On 17 Jul, 01:01, "elyob" <
[email protected]> wrote:
>
> We all like being within the law, but sometimes common sense overrules. Red
> lights - law .. pavement cycling - not legal ... reflectors - just put a few
> lights on, the law will catch up.
>
No it wont.
This has been the law since 1987. It isn't changing. It was a problem
then already for some cyclists to comply and has only gotten worse
since. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations have been revised twice
since then. Both times CTC has argued for the front pedal reflector
requirement (no proven benefit) to be deleted and for either an extra
rear lamp or reflector, ankle bands etc. to be considered as an
alternative for the rear requirement. Trouble is that all the rest of
the British cycling scene is either in denial over this, or doesn't
care, or just waiting for little old CTC to sort it out for them, so
we or rather I am a lone voice.
In response to that lone voice, DfT point out that they've compelled
manufacturers to fit pedal reflectors to all new complete bicycles
sold since 1983, so obviously there cannot be a problem. Yes they are
in denial too, ignoring the fact that a lot of nice bikes are sold
without pedals (thus are not complete pedal cycles, thus evading
entirely the relevant sales regulation) and that the token
reflectorised pedals on many other nice bikes are promptly swapped for
something better without.
If you guys want to be legal you've got to get your heads out of the
sand and start making a fuss!
Trouble is, pedal reflectors are actually rather effective. In a study
by TRRL that led to this law in the first place, it was found that
whilst a rear cycle lamp provided the most distant warning to a
following motorist that there was something up the road ahead, amongst
the many and varied cyclist conspicuity aids available to cyclists
that were studied, pedal reflectors easily provided the most distant
identification that this "something" was a cyclist. So what we
probably need before DfT will accept an alternative, is a standardised
test for the performance of reflective ankle bands, patched on heels
of shoes etc. On the other hand there were on flashing lights when
TRRL did that study, and I've a hunch that since a pedal cycle is the
only vehicle allowed a flashing red light, that would nowadays
probably do an even better identification job.
So that's how it is. Now go write to your MPs about it, not here, it
changes nothing!
