Topic starter
Is giving somebody a backie legal in England?
I'm looking to get a new (used) town/shopping/station bike.
Most likely a traditional Dutch style one, probably imported.
Many of these have a rear rack specifically designed to take the weight of an additional adult. It is not unusual when in the Netherlands so see people have fitted a cushion to the rack to make it more comfortable. This kind of thing is common in quite a few countries. When in Malawi years ago, bike backies were an officially recognised, licenced taxi service that I used loads.
A quick search online brings up the following Section 24 of the Road Traffic Act, “Not more than one person may be carried on a road on a bicycle not propelled by mechanical power unless it is constructed or adapted for the carriage of more than one person.”
If I were to buy a bike designed to take the load of an additional person on the back, and fit a cushion, would this suffice?
This is likely to be only occasionally used for very short journeys on segregated cycle paths.
Posted : 17/08/2021 3:33 pm
No one is going to bother their arse, carry on.
Posted : 17/08/2021 3:39 pm
Surely
specifically designed to take the weight of an additional adult
Plus
unless it is constructed or adapted for the carriage of more than one person
Equals job jobbed, in the unlikely event anyone gives two hoots. Crack on.
Posted : 17/08/2021 3:41 pm
unless it is constructed or adapted for the carriage of more than one person
Stunt pegs FTW
Posted : 17/08/2021 3:41 pm
My mate has a great tale of breaking his wrist, smashing a bottle of gin and one his dad's porno videos drunkenly falling off a backie.
So just for the potential future bantz it's a 'Go' from me
Posted : 17/08/2021 3:43 pm
Topic starter
The erstwhile Mayor of London got in to trouble for it, obviously I wouldn't expect the same media interest, but just wondering if I were to be stopped, what would count as "constructed or adapted for the carriage of more than one person"
Posted : 17/08/2021 3:49 pm
Our nursery run bike is adapted for 3 - a Hamax on the back, and a MacRide on the front. works a treat. Easier to handle than the trailer.
Posted : 17/08/2021 4:05 pm
If I were to buy a bike designed to take the load of an additional person on the back, and fit a cushion, would this suffice?
Presumably this would put it into the same category as a child Seat, no?
Can't imagine any copper will mind, but you will likely get a daily mail reader tutting at you - more just 'cos you exist more than anything else.
Posted : 17/08/2021 4:11 pm
As above, if it's a cargo bike, built to carry extra weight, and you've got a cushion and some footpegs, I can't see how anyone could argue it's not constructed/adapted for more than one.
Look at the "accommodation" for pillions on some hyper-sports bikes - I bet you'll be offering more than that!
Posted : 17/08/2021 4:20 pm
No one is going to bother their arse, carry on.
Exactly. If you actually see a policeman walking around in the first place who could then be bothered doing anything about it in the second place you would be very unlucky.
(All bets are off if you or your passenger are black and in London of course)
Posted : 17/08/2021 4:23 pm
We have folk fighting against speedlimiters for cars in the other thread justifying their speeding and your worries about this. Fair juxtaposition that.
No one's ever batted an eye lid at the wife on the back of the cargo bike.
Even less so now it's Jnr.
It's quite obviously adapted to carry two /3 with seats , footplates and Stoker bars mind.
Posted : 17/08/2021 4:32 pm
Backies are lame get them to sit on the handle bars and you can ride normally.
Posted : 18/08/2021 8:14 am
Crack on except stop calling seaties 'backies'!
Posted : 18/08/2021 8:33 am
They're backies or possibly a croggie.
They have never and will never be called seaties.
Posted : 18/08/2021 8:34 am
Yep, definitely called backies. For real backies you need to get yourself a Raleigh Chopper.
Posted : 18/08/2021 8:41 am
Sitting on the bars.
Is that no a hudgie
Posted : 18/08/2021 8:43 am
Topic starter
I have always called them croggies, but wrote backie in the OP as I thought that it would be more widely understood.
I think croggie is a Northern thing.
Posted : 18/08/2021 8:46 am
possibly a croggie.
I was just going to ask if anyone else called them croggies. I'm from Leicester and it was Croggy down there when I moved to Halifax they said Pilion* or Backie, noone understood croggy.
I know its a pilion passeneger, but they said "give us a pilion"....
Posted : 18/08/2021 8:50 am
Always been a Backie from when I was a kids in South Central (home counties :-))
Posted : 18/08/2021 8:57 am
Is that no a hudgie
It is now. Ta.
Posted : 18/08/2021 9:01 am
Dunno about legality, but I'm pretty sure your da'll give you a clip round the ear when he gets home from work and hears what you've been doing... 
Posted : 18/08/2021 9:27 am
Why does "Boris Johnson 'naughty' for giving wife backie on his bike" just sound dirty
Posted : 18/08/2021 9:40 am
I've been told off by a cop in Edinburgh for giving a mate a backie. Seems like they might bother if they've got a moment.
Posted : 18/08/2021 10:10 am
Croggie or backie from where I'm from. North Yorkshire
Posted : 18/08/2021 10:12 am
Its a dubbie darn sarf. And pics/vid of your ride back from the pub please.
Posted : 18/08/2021 10:39 am
Croggie - passenger on the crossbar, rider seated
Backie - passenger on the seat, rider standing
Posted : 18/08/2021 10:44 am
Suitably modified so strong rack and cushion will do it. With foot pegs definitely.
Skirt guard (or similar) to prevent toe spoke interface recommended however much modified.
PS croggie is passenger in the crossbar as above.
Posted : 18/08/2021 4:55 pm
Its a dubbie darn sarf.
No it aint.
Posted : 18/08/2021 7:07 pm
I’ve been told off by a cop in Edinburgh for giving a mate a backie. Seems like they might bother if they’ve got a moment.
To be fair there is only about 3 streets in the whole of Edinburgh I'd want to be carrying someone precariously.
Posted : 18/08/2021 8:22 pm
When we were kids we had one lad on the bars, another on the top tube, one on the pedals standing, one on the seat and one standing on the chainstays. We were about to set off when a voice said "You're not about to ride that are you..?" A copper had been watching us all get into position...!
Posted : 19/08/2021 2:16 am
trail_rat
Is that no a hudgie
a hudgie is jumping on the back of a van/bus and getting a lift without the driver knowing. Or just doing it for general hilarity purposes when you were at school.
2 people on bikes I'd say backie or fronty.
Posted : 19/08/2021 3:50 am
