I came to a main road. I saw two patrol policemen stop a young boy who was riding a mini motorbike but they only checked his tyres. I dont know what the world is coming to.

Answer 3

that's a gray area. think of in case you crashed into an 11 year previous driving a motorbike without lights; babies have little experience of threat and haven't any criminal household projects as such. As a driving force you have a criminal accountability to look out for the protection and welfare of youngsters. A bicycle calls for no license and there are not any regulations on who can holiday; a bicycle proprietor is largely a pedestrian making use of the line. Edit* examining some the responses above is somewhat hectic, they sound lots like "sorry mate, i did no longer see you". Too many people force with an approach that the line forward would be sparkling whether or no longer they are in a position to work out what's forward or no longer, while basically there's a tractor around the subsequent bend, a caravan caught in a hedge, horses, lost babies wandering in the line, sheep, cows, trailers, oil slicks, crashed automobiles.. you call it; and to force like that at night will enhance the threat ten-fold. final analysis: by no skill force quicker than you will discover to renounce in time.

Answer 4

i live on my bike. in brighton uk. if i ride on the pavement it's a safty desision for me. how many fatalities are recorded for cyclist/pedestrian collisions?

my policy when i'm on my lovely, quick, energy efficient bike is to behave as though i'm invisible. motorists do not want to harm people but there's a lot going on to distract them, so i take full responsibility for the route i chose to get around. this often includes riding on the path, especially up hills and down tiny streets.

i do use lights.

if you've tried riding on the cycle paths of brighton, you'd know why they're not widely used; they're laughably badly made:-
1) they are more uncomfortable than either the roads or pavements,
2) they stay wet with puddles long after the paths and roads are dry,
3) pedestrians meander all over them,
4) the cycle system is blatantly an afterthought and as such, is stop/start in extremis, and seems to be motivated by budgetry concern and/or an eu directive. one 'cycle path' is actually shorter than my bike.....but i'm sure it counts toward the total number of miles provided. as do those stupid boxes at the traffic lights that motorists stop on.....

i'm sure some busybody in europe will soon justify their continuing to draw breath by commending a numberplate scheme for bikes. how about one for pedestrians?!

lastly, if third party liabilty insurance was made available, i'd buy some, but it ain't.

Answer 5

Well if we take the traffic cops off their job of dealing with driver breaking the speed limit, stopping drunk drivers, and arresting people who have stolen cars, then we may have more Cops to stop the cyclists who are cycling about with no lights.
The local beat Police also take no notice due to the fact that dealing with a cyclist with out lights causes so much paperwork so taking them away from their job of stopping the real criminals!
The other problem is that bike shops do not sell bike with lights so they to are breaking the law as all bike shops are legally required to sell bikes with all safety equipment, (that includes, bell, mudguards & lights) but No they sell the bike and if you want the other part they sell them as extra!

Answer 6

Cyclists can be ticketed & fine for improper "cycling." Here in the State they have to follow the same rules of the road as cars. Although they don't have "blinkers," bikers are to use arm signals.

When cyclists get into accidents, their visibility, or lack thereof, does come into play--especially if there are no reflectors and the guy is in dark clothing in the dead of night.

Answer 7

Cyclists are equally covered by The Highway Code and rules of the road.

Riding without lights at night on a road IS illegal and also an arrestable offence. It is rarely enforced but really should be.
Riding on the pavement is also illegal but very rarely enforced in this day and age.

Answer 8

They are equipped with rear reflectors as they should be travelling in the same direction as vehicular traffic.
By not having lights,it would deter them from driving on a dark road (nighttime).
Also, it is up to you to check to see what traffic the road is designated for......and you will find that besides cars, there is trucks, tractors, motorbikes, scooters, bicycles, pedestrians, horses, wagons.
You don't have a "right" to drive. You have a "privaledge" to operate a powered vehicle. They can take that privaledge away.
Your insurance if for when your powered machine goes out of control and you kill someone or damages property. Don't see many pedal powered units doin that, do you?

However, common sense should prevail with the bicyclist in that "I can't see the road or potholes and I don't wanna go "*** over teakettle"....so the bike stays home at dark.

Answer 9

I know exactly what you mean. I drive but the number of cyclists you don't see until you are on top of them is unbelieveable. It's about time something was done. Lights should be on and light clothing as well would help.

It's also time cyclists learnt the rules of the road.

Answer 10

Drug dealers often deal from bikes, they can move faster than a sprinting cop, lights will alert the cops to the dealers activities.