Police lessons for Bristol cyclists and motorists who are inconsiderate to cyclists
CYCLE on a pavement, go through a red light on your bike or cut up someone on two wheels in your car and you could soon find yourself on a course.
Sessions aimed at improving levels of respect between motorists and cyclists will soon be on offer to those who fall foul of the rules of the road in Bristol.
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Initiative to crack down on poor riding and car driving
Under a new police initiative, cyclists caught going through red lights, cycling on pavements or without lights and motorists caught driving in a way that is inconsiderate to cyclists would be given the option of paying a £30 fine or attending "awareness training".
It is believed the scheme, which will focus on the city centre, could be the first of its kind in the UK.
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A pilot of the cycling course is due to start in August, with one-to-one cycling lessons costing £15 being run by Bristol charity Life Cycle UK. If funding is granted, the scheme could start in September. The scheme is being compared to speed awareness courses that are offered to motorists caught speeding.
Sergeant Stephen Bell, who is part of the team behind the plans, said: "It is something we get complaints about and we want to try and educate people. This is about education, not enforcement or penalising people, and it won't make the police any profit.
"Quite often we stop people who aren't cycling on the road because they don't feel safe. We want to give them the opportunity to have one of these lessons.
"There will be some people who don't get offered the chance to go on the course, it will be at the officer's discretion."
He said he was not aware of a similar course being run anywhere else in the UK, and is hoping to roll it out across the whole city if the pilot goes well.
Officers will issue a £30 penalty ticket to the motorist or cyclist in question, and will also hand over information about three options: they could either request a court hearing, pay the ticket, or take part in the course – which would cancel the ticket. Mr Bell and his team are discussing the initiative with Cycling City, a £23 million scheme funded by the city council and Cycling England and aimed at doubling the number of cyclists in the Bristol area.
Bristol City Council spokesman Kate Hartas said no decision had been made yet on whether the proposed initiative would get funding.
She said: "It is early days but there are plans for a trial period of what is known as conditional ticketing, where instead of paying a fine a cyclist would be given the option to attend a speed awareness or safer cycling course, similar to courses that exist at the moment for motorists caught speeding. The aim would be to encourage good behaviour."
Martin McDonnell, chairman for the Bristol Cycle Campaign, said: "We welcome these plans because we do not condone anti-social or law-breaking cycling behaviour.
"But we do want to see a balance – it shouldn't just be a crackdown on cyclists, but on all anti-social behaviour on the roads, including drivers. So we are happy that there are plans to work with drivers too."
Allan Williams, Sustrans' policy advisor, said: "It's a mistake to look at people as either drivers, pedestrians or cyclists. Many of us are all three and as the number of people cycling in Bristol increases, creating space that all road users can share is vital.
"But it's important to consider that cyclists are considerably more vulnerable road users than motorists and they face a much greater risk from motorised traffic than they pose."
Comments
by George, Bristol
Saturday, July 31 2010, 1:37PM
“Shut up Angus, I always ride on the pavement, and as for red lights, I don't bother with them either, as is well documented, and nothings going to stop me either. After all, I'm doing my bit for the planet.”
by angus, ashley down
Saturday, July 31 2010, 1:26PM
“So the offending cyclist would attend an awareness course run by a local pro cycling charity ??? There seems to be a clear conflict of interest here, surely the course should be run by a charity for pedestrians injured and/or abused by anti social cyclists with the money raised by fines being used to fund anti social cycling enforcement officers, pavement and traffic light CCTV monitoring of anti social cyclists, registration and electronic tagging of anti social cyclists, ASBO's for nuisance anti social cyclists etc.etc.”
by George, Bristol
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:49PM
“Hello stalker, I see you´ve learnt how to spell weirdo, or is it wierdo?”
by dan, Bristol
Friday, July 30 2010, 1:25PM
“I heard it was the cyclists that bribed the lib dem councillors to turn down the sainsbury's application.”
by BEP Readership, Bristol
Friday, July 30 2010, 11:39AM
“B*gger off, George, you weirdo, we're tired of seeing you post under your numerous guises. 'Ron Bacardi'? Your best mate, along with Johhny Walker......”
by Ron Bacardi, Bristol
Friday, July 30 2010, 10:19AM
“Here's a bump, and how true, reading over this particular report's comments:
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"Trying to reason with a cycle-hating ignorant motorist is a futile experience.....
Either: they'll be spouting prejudices and generalisations, or they'll go completely off track avoiding the discussion... Or simply make up a new reality in their head
In the cyclist v motorist debate, cyclists can ALWAYS assume victory...
Motorists - show consideration to more vulnerable road users" ............. please?”
by hannah©, bristol
Thursday, July 29 2010, 11:40PM
“I don't want the skateboard......I didn't even want the Pedal car.......and whats a speed limit? and whats a red light when it's at home? you're the one who lives in the centre of Bristol... you must see everything.”
by Steve, Central Bristol
Thursday, July 29 2010, 11:22PM
“13. (to win the bonus skateboard): What percentage of cars in Bristol break the legal speed limit or drive through red lights?”
by hannah©, bristol
Thursday, July 29 2010, 10:59PM
“1. How many people are killed every year in Britain by people cycling on the pavement? Ask George.
2. How many are killed by people driving on the pavement? Ask George.
3. How many people are injured by cyclists jumping red lights? Ask George.
4. How many people are injured by motorists driving through red lights? Don't be so daft it never happens.
5. How many people are employed by the car industry sector in this country?Thats a trick question...not fair.
6. How many people are employed by the green transport sector (bus, rail, bike)?A couple?....or just ask George.
7. How much is spent on trunk roads and motorways per motorist? A fiver.
8. How much is spent on cycle lanes per cyclist? more than a fiver.
9. Which form of transport is growing fastest as Britain emerges from recession? Crawling?through desperation.
10. Which form of transport is statistically likely to reduce your health by retirement rather then improve it?definately Cycling.
Ps, when is my pedal car coming?............I'll make sure I'm out!!
*No cyclists were harmed during the making of these answers*”
by Steve, Central Bristol
Thursday, July 29 2010, 8:14PM
“OK, folks! It's what you've been waiting for... quiz time. Just fill in the blanks below. First prize: a brand new pedal-car.
1. How many people are killed every year in Britain by people cycling on the pavement?
2. How many are killed by people driving on the pavement?
3. How many people are injured by cyclists jumping red lights?
4. How many people are injured by motorists driving through red lights?
5. How many people are employed by the car industry sector in this country?
6. How many people are employed by the green transport sector (bus, rail, bike)?
7. How much is spent on trunk roads and motorways per motorist?
8. How much is spent on cycle lanes per cyclist?
9. Which form of transport is growing fastest as Britain emerges from recession?
10. Which form of transport is statistically likely to reduce your health by retirement rather then improve it?
Answers on the back of a pigeon please.”