• With the right training you can cycle around London with ease

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Interesting idea, however I can't help but feel this will just make it legally acceptable for some cylists (unfortunately not the minority) to cycle agressively without concern for people trying to cross - this already happens regardless of red lights/left turns/pedestrain crossings so in fact not much is going to change. Maybe some of those cylists who complain about pedestrians stepping out into the road are confusing this with Zebra crossings...?

With regard to bikes on the pavement as far as I am aware this is illegal for a reason, largely because a lot of people are trying to walk there - I don't go strolling along in the middle of the road.

- Jimbo, Lonfon, England, 10/03/2010 11:32
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@Roz:
Yes I'm fully aware of pavement cycling being illegal, if you noticed I didnt condone it - mearly pointed out that other countries dont bat an eyelid towards it. Its not the same as a 1 ton car driving on the pavement and if it was such a danger councils up and down the land wouldnt not be converting paths into "shared use" and blurring the message.

Regards the Swiss.. I have been told several times that they abolished the licensing of bicycles in the 1960s. I know of no country that has a working scheme, even when Toronto looked into it they decided it was a waste of time (google this and you'll see the various reasons why: cost, ineffectiveness in preventing theft and traffic crime, worrying amounts of paperwork etc). Nigeria may be an exeption but then I could find little info on this so it may be out of date also.

Enough of this licensing nonsense.

@Jamie: "superiority" no. People on two wheels just want drivers to take a little care and stop being so aggressive.

- Djc, hampshire, 26/01/2010 12:53
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Sorry, just for clarity next time I (like millions of others) visit London: if I tell my children not to cross the road until the Little Green Man, are they still at risk of being mown flat by a bicycle? And my father, who has understood the conventions of crossing the road in London for the best part of 80 years and who sees his mates in central London every week, and people with sight impediments - are these groups all going to be safe with the changes to these rules?

Djc: it is illegal to ride your bicycle on the pavement, presumably for the same reasons it is illegal to drive your car there. I have never seen anyone ride a bicycle on the pavement in France and living not a million miles from Switzerland I'd say you'd immediately find yourself in hot water if you tried it on with the Swiss - aside from being extremely pedantic about rules, they have traffic lights and cycle lanes all over the place and perhaps most importantly of all, by law your bicycle has to be licensed and carry a registration plate so that if you nearly knock someone over and just cycle off giving them the finger they can report you to the police.

I don't understand the argument that pedestrians sometimes inadvertently step off pavements into traffic means that cyclists have the right to be aggressive and break rules. If cyclists want to use the road the same as cars, they should surely have the same obligations with regard to insurance, tax and Government databases?

- Roz, France, 25/01/2010 09:20
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Surely these "pedestrian" complaints are a nonsense. I mean you will be looking right for moving traffic anyway - this wont be a legal "green light" for any cyclist to cut across a crossing now will it. Or had you people not thought of that? ;-P

Its about junctions.

Secondly this pavement nonsense again. Stop whining. Go to Germany, Austria, parts of France, Switzerland, Poland... they all ride on the pavement and no one bats an eyelid. Of course any sensible cyclist will prefer the road and the majority in the UK do use it (every single study taken has said so in droves)

- Djc, hampshire, 23/01/2010 16:02
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A brilliant idea ... to produce yet more fatalities as inexperienced cyclists are encouraged to ride up the inside of HGVs, buses, vans and cars, and get crushed.

Fellow post-ers are right, pedestrians need to be the number 1 priority as everyone uses the pavements, including mums with push chairs, wheelchair users as well as those of us able to get out of the way.

How about everyone obeying the highway code? Its the product of years of expereience... why should we change it?

- Dave, London SE11, 22/01/2010 22:41
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Such a comical exchange of views between the pro and anti cyclists.
Slightly pathetic actually - once upon a time a bicycle was simply looked on as a mode of transport.
Now it has become a political weapon, with the cycle haters claiming their lives are at risk from lycra loons, and the bicycle lovers claiming superiority over all.
Laughable nonsense from you all - get a life folks.

- Jamie, London, UK, 22/01/2010 18:08
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I'm well aware that not all cyclists are idiots, but unfortunately quite a few are, especially in the centre of London.

- Geraldine, London
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And of course there are no idiot car drivers or pedesrians. Face it you can't wait to have a go at cyclists because you're just another eastenders, x factor, watching conformist.

- Terry, London, 22/01/2010 16:41
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Bunch of anti-cycling NUTMEGS talking a load of old HORSERADISH is what I say!! They’re just jealous of the cyclists ability to SPEEDWELL through the streets of London.

- Herb, Yarrow, 22/01/2010 15:43
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Ruth, read Alex's message. Whilst I do not agree with what he says, he asserts that cyclists should only go through a red light when it is safe to do so. Well, cyclists DO NOT always go through when it is safe to do so, that's the whole point! I should know I have been hit by one and at speed.

As for reasoned debate, try this: of the three categories of road user, the least protected in physical terms is the pedestrian. It is the pedestrian whose security and well-being that should come first. Allowing cyclists to have rights that transcend those of others is like saying "Oh, dear, if we can't beat them, join them!".

