• Safer Cycling

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Wow, there are some Lycra loonies on here spouting eco-catastrophist rubbish. The first requirement is for cyclists to be licensed, taxed and insured. Then and only then will they behave like responsible citizens.

- Epimethean, Surrey, 09/01/2008 17:37
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About time too.

No tax, no insurance, no "cycling test"...

How many accidents are caused by cyclists jumping red lights?

It isn't always the motorists fault!

- Nick, London, 09/01/2008 15:28
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They wouldn't dare stop the kids doing it. Why don't they stop these kids riding around at night without lights? For their own safety, of course.

- Bob, London, 09/01/2008 12:18
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Four years ago my mother was knocked down by a cyclist taking a short cut on a pavement. He rushed on and I suppose he got to work five minutes early but she has never recovered from the injuries and is now a house bound invalid. So I don't think it’s petty to protect the safety of pedestrians, especially the young and the vulnerable.

- Dave, London uk, 09/01/2008 12:15
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It appears that the risk involved in jumping lights is often calculated as being less than the risk of having heavy traffic starting up at the same time. Travel by bike is economic, environmentally friendly and pleasant. Proliferation of motor vehicles imposes on others and increases the need for more controls such as lights. Cyclists are more vulnerable and it appears that jumping lights is an escape tactic which needs to be addressed by the highways authority. I.E The traffic controls should address the fears and needs of cyclists BEFORE imposing unreasonable vigilance. The result should be more people cycling legally and safely.

- Arthur Wyatt, Merton England, 09/01/2008 11:43
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This is all well and good, but London remains a hostile wilderness for cyclists, with its discontinuous cycle lanes and lack of serious policy to encourage this mode of transport that offers only benefit to those who cycle, and those who should be grateful that there is a greater proportion of commuters not choosing to drive a car through the city. This includes other drivers, and children, who I think you will find suffer in far greater numbers as a result of reckless driving and emissions than the modest pushbike could ever manage. I seem to remember not so long ago children themselves rode bikes to school in the city - whatever happened to that radical vision?

- John, London, 09/01/2008 10:18
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It would be more fair to target all road users violating their and our laws; it would be more effective deploying our police, at our cost, to deal with all breaches occurring at the site they are at.

- Charles Barraball, London, 09/01/2008 07:02
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As a cyclist who actually stops at red lights I'm thrilled that the police are trying to do something about those who don't. It's becoming out of control as dozens of cyclists at a time shoot through red lights with little regard for cars or pedestrians. It is nonsense that it's safer for cyclists to go across red lights - they just do so because they want to and believe they are above the law and it's about time they were made to realise that they're not.

- Kitty Bishop, London, 09/01/2008 00:15
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Police should crack down on all red light jumpers regardless of their mode of transport, red means stop and the cyclists that insist on doing this give the rest of us a bad name, I'd be keen to know how many motorists are caught on red light cameras to balance the figures.
To be honest Police should be out and about to enforce the road laws that are being flouted daily by a large number of road users mobile phones at the top, no need for new laws just start enforcing the ones that are all ready there.

Let's live and let live out there and remember idiots are just that regardless of what they drive or ride.

- Fixedwheelnut, South East London, 08/01/2008 23:21
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A high proportion of road users operate according to what they can get away with, not what the law says. This applies equally whether they have an engine or not - the main difference is what they can get away with. Therefore the police have two reasonable options: enforce all the laws to the letter, or prioritise what causes most danger to others.

The stats are clear: it's motor vehicles that cause the vast majority of road deaths and injuries, so their offences need to be the police's priority.

- Colin, London UK, 08/01/2008 21:03
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Fantastic! About time too! Day in and day out we hear cyclists moan about other road users who don’t obey the rules, yet cyclists are amongst the biggest offenders for law breaking. Its about time cyclists were forced to be registered and carry and registration plate like other vehicles and be held responsible for their actions!

- Peter, Enfield, 08/01/2008 19:45
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In a city where one in five motorists is uninsured, and thousands use mobile phones behind the steering wheel, police are diverting time and resources to stopping red light jumpers. This is a scandal and City of London Police should be held to account for this appalling misuse of resources and poor prioritisation.

- Oscar, London, 08/01/2008 19:44
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Oh come on! That’s petty of the police kicking up a fuss about nothing. Can’t resources be focused onto more serious crime? How many motorists, taxis and delivery vans do you see using cycle lanes as pick up and drop off points endangering the lives of vulnerable road users such as cyclists? Or even bendy busses taking up 2 lanes whilst cornering? Can we not impose a £30 fine on all those lot as well?

- Anon, London, 08/01/2008 17:42
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I watched the programme and it was extraordinary. As a pedestrian, I agree with the cyclists who complain about pedestrians wandering out into the road without looking. But that argument overlooks the fact that pedestrians' real concern is safety on the pavements. It's no-one's fault but my own if I step out into the road without looking (although I have spent years being laughed at by friends for insisting on waiting for the green man) but I have the right to walk on the pavements without fear of injury from cyclists. Some pedestrians may do dumb things on the roads, but that doesn't give cyclists the right to break the law by riding on the pavements.

