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Four in five police forces back British Cycling's 'Stop - Cycle Race' signs

Motorists failing to comply with signs held by marshals at races may face prosecution

Four in five police forces across the country will help ensure the safety of people taking part in cycle races as well as other road users this year by backing a ‘STOP – CYCLE RACE’ sign at races on public roads, says British Cycling.

The signs will be used by British Cycling-trained Accredited Marshals, with it being a legal requirement for drivers to stop when they see a marshal holding it.

Those who fail to do so may face prosecution.

The scheme is supported by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), whose lead for cycle safety and cycle racing on the highway, Andy Battle - assistant chief constable of West Yorkshire Police - commented: “The Accredited Marshal Scheme was developed by British Cycling in conjunction with the Department for Transport and the NPCC to provide a safe, sustainable and effective method of traffic management at road race events.

 “The use of the sign and system has been growing over the last few years across all UK police forces as a practical and professional approach to race safety.  The NPCC fully supports the use of the sign and marshals at these events.”

Among the police forces endorsing the scheme is Avon & Somerset Constabulary, which said: “The scheme, in conjunction with the professional risk assessments provided and the excellent pre-race briefings given by race organisers, makes each event much safer for both riders and road users.  

“All road users should be aware that stop signs used under the Accredited Marshal Scheme should be treated in the same way that you would a red traffic light. 

“Failure to comply with this sign is a traffic offence, which could lead to prosecution.”   

Jonny Clay, director of cycling at British Cycling, said: “Accredited marshals only stop traffic for a short period of time in order to make junctions safe for the passing of the race, having minimal impact upon other road users.

“Drivers will have adequate notice they are approaching a traffic control with ‘Caution Cycle Event’ and ‘Traffic Control Ahead’ roads signs being placed ahead of each accredited marshal, who will be dressed in high visibility clothing.”

He added: “We have had a great response to the scheme from drivers. We appreciate their patience and understanding in allowing the safe delivery of cycle races on the highway, and would ask them to spread the word about the scheme.”

According to British Cycling, the scheme will apply to the following police force areas during 2018:

Durham, Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Leicester, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Warwick, Gloucestershire, Thames Valley, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall and Avon & Somerset.

This video from British Cycling gives more details of the Accredited Marshals scheme, including contributions from several people who have qualified through it.

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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11 comments

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SteppenHerring | 6 years ago
0 likes

There are a bunch of issues here.

As mentioned above, the "five races per year" puts off many club people who were happy to turn out once or twice a year and wave a red flag.

Then there's Kent.

BC assured us that there would be loads of AMs available to cover the races. But when it came down to it, we could get the NEG guys and plenty of volunteers to wave a red flag but no AMs were forthcoming.

And then there is the education. I'm a motorist and I've not been told that the AM with their "special sign" means anything more than a red flag marshal. Nobody I know outside of the cycling fraternity knows about the "special signs". Having waved a red flag many a time, you will always get some bellend who chooses to ignore you and so you have to shout like hell at the approaching riders that captain twat is approaching them at speed.

I know people from the BC end who insist that this is the way forward and this is the future. Fine. Maybe it is. But for it to work we need a) enough accredited marshals to cover the events and b) to inform the general public that these signs actually mean something.

A great deal of effort goes into designing courses and notifying the locals to make sure that road races upset the minimum number of people. It's kind of irritating that you <i>still</i> get people yelling, trying to drive through the race, being general bastards.

When I've been waving a red flag, yes I step out into the road with my hi viz and my flag. If there's time I have a quick word with the car driver to explain what's happening. 99% of people are fine with it. According to Kent police I could be nicked for doing that.

Avatar
handlebarcam | 6 years ago
3 likes

Something something something war on motorists.

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BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
2 likes

'May' prosecute ... so empty fucking words! if the sign is defined as being something you MUST obey then to infringe it is breaking the law, thus a prosection not empty words, MUST take place, otherwise as we see with all other infractions, motorists will just carry on as usual.

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mattsccm | 6 years ago
4 likes

Nowt wrong with the idea but it will need some publicity beforehand. I have been driving for nearly 40 years and watching or involved in cycle sport for much of that time and have never been aware tha there is any legal force behind such a sign. Infact I don't remember seeing one before today. If thats me then what is the average driver going to know?

