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Just a quick warning for those who are to majorca soon or in the future.
We've just come back from there significantly lighter in cash than expected due to being stopped and fined 200 euros by the local constabulary for riding 2 abreast!
It would have been 200 per offence (so per person riding 2 up) but luckily only one of use was.
The fine was also increased because we didn't have a driving licence/passport on us, this is apparently mantatory in Majorca.
We luckily had enough on us to pool the money otherwise it would have been a confiscated bike (unlikely to be seen again) and a trip to the station.
Apparently although many roads have cycle lanes in majorca those that dont and have a solid white line must be riden single file.
On a lighter note the sa colobra climb is fantastic, if a bit hard!
Whaaaatt!!!!! Never in many years of cycling there have I heard of this happening.
Sounds more like you were riding over the solid white line, riding two abreast is not illegal in Spain afaik.
Edit: and yes, you are legally required to carry id with you in Spain, be it passport or whatever.
Nope, we were not riding over the white centre line.
Riding 2 abreast is not illegal, however as the nice guardia man informed us you cannot cross the centre line of the right hand lane, so essentially you must stay in the far right quarter of the road.
When you are 2 abreast this is almost impossible.
Either way, this happened to us, it probably won't happen to you. Just thought I'd warn you to not only carry at least 200 in your group, but also your passport!
Do you have an official document confirming the offence, fine and a receipt ?
I suggest you contact the tourist office and say how this fine has discouraged you from visiting Majorca again and you are telling all your mates and posting about it on Internet forums suggesting cyclists choose other locations for their holidays.
yes, we have all the documents and yes we have already contacted the Mayor of Port De Pollenca directly!
"good" I think the best you can do is try and get the authorities to discourage the practice, a €200 fine seems rather draconian
What road were you on?
With mogrim on this one.
Helmets on or off?
ID carrying is mandatory, not sure if there's a fine for this though nor how much it would be (but of course there probably is).
Were you stopped by local police (blue) or Guardia Civil?
seems rather draconian
Not been to Spain then?
[url= http://www.trentobike.org/Countries/Spain/Anti_Cycling_Law.html ]http://www.trentobike.org/Countries/Spain/Anti_Cycling_Law.html[/url]
This might shed some light.
But in 10 years of riding on Spainsh roads I was only once told by Guardia Civil to put on my helmet, they had had difficulties in overtaking me. 😛
[url= http://www.trentobike.org/Countries/Spain/Anti_Cycling_Law.html ]http://www.trentobike.org/Countries/Spain/Anti_Cycling_Law.html[/url]<
[url= http://www.dgt.es/revista/num151/pages/ley.html ]http://www.dgt.es/revista/num151/pages/ley.html[/url]
I believe part of the Guardias wages are made up out of fines.
Its not unusual for tourists to be targeted or foreigners in general.
The Spanish had a law that said motorists must have a bulb kit in the car.The law was withdrawn but 12 months later the Guardia were still fining people for it.Having lived in Spain for a number of years this is one aspect i really hate.
Let it not be forgotten that Spain is corrupt. I know, I used to work in Spain and I was employed by The Opus.
Just read @don_simon's link. Whilst I think the two abreast and "no right of way" provisions are anti-cycling / dangerous I don't have any complains with compulsory helmets or alcohol controls.
I think the main problem with the helmet ruling was the way it was implemented. That if you weren't wearing a helmet and were caught up in an accident the blame moved heavily towards the cyclist and not the (probable) cause.