madzone said:
I've already done that, darling.
Do cyclists have to pass a test before they're allowed on the roads?
- Thread starter madzone
- Start date
I've already done that, darling.
madzone said:Ahh well, that explains it.
Darling
Be careful about making assumptions. They can rise up to bite you.
madzone
Physically unfavourable
editor said:
I'd be interested in finding out how many cyclists recieved training as children. I passed the proficiency test at school but none of my kids have been offered it. I'll definitely look into that cyclewise trianing for my middle boy but my eldest wasn't offered anything. My youngest isn't old enough for it yet but tbh I wouldn't let either of them out on bikes on the road until they're much older anyway.
As for the failing aspect, we take it on trust that motorists and people on motorbikes have passed their test and have all the neccessary paperwork like insurances and mot. I don't suppose it would be any different for cyclists. Hopefully the government would see fit to subsidise the test or even provide it free as part of their EU initiatives for reducing pollution etc.
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
madzone said:
you're being deliberately obtuse.
madzone said:
If you're concerned about people being put off entering the 'arena' then you will need to use the legislature to make things safer for them yes? Or are you just going to ask those motorists who speed to stick to the limits, nicely?
madzone said:
check your own thread title.
editor
hiraethified
As I have said, there is ample free cycle training available in the UK for adults as well as children.madzone said:
Would you like to elaborate on your proposed 'test' now please, and explain what happens if someone fails the test please and how it might be policed and funded?
madzone
Physically unfavourable
Sigmund Fraud said:
No I'm not. I'm interested in how we can make the roads safer anyway let alone for cyclists. How do you legislate any more than we already do. E.g we set speed limits - people break them. How do you suggest the roads are made safer for cyclists and sensible drivers?
Again, what legislation are you suggesting? I see a lot of irresponisble driving on our roads but if you call the police they don't want to know. What are we supposed to do? What legislation are you suggesting?
It was a genuine question
madzone
Physically unfavourable
I've answered that alreadyeditor said:
As for the test I suppose it would be an extended version of the cycling proficency. As in checking whether people knowing what road signs meant, who to give way to at a roundabout etc. Pretty much the same as a moped test.
If it's possible to police people on mopeds why not cycles?
Sigmund Fraud
893 all the way.
<asks to be excused from thread>
madzone said:
You think that the police would enjoy the extra duty of checking every cyclist for a license? Without their cooperation no license system would amount to bag a nuts.
madzone
Physically unfavourable
They don't check every driver.Lock&Light said:
I'm surprised that people think it's ok to go out, buy a mode of transport and just launch themselves on the road without any formal training. Just doesn't seem safe to me. Especially with growing traffic on rural roads etc.
Anyway, I'm too tired for this. Buggering off now
DaveCinzano
WATCH OUT, GEORGE, HE'S GOT A SCREWDRIVER!
madzone said:
probably not. probably always pretty much the same
Bernie Gunther
Fundamentalist Druid
Still, there might be a market for some form of instruction in "defensive cycling" - for example how to make sure the most expensive bit possible of the car is damaged by your boot as you take evasive action when he pulls out in front of you without looking.
kained&able
Here for the football.
I think cyclists should have to take a test. Not anything to hard but at least some sort of theroy test so that they know what signs mean what and stuff like that.
Anyone who is using the road should have a basic understanding of signage and the rules of the road its just safer that way.
dave
Anyone who is using the road should have a basic understanding of signage and the rules of the road its just safer that way.
dave
Bernie Gunther
Fundamentalist Druid
More or less. I put a big dent in a capri belonging to a boy racer.Velouria said:
He came after me and tried to run me over, but I had a head start, a lot of adrenaline pumping and a back alley he couldn't fit down was right nearby.
kained&able
Here for the football.
finalstryke said:
I have met a cyclist going down the wrong way of a one way street who claimed to not know that it was a one way street , he was inches away from getting run over. i was walking and he was swearing at the car left right and centre untill i told him he was a muppet.
Met a few cars going the wrong way as well but i presumed they were just being twats and lazy ones at that.
dave
kained&able
Here for the football.
Cloud said:
yeah thats fair enough then. As you will have had training on signage etc. Same if you hold a motorbike liscence.
dave
finalstryke said:
You can ride upto a 125 on a provisional. One problem being insurance doesnt get a great deal cheaper if you do the full test and dont want a lot bigger bike. So there ends up being a lot going round only on provisionals and not getting further road training.
spanglechick
High Empress of Dressing Up
Umm - hate to disagree but, certainly as recently as 2001 you had to take a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training, IIRC) to ride a moped scooter or motorbike of any size. Even if you're a car driver of longstanding experience. Good thing too, a motorized transport is potentially dangerous to thers, and they also teach you defensive skills. It costs about £80 (??? again IIRC) and has to be renewed through another test after two years if you haven't taken the appropriate full motorcycle test.tw1ggy5 said:
If the law has scrapped this subsequently, then I apologise for being a smartarse.
tommers
Currently in investor / advisor mode.
spanglechick said:Umm - hate to disagree but, certainly as recently as 2001 you had to take a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training, IIRC) to ride a moped scooter or motorbike of any size. Even if you're a car driver of longstanding experience. Good thing too, a motorized transport is potentially dangerous to thers, and they also teach you defensive skills. It costs about £80 (??? again IIRC) and has to be renewed through another test after two years if you haven't taken the appropriate full motorcycle test.
If the law has scrapped this subsequently, then I apologise for being a smartarse.
that's what i thought too.....
but I do see a lot of the yoot round our way screaming up the road on their hairdryer powered mopeds... all with "L" signs.....
