London’s cycling commissioner has promised greater enforcement of so-called ‘bike boxes’ as part of efforts to increase the safety of cyclists.
The boxes, officially called Advanced Stop Lines, are marked on the road by a bike painted inside a sets of lines.
The forward-most line is intended for use by cyclists only and the rear line by other road users.
The purposes of the boxes is to ensure bikes can be easily seen and are not right in front of a vehicle’s bonnet or wheels.
Cycling commissioner Andrew Gilligan says the boxes “have already saved hundreds of drivers, particularly truck drivers who have blind spots in their cabs, from the anguish of unintentionally harming a cyclist, and of course saved hundreds of cyclists from serious accidents.”
However Transport for London says “significant numbers” of drivers are not stopping at the rear line and warns culprits face police fines of £60 and three points on their licence if caught.
The warning comes ahead of increased enforcement of the boxes by the Met and City of London police forces.
In addition to stepping up enforcement on motorists, cyclists who jump read lights are also being warned to change their behaviour or incur a £30 fine.
Mr Gilligan added “Whilst usually only endangering the rider themselves, bad cycling does annoy and frighten people, and we are going to tackle it.
“We are increasing the number of officers in our dedicated Met Police Cycle Task Force by more than a quarter. Riding bikes themselves, they will target particular cyclist misbehaviour hotspots.”
Mayor Boris Johnson has identified tackling road safety as a key challenge in increasing the numbers who cycle in the capital.
andy says
This phrase says everything that’s wrong with policy on cycling in London. The driver is still first.
“have already saved hundreds of drivers, particularly truck drivers who have blind spots in their cabs, from the anguish of unintentionally harming a cyclist, and of course saved hundreds of cyclists from serious accidents.”
Saving a cyclist is secondary to the anguish of a driver.
BethPH says
It is a weird thing for Gilligan to have said, particularly in his role as cycling commissioner. It also appears to imply that drivers who injure cyclists in other circumstances have done so deliberately. Obviously I doubt it was meant that way but it’s an extraordinarily clumsy statement.
Graham says
Very good news for London’s cyclists’ safety, anything to help reduce death & injuries collisions by increasing drivers’ awareness that they are using ‘weapons of destruction’. We all know who inevitably comes off worst when motorised vehicles collide with bikes. Seems strange that driving licence penalty points can/will only be applied if the ‘offence’ is committed in London. Hopefully this law enforcement will be extended throughout the U.K.