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Cyclist Faces Fine: Riding No-Handed Infringes Right to Life?
A London lawyer and nature conservationist, Paul Powlesland, found himself in a peculiar situation after being stopped for cycling without holding the handlebars. The reason given by police raised eyebrows and sparked debate.
The Initial Stop
The incident began on March 5 when a London policewoman issued a fine to Powlesland for riding his bike without holding the handlebars. A month later, seeing the same officer, Powlesland engaged her in conversation, recording the interaction on April 2.
I recently got stopped & ticketed by the City of London Police for, & I kid you not, “cycling no handed”. Even though it’s clearly not an offence, the officer said they were ticketing me under the Human Rights Act as I was infringing other people’s Article 2 ‘Right to Life’, in… https://t.co/LU4BUKZZ4w pic.twitter.com/3DBE6XUgSN
— Paul Powlesland (@paulpowlesland) July 3, 2025
Human Rights Act Invoked
According to Powlesland, the officer justified the fine by stating that riding without holding handlebars violated Article 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998, arguing it infringed on other people’s “Right to Life.”
In response, Powlesland suggested that the London police should focus on more pressing issues like mobile phone use while driving and other petty crimes (Metropolitan Police, 2024). Data indicates a rise in traffic offenses involving mobile phones in the capital.
Police Justification
The London police acknowledged Powlesland’s video and clarified that the recording captured only part of their conversation. The police spokesperson stated that the fine wasn’t issued on the day of the recording, but a month prior, for “dangerous and ruthless ride.”
The officer explained that riding without holding handlebars endangers other road users. The police are prepared to present evidence in court to support the charge should Powlesland choose to challenge the fine.
Right to Life Clarification
Article 2 of the Human Rights Act protects every person’s right to life, stating that “no one must be deprived of life, with the exception of execution on the basis of a court judgment after conviction for a crime.”
