City council plans to take up powers for enforcement of cycling areas
NOTTINGHAM City Council wants to obtain powers to punish drivers who ignore road markings designed to keep cyclists safe.
Motorists caught encroaching over the "advance stop lines" – which clearly mark out areas for cyclists at traffic lights – face three penalty points on their licence and a £60 fine.
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Stay back: A newly-painted advance stop line, designed to protect cyclists, in Canal Street, Nottingham
The city council wants to take the powers off the police, who have not handed out any penalties in the last year despite claims by cyclists that there is "widespread abuse".
City council cycling officer Steve Brewer said: "The police are responsible for enforcement but it is not high on their priorities. The city council is pursuing powers to undertake that enforcement ourselves."
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The city council installs about 30 advance stop lines a year, as part of continuing work on cycle routes and road resurfacing schemes.
It is hoped they will encourage more people to cycle in the city for work and leisure.
Mr Brewer said: "Advance stop lines place cyclists in a more visible location ahead of traffic. They allow cyclists to wait relatively free from exhaust fumes. It makes it easier for cyclists to turn right and, if there is an associated feeder lane, it allows cyclists to bypass queuing traffic."
Recent schemes where advance stop lines were created are in Hucknall Road and the route through Strelley. There are plans to add them through Clifton soon.
Trent Barton bus company recently issued a staff notice telling drivers complaints had been received about encroachment, which it said was "dangerous and should stop immediately". Greater Nottingham cycling campaign group Pedals has launched a scheme about the lines. Hugh McClintock, of Pedals, said: "It is not just bus drivers and taxi drivers. Drivers in general need to be aware of these things.
"We find that there is widespread abuse. Partly, it is a matter of ignorance. A lot of people don't know what they are about. People have a duty to find out what they are, like they do any other traffic signs."
Gary Smerdon-White, chairman of the Greater Nottingham Transport Partnership and cycle training group Ridewise, also said it was important to raise awareness.
"The main problem is that there is little or no easy way to enforce and little knowledge by drivers of the illegality or its implications," he said.
A spokesman for Notts Police said: "Enforcing this is particularly difficult as, in most cases, it would require a police officer to be present when an offence was committed. If a cyclist was to report an offence to police, officers would be obliged to investigate it further."
Comments
by percy, 223 Bde
Sunday, June 06 2010, 11:31PM
“New easy **** laws..new fines ..new money????? and Revenue...punishing the best in society? Ha ha..Wombles use rubbish! Watch it..”
by Iddon Assume, Scunthorpe
Sunday, June 06 2010, 11:09PM
“Small family cars, which used to have thin doors and seats, are, indeed, getting wider (and longer) to accomodate air bags and side impact protection systems.
But large cars aren't.
And if the council widens a pavement, then builds out some bus stops, and throws in some "safety" refuges for good measure:
How, exactly, does that equate to:
"Roads aren't getting narrower".
It's hardly surprising you got your name.
Nor that you revel in it!
.”
by m, gedling
Sunday, June 06 2010, 11:02PM
“well said James, its like the opposite of 4 legs good, 2 legs bad,
the new utopian world of the council traffic cameras,
4 wheels bad, 2 wheels good,
easy pickings,
not so easy pickings when cyclists rampage through pedestrian areas so we will ignore that ,”
by m, gedling
Sunday, June 06 2010, 10:55PM
“"City council cycling officer Steve Brewer said: "The police are responsible for enforcement but it is not high on their priorities. The city council is pursuing powers to undertake that enforcement ourselves."
leave it to the professionals, how would you like it if the police started emptying bins ?
they would probably make a better job of it ,”
by James, Nottingham
Sunday, June 06 2010, 10:15PM
“William, Nottingham
Perhaps they will ask for the powers of arrest next!!”
by Proud to have been called Mr Moron's, More Moronic Mate by "Mr B J Mann, Nottingham"
Sunday, June 06 2010, 10:12PM
“¿Mr BJ Mann, Nottingham" a.k.a. "Liberty O R De'Ath" a.k.a "James, Nottingham" a.k.a. "Iddon Assume, Scunthorpe" a.k.a. http://img1.jurko.net/avatar_1218.gif commented on 06-Jun-2010 18:35:
"It's to allow all the cyclists that motorists have managed to get past on the narrowed roads....."
Roads aren't getting narrower: cars are getting wider. There was a piece on the radio last week saying the latest Volkswagen Polo (small city runabout) is the same dimensions as the original Volkswagen Golf (family car). And look at the size of the new mini compared to the original.”
by MadBadger, The Sett
Sunday, June 06 2010, 9:46PM
“Well, 'BJames, lets look at what you posted...
'It is a very dangerous step when the Council arbitrarily decide what laws are not sufficiently being upheld...."
You mean in conjunction with the police, surely?
"...and then demands that they adopt the powers to police those laws."...
Are you privy to the discussions that went on, then? Please prove that the council made "demands" that the powers were passed over to it.
"For the Council are stepping over the line between public servants and into prosecutors."
Hmm, haven't the council always had the power to prosecute for certain crimes?
"... the police...authority which operate by public consent."
Do you really think that the police operate by public consent yet the council doesn't?
I think you are a lunatic.”
by MadBadger, The Sett
Sunday, June 06 2010, 9:13PM
“"...when the Council arbitrarily decide what laws are not sufficiently being upheld...".
Please elucidate, BJames, I don't believe that I've seen such a thing anywhere.
Your whole post is redolent of 'Jason'.”
by William, Nottingham
Sunday, June 06 2010, 9:12PM
“It's as ludicrous as the POLICE asking for responsibility for repairing potholes and emptying bins.”
by Colin & Barry, Nottingham
Sunday, June 06 2010, 9:09PM
“STOP IT EVERYONE!! Don't you see what these council marxists have done, they are playing motorists off against cyclists, creating discord and continuing to ruin what is left of community spirit. Classic Trotsy divide and conquer.”