Cycling banned in London - By Order of Ken Livingston.

Paul Reading

Ken Livingson has added a clause to the "Local Authorities Bill" which
will allow his private clampers to cut off and seize any bicycle
chained to anything. This will apply even if the cycle is NOT causing
an obstruction. It only has to be deemed a "nuisance". Who ecides what
is and what is not a nuisance? How is a cyclist to know where and whare
not to chain their bike?

Any one fance trying to recover their bike froma pound... bring £50 in
cash proof of identy and proof of ownership?

This is utter madness and goes against any kind of environmental
thinking. London make no provision for parking bikes, BR has removed
them from all commuter trains and most others as well.

Tim S Kemp

Paul Reading wrote:
> Ken Livingson has added a clause to the "Local Authorities Bill" which
> will allow his private clampers to cut off and seize any bicycle
> chained to anything. This will apply even if the cycle is NOT causing
> an obstruction. It only has to be deemed a "nuisance". Who ecides what
> is and what is not a nuisance? How is a cyclist to know where and
> whare not to chain their bike?

So they can cut off your chain, but you can't cut off their clamps.

--
"Get a paper bag"

JLB

Paul Reading wrote:
> Ken Livingson has added a clause to the "Local Authorities Bill" which
> will allow his private clampers to cut off and seize any bicycle chained
> to anything. This will apply even if the cycle is NOT causing an
> obstruction. It only has to be deemed a "nuisance". Who ecides what is
> and what is not a nuisance? How is a cyclist to know where and whare not
> to chain their bike?
>
> Any one fance trying to recover their bike froma pound... bring £50 in
> cash proof of identy and proof of ownership?
>
> This is utter madness and goes against any kind of environmental
> thinking. London make no provision for parking bikes, BR has removed
> them from all commuter trains and most others as well.
>
Here's the complete Act

http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov....04/20040001.htm

Where's the bit about bicycles?

--
Joe * If I cannot be free I'll be cheap

Gonzalez

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 18:19:48 +0000, Paul Reading
<paul.reading@nospam.demon.net> wrote:

>Ken Livingson has added a clause to the "Local Authorities Bill" which
>will allow his private clampers to cut off and seize any bicycle
>chained to anything. This will apply even if the cycle is NOT causing
>an obstruction. It only has to be deemed a "nuisance". Who ecides what
>is and what is not a nuisance? How is a cyclist to know where and whare
>not to chain their bike?
>
>Any one fance trying to recover their bike froma pound... bring £50 in
>cash proof of identy and proof of ownership?
>
>This is utter madness and goes against any kind of environmental
>thinking. London make no provision for parking bikes, BR has removed
>them from all commuter trains and most others as well.

I've posted this story here before, and will now do sao again.

One autumn day three years ago I had by second bike crash in 20 years
regular cycling. I was cycling down the hill, on a road, in Greenwich
Park on a Sunday afternoon - I was probably going at about 35 mph.
Without warning, a ten? year old child threw a stick into a tree and
ran backwards into the road. I had barely enough time to react. I
swerved, braking hard. The rear end of my bike slewed round and
wacked the child. Remarkably, I didn't come off my bike, but the rear
wheel was damaged beyond repair - so much so, it wouldn't even turn.
(The boy was shocked but unhurt - his father was an ambulance driver
and was perfectly capable of judging the fitness or otherwise of his
son).

I carried my bike back up the hill, and on the way I met a pair of
Royal Park Constabulary (RPC) policemen in their car. I told them
what had happened, and they went off to look for the family.

I intended to lock my bike outside the Park Police office, walk home,
collect my car (I still had a car in those bad days), then return to
the park to pick up my bicycle.

As I was locking my bike to the railings I was told to stop by a third
policeman. He told me that I couldn't lock my bike to the railings.
I explained my predicament and asked what he expected me to do. He
offered no advice. I asked if I could leave my bike in their office.
I was told no. I asked what would happen if I locked my bike to the
railings. He said that it would be removed. I asked if it would be
removed to a secure place. He said he didn't know where it would go.
Fine, says I, I'll lock it here, and when I return and it's gone, I'll
file a theft report and presumably it will be traced - if not, the
insurance will take care of the matter - I could do with a new bike.
The explanation I was given was that the bike could contain
explosives. I said that if he thought that he should get onto the
Met's anti-terrorist team without delay - I'd wait. He told me not to
be such an idiot.

So I started to lock the bike to the railings, but as I was doing so,
the policeman assaulted me. I thought better of my initial idea - to
give the authoritarian shite a slap, and took my bike out of the park
and locked it to some railings at the edge of Blackheath (by the
Donkey Ride for those of you who know the place).

