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#11
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Fixed Penalty Charge - for unicycling
I have a vague memory from Charlie Dauncey's book (lent to a colleague 18 months ago and yet to be returned) that an interpetation of advice in the Highways Code could be that unicyclists are pedestrians. This related to the seeming paradox that unicycles strictly aren't allowed on bridle paths but are on footpaths. Anyway, the plod was clearly being a plonker. Good luck if you appeal! -- martin.phillips ------------------------------------------------------------------------ martin.phillips's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/11421 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61524 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
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#12
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Fixed Penalty Charge - for unicycling
In this case, you weren't able to pass a car on the left, which is pretty common in London. There are two correct things to do in this case, either stop and wait behind that car, or go through the traffic and pass the car on the right. Often in a jam it's best to pass the cars on the right anyway, as then you don't have to worry about them pulling left into you without checking their mirrors (drivers usually check mirrors when turning right, cos they might hit another car). But yeah, you know what the right thing is to do, you chose to take a risk and do the wrong thing, and were unlucky enough to get caught, so really you should pay up. It's a coker after all, even for a unicyclist, having a coker riding at you is pretty intimidating, for a typical pedestrian, having a coker rider coming towards you with a 4 foot tall uncontrollable machine beneath them is gonna be pretty intimidating. The only thing you could possibly achieve by arguing it in court would be to get unicycles classed as not being a cycle, meaning that riding it on the road would be obstruction, and you'd have to get out of the way of cars all the time, same as rollerbladers etc. are supposed to, which could basically destroy cokering in this country. Which would be a bummer. You'd also risk it going the other way and being an expensive waste of time for you (although it'd be great news for all the other unicyclists out there if we were classified as bikes). Joe -- joemarshall my pics http://gallery.unicyclist.com/albuq44 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ joemarshall's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/1545 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61524 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#13
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Fixed Penalty Charge - for unicycling
Well, I've done a bit of digging, and, it looks like there might be 2 possible 'get outs'. According to this page; http://www.bikeforall.net/content/cy...nd_the_law.php The primary legislation which makes cycling on a footway an offence is section 72 of the 1835 Highways Act, this provides that a person shall be guilty of an offence if he "shall wilfully ride upon any footpath or causeway by the side of any road made or set apart for the use or accommodation of foot-passengers or shall wilfully lead or drive any carriage of any description upon any such footpath or causeway." Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1888 extended the definition of "carriage" to include "bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes and other similar machines." although it would probably be reasonable to assume that a unicycle would be classed as -similar -to a bicycle. A letter from the Home Office Minister states, however; The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. I think it should be safe to assume that I was riding responsibly and considerately. I know what the "correct" thing to do was, and I do often overtake traffic on the right if the route through on the left is blocked, although in this situation, I considered it, but due to bollards at the front by the traffic lights, I didn't think I would be able to safely get through. I can't idle on my coker, sadly, so the only other option would have been to dismount. My mounting skills on the 36" wheel aren't that great either I appreciate that from some view points, it would be nice to have things legally defined as to what we can do, but at the same time we don't want things legally defined as to what we cannot do. I'll try to seek a bit more advice over the weekend, and will keep you guys updated. STM -- semach.the.monkey ------------------------------------------------------------------------ semach.the.monkey's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/12078 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61524 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#14
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Fixed Penalty Charge - for unicycling
That sucks, man. I remember reading about how uni's are classed as bikes (the whole 'pedal-cycle' thing) and how that meant we are allowed to ride on the road. Me and Pebbles once got stopped by cops for riding on the pavement. They told us to ride on the road or push them. It was really busy pedestrian-wise tho, so fair enough we thought. I guess that means you shoiuldn't have been on the pavement, but that "-responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so-." should be a reasonable argument. It's a sticky one. I'd probably just pay it. And then frame the ticket! T. -- DarkTom *"DarkTom of Glasgow, one of the few uni riders here that you really musn't mess with" - GkMac "mondeos can fly" - Pebbles* 'I'm flogging off some old tat' (http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/?g2_itemId=283272) 'My Gallery' (http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/?g2_itemId=155049) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DarkTom's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/6515 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61524 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#15
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Fixed Penalty Charge - for unicycling