If one pedestrian dies every 2 years as a result of a collision with a bicycle, it is one too many. Or are you saying that that is an acceptable level? Also, do not assume everyone can ride a bike. If a pedestrian walks out in front of a bike and gets hurt, that's their lookout. I am concerned that we are being asked to accept, even on a trial basis, a more hazardous regime and the more hazardous the more likely to be collisions and injuries. This proposal is pure madness; it is pandering to a minority of which, unfortunately, Boris Johnson is one.

- Arthur Billposter, London, 22/01/2010 15:40
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Richie of Pimlico: I have had that unpleasant experience already.

- Arthur Billposter, London, 22/01/2010 15:23
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Agree with Hounslow Richard. All vehicles should be allowed to left on a red as in the States. The Highways agencies has been treating car drivers as imbeciles for too long - give some responsibility back to the motorist. I think there's a case for cyclists to be allowed to go through green pedestrian signals... obviously with pedestrians having the right of way.

- Alex Smith, Finsbury Park, 22/01/2010 14:55
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What a predictable load of ignorant responses. Do you lot just sit here waiting for the word 'cyclist' to appear in an article so you can have a rant. Can't be good for your blood pressure... maybe you should all get on your bikes lol. Seriously, this is a good, commonsense idea, and as a small woman who regularly cycles around London I can tell you that pedestrians who step into the road without looking are one of the biggest problems I face. And at 55kg I'll probably end up coming off worse in a collision too. So c'mon get off your high horses and stop pretending that you're all holier than thou. Let's have some sensible debate for once. Or are you lot incapable?

- Ruth, London, UK, 22/01/2010 14:45
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oh good.I cycle every day for the last 20 years and don't know how many times pedestrians steped out straight in front of me without looking, how many cars suddenly decided to turn left without indicating and cutting in front of me. Yes, you get a bad pedestrian, bad cyclist and bad driver. But not everyone is bad. In Tokyou pedestrians and cyclist share a pavement, and they don't seem to hava problem with that. Get a life people, get on the bike, it's much nicer than just moarning and complaing.

- Anusia, London, 22/01/2010 14:42
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What's the problem? Cyclist never obey any other part of the Highway Code they do whatever they want & the police never do anything about it.

It does raise the question as to who has priority on light controlled pedesrian crossings if by turning left on a red they plough through pedestrians. Mind you they already do that at the moment.

- Mark Myword, London, 22/01/2010 14:40
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What stupidity !
This can mean more accidents between pedestrians and the fascist cyclist !
How will the blame be made when these accidents happen ?

- Joe, Swanley Kent, 22/01/2010 14:35
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NEVER,NEVER,NEVER. I`m a Bus Driver. Every day I`m watching road piracy by cyclists. Why drivers must wait. Why the driver has ban to speak by phone etc. A lot of cyclists go thru red anyway. A lot of cyclists are speaking by phone while cycling. A lot of cyclists are listening music by headphones not hearing what's going on around them, not seeing what's behind them. they're the ones who make difficulties on the roads. And no one seems to care.

- Krzysztof Szczygielski, London, 22/01/2010 14:32
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So what about the rights of pedestrians? Cyclists ignore the road rules anyway. Every day I nearly get by a cyclist as I cross at the pedestrian crossing. They ignore the red lights already. I've never seen any of them fined and the mayor spends money on getting people onto bikes but no money on reminding them what the road rules are. Go thru' red lights, go the wrong way up a one way street. It's stupidty.

- Tanya, London, 22/01/2010 14:27
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They already do anyway! So when exactly are pedestrians expected to cross the road?

- Sue, Kent, 22/01/2010 14:22
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Geraldine, perhaps you should start paying attention when you are on the pavement. The fact that you've lost count of the number of times you haven't been hit indicates that numerous cyclists have seen you AGES before you saw them. How many of those times was when you stepped off the pavement without looking, but only listening. Just because you can't hear an internal combustion engine doesn't mean its safe to cross.

The fact is that cyclists are very agile, and the fact that they only manage to kill 0.5 people a year compared to 3000 fatalities caused by cars means you have zero to worry about. Don't worry, cyclists have just as much, if not more to worry about in an accident with a pedestrian, and that is why they just don't run into pedestrians (unless said pedestrian steps off the pavement without looking properly - seems to be a London thing this).

Well done Boris.

- George, London, 22/01/2010 14:03
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erm, since when did they care about the law and red lights? i have a daily battle with these lycra louts on the way to and from work in the west end.
make them have licence numbers, and insurance.

- Paul Morris, London, 22/01/2010 14:02
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About time, and to all you anti cyclist out there
we dont care about your 'old women' rants!

Tip for you Terry, it isn't just women complaining about selfish cyclists on this site. In addition, I'm by no means an 'old woman', nor am I anti-cyclists. I just don't believe they should be able to do whatever they like irrespective of the potential risk they cause to other people. I'm well aware that not all cyclists are idiots, but unfortunately quite a few are, especially in the centre of London.

- Geraldine, London, 22/01/2010 14:02
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Boris, you meant to represent the overall interest of people in London, not ride through them.