I then returned home, picked up my car and collected the bike.

I launched an official complaint. Two RPC inspectors came from
Richmond Park to my house to speak with me. They spent two hours with
me, convincing me to drop the complaint. They said that in Richmond
Park they have a dozen or more bike in their garage at any time, and
the actions of their officer was entirely unreasonable - and trust
them, they weren't happy with his actions and would deal with the
matter internally.

I have no idea if he was dealt with or not, but I am convinced that I
did the right thing by not pressing the complaint.

Ken Livingstone sounds no better than my RPC policeman friend.

MSeries

Paul Reading wrote:
> Ken Livingson has added a clause to the "Local Authorities Bill" which
> will allow his private clampers to cut off and seize any bicycle chained
> to anything. This will apply even if the cycle is NOT causing an
> obstruction. It only has to be deemed a "nuisance". Who ecides what is
> and what is not a nuisance? How is a cyclist to know where and whare not
> to chain their bike?
>
> Any one fance trying to recover their bike froma pound... bring £50 in
> cash proof of identy and proof of ownership?
>
> This is utter madness and goes against any kind of environmental
> thinking. London make no provision for parking bikes, BR has removed
> them from all commuter trains and most others as well.
>

Rather sensationalist don't you think. Cycling has not been banned.

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers

>As I was locking my bike to the railings I was told to stop by a third
>policeman. He told me that I couldn't lock my bike to the railings.
>I explained my predicament and asked what he expected me to do. He
>offered no advice. I asked if I could leave my bike in their office.
>I was told no. I asked what would happen if I locked my bike to the
>railings. He said that it would be removed. I asked if it would be
>removed to a secure place. He said he didn't know where it would go.
>Fine, says I, I'll lock it here, and when I return and it's gone, I'll
>file a theft report and presumably it will be traced - if not, the
>insurance will take care of the matter - I could do with a new bike.
>The explanation I was given was that the bike could contain
>explosives. I said that if he thought that he should get onto the
>Met's anti-terrorist team without delay - I'd wait. He told me not to
>be such an idiot.

When in Bordeaux in the summer, the Unfit Family ventured into the park where
the little natural history museum is located. There was nowhere obvious to lock
the bikes, but next to the museum were some railings. I popped into the museum
and in my faulting French asked if it was okay to lock the bikes there. The
reaction was amazing. " No problem, Madame." Not only was it no problem, but
one of the security guards kept an eye on them for us whilst we were doing the
touristy bit round the museum. The staff were welcoming, kind and as well as
keeping an eye on our bikes, went through every single concessionary entrance
fee with us to make sure we piad the minimum possible. This was typical of the
helpful nature of people we encountered whilst in Bordeaux.

Cheers, helen s


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A.Lee

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 18:19:48 +0000, Paul Reading wrote:

> Ken Livingson has added a clause to the "Local Authorities Bill" which
> will allow his private clampers to cut off and seize any bicycle
> chained to anything......This is utter madness and goes against any kind
> of environmental thinking. London make no provision for parking bikes,
> BR has removed them from all commuter trains and most others as well.

I would assume they mean removing any bikes attached to street
'furniture'.
This happens in Rotterdam regularly.There are many 'proper' bike parking
spaces, but these soon get filled up, so people in a rush chain their bike
to the nearest street light or tree,rather than travelling a little
further to park in a legitimate spot.
A Council van then comes round,takes a photo, then cuts off the chain and
takes the bike to the 'bike pound'. I dont know if there is a fine to get
the bike back, but I would assume there is.
Alan.

--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.
http://www.dvatc.co.uk - Off-road cycling in the North Midlands.

Paul - xxx

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers vaguely muttered something like ...

> The
> staff were welcoming, kind and as well as keeping an eye on our bikes,
> went through every single concessionary entrance fee with us to make sure
> we piad the minimum possible. This was typical of the helpful nature of
> people we encountered whilst in Bordeaux.

We've found that to be typical of all the parts of France we've been to,
especially when going as a family.

--
Paul ...
(8(|) Homer Rules !!!
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."

Paul - xxx

Paul Reading vaguely muttered something like ...
> How is a cyclist to know where and whare
> not to chain their bike?

Maybe by checking that they're locking the bike to an allotted bike parking
space or area .. IMHO it's time something was done about the bikes strewn
over 'safety' railings in towns.

> This is utter madness and goes against any kind of environmental
> thinking. London make no provision for parking bikes, BR has removed
> them from all commuter trains and most others as well.

But has what, exactly, to do with banning cycling?

Sensationalist bloody subject line ... exactly what lots of posts on this
newsgroup deplore when it comes to traffic 'accidents'.

