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85 cyclists given fines
6:00am Thursday 13th September 2007
Comments (66)Cyclists were handed an expensive safety reminder when they were spotted by police flouting Oxford's pedestrianised streets.
Police fined 85 cyclists for riding along Cornmarket Street and Queen Street in just under three hours yesterday.
The flurry of £30 fines came only weeks after Joyce Read, 80, suffered a broken hip after she was knocked down by a reckless cyclist in Cornmarket Street.
Some cyclists caught red-handed by police pleaded to be given a warning instead of fines.
Pc Steve Higa, who managed the operation, said: "On a daily occurrence people come up to us and ask when will these cyclists be stopped.
"They should read signs and follow them because, if not, you get people like Joyce Read who get badly hurt.
"The majority of people we fined said they did not know the rules. Others said 'yes you are quite right', while some said it was the first time they had done it.
"Hopefully, a £30 fine will help remind them not to do it again."
Between 10.30am and 1.30pm, police dished out £30 fines to 32 cyclists in pedestrianised Cornmarket Street and 53 in Queen Street which is restricted only to buses and pedestrians.
The crackdown was prompted by complaints from the Oxford Access Advice Group, which wrote to police fearing disabled and elderly people were in danger.
Cycling is banned on pedestrianised Cornmarket Street and bus-only Queen Street between 10am and 6pm.
Sarah Murphy, 28, of Cowley, fined £30 for cycling in Cornmarket Street, said: "I understand where police are coming from, but I was not hurtling down the road. I was free-wheeling and looking around."
Hassan Irtaza, 36, of East Oxford, stopped and fined in Queen Street, said: "They are doing this to make money."
Joyce Read, 80, of Headington, suffered a broken hip after she was knocked down by a cyclist in Cornmarket Street in July.
The cyclist has never been found.
She said: "Perhaps fining people is the only way. They don't take notice of all the warnings."
A spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council, which imposes the restrictions, said: "The signage is there. People should take notice."
Your Say YourOxford Mail
jennifer, oxford says...
7:11am Thu 13 Sep 07
should be more than a 30 quid fine too - let them learn their lesson, perhaps then they won't do it again.
NC, Oxford says...
7:18am Thu 13 Sep 07
Alan, Oxford says...
8:01am Thu 13 Sep 07
Mark, Oxford says...
8:35am Thu 13 Sep 07
Also in defence of cyclists - pedestrians please note that the left hand side of the Botley road cycle lane is for cycles not dawdling peds who shout when I cycle past. To insult to injury, some drivers also shout at you along the Botley Road if you don't use the cycle lane. You just can't win sometimes! Happy cycling & driving chaps..............
dave, says...
8:52am Thu 13 Sep 07
i should also add i'm also a cyclist, seemingly one of the few who obey the rules. i get far angrier at other cyclists on the roads than any other road users.
they should also implement these fines at traffic lights. i've lost count of the times i sit waiting at the bottom of morrell avenue only to have cyclist after cyclist go through red lights, or worse still going onto the pavement to cut past the lights. Do they think this exonerates them from jumping the red light? it beggers belief!
i also find it pretty disgusting to see young mothers with those child seats weaving in and out of traffic. what kind of parent would be so irresponsible?
apologies for ranting on so much.
Rob, Oxford says...
9:13am Thu 13 Sep 07
Obviously, as a cyclist myself, I'd prefer to see every road in town car-free, but as a realist understand that we've got to share the roads and all obey the rules.
Steven, Oxford says...
9:20am Thu 13 Sep 07
K, Oxford says...
9:22am Thu 13 Sep 07
Jonathan, Oxford says...
9:47am Thu 13 Sep 07
We should encourage responsible cycling and help to reduce car dependency to make our cities healthier places to be in.
steve, Oxford says...
9:50am Thu 13 Sep 07
steve jones, Oxford says...
9:56am Thu 13 Sep 07
s.e.o, bbl says...
9:58am Thu 13 Sep 07
K wrote:yeah then they might just get up and smack you
The police should be using snipers, no-one would miss a few cyclists. In the meantime, I've taken to giving cyclists who try and ride around me when I'm crossing on zebra or pedestrian crossings a sharp shove in self defence - perhaps their face connecting with the tarmac for a few yards might teach them a lesson as shouting hasn't worked.
Jon, Didcot says...
9:58am Thu 13 Sep 07
Rob, Oxford says...
9:59am Thu 13 Sep 07
s.e.o wrote:I make a point of shoving them out of the way, they are the ones in the wrong not me.
