Markings for a new cycle path have been sprayed onto the pavement in Coronation Walk and onto the Promenade. The works are expected to begin shortly.

And they still won't use it! Bikes need registration plates and cyclists should be fined £500 for not using a cycle path when one is available.

The council should also sweep the cycle paths to keep them free of debris.

Originally Posted by libraryguy

And they still won't use it! Bikes need registration plates and cyclists should be fined £500 for not using a cycle path when one is available.

The council should also sweep the cycle paths to keep them free of debris.

Stop posting gibberish! Bikes don’t need registration plates.

Imagine if they made a law that bikes must use cycle paths if provided and that they must have registration plates that are basically a code for your name and address .

Then anyone riding dangerously on the carriageway or busy pavement could be identified and reported, anyone riding through red lights or scraping up against cars (anywhere) causing damage again could be made to take responsibility. Inner city kids dealing hard drugs that mostly get away on bikes might not get away so quick if the police are waiting for them at their house when they get home, sure they could steal bikes but registration would ping up on ANPR as stolen, so would a false registration and no registration is an instant stop and fine.
I suppose it’s only a matter of time before they get onto it.

My pet hate is being at the traffic lights turning left ( indicating ) and in my mirror it’s clear, the lights change off we go, one last look before turning... you know what I am going to say, sure enough some nob on a bike is trying to pass on the inside.

A few years ago I got a brand new electric gentleman’s bicycle, it was a thing of pure joy, bike rides with my young son was effortless and I could take him to school on our bikes. One red hot bank holiday we even took the bikes to Blackpool and rode them from Bispham to star gate and back, a wonderful way to coast along the coast.

I got a taste of danger and soon realised while riding around Southport that riding a bike can be a scary thing you really have to keep your wits about you, there’s no room for error or lack of concentration dreaming off to music with headphones on, one slip one bad judgement one pothole one wrong turn unaware and you could be squashed..

Still I suppose if you had a registration they would be able to identify the mess more easily.
I mostly rode around quiet streets and often on the pavement so they would have caught me, I think people are really brave riding on busy roads with massive lorries whizzing past feet away, why do they never look behind them while moving out (arm outstretched) to turn right and them folk that carry kids or tow them along in them death trap contraptions ... well they’re real heroes they are.

Originally Posted by donkey22

Stop posting gibberish! Bikes don’t need registration plates.

They should do though, also should have insurance.

Originally Posted by Sproggy the Cat

They should do though, also should have insurance.

It won’t happen. Government is currently encouraging the public to ditch public transport in favour of walking and cycling. Our dependence on fossil fuels is coming to an end. They’re hardly going to introduce taxes and insurance costs as an incentive now are they? Duh.

If they loose money on car and fossil fuel tax then they might tax bicycles, it might be £60 a year bicycle tax, £25 walking tax and £15 to breath the air .

Originally Posted by donkey22

Stop posting gibberish! Bikes don’t need registration plates.

As someone else has said THEY NEED TO HAVE THEM! Sadly from what I've experienced on the roads in and around Southport, the majority of cyclists, of all ages and fitness levels, appear to think the highway code, red lights, one-way streets etc etc etc does not apply to them.

A RED LIGHT MEANS STOP in all circumstances! And I don't mean it changing to amber and then to red when someone is close to the stop line to stop safely. I'm talking about cyclists riding along on the inside of a queue of cars while the lights have been red for 30 seconds or more.

Give them number/registration plates and fine them for contravening the rules of the road, just like the rest of us have to do.

You're not above the law - just follow it.

And you will not get one ounce of sympathy from me if you get seriously injured through your own fault at not following the rules.

And when I do sound my horn long and hard at them, I end up usually getting a mouthful of abuse or the V sign - but I see that as embarrassment on their part as they know they're in the wrong. Don't ignore a red light then you won't get the sound of my horn.

Is it any wonder we all need dash-cams to save us from the idiot cyclists!

You've been provided with cycle lanes - use the bloody things!

They should do though, also should have insurance.

I have 3rd party liability insurance when I'm riding my bike.
£12 for a year

Give them number/registration plates and fine them for contravening the rules of the road, just like the rest of us have to do.

Sounds great but who's going to police it? It's not as if every transgression by motorists results in any punishment.

As for this cycle lane it appears to end on the pavement by a pedestrian crossing.
What use is that? Do you then dismount from the bike before rejoining the road? If so do you continue on your way on Green for pedestrians or Green for traffic? Why would anyone bother? Just stay on the road and turn left or right at the junction instead.

Originally Posted by libraryguy

A RED LIGHT MEANS STOP in all circumstances! And I don't mean it changing to amber and then to red when someone is close to the stop line to stop safely. I'm talking about cyclists riding along on the inside of a queue of cars while the lights have been red for 30 seconds or more.

Give them number/registration plates and fine them for contravening the rules of the road, just like the rest of us have to do.

You're not above the law - just follow it.
And when I do sound my horn long and hard at them, I end up usually getting a mouthful of abuse or the V sign - but I see that as embarrassment on their part as they know they're in the wrong. Don't ignore a red light then you won't get the sound of my horn.

Is it any wonder we all need dash-cams to save us from the idiot cyclists!