- Jack, London, 22/01/2010 13:57
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Bazza, Landan - It does happen yes, but if you also count how many motorists break road rules at the same time, you will find there will be more of them than cyclists. All road users break rules when it is convenient for them to do so, but it is always the cyclist that gets the abuse. I don't know why, there are more collisions/deaths/injuries caused by motorised vehicals than cyclists.

- Bring It On, London, 22/01/2010 13:51
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"About time, and to all you anti cyclist out there
we dont care about your 'old women' rants!"

You obviously do or you would not respond to them. It is showing this level of maturity on the road that stirs the disgust.

- Dan, London, 22/01/2010 13:47
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It seems the only place cyclists won't be cycling is on bike lanes (try walking along Chelsea Bridge Road if you think I am exagerating).

- Gazza, London,England, 22/01/2010 13:46
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And to Terry from London your comments justify the feelings that cyclists have for pedestrians "Get out of the way or we will knock you down "!. The sooner these thugs have to be insured the better then maybe that will make them take care on the roads and GET OFF OF THE PAVEMENTS !

- Linda Cliff, London, 22/01/2010 13:44
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Obviously the aim here is for the safety of the cyclists. However there doesn’t seem to be any consideration for the pedestrian. Many times I have nearly been hit by a cyclist jumping a red light or going the wrong way down a one way street only to receive abuse from them.

There are cycle boxes at the front of most red lights in London would it not be safer to add a filter cycle light to existing traffic lights (at main junctions) giving cyclists time to pull away from the rest of the traffic, followed by the main green light for all other traffic. This way you would be looking after the safety needs of all.

Just a thought.

- Kelly, London, 22/01/2010 13:44
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Straight into pedestrians! Nice one!

- Steve, Brentford, 22/01/2010 13:35
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About time, and to all you anti cyclist out there
we dont care about your 'old women' rants!

- Terry, London, 22/01/2010 13:25
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So basically pedestrians can go to hell, thanks Boris. I've lost count of how many times a selfish irresponsible cyclist has nearly sent me flying by going through a red light. I can assure you that the very next time one of them does so under the safety net of it now being legal to do so, I will most certainly make sure a lawyer has a field day on my behalf!

- Geraldine, London, 22/01/2010 13:14
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So no change there then, may as well make it legal for them to ride on pavements turn right at red lights cycle the wrong way up a oneway street oh while your there be given right of way on zebra crossings. Or have all these been passed already which is why most cyclists do this, and before you go on and on and on and on (because you do) just stand on a busy London Street for an hour and tell me you haven't seen any of the above happen.

- Bazza, Landan, 22/01/2010 13:14
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The number of cyclists that turn left from side streets onto main roads without even a cursory glance to their right is frightening. Now they've been given the green light...pardon the pun...to do it at traffic light controlled junctions too when the red light is showing. Who gets right of way in this situation when the green man is showing for pedestrians to cross..??

- Mark H, London England, 22/01/2010 13:04
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Hmm, Boris been looking at America's traffic system?
Should do that for cars as well, it works in America...

- Adrian, london, 22/01/2010 13:03
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It is bad enough at the moment with cyclists ignoring Red lights, giving them permission to turn left at a red light, the solicitors will have a field day!!!

- Justin, London, England, 22/01/2010 12:45
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Left turn on Red is all about Traffic Flow - and that means allowing ALL vehicles to turn left on Red. The actual phrase to descibe this is: Left Turn on Red After Stop, meaning you actually have to stop and check the road is clear and it is safe to proceed - just like any other junction. Usually the ground tyre (proximity) sensors work well enough to trigger the lights, but Left Turn on Red should be implemented. Cyclists would be warned by the Signage - perhaps also by painting the junction yellow, and by the requirremtn of the driver to pay due care and attention.

- Richard, Hounslow, UK, 22/01/2010 12:37
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What joy, another thing for pedestrians to watch out for. I will wait for the day one of them hit me when I'm crossing with the green man showing !!!

Mind you, it might keep some the muppets off of the pavement...

- Richie P, Pimlico, 22/01/2010 12:32
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And WHEN they hit a pedestrain or get hit by a vehicle going straight on what then?

This can only work as part of a larger package of measures which sees them licenced, plated, and insured so that when they fail to stop after causing a collision they can be summonsed to court.

- Stew, London, 22/01/2010 12:31
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A good idea in principle. I don't see why cars can't do the same,slowly, they do in The US.I'm a cyclist and I have to say it's very dangerous out there, cars seem not to be able to see us. A couple of years ago in one of the paper's supplements a female journalist wrote a set of golden rules for cyclists,it was the best I've seen. Perhaps someone can remember this article and resurrect it.Letting new cyclists out on the streets of London without some advice is sheer folly.

- Martin, London, 22/01/2010 12:11
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An excellent idea from Boris. Some welcome decisiveness.

- Andy Davids, London, 22/01/2010 11:56
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They do what they want anyway and as for a fine for them going through a red light what a joke ! if they were to inforce that they would make double more than the speed cameras do bloody STUPID Boris !

- Linda Cliff, London, 22/01/2010 11:48
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