Following the tragic death of an 80-year-old pedestrian, calls are growing for the introduction of a speed limit for all cyclists in England. Tony Jenkins, widower of Patricia Jenkins, has appealed to the Labour Party government to close a legal loophole that currently exempts cyclists from speed limits.
Patricia Jenkins was struck while crossing Mottram Road near Stalybridge, Tameside, on Sunday, 4 May 2025, by 41-year-old cyclist John Andrew. Andrew was participating in the Tour de Manc sportive, an annual charity cycling event with over 1,200 participants. Patricia sustained severe injuries, including a serious brain injury and broken ribs, and passed away three days later in hospital.
The investigation revealed that speed limits do not apply to cyclists, making it impossible to prosecute them for speeding. Tony Jenkins expressed his disbelief, stating, “It’s unbelievable that cyclists can still not be prosecuted for speeding in this country. Bikes can reach high speeds, and I know they exceeded the limit where the accident occurred.”
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Despite the cyclist having multiple devices recording his activity—such as a bike computer, a Garmin watch, cycling apps, and a camera—the police were unable to conclusively determine his speed.
Eyewitness Benjamin Ashworth, who was driving approximately 650 feet behind the cyclists, estimated that they were travelling at speeds comparable to a car, approximately 30 mph. Another witness, Ella McCalman, described the bikes moving “at some pace, travelling downhill,” and recounted how Mrs. Jenkins briefly glanced right before the collision, which caused her to be thrown violently.
Det Con Aaron Cramer, leading the investigation, stated there was no realistic prospect of prosecuting Mr. Andrew, as his cycling manner did not meet the threshold for wanton and furious driving. A police spokeswoman added that Mr. Andrew provided credible evidence regarding his speed, though she acknowledged the frustration felt by both the family and police due to the lack of concrete speed data.
The incident has intensified the call for new cycling regulations that would hold cyclists accountable for excessive speeds, aiming to prevent future tragedies and ensure pedestrian safety.