UK road law.

General
1

Having asked about unicycles and the law here, I also posted a similar question
on alt.uk.law, to see if any diferent viewpoints came up. The following, erm,
“viewpoint” might be of interest…

> On 1/12/00 10:45 pm, someone called jeff.moye suggested:

> If your unicycle is the type where there is a chain connecting the pedals to
> the wheel, then the “pedal cycle construction and use regulations” require it
> to have at least one brakeing system fitted.
>
> You need lights and reflectors at night.
>
> You can only ride it on cycle paths and the road - although, because the thing
> is inherantly unstable, you have to question whether it is the sort of thing
> that should be anywhere a road. There are offences of “dangerous” and
> “careless or inconsiderate” cycling on a road, but they apply to BIcycles,
> TRIcycles and bikes with 4 of more wheels…
>
> But “causing a danger to road users” is generic enough (causing anything to be
> on or over a road in circumstances where it is likely to cause a danger to
> anyone using the road…" . It’s an arrestable offence. IIRC, max penaly is
> 10 yrs…

| Trevor Coultart |

2

Re: UK road law.

Trevor Coultart forwarded:
> > If your unicycle is the type where there is a chain connecting the
pedals to
> > the wheel, then the “pedal cycle construction and use regulations”
require
> > it to have at least one brakeing system fitted.

This is not true. A cycle ridden on the public highway requires a brake on any
wheel able to turn independently of the pedals, eg a bike with a freewheel will
require brakes front and rear, but a fixed wheel bike only legally requires a
front brake.

The unicycle described above will only need a brake if it is fitted with a
freewheel. And I’ve yet to come across a unicycle with a freewheel. Under UK
law, a fixed wheel cycle does not require a brake on the drive wheel.

> > You need lights and reflectors at night.
> >
> > You can only ride it on cycle paths and the road

Nearly true. You can ride it anywhere you can ride a bicycle - which means
cyclepaths, roads, bridleways, and any private land where you have the
permission of the landowner.

Since 1994, the legal definition of a cycle has included unicycles. This means
that unicycles are covered by the same laws and regulations as any other cycle.

> > - although, because the thing is inherantly unstable…

Whoever wrote this is clearly not a unicyclist

> >There are offences of “dangerous” and “careless or inconsiderate” cycling on
> >a road, but they apply to BIcycles, TRIcycles and bikes with 4 of more
> >wheels…

This is obsolete. As mentioned above, and as a search of rsu archives will find,
the legal definition of a cycle was changed in 1994.

I quote below from a post I made on 27/08/00, the whole post is available at:
http://x70.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=663198805&CONTEXT=975853571.730005530&hitnu m=5
(you will need to cut and past the URL).

> That same year, though the law was changed. As a result of Traffic Sign
> Regulations 1994 Statutory Instrument 1519, appendix 7 (thanks to Roger Davies
> for pointing this one out to me, btw), the legal definition of a
Pedal
> Cycle is now "a unicycle, bicycle, tricycle, or cycle having four or more
wheels,
> not being in any case mechanically propelled" (previously, unicycle had
been
> missing from that definition).
>
> So, a unicycle is subject to the same laws as a bicycle. It can’t be
ridden on
> the pavement (though frankly I often ignore the law here when I’m on one
> wheel), at night it must have the appropriate lights and reflectors, and
then
> there’s the issue of brakes. It’s a fixed wheel, so shouldn’t need a
brake on
> the drive wheel. We should be OK there then.

–
Danny Colyer (remove your.head to reply)
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/danny.html “Christmas is a time when
people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ” - Bart Simpson

3

Re: UK road law.

I believe Danny is correct. Stuart Allbrighton was at the uni meet on Saturday,
and was distributing a letter he has received from the Hampshire police
(attached).

Basically, he wrote to them to get clarification after his local force tried to
stop him riding a unicycle on the road. They insisted it had to be ridden on
the pavement.

He indicated that this response applies to the whole of the UK.

    - Richard

Hampshire Constabulary

Paul R. Kernaghan QPM LL.B MA DPM MCIPD Chief Constable Shanklin Police Station
Landguard Road Shanklin Isle of Wight PO37 7HT Our Ref. TMO Tel. 0845 045 45 45
Direct Dial 538514 Fax. 01983 538650

                                    07/11/00 Mr Allbrighton 121, Sandown
                                          Road Lake Sandown Isle of Wight.

                    Uni Cycles

Dear Sir,

Thank you for you enquiry regarding the use of Uni-Cycles. The first point that
must be clarified is that by definition this type of vehicle comes into the
definition of a Pedal Cycle under Reg 3(b) Pedal Cycle Construction and Use
Regulations 1993.

Under the Highways Act 1835 Section 72 it is an offence to ride a pedal cycle on
a Foot Path, (the definition of foot path includes pavement). This means that
the vehicle should be used on the road and not on the pavement.

With regard to brakes this type of vehicle with direct drive would not require
additional brakes.

With regard to the fitting of lights, this is dealt with under Reg 4
(08) Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 which states, (Nothing in these
regulations shall require any lamp or reflector to be fitted between
sunrise and sunset to = Pedal Cycle). However if such a vehicle is used
between sunset and sunrise then it must be fitted with one front position
lamp one rear position lamp and one retro reflector.

This information should help clarify the position regarding the use of this type
of vehicle on a road.

Yours sincerely

C J Bartlett PC 107. Traffic Management Officer.

Website - www.hampshire.police.uk