Riding No Handed in London earns you a ticket?

[BiketoBasics]

I recently saw a video of a cyclist (Paul Powlesland) complaining to an official about a ticket she was attempting to issue him for riding his bike in the City of London "no-handed" even though apparently this is not against the law.

Does this type of odd stuff usually take place with cyclists and authorities in UK cities?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1940688546429292704

 

[CassidyAce]

All sorts of weird stuff happens in the UK but not usually involving cyclists and the authorities; indeed, a common complaint is the lack of police available to deal with crime. The example above looks like a police publicity exercise designed to reassure a certain section of the public.

If true, and I haven't seen the video footage, citing the Human Rights Act is bizarre. As both the police officer and the cyclist should know, the Highway Code states that cyclists should avoid any actions that reduce their control of the bicycle when on the roads. That would be sufficient reason for stopping a cyclist riding no-handed, but 'words of advice' would be a more sensible (and probably more common) response.

 

[novocaine]

rule 66 of the highway code, "actions which may reduce control"
rule 68 "dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner"

road traffic act 1988 applies.

so yes there is a law, and whilst it doesn't explicitly state "riding non handed" it also doesn't explicitly state "riding with your fingers up your arse with a blindfold on" but you'd hope they'd stop someone for that as well. doing it on a country lane would most likely get you a talking to, doing it in the middle of London on a busy street with peds and cars ducking and diving, I'd say that was a different story.

human rights act is a joke, but as ever, news wants to tell sell you a story, so I'd be asking what was excluded from the story.

 

[TreaderSteve]

What would the London City Bobbies have to say about the IT Bike? I'd say it was my human right to activate my unicycle in such a way!

 

[al-onestare]

rule 66 of the highway code, "actions which may reduce control"
rule 68 "dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner"

road traffic act 1988 applies.

so yes there is a law, and whilst it doesn't explicitly state "riding non handed" it also doesn't explicitly state "riding with your fingers up your arse with a blindfold on" but you'd hope they'd stop someone for that as well. doing it on a country lane would most likely get you a talking to, doing it in the middle of London on a busy street with peds and cars ducking and diving, I'd say that was a different story.

human rights act is a joke, but as ever, news wants to tell sell you a story, so I'd be asking what was excluded from the story.

Amen

 

[bikeworkshop]

I recently saw a video of a cyclist (Paul Powlesland) complaining to an official about a ticket she was attempting to issue him for riding his bike in the City of London "no-handed" even though apparently this is not against the law.

Does this type of odd stuff usually take place with cyclists and authorities in UK cities?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1940688546429292704

Bristol evening Post went to write a story in cyclists jumping Red lights c2018

They went to the junction of Cheltenham Rd and Ashley Rd iirc.

To the journalist's surprise, more cars jumped the lights than cycles,
and where the cycles were often leaving early into empty space to get ahead of the traffic,
the cars were going through after the light turned red,
thus endangering crossing traffic.

So they changed the story

 

[bikeworkshop]

Maybe in London the police have already stopped the balaclava wearing e-bikers traveling at 35mph through a pedestrian zone?
But not Bristol

 

[novocaine]

Maybe in London the police have already stopped the balaclava wearing e-bikers traveling at 35mph through a pedestrian zone?
But not Bristol

Not round here either.

 

[BiketoBasics]

Maybe in London the police have already stopped the balaclava wearing e-bikers traveling at 35mph through a pedestrian zone?
But not Bristol

I heard about those guys. The "vrooming gangs" from south east asia!

 

[BiketoBasics]

If another cyclist comes up from behind, passes and proceeds to go through a red light (which I always stop at) and cars are at the intersection waiting too, I will usually sarcastically clap my hands then give a big thumbs down to notify to the car drivers that at least this cyclist disapproves of the behavior of another careless cyclist. Another such incident just happened yesterday.