A red light does not mean stop in all circumstances, it means stop at the relevant line and by that, I mean the line relevant to your vehicle. A lot of junctions have an advanced stop line, for cyclists. Cyclists are quite within the law to cycle through stationary traffic up to that line.

As for ‘not Above the law - just follow it’, does that also include your misuse of the horn, or do you consider yourself to be above the laws?
The Highway Code is quite clear in that a horn is ONLY to be used in order to warn others of the presence of your vehicle. IT IS NOT TO BE USED AS AN EXPRESSION OF ANNOYANCE. (Rule 112)

Is it any wonder I ride with a helmet cam to save me from idiot motorists!

Originally Posted by Sap33

A red light does not mean stop in all circumstances, it means stop at the relevant line and by that, I mean the line relevant to your vehicle. A lot of junctions have an advanced stop line, for cyclists. Cyclists are quite within the law to cycle through stationary traffic up to that line.

As for ‘not Above the law - just follow it’, does that also include your misuse of the horn, or do you consider yourself to be above the laws?
The Highway Code is quite clear in that a horn is ONLY to be used in order to warn others of the presence of your vehicle. IT IS NOT TO BE USED AS AN EXPRESSION OF ANNOYANCE. (Rule 112)

Is it any wonder I ride with a helmet cam to save me from idiot motorists!

Once again the cyclist lobby are splitting hairs. I was making the distinction of being close to the stop line, the lights changing and it not being safe to stop, rather than being way back behind a line of cars already stopped for some considerable time then the cyclist still ignores the traffic lights.

A red light does mean STOP NOT go through the light, ignore it and carry on as if it's not there! Yes stop at the stop line appropriate to you - but they just don't!

You pull me up on the use of my horn, OK fair enough, but using one's horn to express annoyance is not placing me in a line of oncoming traffic having ignored the red light.

Tell you what, I'll ignore red lights in my car along with a cyclist. Is that OK? If I start off earlier then it's sometimes safer, isn't that one of your pathetic arguments?

You'd soon have something to say if I ignored lights in my car. But of course, I can't cos I have a registration plate and I could be reported, you're obviously invisible on your bike, but OHHHHHH woe betide a car driver who injures a cyclist, then, of course, it is ALWAYS the driver's fault, isn't it?

You hate the idea of number plates cos then you can't get away with your awful behaviour on the roads of this country.

A load of bankers!

Originally Posted by libraryguy

As someone else has said THEY NEED TO HAVE THEM! Sadly from what I've experienced on the roads in and around Southport, the majority of cyclists, of all ages and fitness levels, appear to think the highway code, red lights, one-way streets etc etc etc does not apply to them.

A RED LIGHT MEANS STOP in all circumstances! And I don't mean it changing to amber and then to red when someone is close to the stop line to stop safely. I'm talking about cyclists riding along on the inside of a queue of cars while the lights have been red for 30 seconds or more.

Give them number/registration plates and fine them for contravening the rules of the road, just like the rest of us have to do.

You're not above the law - just follow it.

And you will not get one ounce of sympathy from me if you get seriously injured through your own fault at not following the rules.

And when I do sound my horn long and hard at them, I end up usually getting a mouthful of abuse or the V sign - but I see that as embarrassment on their part as they know they're in the wrong. Don't ignore a red light then you won't get the sound of my horn.

Is it any wonder we all need dash-cams to save us from the idiot cyclists!

You've been provided with cycle lanes - use the bloody things!

Oh dear god. How the hell did you get your licence? I just hope your driving isn’t as terrible as your knowledge of the Highway Code. And your argument is so weak you now have to resort to insults. Always a sign of great intelligence.

Originally Posted by donkey22

Oh dear god. How the hell did you get your licence? I just hope your driving isn’t as terrible as your knowledge of the Highway Code.

I am a steady and safe driver, and yes I will admit, I've had my fair share of accidents, haven't we all, but I have NEVER willfully jumped a red light in my life. I have gone through red lights, yes, but accidentally.

At least I'm willing to admit my mistakes.

I can be angry about things, this doesn't make me a bad driver or danger on the road. It does make me someone who wants everyone to be safe, and if registration plates for cyclists help, then surely that is the way to make progress.

Oh and by the way - I passed my test first time! And yes it was in the 80s, but I have since taken the online example theory test and passed that too.

Originally Posted by libraryguy

I am a steady and safe driver, and yes I will admit, I've had my fair share of accidents, haven't we all, but I have NEVER willfully jumped a red light in my life. I have gone through red lights, yes, but accidentally.

At least I'm willing to admit my mistakes.

I can be angry about things, this doesn't make me a bad driver or danger on the road. It does make me someone who wants everyone to be safe, and if registration plates for cyclists help, then surely that is the way to make progress.

Oh and by the way - I passed my test first time! And yes it was in the 80s, but I have since taken the online example theory test and passed that too.

“I’ve had my fair share of accidents...I have accidentally gone through red lights”. I hope I never have the misfortune as being out on the road the same time that you are.
The hole you’re digging is getting deeper. Sometimes it’s best just to walk away from your keyboard.

Originally Posted by donkey22

“I’ve had my fair share of accidents...I have accidentally gone through red lights”. I hope I never have the misfortune as being out on the road the same time that you are.
The hole you’re digging is getting deeper. Sometimes it’s best just to walk away from your keyboard.

Accidents as in minor bumps. And that makes your Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms Perfect on the road?