--
Paul ...
(8(|) Homer Rules !!!
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."

Paul Reading

On 2004-11-29 19:30:28 +0000, MSeries <skankmartin@hotmail.com> said:

> Paul Reading wrote:
>> Ken Livingson has added a clause to the "Local Authorities Bill" which
>> will allow his private clampers to cut off and seize any bicycle
>> chained to anything. This will apply even if the cycle is NOT causing
>> an obstruction. It only has to be deemed a "nuisance". Who ecides what
>> is and what is not a nuisance? How is a cyclist to know where and whare
>> not to chain their bike?
>>
>> Any one fance trying to recover their bike froma pound... bring £50 in
>> cash proof of identy and proof of ownership?
>>
>> This is utter madness and goes against any kind of environmental
>> thinking. London make no provision for parking bikes, BR has removed
>> them from all commuter trains and most others as well.
>>
>
> Rather sensationalist don't you think. Cycling has not been banned.

The story is in today's Evening Standard on page 10. How can you cycle
anywhere in London if you bike risks being removed by on overzelous
unemployable and held to ransom?

JohnB

Paul - xxx wrote:

> > The
> > staff were welcoming, kind and as well as keeping an eye on our bikes,
>
> We've found that to be typical of all the parts of France we've been to,
> especially when going as a family.

Fully agree - except....

We did once go into a French hypermarket with our first two girls when
they were just 2 and 4.
At the time they were both wearing helmets [1]
Even though we were all in full cycling togs we were accosted by a
security guard who insisted they removed their helmets as they posed a
security risk.

France has its quota of jobsworths too :-(

[1] a *very* rare occurrence

John B

MSeries

Paul Reading wrote:
> On 2004-11-29 19:30:28 +0000, MSeries <skankmartin@hotmail.com> said:
>
>> Paul Reading wrote:
>>
>>> Ken Livingson has added a clause to the "Local Authorities Bill"
>>> which will allow his private clampers to cut off and seize any
>>> bicycle chained to anything. This will apply even if the cycle is NOT
>>> causing an obstruction. It only has to be deemed a "nuisance". Who
>>> ecides what is and what is not a nuisance? How is a cyclist to know
>>> where and whare not to chain their bike?
>>>
>>> Any one fance trying to recover their bike froma pound... bring £50
>>> in cash proof of identy and proof of ownership?
>>>
>>> This is utter madness and goes against any kind of environmental
>>> thinking. London make no provision for parking bikes, BR has removed
>>> them from all commuter trains and most others as well.
>>>
>>
>> Rather sensationalist don't you think. Cycling has not been banned.
>
>
> The story is in today's Evening Standard on page 10. How can you cycle
> anywhere in London if you bike risks being removed by on overzelous
> unemployable and held to ransom?
>
I cycle all over Leeds but never leave my bikes locked up out of doors.
If the same by-laws were introduced here it wouldn't stop me cycling
through the city to get to work.

Gonzalez

On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 22:18:13 +0000, JohnB <nospam@here.com> wrote:

>Paul - xxx wrote:
>
>> > The
>> > staff were welcoming, kind and as well as keeping an eye on our bikes,
>>
>> We've found that to be typical of all the parts of France we've been to,
>> especially when going as a family.
>
>Fully agree - except....
>
>We did once go into a French hypermarket with our first two girls when
>they were just 2 and 4.
>At the time they were both wearing helmets [1]
>Even though we were all in full cycling togs we were accosted by a
>security guard who insisted they removed their helmets as they posed a
>security risk.

Many here would argue that the guards were right and that helmets
indeed do pose a security risk.

mt99999@hotmail.com

Gonzalez wrote:
> On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 18:19:48 +0000, Paul Reading
> I've posted this story here before, and will now do sao again.
>
> One autumn day three years ago I had by second bike crash in 20 years
> regular cycling. I was cycling down the hill, on a road, in
Greenwich
> Park on a Sunday afternoon - I was probably going at about 35 mph.
> Without warning, a ten? year old child threw a stick into a tree and
> ran backwards into the road. I had barely enough time to react. I
> swerved, braking hard. The rear end of my bike slewed round and
> wacked the child. Remarkably, I didn't come off my bike, but the
rear
> wheel was damaged beyond repair - so much so, it wouldn't even turn.
> (The boy was shocked but unhurt - his father was an ambulance driver
> and was perfectly capable of judging the fitness or otherwise of his
> son).

This is a public park with a speed limit of 30mph FFS (way too high
IMO). What the hell were you thinking? This would be a good way
ofgoing about getting cycling bans in (I know it is an old story but a
note of mea culpa might be sensible)

best wishes
james