K wrote: The police should be using snipers, no-one would miss a few cyclists. In the meantime, I've taken to giving cyclists who try and ride around me when I'm crossing on zebra or pedestrian crossings a sharp shove in self defence - perhaps their face connecting with the tarmac for a few yards might teach them a lesson as shouting hasn't worked.yeah then they might just get up and smack you
s.e.o, bbl says...
10:02am Thu 13 Sep 07
mr burns, springfield says...
10:18am Thu 13 Sep 07
if you ask me, people like that deserve to get knocked off and pushed off their bikes!!
the highway code applies to ALL ROAD USERS!!!!
cyclists.....read it!!
K, Oxford says...
10:20am Thu 13 Sep 07
s.e.o wrote:I'd rather I shoved them and they learnt their lesson than they hit a vunerable person like Mrs. Read and seriously injure or kill them.
yea but how would you like to be shoved
As to them smacking me, I'm 6'6" and very well built - I'd like to see them try!
s.e.o, bbl says...
10:25am Thu 13 Sep 07
Steve, Oxford says...
10:47am Thu 13 Sep 07
Well done Police, more fines to ALL people, cyclists and cars etc, who break the rules of the road.
Mary Hinge, Crotch Crescent says...
10:54am Thu 13 Sep 07
Chris, Oxford says...
10:58am Thu 13 Sep 07
If you smack someone you will get done for assault. And I don't care if you are 6'6" - the bigger you are the harder you will fall.
NC, Oxford says...
11:07am Thu 13 Sep 07
PS to Alan - liked your comment.
s.e.o, bbl says...
11:13am Thu 13 Sep 07
Chris wrote:edzactly my sentments
So following the same logic as K ("I've taken to giving cyclists who try and ride around me when I'm crossing on zebra or pedestrian crossings a sharp shove in self defence"), can I smack pedestrians who walk into the road in front of me whilst on my bike, or who cross when the green man has turned back to red?? If you smack someone you will get done for assault. And I don't care if you are 6'6" - the bigger you are the harder you will fall.
good point chris
Paul, Oxford says...
11:34am Thu 13 Sep 07
NC wrote:Typical cyclist attitude, they're all victims oppressed by evil car drivers. Obey the law you muppets .
You need to have nice big WIDE cycle lanes away from roads, if we had built a good system in the first place, cyclicts could get from A-B without fear of being crushed/slapped etc and raod users could pollute the air and annoy each other in peace. What you have is a mish mash of a crap system with everyone overflowing into each others zones.
PS to Alan - liked your comment.
leona, says...
11:51am Thu 13 Sep 07
NC, Oxford says...
11:54am Thu 13 Sep 07
DB, Botley says...
12:35pm Thu 13 Sep 07
K, Oxford says...
12:59pm Thu 13 Sep 07
s.e.o wrote:Pedestrians have absolute right of way at all times, so if they step out in front of you it's your responsibility to take any evasive action possible. It's all in the Highway Code - but as a cyclist I wouldn't expect you to have read that.
Chris wrote:edzactly my sentments
So following the same logic as K ("I've taken to giving cyclists who try and ride around me when I'm crossing on zebra or pedestrian crossings a sharp shove in self defence"), can I smack pedestrians who walk into the road in front of me whilst on my bike, or who cross when the green man has turned back to red?? If you smack someone you will get done for assault. And I don't care if you are 6'6" - the bigger you are the harder you will fall.
good point chris
cupid stunt, says...
1:02pm Thu 13 Sep 07
s.e.o, bbl says...
1:14pm Thu 13 Sep 07
K wrote:me mate im a wicked cyclist
s.e.o wrote:Pedestrians have absolute right of way at all times, so if they step out in front of you it's your responsibility to take any evasive action possible. It's all in the Highway Code - but as a cyclist I wouldn't expect you to have read that.Chris wrote: So following the same logic as K ("I've taken to giving cyclists who try and ride around me when I'm crossing on zebra or pedestrian crossings a sharp shove in self defence"), can I smack pedestrians who walk into the road in front of me whilst on my bike, or who cross when the green man has turned back to red?? If you smack someone you will get done for assault. And I don't care if you are 6'6" - the bigger you are the harder you will fall.edzactly my sentments good point chris
Tarbatt, says...
1:15pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Jim, South Oxford says...
