The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) posted advice on Facebook earlier this week which sparked anger among cyclists as it contradicts the advice in the Highway Code. The statement on the PSNI Fermanagh page read:
“Cyclists need to remember that it is against the law to cycle at night without a white front light, a red backlight and red reflector at the back, so make sure they are clean and working. Groups of cyclists should travel in single file, not two or three abreast. ALWAYS wear a helmet and reflective clothing. #KeepingPeopleSafe”
Rule 66 of the Highway Code states you should never cycle more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads.
Numerous people responded to the post including Nathypoo Hamzilla who said: “Rule 66 of the Highway Code clearly permits cycling two abreast. It’s always a good idea to know the rules before attempting to enforce them. Cyclists cycle two abreast because it is safer and actually quicker for drivers to overtake.”
Stephen Kettyles responded with: “I assume you mean that cycling at night cyclists should cycle single file as it is perfectly acceptable for cyclists to cycle 2 abreast in normal conditions. Please don’t give all the haters more excuses.”
The PSNI later backtracked on their earlier statement and provided the below update.
“Sorry folks we’ve amended our post as we got some information wrong. Thanks for pointing it out to us and just to clarify that Rule 66 of Highway Code states: Never ride more than two abreast and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends”
Phil Skelton
Jolene just saying
Lol ok ok ok……..and technically i wasnt wrong i was misinformed!!!
@PSNITraffic I mostly ride solo and it doesn’t stop the traffic nearly righting me off daily! No matter how visible you are!
@PSNITraffic vehicles just won’t slow down and have no respect for other road users!
Moomins
This is disappointing.
It’s as if the general ignorance which plagues so many road users (of all types) has permeated into the police. The public believing something to be law doesn’t necessarily make it so.
We can’t expect the PSNI to know every law off by heart but still you would think checking their facts before posting it up on their official social media pages makes sense.
Even the general feel of the post has an underlying ‘anti-cycling’ air about it. It could and should have been worded a lot better in so many ways.
That’s disappointing.
It shows how an uninformed public assumption can become something law enforcers imagine to be statutory law.
It’s unreasonable to imagine the police know every single law off by heart but checking before posting up demands online, on an official social media page, would be a good idea.
Even the manner in which their post is written is rather accusatory and hints at an ‘anti-cycling’ stance from whoever wrote it.