Cyclist wants drivers using mobiles banned

Susannah Wright

July 16, 2009

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Allan Ramsay

A CYCLING campaigner wants drivers who use mobile phones to have their cars impounded.

Allan Ramsay also wants them to be banned from driving and have their mobiles confiscated.

He was knocked off his bike in Bolton last year by a driver on the phone and he says the drastic measures are needed.

Allan, 60, said: "Drivers like that are potentially as dangerous as someone who's got a gun or a knife. It might not be their intention to kill someone, but they could do. There needs to be a proper deterrent."

Grandad Allan, who lives in Radcliffe with his wife Eileen, has been competing in cycle races since his early 20s. Visit http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/mobilemenaceban

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pauli73, Manchester (16/07/2009 at 12:30)

Whilst I appreciate Mr Ramsay's incident and do not wish to detract from it, is it not about time that someone looked at the way cyclists conduct themselves on the roads? I have lost count of the times I have witnessed cyclists going through red lights, riding with earphones on, going the wrong way down a road or street, riding on the pavement, not using hand signals to indicate where they are going...the list goes on. Should you dare beep at a cyclist who pulls out in front of your car to warn them, all you get in return is a load of foul mouthed abuse and obscene hand gestures. Obviously I am not stereotyping all cyclists but i'm afraid that a lot of cyclists behave as if cars are the great big metal devils put on the roads to deliberately annoy them. Let's stop bashing the drivers who pay to use their cars on the road and start looking more closely at some sort of regulation for cyclists. Perhaps then the two parties can co-exist together.

citycentre, manchester (16/07/2009 at 12:40)

just so long as the bikes of those ignoring red lights can be taken as well

Andrew Roberts (16/07/2009 at 12:49)

Whilst I appreciate pauli73's point and do not wish to detract from it, is it not about time that someone looked at the way drivers conduct themselves on the roads? I have lost count of the times I have witnessed cars, vans, buses and lorries going through red lights, driving with phones held in thetir hands on, parking on the pavement, not indicating before turning...the list goes on. Should you dare remonstrate with a driver who pulls out in front of your bike to warn them, all you get in return is a load of foul mouthed abuse and obscene hand gestures. Obviously I am not stereotyping all drivers but i'm afraid that a lot of drivers behave as if bikes are put on the roads to deliberately annoy them. Let's stop bashing the cyclists who pay plenty of tax and start looking more closely at enforcing the existing regulations for all vehicles. Perhaps then the two parties can co-exist together.

Rammylad (16/07/2009 at 12:54)

I don't often agree with cyclists, particularly as they have no vehicle identification on show so they can be reported for wreckless and dangerous cycling, or identified when they cause damage, nor do they pay insurance and road tax.

However on the issue of drivers using mobiles, I am 100% behind him. I can not believe that the police do not do more to stop these idiots, driving with one hand, changing gear, screaming a gear to avoid changing gear etc etc. It surely must be murder if one of them kills a pedestrian as they must surely know they are not in control of their 1 - 1.5ton vehicle if they are on the phone.

Steve an alternative view (16/07/2009 at 12:58)

I wonder how much he moaned about drivers using mobiles before he was knocked off his bike?
Still you never get cyclists riding whilst using a mobile phone whilst they ride wobbly down the road do you!!!!!!!
You never see members of cycling clubs riding two or more abreast or jumping red lights do you!!!!!
I know lets have a law that says if a pedal cyclist is found doing any of these offences then they have their bikes and mobile phones impounded as well.
Have you never done anything wrong when riding your bike Mr Ramsey? Are you the personification of everything that is perfect in the cycling world?

Well Mr Ramsey what do you think? Would you like to add that to your petition?

Steve an alternative view (16/07/2009 at 12:59)

What about banning all cyclists who commit an offence!

JTC Formerley JimC (16/07/2009 at 12:59)

Yep have to agree with Citycentre on this 1, it has to work both ways. I have nearly been hit by cyclists on more than one occassion when they have jumped the lights or flew straight across a zebra crossing. There are dangerous cyclists out there.

nyb, ex manc (16/07/2009 at 13:06)

It's "ban it" time again. What an idiot, it's illegal already!

I thought cyclists were relaxed, sensible people; I'm a mountain biker, and all the crashes on my head haven't turned me into a serial poster with a tendency to pontificate :>I~

Black Flag (16/07/2009 at 13:11)

Steve an alternative view: "You never see members of cycling clubs riding two or more abreast or jumping red lights do you!!!!! I know lets have a law that says if a pedal cyclist is found doing any of these offences then they have their bikes and mobile phones impounded as well."

Riding two abreast isn't an offence.

Mark,Radcliffe. (16/07/2009 at 13:34)

I was walking along the footpath,nearly got collided into by a male using a mobile phone and riding a bicycle.There is a common theme here,so let's ban the mobile phone...

The Higher Openshaw Exile, MANCHESTER (16/07/2009 at 13:37)

When cyclists pay road tax, insurance and have their bikes MOT'd then they can have a say in what is right and what is wrong, until then I suggest all cyclists take time out and read the Highway Code and then abide by it.

Black Flag (16/07/2009 at 13:41)

The Higher Openshaw Exile: "When cyclists pay road tax, insurance and have their bikes MOT'd then they can have a say in what is right and what is wrong"

It's great to see people standing up for freedom of speech!

Tezza, Tyldesley (16/07/2009 at 13:45)

Only last week I was waiting at the lights and a cyclist came up the inside of me and push my wing mirror forward (which takes some doing, so he must have known he had done it) I set off from the lights and stopped further up the road and when he passed I mentioned it to him, too which his reply was f!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Off.

