A speeding cyclist who knocked down and killed a pensioner has avoided prosecution because speed limits do not apply to bicycles, a court heard.
Brian Fitzgerald was doing timed laps of Regent’s Park in London with a group when he collided with Hilda Griffiths, 81, while she was crossing the road.
Despite a 20mph speed limit, Fitzgerald, a member of the Muswell Hill Peloton cycling club, told a coroner that they were travelling at up to 29mph in an aerodynamic formation.
Talk’s Mike Graham discusses the story with motoring lawyer Nick Freeman.
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The key fact, is that he didn’t break any laws.
I would say he’s an idiot, I would say he’s inconsiderate. But he lives in London, surely that’s expected.
I would also say that pedestrians, like everyone, have personal responsibility for their actions.
Crossing a road and failing to look is not going to end well eventually.
But Mr Graham and the despicable guest are historically unhinged when it comes to cyclists.
It’s also the height of irony and hypocrisy for someone famously exploiting legal loopholes to insist people that haven’t actually broken any laws be prosecuted.
Bollox no law….FURIOUS CYCLING 1861 Look it up, 2 years max imprisonment!
It’s not an accident it’s negligent at best.
If they want to use the road then they should be made to pay road tax like we have too
Police do nothing
Law isn’t strict enough
U see the amount of electric scooters riding on and the roads in front of the police !!!
All adult cyclists should forced to have insurance and be registered
Riding against the Highway Code should result in bike seized and rider fined.
Riding up one way streets is going to get someone killed
Their responsibility to be aware of their surroundings.
If it were a motorbike or car they would be in serious trouble
I thought the peleton patsies never left their bedrooms,
The UK becoming California more and more everyday. This won’t turn out well. Only difference is California didn’t have 14 years of conservative government. In fact it’s been about 14 years since a since conservative held any state office.
Perhaps sadiq Khan should start charging cyclists to ride in London. It'll raise funds for more cameras& mosques
Most cyclists of the "speed ilk" like your lycra clad road riders are arrogant prats. I have a sports/tourer and a high spec mountain bike,I do not wear lycra and I am courteous to others.
There is a law in existence for these types of occasions, it is 'cycling furiously'. A cyclist who causes injury or death by "cycling furiously" carries a penalty of a two year maximum imprisonment. This is covered by the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861. So, you are wrong. There must have been other extenuating circumstances in this case. Please do not label all cyclists as irresponsible lunatics, just because of the actions of a few idiots. The same happens for all forms of transport, and all you are doing is targeting cyclists (who are vulnerable road users) for retribution by dumb drivers etc.
The Road Traffic Act of 1984 simply does not mention bicycles and speed limits. Cyclists hide behind this omission. I had an online discussion with someone about this not too long ago and they even did not entertain the possibility of thinking outside of the box as the current situation suited their narrative. It should be very simple; All users of a road must not exceed the speed limit of that road. No exceptions. No loop holes.
What crap.
ASSAULT & death, murder with a dangerous weapon.
Murder by gross negligence on a misused (speeding at 33% above the legal limit is NO acciden).
bycycle
The Royal Parks were a much safer and enjoyable place before the met police took over and the status of the parks became a charity. The Royal Parks Regulations covered so much. YES. Cycling and similar offences were dealt with. Now visiting Regents Park, a pleasurable visit to the rose gardens, are spoiled by police cars.
My condolences to the family of the lady killed in Regents park. However, yet more tarnishing an entire group with the same brush. This so called expert is lying through his teeth. It is not a legal requirement to have a bell, a cyclist can be prosecuted for being under the influence of alcohol or drugs although it is true cyclists cannot be prosecuted for speeding ( we are not required to have a speedometer) but can be charged for speeding dangerously.its just lies. Cyclist have a hard time as it is keeping safe on the roads. I broke my back on the roof of a Volkswagen Passat after the driver (Jessica McManus) went through a red light because she was late for a meeting. She tried to sue me for damage to her car. Does that mean I should have a problem with all car drivers??
What a load of bull.
Wer the riders on the pavement?? Did the poor ladt step into the road in front of them??
sad iq khan should start charging people to ride bikes in London they would need to register then, just think what he do for the Muslim community with all the money but at least we would have a reg no to report when something happens
How many cars kill people get into perspective,and I don’t want some smug fat presenter spouting verbal diarrhoea. I’ve had friends killed by halfwits in cars and get away with it. Motorists never break the rules do they
The problem is not cyclists, it's the inept police. They have plenty of legislation already they just wont use it.
Drunk cyclists can be "done" for that.
