Motorway cycle paths speed limits

[solocle]

After an inquiry to National Highways, the speed limits signed on the two such paths locally don't actually apply to cyclists.



What jumps out is that the Avonmouth Bridge path above is regulated under Section 84, which means it's not a special road, unlike the Severn Bridge path.

[Summers-lad]

Pity - I was hoping you were going to have an answer saying cyclists aren't subject to a 70mph limit (although by implication they've said that too). Must get training...

[Vierwielen]

Pity - I was hoping you were going to have an answer saying cyclists aren't subject to a 70mph limit (although by implication they've said that too). Must get training...

If a cyclist is charged with exceeding 70 mph, they have a very good defence in court "My Lord, I do not believe it is possible to cycle at 70 mph. If counsel for the prosecution disagrees, let him demonstrate".

[Vierwielen]

In some European countries, prohibition and warning signs for water-craft are square. See here for example (height restriction 3.3 m, speed restriction 3 km/h). (Just found this document regarding inland European waterways.

Is there a special shape for signs relating to bicycles?

[Ruperts Trooper]

Pity - I was hoping you were going to have an answer saying cyclists aren't subject to a 70mph limit (although by implication they've said that too). Must get training...

If a cyclist is charged with exceeding 70 mph, they have a very good defence in court "My Lord, I do not believe it is possible to cycle at 70 mph. If counsel for the prosecution disagrees, let him demonstrate".

Guy Martin achieved 113 mph when he broke the British cycle speed record!

[KeithW]

Guy Martin achieved 113 mph when he broke the British cycle speed record!

With a lot of wind assist from the truck in front of him, I seem to recall there was a similar record set by a cyclist behind a train.

[nowster]

Is there a special shape for signs relating to bicycles?

No, only for trams. (With some confusion as some areas are km/h and some are mph.)

[Vierwielen]

Is there a special shape for signs relating to bicycles?

No, only for trams. (With some confusion as some areas are km/h and some are mph.)

Most, if not all are km/h. (See Tramway Principals and Guidance: para 8.60(e)).

[solocle]

Pity - I was hoping you were going to have an answer saying cyclists aren't subject to a 70mph limit (although by implication they've said that too). Must get training...

If a cyclist is charged with exceeding 70 mph, they have a very good defence in court "My Lord, I do not believe it is possible to cycle at 70 mph. If counsel for the prosecution disagrees, let him demonstrate".

I mean, I've clocked 57 mph before, on the C32 (North Yorkshire). Not quite car NSL, but spitting distance away.

In ideal conditions 70 probably is possible, but I doubt there are any dual carriageways steep enough for that!

[nowster]

Is there a special shape for signs relating to bicycles?

No, only for trams. (With some confusion as some areas are km/h and some are mph.)

Most, if not all are km/h. (See Tramway Principals and Guidance: para 8.60(e)).

Sheffield Supertram and Manchester Metrolink would like to differ.

https://uktram.com/wp-content/uploads/2 ... ways_2.pdf (Section 4.1.2)

[XC70]

....... I seem to recall there was a similar record set by a cyclist behind a train......

The track sleepers must have made the ride a bit bumpy.

[Vierwielen]

No, only for trams. (With some confusion as some areas are km/h and some are mph.)

Most, if not all are km/h. (See Tramway Principals and Guidance: para 8.60(e)).

Sheffield Supertram and Manchester Metrolink would like to differ.

https://uktram.com/wp-content/uploads/2 ... ways_2.pdf (Section 4.1.2)

But Nottingham, Midlands, Edinburgh, Blackpool, Croydon, Tyne & Wear and DRL all use metric. collected thuis Inforation from Rail Accident Investigation (RAIB) reports. RAIB are meticulous in using the units of measure that were being used on the day of the accident.

[nowster]

RAIB are meticulous in using the units of measure that were being used on the day of the accident.

That doesn't change the fact that two of the seven current tram schemes use mph, not km/h.

Tyne and Wear Metro isn't a tram system, nor is Merseyrail or DLR. They're light rail without any "on road" sections. Your "Tyne & Wear" RAIB link is to an accident at Bestwood on the Nottingham trams.

[Bryn666]

RAIB are meticulous in using the units of measure that were being used on the day of the accident.

That doesn't change the fact that two of the seven current tram schemes use mph, not km/h.

Tyne and Wear Metro isn't a tram system, nor is Merseyrail or DLR. They're light rail without any "on road" sections. Your "Tyne & Wear" RAIB link is to an accident at Bestwood on the Nottingham trams.

Two of the largest systems by track length as well, as well as the earliest of the "new" trams. Blackpool of course is the outlier - interestingly the famous on-street section by the Metropole has been segregated out as part of the drive to change Blackpool from a novelty tram to a serious metro system.

[Helvellyn]

....... I seem to recall there was a similar record set by a cyclist behind a train......

The track sleepers must have made the ride a bit bumpy.

If that was the very early attempt I'm thinking of boards had been laid between the tracks. It was a somewhat questionable attempt - the passage of the train wobbled the boards about, and the cyclist had to be pulled on to the back of the train when the boards ran out...

[WHBM]

What jumps out is that the Avonmouth Bridge path above is regulated under Section 84, which means it's not a special road, unlike the Severn Bridge path.

I'm guessing that this goes back to the initial construction legislation, where the whole of the Severn Bridge structure may have been designated a Special Road (under whichever flavour of the 1949 Special Roads Act applied at the time), but not the Avonmouth bridge. Did the current motorcycle/cycle setup on that bridge apply from day 1 ?

[Vierwielen]

Content deleted - half page posted in error

[Vierwielen]

RAIB are meticulous in using the units of measure that were being used on the day of the accident.

That doesn't change the fact that two of the seven current tram schemes use mph, not km/h.

Tyne and Wear Metro isn't a tram system, nor is Merseyrail or DLR. They're light rail without any "on road" sections. Your "Tyne & Wear" RAIB link is to an accident at Bestwood on the Nottingham trams.

Tyne and Wear link corrected.

[nowster]

Tyne and Wear link corrected.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tyne ... limits.jpg

It's still not a tram system, but also shares some of its lines with National Rail, hence the unique signage linked to above. (10 mph for goods, 40mph for other trains and its equivalent of 60km/h for Metro trains.)

[KeithW]

I thought it was well established that cyclists were not subject to speed limits as they are not required to have speedometers but I suppose they are still able to be prosecuted for wanton and furious cycling an offence since 1861 as I recall.