Cyclists could see new laws introduced for ‘inconsiderate’ riding amid plans to level playing field with drivers
Cyclists are not punished in the same way drivers are for hitting pedestrians
PA
Cyclists could face harsher penalties for “inconsiderate” travel on UK roads as the Government looks to level the playing field with diesel and petrol drivers.
In a debate in the House of Lords the chamber heard about the rise in the number of cyclists who “appear to ignore the law”, particularly in urban areas.
In a bid to stop cyclists causing havoc the upper chamber heard from peers about the danger cyclists pose to pedestrians.
One peer warned that the law is currently “too supportive” of cyclists who often get away with more crimes and incidents than car owners.
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Peers argue road traffic laws have not maintained the accountability of cyclists
GETTYLord Hogan-Howe said: “When cyclists disobey the law, they have a high chance of not being caught or of no one intervening at all.
“My argument is about affording the same consideration and safety to pedestrians from cyclists.
“I am not going to say that cyclists are the only threat because that would be quite wrong, but there is a case for making sure that pedestrians are protected from the behaviour of bad cyclists and cyclists who behave badly.
“Road traffic law has not maintained the accountability of cyclists in the way that motor vehicles are regulated.”
Hogan-Howe added that cyclists are not even bound by speed limits, in the same way cars are which makes them dangerous to pedestrians.
He detailed: “Cycles can go any speed in an urban environment, or any environment. Cycles can of course get to high speeds.
“For fit people, through muscle power, 30 miles an hour is easily attainable on the flat, and certainly downhill. With electric assistance, that is even easier.
“Cyclists seem to ignore a lot, including red traffic lights and pedestrian crossings when people are on them, even outside this building.”
Although the peer did note that enforcing the law against the current seven million cyclists across the country is difficult.
But in response to Hodan-Howe's comments, Lord Berkeley said there needs to be better education of cyclists and pedestrians, as well as car drivers, before “we can get to a situation where everybody can live with other road users without getting completely fed up with people who disobey whatever the law is”.
He said: “There are pedestrians who jaywalk, as well as cyclists. I am not in favour of licensing either walking or cycling.
“Do we want to have a licence to walk? That would be fun. But we should do more and there is good work done already on cycle training around the country. We need to do more of that and much more education, with some enforcement.”
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There are roughly seven million cyclists in England
PAMeanwhile, Baroness Hodgson of Abinger stated that no car driver wants to hit a cyclist.
She warned that “those who regularly flout the law are more likely to cause accidents”.
“Surely cyclists should obey the rules of the road like everyone else and, where they do not, they should be held to account. Yet in 2023 only 39 people were convicted for careless or inconsiderate cycling,” the Baroness explained.