The Police (or, more likely, CPS) have let the pedestrian down in this case. The exemption from speed limit is smoke and mirrors. This is all about appropriateness of speed. Given the proximity of an elderly pedestrian at, or near, a crossing point, the cyclist's speed was inappropriate and, therefore, careless. Causing death by careless cycling is not an offence, but the carelessness might well contribute to a manslaughter charge. Perhaps a different outcome if investigation was by a traffic cop rather than a detective?
Motorist butt hurt detected
A poorly run country for 15 years has ramifications.
So the accident was caused by the pedestrian stepping into the road without looking? Everything else is irrelevant.
The problem with cyclists in London is that the vast majority ride as if they are in a race.
this is red meat for knuckle draggers
Cyclists should be paying insurance premiums and road tax.
Why was he not prosecuted for manslaughter?
A bicycle license? It is the nanny state. How would a license have prevented the crash? How about a speed limit for bikes where pedestrians and bikes share a path?
In my state bicycles are considered vehicles and have to follow the same traffic laws as cars including speed limits. Unlike cars no licenses, no insurance, no registration required. Helmets are optional if over 16 years old. Helmets optional on motorcycles too.
So we're back on the nasty little fascist "divide and destroy" tactics of picking on classes of people to divert attention away from the horrific failures and victims of tory cascist ideology over the past 14 years.
The disabled, the sick, carers, asylum seekers, the poor, now cyclists… when will this vicious, inhumane and vile government find some decency and integrity?
Just get out of office and let the adults sort out the problems that your fascist ideology and austerity have created.
What criminal law does not serve is what civil law can serve. He is a banker and sue him.
Do the British nanny thing. Just ban the bikes. Or ban pedestrians. Ban something.
My Thoughts entirely. However, surely a Case of Manslaughter should be considered. From my Time in the Police there was an Offense of “Pedaling Furiously”.
Commonsensical regulation? Oh right, UK is full of those. Hard to legislate common sense because the regulation targets those without the ability to have sense. People willing to race at high speeds knowing pedestrians may be harmed lack any common sense or complete disregard for it.
Impunity means without consequence for breaking the law. The title is clickbait and factually WRONG!
I'm not one for giving the government and businesses even more power to tax and rip us off, you know that will happen. However there ought to be in place laws that if accidents occur and someone is injured or killed, then the penalty should be jail time.
Is there not a velodrome in London?
They should be insured and have to stick to the speed limits and also ride in single file.
I am so fed up to the back teeth with cyclists here in Surrey! Had one the other day who literally tailgated me and I was so worried should I need to break, he then undercuted to take over then weaved in and out of a few cars without a care in the world. They know at present they are untouchable as the police won't do their job and this needs to change ASAP. They jump lights and cause all sorts of motoring offences and are very aggressive, it is time they paid taxes to use the roads and had insurance. That will hopefully make them more responsible.
This grieving family should sue for manslaughter as he was speeding from what I have heard about this story. The police and CPS need to get a grip and enforce laws that already exist.
Fascist channel.
I’ll happily use a number plate on my cycle when we tax Fat people by the pound .what loop hole do illegal migrants use delivering your fast food on their 40mph E bikes on the pavement
I disagree with the point made that this was a tragic 'Accident'. It was was not only predictable but extremely likely.
Its ridiculous the amount of cyclists i see on a daily basis flouting rules that car drivers have to abide by. Usually its ignoring traffic lights, riding at speed on the pavement , carrying shopping bags on the handle bars etc . Since the new laws for cyclists have come into play its got worse they think they can do anything they want.he should be charged with manslaughter at least,or are cyclists another protected species?
It's a London thing. Arrogant, self-entitled metropolitans. The cyclists in Brighton actually stop at a red light. The ones I've seen, anyway.
No tax, no insurance, no licence, no training, no age limit (young or old) not even a law to wear protective clothing. Anyone can jump on a peddle or ebike and ride on the road without a care in the world and cause mayhem. But it's always the car drivers fault. Can you imagine if pedestrians decided to walk in the middle of our roads, the police would soon stop that. People who pay to use the roads should have priority and people on peddle or ebikes should give way or get off the road for a paying motorist.
You should see them racing around country lanes …since the pandemic 😷…racing at break neck speeds two abreast heads down across the dropped handlebars ….I’m surprised there hasn’t been more deaths …wearing black Lycra ….I bet there has been more accidents,but we just don’t here about them …
dont need law against the speeding on a bike, surely its manslaughter and thats chargeable
I am not a cycaist. Now stop all this call for regulation, licenses, etc. STOP IT.
Cycling and taking a small boat to sea are the last of our unregulated freedoms.
Be carefull what you wish for.