Do You Agree With Cyclists Exceeding the Road Speed Limit?

[531colin]

Of course not. What a ridiculous notion.

[Psamathe]

My own feeling is, and long has been, that sticking more or less to the speed limit tends to be a good idea, even though it isn't mandatory for cyclists. For two main reasons....

3rd reason (at least in Norfolk with their anti-cycling measures) is even at 20 mph you might struggle to swerve fast enough to avoid yet another pothole (which would have you spread all over the road).

Ian

[Ron]

Cycling very fast is a minor safety concern compared to driving at the same speed.

I don't agree. A bicycle at any speed is silent to most ears.
Unless you are in NL, where considerate cyclists leave their chain guard a little loose. .

[Psamathe]

Another aspect re law and safety is, as I understand it, where there are specific safety concerns then local bylaws impose restrictions. Some park(s) in London, Royal Parks?

I assume that elsewhere where there is a safety issue local bylaws could be introduced is necessary.

So changing laws so that cyclists are subject to speed limits would seem unnecessary as yhere are alternatives available as and where needed.

Ian

[foxyrider]

I think this question has come up as the 20mph zones in Wales have made national news this last week in relation to a cycle race having to be rerouted to avoid said restrictions. As i understand it, the reason wasn't directly to do with the participants speed but rather that the race convoy would possibly be in breach if the race speed was even close to the limit.

99% of cyclist will struggle to get anywhere close to 20mph let alone 30mph unless its a good stretch of downhill, even in time trials with all the fancy aero gear, 30mph is the domain of the elite few.

The question is pure click bait and doesn't deserve anyones time to argue it - so i won't

[Blondie]

I didn’t think there were road speed limits. Just limits that apply to motorised vehicles. This is a bit like asking do you agree with bikes not being tested under the conditions of the MOT.

[cycle tramp]

I didn’t think there were road speed limits. Just limits that apply to motorised vehicles. This is a bit like asking do you agree with bikes not being tested under the conditions of the MOT.

However there is the charge of 'furious cycling' which relies on the issue that a cyclist may have been cycling too fast for the road conditions/care of other road users.

[Audax67]

Just in case anyone tries importing the "no speed limit" rule to France, be aware that speed limits here apply to all vehicles, and that the police don't care how you measure or don't measure your speed: it's your responsibility to know how fast you're going.

I find that quite sensible.

[pwa]

Just in case anyone tries importing the "no speed limit" rule to France, be aware that speed limits here apply to all vehicles, and that the police don't care how you measure or don't measure your speed: it's your responsibility to know how fast you're going.

I find that quite sensible.

How strict are they? Do they overlook 1km over a limit?

[TrevA]

Near where I live there is a ridge of hills, with long straight descents. I regularly get over 40mph when descending these hills, without pedalling. At the bottom of a couple of these hills, there are villages with 30 mph speed limits. So I do sometimes temporarily exceed this limit, though as soon as I hit the flat part of the road, my speed reduces even without braking, so I’m soon under the limit again.

On the flat, I find it’s virtually impossible to get over 30. On our Saturday morning group ride, we often have a bit of a burn up on the way to the cafe, often with a following wind. Even then, when the speed gets to about 28mph, I’m struggling to go any faster. The really fit guys can get over 30 but not for long. This is on a 60mph speed limit B road with minimal traffic. My fastest ever 40km on Strava was 20.5 mph. This was on a fast chain gang ride, where I was staying near the back and being pulled along with the group.

[Psamathe]

Just in case anyone tries importing the "no speed limit" rule to France, be aware that speed limits here apply to all vehicles, and that the police don't care how you measure or don't measure your speed: it's your responsibility to know how fast you're going.
...

What are the penalties when caught breaking the speed limit riding a cycle? Because I'm told in UK they can't give you points on your licence for a non-driving offence plus even in France a cyclist might not even have a driving licence.

Ian

[Cugel]

Just in case anyone tries importing the "no speed limit" rule to France, be aware that speed limits here apply to all vehicles, and that the police don't care how you measure or don't measure your speed: it's your responsibility to know how fast you're going.

I find that quite sensible.

Its very sensible. Why is there this assumption within this discussion that no one can control their speed if they don't have a speedometer? And that they can't know how fast is safe without this speedo data interspersed between themselves and what they're doing?

I've cycled for 64 years now, more or less continuously and in all sorts of circumstances. I learnt (as surely everyone can) what's a safe speed in various conditions and what isn't. I didn't need a speedometer to do so.

I learnt the same concerning driving. And, no, it's rarely safe to exceed the speed limit - usually dangerous to aim to reach it, although so many think that because they got away with a dangerous speed for 100 days in a row an untoward event such as a child running into the road will never happen.

A bicycle, by the way, apparently takes longer to stop in the face of "an emergency" than does a car going at the same speed. You'd expect the opposite but it has apparently been shown not to be the case.

[Cugel]

Near where I live there is a ridge of hills, with long straight descents. I regularly get over 40mph when descending these hills, without pedalling. At the bottom of a couple of these hills, there are villages with 30 mph speed limits. So I do sometimes temporarily exceed this limit, though as soon as I hit the flat part of the road, my speed reduces even without braking, so I’m soon under the limit again.

Aren't your brakes working? How will you feel if you hit someone at that brief in-the-village moment-at-40mph as they step out of their gate or otherwise get in your way?

"Well, it's never happened". Yet.

[pwa]

Just in case anyone tries importing the "no speed limit" rule to France, be aware that speed limits here apply to all vehicles, and that the police don't care how you measure or don't measure your speed: it's your responsibility to know how fast you're going.

I find that quite sensible.

Its very sensible. Why is there this assumption within this discussion that no one can control their speed if they don't have a speedometer? And that they can't know how fast is safe without this speedo data interspersed between themselves and what they're doing?

I've cycled for 64 years now, more or less continuously and in all sorts of circumstances. I learnt (as surely everyone can) what's a safe speed in various conditions and what isn't. I didn't need a speedometer to do so.

I learnt the same concerning driving. And, no, it's rarely safe to exceed the speed limit - usually dangerous to aim to reach it, although so many think that because they got away with a dangerous speed for 100 days in a row an untoward event such as a child running into the road will never happen.

A bicycle, by the way, apparently takes longer to stop in the face of "an emergency" than does a car going at the same speed. You'd expect the opposite but it has apparently been shown not to be the case.

I'm sure many of us have memories of moments of deep concern when something has happened up ahead that requires us to slow down or stop, and our skinny race tyres just slide on wet tarmac.... That sort of experience is fixed in my brain and makes me slow down when I get to a place with parked cars, pedestrians and side roads. The thought of what might happen, that I can't yet see. And the net result is that I tend to want to slow down to something close to the speed limit anyway.

[TrevA]

Near where I live there is a ridge of hills, with long straight descents. I regularly get over 40mph when descending these hills, without pedalling. At the bottom of a couple of these hills, there are villages with 30 mph speed limits. So I do sometimes temporarily exceed this limit, though as soon as I hit the flat part of the road, my speed reduces even without braking, so I’m soon under the limit again.

Aren't your brakes working? How will you feel if you hit someone at that brief in-the-village moment-at-40mph as they step out of their gate or otherwise get in your way?

"Well, it's never happened". Yet.

You’re assuming that there are houses immediately within the 30 limit - there aren’t. I would brake if I saw a potential hazard, but I won’t brake because I’m doing 33 when I pass the 30 sign, which doesn’t actually apply to me. Especially as I’m sometimes being overtaken by a car at this point. These are sleepy Vale villages where it’s rare to see an actual person on foot.