Widower calls for tougher laws after cyclist is cleared of his wife’s manslaughter
Man who struck and killed pedestrian while riding illegal bike is found guilty only of ‘wanton driving’
CYCLING laws must be changed to toughen penalties, said the widower of a woman who died after being hit by a cyclist who was found not guilty of her manslaughter.
Kim Briggs, 44, an HR executive and mother of two, was crossing a road in East London when she was hit by Charlie Alliston, 20, in February last year.
Alliston, then 18, who was riding a bicycle without a front brake, has been convicted of “wanton or furious driving” under a 150-year-old law.
The groundbreaking case was the first time a cyclist had been prosecuted for manslaughter, but Alliston was cleared of the more serious offence after a week-long trial.
Mrs Briggs’s widower said “some aspects of our cycling culture” needed to “radically change”.
“This is not a witch hunt against all cyclists – I myself cycle in London – only the irresponsible and reckless,” he added.
“The current law is outdated and has not kept pace with the huge increase in the number of people cycling and the associated increased risk of collisions, nor the attitude of some cyclists.
“We need to change the way the law deals with this. I am calling for an introduction of laws of causing death or serious injury by dangerous or careless cycling, thereby bringing cycling laws into line with the Road Traffic Act.”
He added that he wanted to make sure cyclists knew that riding without a front brake was against the law. “I want bike retailers and, in particular, courier companies to communicate clearly and forcefully that these bikes are not legal or fit for road use.”
Paying tribute to his “wonderful wife,” he said: “I shall endeavour to live my life and bring my children up as Kim did. Surrounded by positivity, compassion, humour and joy.”
Alliston’s Planet X bike, which he had bought a month before the crash for £470, was designed for riding in a velodrome and was not legal to use on the road without being modified to add a front brake.
During the case he insisted that he did not know it was a legal requirement and said having the brake would not have avoided the collision, which happened as Mrs Briggs crossed Old Street on her lunch break.
But Duncan Penny QC, prosecuting, said: “Track bikes are harder to bring to a halt than bicycles with brakes. That’s why you see Sir Chris Hoy still whizzing round the track lap after lap long after crossing the finishing line.”
Mr Briggs’s call for a review of the law was backed by charity Cycling UK, which called Alliston’s behaviour “stupid” and said “it was entirely right that this led to his prosecution”.
Duncan Dollimore, a spokesman, added: “The fact that he has been convicted of an offence dating back to legislation from 1861, drafted in archaic language, will doubtless lead some to argue that the laws on irresponsible cycling should be aligned with the laws on irresponsible driving.
“The reality is that the way in which the justice system deals with mistakes, carelessness, recklessness and deliberately dangerous behaviour by all road users has long been in need of review.”
Judge Wendy Joseph QC made it clear that she was considering a jail sentence and added: “If you want to rely on remorse, I am bound to say I haven’t seen one iota of remorse from Mr Alliston at all – at any stage.”
She adjourned sentencing until September 18.