TT Course 20mph section

[RobC]

I've noticed Wick now has a section of 20mph through it. Does anyone know how this affects the TT course? I would assume that even though the limit doesn't apply to bicycles we are unlikley to be granted permission to race through it.

Am I right in thinking we need to request permission to use the course from the police, and so will find out when this gets done? @Steve Landeg, do you usually do that?

[stevelandeg]

Hi Rob
I’ve read a few threads on the odd forum regarding 20mph limits on TT courses.
The chatter is around the aspect of pedal cycles not needing a method of displaying their speed. But I feel it’s all been unreferenced opinion and I haven’t seen anything from anyone who I’d feel would be confident of betting their house on it.
Now, what some towards the top of the CTT food chain are very actively engaged in is trying to limit the insurance premium for the policy covering entries in club and open competitions. That’s what just about all of the £3 paid by those waiting for that 5-4-3-2-1 moment goes to. I gather that the expected premium for 2024 is knee-buckling.
The buzz phrase for this year has been Risk Assessment - every course has to have one in a attempt to minimise the insurance premium. At present it’s a very hot topic.  Indeed, when I submitted the police application for our forthcoming hillclimb, one question SWP asked was if the course had been risk assessed.
It’s conjecture on my behalf, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the insurers were to express concern about cycling speeds in 20mph limited areas.
So Rob, I don’t have an answer but I’ll contact those on the District Committee and relay their thoughts.

[stevelandeg]

I was informed last week that a CTT statement was to be issued soon but it took a couple of days for me to find it....

Note for all CTT Districts 17 October 2023

20 mph Speed Limits

The Board of CTT has asked me to write to all Districts to clarify the position on 20 mph speed limits.

The Board is aware that some courses now have 20 mph limit sections and there is a strong likelihood that more will in the future.  The Board has resolved that such courses cannot be used for time trials.

Districts are therefore asked to review the courses which have events planned on them for 2024 (and for the remainder of 2023) and take appropriate action if that course now has a 20 mph speed limit.  Either the event must be cancelled, or the course modified to exclude that section or an alternative course used. 

The Board is well aware that some Districts have numerous courses which are used infrequently. So in the first instance Districts are requested to investigate the courses which are currently approved for events between now and the end of 2024.  Later it will be necessary to extend the investigation to include any approved course.

The Board would be grateful if Districts could report as soon as possible (a) how many current courses it is estimated will be affected by 20 mph limits for the 2024 season, and (b) how many events are likely to be cancelled altogether because an alternative course cannot be found.

The Board has been informed that some web sites state speed limits “do not apply to cyclists”.  Districts must ignore any such suggestion and treat all speed limits as applying to cyclists engaged in CTT events.  The Board has been advised that as 20 mph limits may be imposed by different traffic authorities it is not practical to examine the legislative processes under which each has been made. In any event, CTT would not approve of cyclists overtaking other vehicles which are subject to a 20mph limit and pedestrians would not expect riders to be travelling at higher speeds.

The Board has already discussed whether it may be possible to make an exception for long events such as 12 and 24 hours where the distance subject to a 20mph limit is short and it is practical to enforce the limit without defeating the purpose of the event. Another aspect is to what extent CTT, with its very wide geographical spread, can realistically seek to influence particular traffic authorities to refuse to impose more 20 mph limits, to remove them, to modify them to exclude times/or days of the week when time trials may be held.

The Board will consider whether time can be made available at the CTT National Council AGM on the 3rd December for a discussion on this topic.  Such a discussion may provide ideas to reduce the impact of these limits on time trialling. It would be helpful to have any ideas sent to me in advance. These would not be subject to the time limit for submission of formal resolutions under Article 11 of the CTT’s Articles as this item would be for discussion only and only if time is available.

Replies to this Note should be sent to Support@cyclingtimetrials.org.uk

Best wishes

David Guy

CTT National Legal Adviser....

So, let's see what comes out of December 3rd and then discuss next year's plans.

[Teresa]

Heck - That's tough - Quite a clear statement from CTT

I would not even like to guess how many TT courses will disappear 

[RobC]

Thanks for looking at this Steve. So can we invent a new course? Abergwynfi to the top of the Bwlch is 60mph :-)

[geoffh]

I too had wondered how the speed limit changes would affect us, now we have the answer. Indeed my old club in Oxfordshire have lost their signature course, a 20km circuit, K4/20 for the same reason.
 
Would it be feasible to use a shortened version of our existing course, starting at the 30 sign in Wick and turning at the Pentr'er Cwrt rab in Llantwit for approximately seven and a half miles, or failing that to move on to the R10/9 for the time being?

I don't really know what rules govern the creation of new courses or indeed the use of existing ones, but it's just a thought as an interim measure. Cheers.