A fine or a training lesson for inconsiderate cyclists and motorists

This Sunday (August 1st) Bristol City Council launches a pilot scheme in Central Bristol to reduce anti-social cycling and driving behaviours.

The pilot will run in partnership with Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Life Cycle UK.

The scheme aims to provide education rather than tickets to cyclists and motorists who break the rules of the Highway Code.

If a cyclist is found to be cycling inconsiderately on the pavement they will be given the option of taking a one-hour adult cycle training lesson with Life Cycle UK or receiving a £30 ticket – the standard penalty for riding on the pavement.

Cycling on pavements in some areas of Bristol is allowed - the city has many shared use pavements. This scheme aims to target those cycling recklessly on pavements, creating a danger to pedestrians.

Tim Wye, Life Cycle UK Director said: “People sometimes cycle on the pavement because they lack confidence to cycle on the road, so giving them a lesson can help them to cycle more appropriately.

"The more we can do to promote respect to all road users – be they cyclists, motorists or pedestrians – the better for everyone.”

The pilot, which starts on Sunday, 1 August, will initially concentrate on cyclists.

If the scheme is deemed to be successful it wll also be rolled out to include motorists who drive or stop in cycle zones (eg parking in cycle lanes or purposely stopping into advanced cycle lanes).

Life Cycle UK will be designing a cycle awareness course for motorists. Again they will have the chance to attend rather than pay the fine.

Both courses will cost £15 instead of a £30 fine and the discretion to offer the course will be with the individual police officer.

This pilot is part of a Greater Bristol Cycling City project aim to make cycling safer across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

There is a useful summary of cycling and law here.

Note that guidance from the Home Office about inconsiderate cycling will continue to apply:

"The issue is about inconsiderate cycling on the pavements. The new provisions are not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other road users when doing so. Chief officers recognise that the fixed penalty needs to be used with a considerable degree of discretion and it cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 16." (Home Office, 2004)