semach.the.monkey wrote: "...if he "shall wilfully ride upon any footpath or causeway by the side of any road made or set apart for the use or accommodation of foot-passengers or shall wilfully lead or drive any carriage of any description upon any such footpath or causeway." "The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so." If you choose to go to court, you could use those two quotes (with the proper references of course) as ammunition. Your argument should be that you were the "responsible" cyclist who only used the pavement to go around a single, stationary vehicle to put you in a safer, more visible spot while waiting for the signal to change. This makes it a judgement the court can then render, without challenging existing laws. Remember the above argument assumes guilt on your part, but with what would seem to be a reasonable explanation. This is much more likely to work. I agree with others to try to argue that you should be allowed to use the pavement risks *disallowing* you and all other UK unicyclists from using the roadways. Bad idea. If we can't handle living under the same rules as bicyclists, especially on 36" wheels, we should join with them to change legislation, not try to carve out our own. BTW, if you do go to court, by no means should you try to mislead the court as to what you were riding. If you bring a 20" you will somehow be implying that a 20" wheel should be okay but that a 36" should not. Is that your intended message? Better to bring *no* unicycle and let the court use their imagination as to wheel size. I know what the "correct" thing to do was, and I do often overtake traffic on the right if the route through on the left is blocked, although in this situation, I considered it, but due to bollards at the front by the traffic lights, I didn't think I would be able to safely get through. That would be a good, honest explanation to accompany the above. I can't idle on my coker, sadly, so the only other option would have been to dismount. My mounting skills on the 36" wheel aren't that great either By no means should anyone be idling a 36" wheel at a crowded intersection. Do you see cars going back and forth while they wait? Sometimes people will ride their clutches and roll forward and back, usually a few inches, but that's generally considered bad practice (as well as bad for the clutch). If you need to stop, stop. Sometimes I hold a light pole, but if there's nothing there I simply dismount. Can't mount reliably? I wouldn't mention that in court either. Work on those mounts! It takes a while, but with practice you should be able to do 10 out of 10. For me it's not so much about the mount, but the first few revolutions afterward. I'm adjusting my feet on the pedals and my crotch on the seat, so I always start off a little slow. This should not be a problem as long as you can do it in a straight line. Does a motorcyclist have to put his feet down at intersections? Same idea. He shouldn't be trying to do a track stand or riding in circles either. I appreciate that from some view points, it would be nice to have things legally defined as to what we can do... In most cases they are. You're a bike. UK law seems to be a bit more specific, but from what I've read it seems that generally you're still a bike. Being a bike is good. That means the law protects you, and you have rights. At least where I live, where the tendency would be to apply laws for bicycles, especially in the case of a 36" wheel moving fast. -- johnfoss John Foss Email: "jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com ----------------------------------------------- "pretty much every trail that we've done on the California or Moab Muni weekends is an XC trail." -- Kris Holm, on XC from a North Shore point of view ------------------------------------------------------------------------ johnfoss's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/832 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61524 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#16
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Fixed Penalty Charge - for unicycling
i would say fight it. but don't use the unicycle is not a bike thing use "responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so." and i think u could get out of it. Here in michigan a bike is dfined as having 2 or 3 wheels under the michigan vehicle code. -- rab2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ rab2009's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/14533 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61524 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#17
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Fixed Penalty Charge - for unicycling
From what I have read a cycle is: "A bike, trike or four or more wheeled vehicle that is by no means motorized." Recalled to the best I can remember -- pkplonker I WILL DO FOOLISH THINGS AND I WILL DO THEM WITH ENTHUSIASM, I WILL HURT MY SELF AND I WILL NOT CARE AND I WILL DO IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~''~ Unicycle for the Flying Spaghetti Monster ~''~ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ pkplonker's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/13484 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61524 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#18
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Fixed Penalty Charge - for unicycling
well how many people were hospilised as a result of your ridding?, were you ridding a bike?, were you in anyway causing pain or problems for other people? -- thejdw dunawan wrote: why are koxx one unicycles so costly??? forrestunifreak wrote: They are expensive because they use only the finest soft drink cans. don't follow Jesus, follow me! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ thejdw's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/13230 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61524 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#19
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Fixed Penalty Charge - for unicycling
thejdw wrote: well how many people were hospilised as a result of your ridding?, were you ridding a bike?, were you in anyway causing pain or problems for other people? I could drive down a deserted motorway at 150mph blind drunk without doing any of those things, doesn't mean i shouldn't be punished. -- kington99 Dave - what a thoroughly post-modern subversion of the cycling genre - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ kington99's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/9417 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61524 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
#20
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Fixed Penalty Charge - for unicycling
kington99 wrote: I could drive down a deserted motorway at 150mph blind drunk without doing any of those things, doesn't mean i shouldn't be punished. thats a fair point, what do you suggest? -- thejdw dunawan wrote: why are koxx one unicycles so costly??? forrestunifreak wrote: They are expensive because they use only the finest soft drink cans. don't follow Jesus, follow me! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ thejdw's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/13230 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/61524 Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services ---------------------------------------------------------- ** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY ** ---------------------------------------------------------- http://www.usenet.com |
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