- Freya, London, 08/01/2008 16:55
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I understand the police have to uphold the law, there appears to be a selectivity going on.

As others here have said, cars frequently jump red lights. Every morning I see cars jump red lights and would certainly have been run down if I crossed junctions as soon as the green light showed.

Equally I agree, most drivers completely ignore ASLs and cycle lanes and either park/wait or simply sit in them at junctions forcing cyclists onto the pavement or into the middle of the road if they wish to get to the ASL (which is most probably filled with a car/taxi/white van anyway).

A few months ago as I cycled home a couple of kids start throwing stones at me as I cycled by, one hit my helmet. I wasn't injured but it wasn't a pleasant experience. I phoned the police to report the crime to be told by an impatient sounding woman that there was nothing they could do, she would take my details as she was obliged to do that, but informed me that absolutely nothing would be done.

Don't even get me started on pedestrians who step into the road without the slightest glance over their shoulder to see what is approaching - I ran straight into a bloke in November. I was travelling at about 20mph in the road, he stepped out, I him and stopped to check if he was OK, he proceeded to call me a "crazy cyclist"! Crazy pedestrian is be more apt!

Now that motorists have whinged long and hard about parking fines etc, local authorities are targetting cyclists for revenue.

- Headhunter, London, 08/01/2008 13:22
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David - you clearly live in a blighted society - what gives you, a cyclist, the right to jump red lights and then jump up and down about getting caught then moaning that the police are not looking into more serious crime? Can I remind you that like any organisation there are different teams dealing with different crimes. Would you be happy with a trainee officer dealing with a murder - I don't think so.

Grow up and face the responsibility that jumping a red is dangerous. How would you feel if your children got knocked over crossing at a green light by one of these lycra louts.

Cyclists are increasingly becoming more of a menace than motor users, fine them for breaking the rules - good job! Let's just hope third party insurance is the next thing on the cards! A rare opportunity to praise good police work.

- Anon, London, 08/01/2008 12:24
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About time, next step is to make them have insurance.

- Malcolm, Chingford, 08/01/2008 11:41
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Stehpen Anderson,

Your comment started well, apply that to all road users and there would be no argument (that's cyclists and drivers who break the law).

Other than that we are not interested in "what you say"

- Mark Evans, London, 08/01/2008 08:29
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I've cycled daily for the last 31 years, much of it on busy London roads. Cyclists jumping red lights is nothing new - it has been happening for as long as I've been cycling. However, it is on the increase and poses much more of a danger now as our roads are much more congested with pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, cars, vans busses, lorries and even Segue users battling for space. The rules are there to protect all of us, from ourselves and each other. Sadly, the non-compliance is a further example of our society's abandonment of core values of discipline, respect and consideration for others.

Motorists have been monitored, by human and automatic detection, and prosecuted accordingly for many years. It's only right that if cyclists are flouting the law, they should be brought to book. Moreso perhaps because most cyclist don't have third party liability insurance to compensate the victims of their poor behaviour.

- John Michael Richards, Newton-le-Willows, United Kingdom, 08/01/2008 02:36
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What exactly are Police priorities? Knife crime? Shootings? Drugs? No, it seems they want to pick on easy targets - cyclists (who are presumably easier to catch).

What about enforcing the motor traffic laws: Drivers on a handheld mobile phone... I probably see about 10 per day on a 10 mile cycle.

Or maybe the cars that jump red lights? I have seen six cars jump a red light coming from Roehampton Lane across the South Circular (Upper Richmond Rd) and rarely see fewer than 3 skip that red light. If I started cycling when I have the green light I would be run over every morning.

I shouldn't even start on theft of bicycles: last time mine was stolen it was on CCTV. I watched the tape of the thief drilling out my locks at 3pm in broad daylight and I asked the security guards to keep the tape for the police before I reported the theft. I got a crime reference, but the police never came to collect the tape.

Once the police have all of the above crimes under control, then maybe they can start focussing on cyclist crimes. I don't jump lights or approve of it, but it's not exactly major league crime.

- David Frew, London, 07/01/2008 22:57
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Sandra - the poor Fund Manager that was killed stepped out on the road, where the cyclist should have been, and was and there is no evidence to say he did anything wrong.

And car drivers kill many many more on the London roads each year.

That's your inconvenient truth I think.

Please don't tar us all with your inaccuracy brush please - most cyclist do not go through red lights.

- Graham, Fleet, Hampshire, 07/01/2008 21:39
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I agree with Stephen G about the rules of the road but I'm in the same situation as Gemma - a considerate cyclist (I hope) who often has to swerve to avoid pedestrians stepping randomly into the road. There are no rules of the road that apply to pedestrians, allowing them to endanger other road users. In the spirit of fairness, we should introduce rules to prevent jay walking.

