I could hardly believe what I was reading when this story came across my inbox (emphasis mine):
Man fined for not holding bicycle handle
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A man, who resides at Trafalgar Village, was recently convicted and fined for improperly riding a pedal bicycle.
Glen Webbe, who was charged with not holding the handle with at least one hand when riding the pedal bicycle, was fined $50 that is to be paid within 24 hours of the date of conviction.
The Police Force’s Press and Public Relations Officer, Inspector Cromwell Henry, in speaking with this media house, explained that riding a pedal bicycle without having at least one hand on the handle is not only illegal, but could lead to damage/injury to the rider, bystanders and property.
“It is an offence to ride a bicycle without holding the handle with at least one hand and this is so because the rider would have little or no control of the bicycle if he is not holding on to the handle. It’s a safety provision in the law that ensures that riders have some control of the bicycle when it is in motion. If you don’t have control you run the risk of an accident and causing damage or injury to yourself or other road users or property.”
Henry said the conviction is a perfect opportunity to educate the public on this aspect of the law and to caution pedal cyclists against illegal and dangerous practices.
“So we take the opportunity to admonish cyclists to observe the safety rule and always have at least one hand on the handle of the bicycle when it is in motion.”
In case you’re wondering, in Oregon it is also illegal to ride with no hands. ORS 814.450 says that you must keep “at least one hand upon the handlebar and have full control at all times.”
I don\’t understand-
Sounds like he wasn\’t fined for having one hand on the bars, but having NO hands on the bars- that the law in St Kitts is the same as the law in OR.
Yes, it\’s weird and persnickity that they enforced this law, but I don\’t understand your headline.
Am I missing something?
ack..! you\’re right Carice. My mistake. I\’ve corrected the headline and the story.
I just like that his name is \”Inspector Cromwell Henry\” and his duty is \”to admonish cyclists to observe the safety rule.\” What is this, a Charles Dickens serial?
In a related story, PPB officers hired by St. Kitts.
Woah! All Unicyclists beware!!! You better install a handlebar on those things, (and a break too to avoid any anti-fixie hate.)
It is also illegal to ride a bike that has no seat.
i was thinking about whether it is legal or not to ride with one\’s hands off the bars as i rode to work this morning in just such a manner. (i still remember my dad telling me when i was a kid that students at Stanford are known for riding \”no hands.\” i don\’t know if it was true but it was a good story.) good to know the law on this one. i\’m dubious that a cop would actually enforce such a thing though. and, yes, the story is most Dickensian!
\”inspector\” and european terminology used are most likely remnants of european colonialism — very common in such island communities, actually.
Wow…I had no idea that riding with no hands was illegal.
It\’s funny, because in my mind- riding without hands teaches me how to better balance, control, and handle my bike–the goal to be that that way in hazardous situations I can react faster and more comfortably because I better understand how my bike moves, and where its balance is. Handlebars feel like balance training wheels- if that makes sense.
I think it\’s pretty unfortunate that he was convicted.
Which, although I\’m no lawyer, I read as saying that as long as you are capable of having one hand on the handlebars, you\’re fine.
Or, that section only applies if you\’re carrying something. It\’s probably unwise to ride with hands in pockets, but I don\’t think it\’s prohibited.
Also, my amateur legal research indicates that a bike signal light system would be legal in Oregon – see 814.440 and 811.395:
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/811.html
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/814.html
I ride my bike with no handlebars.