Minister For Cycling?

So, Guys & Gals.

What do you all think of having a minister for cycling,
do you think it would help us in our fight to actually rule the roads,
or just bring in a load of Health & Safety rules...

Discuss!

Would this be at a local government (london?) or uk wide?

A london based one would be beneficial but we have a number of cycle safety and awareness bodies with the ear of the london and at times government. surely a large independant body removed from the well greased cogs of govt would have a larger voice?

i was thinking nationwide,

could be some well known cycling figure, Chris Hoy even. they could be local (cambridge where i am needs one)
It's up to us

lol @ licenses

....probably enforce the wearing of helmets and fluro jackets and make it illegal to cycle without brakes, lights, mudguards, bells etc. and to make you pay to cycle into london!

raise the profile of cycling with a figure head and you have a target for all these angry drivers and cycle hating peds to enforce stupid rules around helmets, insurance, lights, fines. as town said, they will need to find a way to recoupe any spend on the role or department.

make it illegal to cycle without brakes, lights

lights is already illegal,

£30 on the spot fine (it is an cambridge anyway)
and as for brakes in the bike shop that i work in, we (by law) have to sell bikes with brakes (both)

our illustrious leader dave
but only for a short while until he gets the top job
DAVE FOR PM !

DAVE FOR PM !

woo hoo!
Hell Yeah!

...and worse - they'll probably change the drink driving laws to include cyclists! :(

i think they already do,
just noone follows them...

The Licensing Act 1872 makes it an offence to be drunk in charge of a bicycle (or any other vehicle or carriage, or cattle) on a highway or in a public place but this old law also forbids any public drunkenness - even in a pub - so is clearly never enforced.

some more interesting facts on: http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cycling_and_the_law.php

it would end up being some poor sap who just got ignored by the rest of government and joked about behind his back

MP 1: "did you hear that John just got made Minister for Cycling"
MP 2: "poor bastard, didn't realise the PM would be that cruel"

...not sure you can be done for being drunk whilst cycling! Doesn't it have to be a mechanically propelled vehicle?

bikes are mechanically propelled, it just so happens that the power come from your feet.

and also:
Section 30 Road Traffic Act 1988 says: "It is an offence for a person to ride a cycle on a road or other public place when unfit to ride through drink or drugs - that is to say - is under the influence of a drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the cycle."

so you can get a bit drunk...

drunk in charge of cattle
hmmm that'll be a worry the welsh hill farmers
although the sheep will be mightily relieved

i am pretty sure you can get done for drink cycling 99% sure

if we're moving onto drink cycling :

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread16927.html

it's a pretty interesting study

...so "a bit" drunk on the public highway – gets my vote!

seriously with the ever increasing number of cyclists it's only a matter of time before the government get involved, as Greasy says it's deffo a revenue opportunity and they love all that!

agreed.

are you heading out for critical mass this eve?

...no getting drunk!

good plan!

i was thinking about that aswell

not feeling this idea to be honest.

yet more bureaucratic nonsense. I'd agree that some road users (including cyclists) need to be more considerate / less dangerous, but another sheet of ignored smallprint will just make us a group more ostracised.

It will be a very sad day if licensing and tax comes in for cyclists

I know it's often made into a bit of a laugh on here, but I personally think cycling while pissed up is fucking stupid. Last time I did it I rode straight into a barrier because I was too slow to react (It was very dark, I promise). Never again.

yeah totally agree bout the cycling pissed, my point is all the enforced bureaucratic nonsense that will follow.

I personally think cycling while pissed up is fucking stupid.

Agreed,

Funny as it is to joke, it's more dangerous than drink driving, definately,
and no one judges you for the bollard don't worry

as for tax, it would be almost impossible with all the bikes there are already,

how do we think they would do it?

...and no one judges you for the bollard don't worry

It is quite embarassing! It was actually one of those P-shaped white barriers along the Regents Canal towpath. I was cruising along and was suddenly wrapped round one. As I was 'over the limit' I just thought "meh" and got back on and rode off, but looking back it must've been pretty nasty as my shoulder cained for days. Leffe, it transpires, is very strong.