1:32pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Queen Street is a slightly different matter. I'd lived here for months before I noticed the no entry signs. It's not the sort of think you look out for as a cyclist (I'd never come across such a road classification before I moved to Oxford).
It puzzles me somewhat that bikes are considered such a danger, but the buses, which often edge onto the pavement to squeeze by one another are not! Perhaps we should change the old saying to "live for today, you could be hit by a bicycle tomorrow"!
Mark, Oxford says...
1:34pm Thu 13 Sep 07
I've taken to giving cyclists who try and ride around me when I'm crossing on zebra or pedestrian crossings a sharp shove in self defence
You do realise thats assault, don't you? Two wrongs don't make a right. If you injured someone you could end up in court.
Mark, Oxford says...
1:36pm Thu 13 Sep 07
In my opinion anyone caught should have their cycle confiscated and crushed!! in the same way cars are confiscated and crushed..
Oh sure, I'd go along with that - provided cars were crushed every time a driver broke the speed limit, ran the lights, parked on a yellow line or in a disabled bay etc, cut someone up etc etc.
mark, Oxford says...
1:40pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Typical cyclist attitude, they're all victims oppressed by evil car drivers.
Reality check: a car weighs a ton. A bike weights 20 kg. Who comes off worse when some idiot car driver turns left without looking, or swerves into you?
Obey the law you muppets .
One might suggest that to the car drivers who ALSO run lights, drive / park in bus lanes, on double yellows etc.
Jim, South Oxford says...
1:42pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Mark, Oxford says...
1:48pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Pedestrians have absolute right of way at all times, ....It's all in the Highway Code
Evidently you haven't read it, because this isn't true. Pedestrians have priority at junctions (rule 146) and marked crossing places (r18-28).
- but as a cyclist I wouldn't expect you to have read that
And naturally, no cyclist is also a car driver. And naturally, all car drivers know their highway code.
Rule 125 might be a good one to learn, for starters.
Filly Sucker, Wantage says...
2:23pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Innocent, says...
2:26pm Thu 13 Sep 07
joe, oxford says...
2:26pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Mark wrote:if thats what it takes for safer roads than yes! But last time I looked cars did not drive down pavements at high speed.
In my opinion anyone caught should have their cycle confiscated and crushed!! in the same way cars are confiscated and crushed..Oh sure, I\'d go along with that - provided cars were crushed every time a driver broke the speed limit, ran the lights, parked on a yellow line or in a disabled bay etc, cut someone up etc etc.
Richard, Oxford says...
2:36pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Oxford stinks, Oxford says...
2:49pm Thu 13 Sep 07
By the way, if you do cycle in Oxford, try not to breathe:
"Diesel exhaust fumes increase the stress on the heart during exercise and may account for the rise in heart deaths on days when pollution from traffic fumes is high, they say.
The World Health Organisation estimates that air pollution causes 800,000 premature deaths worldwide and a recent US study suggested long-term exposure to traffic fumes increases the risk of death from heart disease and stroke by 76 per cent."
me, oxford says...
2:53pm Thu 13 Sep 07
don't like cyclists to be honest, most of them skip lights, ride on pavements (not cycle paths) and ding their stupid bells if i'm in their way. my mother was knocked down and seriously hurt by a cycist on a footpath, they didn't stop to see how she was. if you ding your stupid bell at me again, you'll get it stapped up your a***
Jim, South Oxford says...
3:07pm Thu 13 Sep 07
"me" - If cyclists ding their bells at you when you are in the way, then get out of the way; that's the point. If you have right of way, don't move out of the way. Simple. No need to assault anyone.
I am similarly frustrated by pavement cyclists, but I have never lost my temper over it. Chill.
Phil, Oxford says...
3:11pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Why are people so angry?
There's an old saying that goes something like: If you send anger out, you'll get anger back. Worth bearing in mind "me" the next time you have an urge to "stapp" (?) it someone's backside.
DB, Botley says...
3:21pm Thu 13 Sep 07
ME, oxford says...
3:21pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Local Boy, Local says...
4:55pm Thu 13 Sep 07
I don't think I have ever read so much tripe in years. 48 comments about cycling in an area that at certain times of day allows cycling and at certain times doesn't. What a menace these cyclists are!
Just out of interest I thought I'd check to see what a menace motorist are in Oxford. In the last week the following articles have been on this website:
Fatal crash driver had been 'awake 36 hours' 0 comments
Death driver suspended from nursing 13 comments
Police pursuit ends in crash 1 comment
Motorists still drinking and driving - 2 comments
Marquess jailed for road offences - 7 comments
Update: A40 car crash - 0 comments
Driver hurt in crash 0 comments
Trucker trapped in cab 1 comment
13 different incidents involving vehicles - 24 comments. You guys need to understand where the real danger is on our highways!
