Speed restriction

[mk1]

Doesn't this show what a daft idea European wide laws are. With such different culture and behaviour in different EU countries, how can they work?

Martin

 

[flecc]

Well they were wrong!

Martin

Not at the time of that original legislation Martin, since it was EU only then, without pan-European force, and as said, their speeds were commonly much lower than ours, and still are. In fact many of their low countries legislators would have been cyclists, far more than ours, that's for certain.

It was long after, 2002 I think, when the order for enforcement in all EU countries came into force from the start of November of that year.

So as said, the habits of British cyclists were never in the legislative frame when the speed was chosen. Remember that some of those countries have had shared facilities for pedestrians and cyclists for very many years, so consideration would have been given to that as well.

In contrast, in the USA where space isn't so much a problem and shared cycling facilities were virtually non existent until quite recently, speed limits are commonly around 20 mph, varying by locations.

As ever, if instead of arguing with Europe at every opportunity, we'd joined early and got on with making it work from the beginning, we'd have had a proper say in this matter and in many others, instead of being stuck with their prior decisions. So the fault is entirely ours and we have only ourselves to blame.
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[mk1]

As ever, if instead of arguing with Europe at every opportunity, we'd joined early and got on with making it work from the beginning, we'd have had a proper say in this matter and in many others, instead of being stuck with their prior decisions. So the fault is entirely ours and we have only ourselves to blame.
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Yes, we should decide whether we are in the EU or out(I'd be out), instead of fannying about sitting on the fence.

Martin

 

[flecc]

Yes, we should decide whether we are in the EU or out(I'd be out), instead of fannying about sitting on the fence.

Martin

Absolutely right Martin, we just get the worst of all worlds with our yes/no behaviours over the years. Either fully in or fully out would be better than the silliness of constantly demanding renegotiation of one thing or another.

It's a strange issue this, with those for and those against the European membership being in so much agreement on the need for decisiveness.
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