Westminster to combat pavement cycling

Westminster intends to use its City Guardians to issue fixed-penalty notices to cyclists who ride illegally on the footway.

We believe that the council can do this by setting up a Community Safety Accreditation Scheme. These schemes enable chief constables to designate limited powers to employees of organisations who contribute towards community safety. Accredited Persons are identified by a standardised badge, and deal with specific nuisances such as dog fouling, cycling on the pavement, and litter - but not such offences as ignoring traffic signals or traffic signs. A number of police forces have set up these schemes, but not, so far, the Metropolitan Police Service. (Further details)

The LCC believes that enforcement of traffic regulations is vital for all road users and can help to reduce the unacceptably high number of deaths (approximately 3,000) and collisions (approximately 300,000) on the UK's roads, most of which involve motor vehicles. But enforcement of 'moving' traffic offences needs to be carried out by trained officers and allocation of resources needs to be proportionate to the danger posed by different vehicles. The London Cycling Campaign shares the Government's view that the police and police community support offices are best qualified to enforce the regulations on pavement cycling and most other traffic offences. They have the training and the authority to do the work. They can use their judgement when a young child is riding on the pavement and are more likely to be correctly informed as to where cycle users are permitted to use pavements for safety reasons. It is also vital that local authorities address road danger to cycle users by improving the very conditions that force some cyclists to seek the refuge of pavements. Where such improvements have been made, offending falls.