But don’t worry at the next set I stopped right next to the kerb so he could not get though and there was no pavement for him to use , Oh revenge is sweet

The Higher Openshaw Exile, MANCHESTER (16/07/2009 at 13:56)

Black Flag: It might be a bit much for you to comprehend but there is a thing called 'respect' for other road users, a action that cyclists have never heard of.

nyb, ex manc (16/07/2009 at 14:06)

Tezza...You're dicing with death or injury doing things like that. You have no idea what kind of lunatic lurks under that helmet. He already gave you fair warning with his actions and language.

Next time you might not be so lucky...Be careful out there, stay safe, ignore the loonies and drive defensively.

lovinthebanter, Manchester (16/07/2009 at 14:08)

Steve an alternative view,
16/07/2009 at 12:58

'know lets have a law that says if a pedal cyclist is found doing any of these offences then they have their bikes and mobile phones impounded as well.'

Good point but lets make it a bit fairer as everyone is comitting the same offence being on the road while using a mobile phone, however if you just take the car then someone could essentially be being fined £100,000 for the same offence as someone having a £300 bike or car which is hardley fair.

MUFC your skint and we know it , salford (16/07/2009 at 14:16)

mr ramsey i notice you ride with a advert for road peace which promotes road safety so wheres your helmet

Squire of Newton, Newton nr. Hyde (16/07/2009 at 14:24)

And the same goes for all cyclists.
I lost count of the 2 wheeled maniacs i've seen using mobile while peddling along the roads ...for free, no tax or insurance applies.
Yes its is dangerous to use a moblie while negotiating the road system, whether it be by car, motor bike, bicycle or whatever other mode of transport you care to mention.

umpire 2, Salford M7 4HT (16/07/2009 at 14:27)

In my opinion both are as bad as each other and that is because both set of drivers and cyclist do not abide by the highway code because they think they are better than each other.

Whilst you are talking about the law, I want it to be seen that all cyclists have to wear Hi-Vis vests, because the other day, whilst it was raining, it was dark and a cyclist travelling down Bury New Road all in black and with a black bike, no lights and we are meant to see him when he is on the inside of traffic travelling down a busy street.

Black Flag (16/07/2009 at 14:29)

The Higher Openshaw Exile: "Black Flag: It might be a bit much for you to comprehend but there is a thing called 'respect' for other road users, a action that cyclists have never heard of."

Really?

I think you'll find in the real world that some cyclists don't have any respect for other road users, but some do. The same goes for car drivers, bus drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders, ...

If you want to promote respect, you might like to lead by example, by not telling people when they may or may not express an opinion.

dessie, manchester (16/07/2009 at 14:34)

a 50 quid on the spot fine and 6 points on their licence would be a good start, or a 3 month driving ban!!
also cyclists who ride on the road when there is a perfectly good cycle lane next to them really do get on my nerves!!!

chris (16/07/2009 at 15:10)

couple of points.

cyclelanes are not worth the hassle, drivers think that because they are there cyclist HAVE to use them (not true), they also think they can fly past leaving very little room (you tend to get passed better when there are no lanes). cyclelanes are there purely for council statistics.

jumping reds is out of order, cyclists jumping reds will be stopped by the police and given a fine, its just there are never any police about. those that do deserve everything they get.

as for taxes, please put another record on. your road tax doesnt not pay for the roads, that comes out of general taxation (which I seem to pay quite a lot of). There is also the point that cyclists also have cars, so that means they have paid tax despite the car not getting used. At the end of the day its one less car for you to sit behind in the next traffic jam your in such a rush to get too.

lol @ Andrew Roberts, nice one :-)

Brook Lands (16/07/2009 at 15:20)

Cyclists don't pay road tax as their vehicles don't weigh upwards of a ton and therefore don't damage the roads which is what road tax should mostly be for.

Also, as a driver and a cyclist I already pay road tax on my 2 cars, I think I pay my fair share already thanks.

Not all cyclists are as bad as some make out here, in fact the majority aren't and obey the rules of the road mostly as they know if they don't and they're in an accident they're the ones who will be killed or injured as a car/bus/lorry/taxi etc will always win in a collision. Just as most drivers are decent and obey the rules as they really don't want to kill anyone.

Any drivers on here banging on about how bad cyclists are and are unwilling to accept that drivers are just as bad probably fall into the selfish speeder/mobile user/drink driver category.

scaryfairy (16/07/2009 at 15:30)

whilst i agree with mr ramsay that motorists should be penalised for using mobile phones whilst driving, there are already laws in force!

meanwhile, pedestrians (particularly down oxford road), put their lives at risk, we think we have right of way to cross at the lights and then a cyclist comes charging through a red light or decide they belong the pavement, either way you virtually get knocked down!

i was walking down cross street early one morning, when some idiot starting ringing her bell at me to move out of the way (I'm on the pavement). she got such a mouthful of me. perhaps there should be a law against cyclists on pavements?

Black Flag (16/07/2009 at 15:34)

Brook Lands: "Cyclists don't pay road tax as their vehicles don't weigh upwards of a ton and therefore don't damage the roads which is what road tax should mostly be for."

The other factor to consider is that VED on new vehicles is set according the CO2 emissions from the vehicle. Anything which emits less than 100g/km (such as the Toyota IQ) falls into band A, which is £0 per year, so if you taxed bicycles at the same rate as cars, they would incur a VED rate of zero.

Make bikes liable for VED at the same rate as cars and you would incur costs in administering the system, but get no revenue. Doesn't sound like the smartest idea to me.

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