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JPKD | 6 years ago
3 likes

The power to stop traffic in a race is essential to the safety of all road users, mainly cyclists. However I believe the criteria for maintaining accredited status is too high - "Accredited marshals are required to commit to marshalling a minimum of five races a year." 5 races is a lot. If they are on a Sunday that is likely to be three hours or racing plus a good hour beforehand with possibly a second race in the afternoon. How can BC expect people to give up the large majority of 5 Sunday's a year to be part of this scheme. Whatsmore most race course will require 12-15 marshals on the course at any one time and none of them paid a penny. 

 

I've ridden very well run races - and a few bads ones - and try to commit to marshalling twice a year but the barriers to become accredited and maintain are too high. Interesting to note Kent CC on this list when supposedly they insisted all races were run by fully accredited marshals last year. It's hard enough for clubs to pull together the volunteers for two races per year let alone get enough club member's on the accredited scheme and commit to 5 races per year. In my opinion, BC should be making it easier to get these powers.

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Scottish Scrutineer | 6 years ago
1 like

"Four in five police forces across the country"

 

Which Country? I'm presuming England, as there's no mention of Scotland, Wales or N Ireland police force areas.

 

Is British Cycling turning into "English Cycling"?

Avatar
giff77 replied to Scottish Scrutineer | 6 years ago
0 likes

Scottish Scrutineer wrote:

"Four in five police forces across the country"

 

Which Country? I'm presuming England, as there's no mention of Scotland, Wales or N Ireland police force areas.

 

Is British Cycling turning into "English Cycling"?

There are 45 police forces across the U.K.  38 of those are in England.  There are also a fair number of police forces from England that don’t seem to be involved at the moment.

Meanwhile Cycling Scotland and Cycling Wales who come under the banner of British Cycling may currently not see the need for accredited marshals as described. As for Northern Ireland, racing there is administered by Cycling Ireland who do not fall under the British Cycling umberella. 

Avatar
CygnusX1 replied to giff77 | 6 years ago
0 likes

giff77 wrote:

Scottish Scrutineer wrote:

"Four in five police forces across the country"

 

Which Country? I'm presuming England, as there's no mention of Scotland, Wales or N Ireland police force areas.

 

Is British Cycling turning into "English Cycling"?

There are 45 police forces across the U.K.  38 of those are in England.  There are also a fair number of police forces from England that don’t seem to be involved at the moment.

However in the list of force areas above I counted 28 (all in England) which would mean 6 in 10 (3 in 5) forces across the UK or 7 in 10 (4 in 5 with some dodgy rounding up) across England, so Scottish Scrutineer may have a point. 

Avatar
FluffyKittenofT... replied to CygnusX1 | 6 years ago
3 likes
CygnusX1 wrote:

giff77 wrote:

Scottish Scrutineer wrote:

"Four in five police forces across the country"

 

Which Country? I'm presuming England, as there's no mention of Scotland, Wales or N Ireland police force areas.

 

Is British Cycling turning into "English Cycling"?

There are 45 police forces across the U.K.  38 of those are in England.  There are also a fair number of police forces from England that don’t seem to be involved at the moment.

However in the list of force areas above I counted 28 (all in England) which would mean 6 in 10 (3 in 5) forces across the UK or 7 in 10 (4 in 5 with some dodgy rounding up) across England, so Scottish Scrutineer may have a point. 

But Scotland only adds one to the total, it's the Welsh forces that increase the denominator significantly, so if anyone has grounds to be feel overlooked its the Welsh!

Plus, I see no mention of my country either (London).

Avatar
Leviathan replied to Scottish Scrutineer | 6 years ago
4 likes

Scottish Scrutineer wrote:

"Four in five police forces across the country"

 

Which Country? I'm presuming England, as there's no mention of Scotland, Wales or N Ireland police force areas.

 

Is British Cycling turning into "English Cycling"?

If they don't specify they mean the UK; you know the country on your passport.  But you knew this when you wrote your comment. 

Avatar
ROOTminus1 | 6 years ago
8 likes

With some careful mis-punctuation, I imagine we could dupe the Daily Fail crowd into backing this as well

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