Arfur, Oxford says...
5:19pm Thu 13 Sep 07
K wrote:K: You're not 6'6" are you? You're a about 5'2" and weigh less than a wet fag paper. If you weren't you would be out with your wife/girlfriend rather than posting aggressive comments about a subject you know nothing about.
s.e.o wrote:I'd rather I shoved them and they learnt their lesson than they hit a vunerable person like Mrs. Read and seriously injure or kill them.
yea but how would you like to be shoved
As to them smacking me, I'm 6'6" and very well built - I'd like to see them try!
Silly Billy.
BTB, oxford says...
5:19pm Thu 13 Sep 07
But I'm also with Local Boy on this one...
Freddy, Oxford says...
5:50pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Now the question is this: With a nice new cycle path with good tarmac, why do some cyclists continue to cycle on the road, competing with vehicles and pot holes?
The cyclists that use the main road instead of the cycle path are generally the cyclists that wear outfits that make them look like Tour de France competitors.
Dave, Oxford says...
6:12pm Thu 13 Sep 07
K wrote:A better way to deal with cyclists K is to take a good walking stick out with you.
The police should be using snipers, no-one would miss a few cyclists. In the meantime, I\'ve taken to giving cyclists who try and ride around me when I\'m crossing on zebra or pedestrian crossings a sharp shove in self defence - perhaps their face connecting with the tarmac for a few yards might teach them a lesson as shouting hasn\'t worked.
As the cyclist passes you on the pavement, zebra crossing or anywhere "IT" shouldn't be, just shove your stick in the front wheel.
A. It bug*ers their front wheel.
B. Rider goes ar*e over t1t.
Not only is it funny, it's also justice.
I could have killed one this morning but luckily for him my reflexes hit the brakes before I thought about it.`
Dave, Oxford says...
6:16pm Thu 13 Sep 07
steve wrote:Yep, and if they crushed her kids too it would help her to remember.
I was at the lights at Carfax last week crossing the road innocently.. Yes the lights were red, Yes the Green man was on, and Yes a Parent cycling with their young Child behind then Cycled right out in front of me with a total disregard for the rules of the road!! What an excellent example to set for your kids. In my opinion anyone caught should have their cycle confiscated and crushed!! in the same way cars are confiscated and crushed.. Prehaps that will teach the idiots..
Red light means "STOP".
al, oxford says...
6:21pm Thu 13 Sep 07
The road is safer; you don't have to mix with pedestrians; the road is not cut by side streets; there are no bus stops or trees in the middle of the road.
The road is also quicker; you dont have to stop when a side street cuts the cycler path or to avoid obsticle or pedestrians.
It is also easier to turn righ if you are already on th rioad you can pull across to the center (it is a cyclist or any other vehicles right o do so) rather than having to cross the whole road.
It is also a cyclist right to use the road even where an alternative cycle path exists.
Rule 61: Cycle Facilities. Use cycle routes, advanced stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings unless at the time it is unsafe to do so. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer.
Rule 63: Cycle Lanes. These are marked by a white line (which may be broken) along the carriageway. When using a cycle lane, keep within the lane when practicable. When leaving a cycle lane check before pulling out that it is safe to do so and signal your intention clearly to other road users. Use of these facilities is not compulsory and will depend on your experience and skills, but they can make your journey safer.
Dave, Oxford says...
6:34pm Thu 13 Sep 07
Local Boy wrote:WE DO, YOU DON'T.
Oxford the a centre of education and culuture?
I don't think I have ever read so much tripe in years. 48 comments about cycling in an area that at certain times of day allows cycling and at certain times doesn't. What a menace these cyclists are!
Just out of interest I thought I'd check to see what a menace motorist are in Oxford. In the last week the following articles have been on this website:
Fatal crash driver had been 'awake 36 hours' 0 comments
Death driver suspended from nursing 13 comments
Police pursuit ends in crash 1 comment
Motorists still drinking and driving - 2 comments
Marquess jailed for road offences - 7 comments
Update: A40 car crash - 0 comments
Driver hurt in crash 0 comments
Trucker trapped in cab 1 comment
13 different incidents involving vehicles - 24 comments. You guys need to understand where the real danger is on our highways!
