Insurance for Cyclists

[Xena Worried prince]

Now I cycle so I am not anti Cyclists

It occurred to me this morning as I swerved to avoid a cyclist at a green light (he had jumped the red one) that cyclists are the only road users not to be insured.

If I had hit the poor fellow this morning, who would have paid for damages to my car, he was blatantly in the wrong yet I am guessing that the police would have spent hours questioning me as my car is a protective shell around me and he had nothing around him. I suspect that any damages, in this hypothetical situation, would be paid for out of my insurance.

Equally say a cyclists runs a pedestrian over at a crossing (or anywhere) - who does the pedestrian approach for compensation if they are injured ?

Finally look at the situation of a cyclist who is killed or seriously injured in a hit and run accident (for example a lorry side swiping them at a corner) who compensates their family for their loss ?

It does lead me to believe that if cyclists were insured they may take more responsibility for their actions and if they could be held more accountable for accidents, maybe they wouldn't run the red lights so often, cycle on the pavement and so on.

An interesting thought and I bet the insurance industry would be rubbing their hands together with glee at the prospect of insuring all the cyclists in the UK, but would it be a good thing and equally would it stop them breaking the law ?

[Sandperson]

I'm a member of British Cycling and the British Triathlon Association. Both these organisations offer thrid party liablilty insurance with their memberships. As far as the cyclist getting hit (or side-swiped) I would have thought that the insurance company of the liable driver would pay out in case of fault.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Good point Xena.

If a Cyclist hurts a Pedestrian and is clearly atfault then what form of redress does the Pedestrian have?

[Xena Worried prince]

Hi Sandperson - good point about third party insurance, but the question I raised about side swiping was a hit and run (assuming the driver didn't realise, stop or get caught) who pays out then ?

Whilst companies offer insurance, it isn't mandatory, question is should it be as they are the only road users who aren't insured.

Good luck with the Marathon by the way

[ruffers]

Pet subject of mine, absolutely they should have insurance.

A very specific circumstance admittedly but I had an occasion when I came off my motorbike and cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage in an accident caused clearly by a cyclist who full on admitted it and said sorry. He also said "sorry, I'm not paying" and p!ssed off. I'd be tempted to go further and make them have number plates; not only are they not insured, they're also not identifiable.

[woofmarkthedog]

They should also have lights, indicators,number plates , seat belts , ashtrays , and head restraints, & lastly a licence

Ohh and a honky horn

Parpppp parpp