A cyclist who reported dangerous driving to police using video he recorded was subsequently fined £1,200 for his own riding offenses. The incident, which occurred in Menston, near Ilkley, involved a car passing too closely to the cyclist.
However, West Yorkshire Police determined that the cyclist was also riding without due care and attention. According to the police, the cyclist rode too closely to a parked car and an oncoming vehicle, and should have slowed down or dismounted. The force stated that the distance the cyclist maintained from other vehicles was significantly less than the distance the car had given him.
The cyclist was required to appear at Bradford Magistrates' Court to address the charges. A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police emphasized the importance of all road users adhering to The Highway Code, being considerate, and understanding their responsibility for the safety of others. The spokesperson added that while the cyclist was found to be at fault on this occasion, many cyclists do ride responsibly and obey traffic laws.
In separate but related incidents, police in Nottingham have seized 60 bikes and e-scooters as part of a crackdown on dangerous riding. These seizures followed public concerns about the use of such vehicles in pedestrian areas. Thirty-eight offenders have been prosecuted, with some facing fines up to £1,000 and receiving eight penalty points on their driving licenses.
Legally, electric bikes in the UK are capped at a top speed of 15.5 mph and a motor power of 250W. Non-compliant models are classified as motor vehicles, requiring insurance, taxation, and a license. Nottinghamshire police have been using portable dynamometers to test the top speeds of e-bikes. Less than a quarter of the e-bikes tested were found to be legally compliant, with one seized for reaching a speed of 72 mph.