Another little money spinner
24 Jul 2007 - JG
The unrelenting attack on the motorist continues and it is TfL that is leading the way. Soon they will be charged £50 for even the briefest of swerves in to cycle lanes - and the cameras are watching be warned. Now given the streets of London were designed and built at time when the largest vehicle on the road was the penny farthing, I am not entirely sure that this insane policy is a fair one. It is being reported that even a motorist who strays in the cycle lane to pass a vehicle turning right will be slapped with a fixed penalty.
Now, I'm sure the militant cycle brigade will be loving this. But can I also propose the enforcement of fixed penalties to cyclist who ride on pavements, jump red lights and see it fit to take up the whole lane on the road at 5mph? I would also like to propose the enforcement of this new policy to all London Buses. Since the yellow box fines came in to being I have been on numerous buses (particularly bendy ones) that have stopped right in the middle of the yellow boxes - I wonder how often they get fined? And good luck to London bus drivers in avoiding the cycle lanes - a task virtually impossible for you. I'm sure Peter Hendy will be crashing down on you just like the rest of us, however. What nonsense - traffic in London only moves because of common sense. It takes a quick swerve in to the bus lane every now and then to clear a problem. I understand bus lanes and cycle lanes are there for a reason, but who exactly does this zero-tolerance rule actually benefit? Motorists? Cyclists? Buses? TfL coffers? I'll take a guess at the coffers.