The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Cycling offences and cycle racing

Dangerous cycling

42.—(1) A person who rides a cycle dangerously on a road or other public place is guilty of an offence.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is to be regarded as riding dangerously if (and only if)—

(a) the way he rides falls far below what would be expected of a competent and careful cyclist; and

(b) it would be obvious to a competent and careful cyclist that riding in that way would be dangerous.

(3) In paragraph (2) “dangerous” refers to danger either of injury to any person or of serious damage to property; and in determining for the purposes of that paragraph what would be obvious to a competent and careful cyclist in a particular case, regard shall be had not only to the circumstances of which he could be expected to be aware but also to any circumstances shown to have been within the knowledge of the accused.

Careless, and inconsiderate, cycling

43.  If a person rides a cycle on a road or other public place without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place, he is guilty of an offence.

Cycling when under influence of drink or drugs

44.  A person who, when riding a cycle on a road or other public place, is unfit to ride through drink or drugs (that is to say, is under the influence of drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the cycle) is guilty of an offence.

Regulation of cycle racing on public roads

45.—(1) A person who promotes or takes part in a race or trial of speed on a public road between cycles is guilty of an offence, unless the race or trial

(a) is authorised; and

(b) is conducted in accordance with any conditions imposed, by or under regulations under this Article.

(2) The Department may by regulations authorise, or provide for authorising, for the purposes of paragraph (1), the holding on a public road

(a) of races or trials of speed of any class or description; or

(b) of a particular race or trial of speed,

in such cases as may be prescribed and subject to such conditions as may be imposed by or under the regulations.

(3) Regulations under this Article may prescribe the procedure to be followed, and the particulars to be given, in connection with applications for authorisation under the regulations.

(4) Without prejudice to any other powers exercisable in that behalf, the Chief Constable may give directions with respect to the movement of, or the route to be followed by, vehicular and other traffic during any period, being directions which it is necessary or expedient to give in ration to that period to prevent or mitigate—

(a) congestion or obstruction of traffic; or

(b) danger to or from traffic,

in consequence of the holding of a race or trial of speed authorised by or under regulations under this Article.

(5) Directions under paragraph (4) may include a direction that any road or part of a road specified in the direction shall be closed during the period to such traffic or to such classes or descriptions of traffic as may be so specified.

(6) A person who wilfully contravenes any direction given under paragraph (4) is guilty of an offence.

Electrically assisted pedal cycles

46.—(1) An electrically assisted pedal cycle of a class specified in regulations made for the purposes of Article 6 shall not be driven on a road by a person under the age of 14.

(2) A person who—

(a) drives such a pedal cycle; or

(b) knowing or suspecting that another person is under the age of 14, causes or permits him to drive such a pedal cycle,

in contravention of paragraph (1), is guilty of an offence.