Fixed Bike Shops: Duty of Care to Shoppers

I know someone said something about putting your front foot under the pedal but I maintain that it's absolute folly to ride fixed without foot retention.

It really isn't.

You can "Jamaican skid" (racist, etc) without foot retention but you wouldn't use that to stop in an emergency - you'd use your brakes, which you wouldn't take off before getting foot retention and learning to skid. It's only stupid to ride fixed brakeless without foot retention.

british standard states you need 2 brakes, 1 of which can be a fixed gear. If no foot retention is supplied, a chainguard must be fitted instead.

Interesting. I saw a new Charge Plug racer in Covent Garden a few months ago with a chain guard fitted, so that must be why. Personally, I think panniers would be more useful if they're going to insist on something completely arbitrary.