A cyclist going 20 km/h too fast has been caught by a camera van in Berlin. The police are powerless as the cyclist cannot be identified.
A camera van in Berlin has captured an unusual image. A cyclist speeds past the camera at 50 kilometers per hour.
That's 20 kilometers per hour over the speed limit on the stretch. The photo was taken last week on a road towards Potsdam.
The fast cyclist is now attracting attention – and probably more good laughs – from the Berlin police.
The stretch towards Potsdam is known and notorious for problems with excessive speed. Therefore, the authorities have set up automatic traffic controls.
They say it has had a positive impact on traffic safety in the area.
Most drivers now comply with the speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour. Residents along the road are also more satisfied with the traffic situation. The automatic traffic control is therefore working as intended.
But the latest speeding offender is different. It's a cyclist who passed the camera at high speed. In this way, the police are faced with an almost impossible challenge.
Identification of the cyclist is impossible from the photo. There is no license plate or other clear identification on either the bicycle or the rider.
The police are therefore unable to track down the person behind the fast bike ride, writes Der Tagesspiegel .
Police challenge with fast cyclist
Berlin police have spoken to the newspaper Der Tagesspiegel about the case. They confirm that the cyclist will not be prosecuted. The reason is the lack of identification.
The Berlin police are taking the situation with a certain twinkle in their eye. They have joked about the incident publicly. They are jokingly suggesting photo ID for Tour de France participants.
At the same time, the police emphasize the seriousness of the situation. The traffic rules apply to all road users, including cyclists. Violating the speed limit can result in a penalty – lycra or not.
If an officer had been standing with a handheld laser meter, the situation would have been different. Then the cyclist would probably have been ticketed. The fine for such an offense is around 700 Danish kroner.
The police maintain that the rules are the same for cyclists and drivers. You are not allowed to drive faster than the speed limit. This applies regardless of the mode of transport.
Traffic rules also apply to cyclists in Berlin
The Berlin police do not expect the cyclist to turn himself in. However, they are taking the opportunity to send a greeting to the city's cyclists. The hope is that everyone will respect the traffic rules better in the future.
Berlin is known as a city with a lot of cyclists. The city's residents cycle frequently and are generally considered environmentally conscious. Many prefer the bicycle to the car.
However, the current case shows that cyclists also violate traffic laws, even though it is rare for them to be caught by speed cameras.
Traffic safety depends on all road users following the rules. This applies to cars, motorcycles and bicycles. The police urge continued consideration in traffic.
Climbing onto a high (iron) horse of morality doesn't help either. A cyclist has been ticketed for pointing out illegal parking by the police. Read more about it here .