I don't know where you come from but it doesn't sound like your from around here.
Oxfords cyclists are evil, arrogant scum.
Freddy, Oxford says...
7:47pm Thu 13 Sep 07
It is also a cyclist right to use the road even where an alternative cycle path exists.
I've just had a look at the Highway Code for cyclists and I think that it's recently changed
Rule 61 : Full details about the correct procedure at roundabouts are contained in Rules 160-166. Roundabouts can be hazardous and should be approached with care.
Rule 63 : Give plenty of room to long vehicles on the roundabout as they need more space to manoeuvre. Do not ride in the space they need to get round the roundabout. It may be safer to wait until they have cleared the roundabout.
www.highwaycode.gov.
uk/03.htm
Steven, Oxford says...
8:00am Fri 14 Sep 07
jennifer, oxford says...
10:09am Fri 14 Sep 07
if these measures were put in place then I am sure we would see a lot less cyclists on the roads, especialy the ones who don't seem to have any clue.
Richard, Oxford says...
11:16am Fri 14 Sep 07
jennifer wrote:Er, Jennifer, you can say exactly the same for anyone crossing the road on foot.
i don't understand why cyclists can use the roads but don't have to pay tax or insurance? Insurance, because they are the cause of many accidents - usually resulting in drivers of cars being the ones out of pocket.. Tax because as road users they are contributing to wear and tear etc. if these measures were put in place then I am sure we would see a lot less cyclists on the roads, especialy the ones who don't seem to have any clue.
Under the terms of your bold initiative cyclists would only be allowed where there's a cycle path.
Come on! motorists, pedestrians - let's all chill out a bit, be nice to each other & unite against the common enemy - bloody bus drivers!
jennifer, oxford says...
11:52am Fri 14 Sep 07
Phil, Oxford says...
1:31pm Fri 14 Sep 07
jennifer wrote:Its all about risk Jenifer. While driving you are likely to be involved in very expensive accidents. The chances of causing an accident on a bike are minuscule next to driving. Stats show you are more likely to cause an accident while walking. It would be a crazy society where we force pedestrians to buy insurance.
yes, but why should they not pay insurance? if a cyclist causes an accident they seemingly get off scot-free whereas it is the car drivers that have to pay heavy insurance premiums.
Mark, oxford says...
1:56pm Fri 14 Sep 07
After reading all the comments here I think I will avoid cycling on any cycle paths and stick to the roads - probably safer in the long run.
Oh and by the way - after 10 years as a parcel delivery driver, I can't ever recall having grief with a cyclist - plenty of grief with cars though!
Keep smiling - it's only a debate!
Merc, Oxford says...
5:28pm Fri 14 Sep 07
Tarbatt wrote:If you spent big money on a Mercedes then you would drive it anywhere too!!!!
I just saw a Mercedes drive down Queen Street, causing pedestrians to get out of the way. There were no coppers around to stop that of course.
Jim, South Oxford says...
1:01pm Tue 18 Sep 07
jennifer wrote:For the reasons against insuring bicycles, Mark's last comment sums it up for me. I might add that if you collide with a cyclist with enough force to seriously damage your car, then he will probably be killed, so you could always ask the widow for compensation I suppose.
i don\'t understand why cyclists can use the roads but don\'t have to pay tax or insurance? Insurance, because they are the cause of many accidents - usually resulting in drivers of cars being the ones out of pocket.. Tax because as road users they are contributing to wear and tear etc.
if these measures were put in place then I am sure we would see a lot less cyclists on the roads, especialy the ones who don\'t seem to have any clue.
As for wear and tear, bicycles don't exactly generate high braking, cornering and acceleration loads and the edge of the road surface never appears to wear faster than the middle bit that cars drive on. I suppose cyclists benefit from traffic lights etc. but as has already been pointed out, so do pedestrians.
As for your apparent desire to see less cyclists on the roads - Why? Bikes reduce congestion and pollution and increase the fitness of those that ride them. They are good for society. Don't let a few reckless individuals taint your judgment.
Rob, Oxford says...
11:17am Wed 19 Sep 07
Keep cycling, but do it safely.
A police officer stops a woman cycling in Cornmarket Street, Oxford
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Stephanie, says...
6:49am Thu 13 Sep 07
The cycling ban needs to be enforced with spot fines every day, with a special all-day effort made when the new students arrive in October.
On the rare occasions when there are police in Cornmarket, they do nothing to stop cyclists. Why does the law only apply when there is a special operation?