Velouria
Long time lurker
God, yes, but the whole bike licence thing is a total mess now...!tw1ggy5 said:
It works like this:
Age 16
Upon completion of CBT, can ride a moped* on a provisional licence and take the test for a full moped licence after passing the motorcycle theory test (No distinction is made between a moped and a motorcycle theory test, or between moped and motorcycle CBT).
* a motorcycle which, if first registered on or after 1 August (?) 1977, has an engine capacity of not more than 50cc if powered by an internal combustion engine and limited to a maximum speed of 30 mph. If first registered before 1 August 1977 (there aren't many left that were!), a motorcycle with an engine capacity of not more than 50cc which is capable of being propelled using pedals (and not limited to 30mph).
Age 17
Upon completion of CBT, or having completed a moped CBT at age 16 as the two are interchangeable, a learner may ride a bike with an engine size of up to 125cc and a power to weight ratio not exceeding 11kw/tonne (for practical purposes this equates to a top speed of about 70-75 downhill lying flat on the tank
).You are also allowed to drive a motorcycle and sidecar combination of any engine size, however there is yet again a maximum power-to-weight ratio which is allowed.
If you are a member of the Armed Forces while on duty, you are allowed to ride any size of motorcycle with no power to weight restriction. I do not know if CBT is waived or required for the Armed Forces. (Anyway, it's rare for them to shove 17 year old kids on bikes nowadays).
If you hold a full moped licence, you are exempt for the requirement for CBT as you've already done it to get the moped licence.
Now it gets even more complex.
If you pass your test on a motorcycle of ... umm... between 50? and 123 cc you then gain a 'light motorcycle' licence which entitles you to drive any motorcycle up to 125cc without L plates. However if the bike you take the test on is an automatic, your licence will include the code which indicates it is limited to motorcycles with automatic transmission. You do not have provisional entitlement to drive any larger motorcycles except as part of an approved rider training scheme doing Accelerated Access (see 'Age 18' section). Rider training schemes are centrally registered with the Driving Standards Agency. If you want to drive anything larger than a light motorcycle, you will have to take another test. For some reason I think there are very few 'light motorcycle' licence holders
If you pass your test on a motorcycle of between 123 and 125 cc (yes, it really is a MERE 2 cc band!), you then get a 'full' bike licence, however it isn't really 'full', it's limited to bikes of less than 400cc with a certain maximum power to weight ratio for a period of two years. If the bike you took the test on was an automatic, then you will be, as above, limited to motorcycles with automatic transmission. Yet again you're still allowed to drive a motorcycle and sidecar combination but there's a power-to-weight ratio limit. You do not have provisional entitlement to drive any larger motorcycles except as part of an approved rider training scheme doing Accelerated Access (see 'Age 18' section).
Age 18:
Once you hit age 18, provided you got your 'full' licence at age 17, and it's not a light motorcycle licence, in which case you'd have to take another test on a bike of engine size between 123-125cc as above, you then qualify for something called 'Accelerated Access'. Accelerated Access means that someone who holds a 'full' (but restricted to <400cc) bike licence who is 18 or over can take lessons, under supervision, on larger bkes and take a further test during the two year period that their licence is limited to 400cc. They will then be allowed to ride any size motorcycle (and, I think you do still, as a bonus, gain B1 (tricycle) entitlement) - providing you can afford the insurance! (You will have to be very well off).
Note also your CBT only lasts two years, and if it's lapsed by the time you reach 18, you'll have to do it again. The theory test pass expires after some amount of time too, and you might have to do that again. Unless you hold a full moped licence, then you don't need CBT and, last time I checked, as a full moped licence holder you'd have already done the theory test for this 'class' of vehicle and wouldn't have to do it again.
Age 21:
Riders aged 21 or over are eligible for a scheme called 'Direct Access'. Now, the Direct Access scheme is controversial in some quarters as some would argue it basically allows clueless idiots onto the road with little real life biking experience who then have accidents and kill themselves, but that's another debate...
The idea of direct access... Well, Direct Access is basically Accelerated Access, except you don't need to get a 'full' (but limited to <400cc) licence. You take your CBT (on an old clapped out 125 like everyone else, you wobble around the cones) and then, once you have your CBT, you are allowed out onto the roads under supervision on bikes which are over the '400cc limit'. I put that in quotes because it's possible the bike COULD be 400cc (or less) but exceed the power-to-weight ratio and therefore be classed as a 'larger' motorcycle. It's all very confusing isn't it!!! The same automatic transmission thing applies as for all the licences but, having come all this way, only a fool or possibly an amputee (and yes I did know someone in Dundee who rode a bike and had no left hand and had clutch and front brake both on the right hand side, and boy was his bike fun to ride if you mixed up the levers...!) would take Direct Access on an automatic transmission bike and end up with a 'limited to autos' licence.
Once you pass your test under Direct Access, you can then ride any size bike you like. You also gain B1 (tricycle) entitlement, unless they've scrapped that now.
I can tell you're all going 'what the fuck?' now. Yes, it's insanely complex!
Tobyjug or someone else can perhaps fill in the blanks, or point out anything I missed, but from my recollection that's how it works.
PS I did Direct Access but I'd already been riding as a learner on and off for 8 years before I did it...
spanglechick
High Empress of Dressing Up
Thanks Velouria - blimey, what a minefield - but to answer this point specifically: the CBT allows you to ride, but you still need "L" plates until you've passed the proper test - regardless of age.tommers said:
Similar threads
- Poll
