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EIGHT.. Legislation and its enforcement

Why do some cyclists break the law?

It is no co-incidence that in countries like Holland, where cycle provision is excellent, there is very little illegal cycling

In many cases better cycle route provision would reduce the tendency of frustrated cyclists to break the law. Some cyclists choose to ride on the pavements because the roads are full of speeding cars, cycle lanes are blocked by parked vehicles and riding on the road would mean weaving in and out of parked cars.

Eradicating the ‘Blue sign on a pavement’ view of cycle provision by 2020 will reduce confusion about where people can cycle

Cyclists may be put in a position where they break the law because the alternative is neither safe nor convenient. Parents riding with children on pavements carefully, for instance, indicate how the general road environment needs to be made safer in many areas.

It’s worth noting that in countries like the Netherlands, where cycle provision is excellent, there is very little illegal cycling. Also that since the cycle ban was lifted in Cambridge city centre, thus improving the provision enormously, there have been very few problems.

Like car drivers, cyclists do not take well to badly designed infrastructure, rules which appear arbitrary or pointless, and inconvenient and confusing signage. All these factors are likely to contribute to a cyclist’s inclination to break the law.

Spot the difference (1) Spot the difference (2)
Spot the difference? - One of these can be legally cycled... the other not

Rather than shifting the blame, councillors who approve pavement-based cycleways against our advice must take some responsibility for causing illegal cycling. Often it is not clear which stretches of pavement are shared use and it can be hard to know whether a pavement is shared use or not. We need to see a rethink from decision-makers to ensure that cycle provision is instead high-quality and really meets people’s needs.