- Claire, London, 07/01/2008 19:17
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Surely cyclists don't proceed when the green man is illuminated without looking for pedestrians. I would have thought they are just as averse to pile ups as the pedestrians and vehicles they share the road with. Maybe some common sense is in order: cyclists anticipating red-lights changing to amber/green seems fair enough (momentum is their friend after all) but flagrant disregard of the prevalent traffic flows should be discouraged. In any case I can't wait to see Plod wheelie by me with a flashing blue light on his head! A spectacle that will stop traffic all over!

- Jason Hayns, London, 07/01/2008 18:12
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I watched with delight this morning while two "Mounties" were talking to two cyclists at the junction of London Wall and Old Broad Street - it did make me smile. I run in the City and frequently come face to handlebars with cyclists on the pavement. Even today it happened. And I do disagree that cyclists don't speed, work out the velocity of one travelling at even 15mph hitting you - sadly today we even read about the tragic death of the Fund Manager that was killed last year by a cyclist.

- Sandra, London, 07/01/2008 16:47
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I cycle to and from work every day and have done for 10 years now. I find that there are an increasing number of people who cycle through the green man and other forms of pedestrian crossings despite people actually being on them at the time - it's disgraceful - they obviously couldn't care less about the welfare of the people they almost knock down - I could also talk at length about the nutter pedestrians (particularly on Oxford St and in The City) who walk diagonally across the road or step out without even looking to see if there's a bike coming at them, of course if a bike crashed into one of these nutters then the cyclist would get the blame no doubt! Then there's the taxis, white vans and buses who couldn't care about cyclists, don't give them enough room, park and drive in cycle lanes, open their doors without checking to see if they're about to slam it into a cyclist, turn left without checking their mirrors and even race the cyclists to get to the bus stop, lights first! I think there's quite a bit of give and take here - it's not as clear cut as the police would like to think.

- Gemma, London, 07/01/2008 16:33
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This is about all of us using the same roads. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Road safety depends on everyone obeying the rules. If they are flouted then they should be enforced. How can people argue they should be above the law?

Hang 'em, that's what I say.

- Stephen G Anderson, Bronygarth, UK, 07/01/2008 16:16
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Not before time. Far too many cyclists are regularly jumping lights, zipping between pedestrians on crossings and on pavements, going the wrong way up the street and often with no lights at night. In my experience they are by some way the greatest danger pedestrians face daily in London. Motor vehicles obviously have the potential to do greater injury, but you can generally hear them coming, they have good lights at night, and if the first one is stopped at traffic lights or a crossing, the ones behind stop too and can't usually come flying up the sides with no warning. If a rogue cyclist gets caught more than once then fines should increase and eventually their bikes should be confiscated.

- Keith G, London, UK, 07/01/2008 15:16
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I thought flashing lights were illegal on bikes. Now the police are going to have even bigger and better ones.

- Gordon G, London, UK, 07/01/2008 14:26
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Great news, and what a relief the law's being applied fairly.
Not.
No motorist in The City has ever been fined for encroaching an ASL or ignoring a mandatory cycle lane. In fact, City Police admitted they were offering "advice" to motorists who ran red lights, and fining cyclists for the same offence! No fine has ever been handed out to a motorist driving on a mobile, and I stood and watched as a cyclist got a ticket as countless drivers ran the red light in plain view of the police, who stood by and did nothing. This is "tick-box" policing in a city where there are upwards of 250,000 uninsured cars- beyong belief!

- Ian Mansfield, London, 07/01/2008 14:21
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Canary Wharf has it's own Police... well the security guards are certainly dressed up to look like Police. So much so you'd have to wonder if they wouldn't get arrested for impersonation elsewhere...

There are lots of bad cyclist and lots of bad bikers and lots of bad drivers. Although the latter two rarely go through red lights in such a blatent fashion.

I was nearly knocked off my motorbike by a cycle thug, who slipped between myself and another pedal cyclist who were both turning left. Whose insurance would that have gone on I wonder!

- Jon, London, 07/01/2008 14:18
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Great I wish the police were doing this all over London. I am sick to death of these dangerous cyclists. I work in Piccadilly and every time you cross any road you always have to look because they shoot through the red lights I have shouted at them saying "Are you colour blind" but all you get is a barrage of abuse, also where I live in London they race along the pavement and are a danger to man and beast. I would not vote for Ken Livingstone but if he made every cyclist be insured and taxed he would get my vote!

- Linda Cliff, London, 07/01/2008 14:01
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I suppose it would be too difficult to try to catch uninsured, and untaxed drivers then.

- Roger, London, 07/01/2008 13:03
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I wish the police would come out to Canary Wharf! The illegal cycling is absolutely shocking out here - not just jumping red lights (in the four years I've worked here, I have seen only two cyclists stopped at traffic lights), but riding all over the pavements as well.

- Freya, London, 07/01/2008 13:03
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