Here is a guy talking about safety but is not wearing a helmet. Can he be trusted to implement safety measures? I think not. He's trying to look cool in front of the hottie to his right.

i think boris is between a rock and a blazing furnace. roger of ctc has put it best.

I heard the interview on Radio 4 on the way into work this morning. It didnt sound particularly anti-cyclist to me. Before the point highlighted in the article he discussed the disproportionate number of women killed on left turns by HGVs, the need for cyclists to assert themselves by getting to the front and the idea of allowing cyclists to run reds when turning left.

But at the end of the day he is a politician and he will no doubt be trying to balance the safety and interests of cyclists against the general public's wider perception of cyclists which imho is detrimentally affected by people RLJing and riding on pavements.

It seemed to me what he was suggesting was a bit of good old fashioned bargaining: I'll let you run reds turning left if you obey the rules regarding other RLJing and riding on pavements. I'm not sure he suggested RLJing or pavement riding was actually a cause of lack of safety.

As someone who doesnt ride on the pavement or RLJ through rush hour traffic it seems a reasonable deal which would in the long term garner more consideration for cyclists from the general public. Whilst RLJing may not actually cause much harm from comments from my non-cycling colleagues and friends it is undoubtedly something which pi**es off drivers and pedestrians alike and leaves all cyclists tarred with the same brush as being viewed as a body of people who simply ignore to rules of the road.

I think he's right. I'm not trolling. We can only be responsible for our own actions. Is it any wonder that non-cyclists get irritated by us when we get so defensive when we're told to obey the rules of the road?

BTW - there is no law requiring riders to wear helmets. Red lights do apply to us and we're not meant to be on the pavements. All perfectly OK for him to say, so why should there be an angry reaction?

Jeez - that's the second time I've come out in his defence in as many weeks. I actually don't like him as a politician at all.

Until the cycling point of view becomes a serious consideration in transport planning I'll continue to cycle on the pavement where it appears yo be safer to do so than to be on the road. I show due respect to other pavement users just as I show due respect to other road users. There are many places where cyclists mix more safely with pedestrians than with motorised transport.

Cyclists jumping a red light has only got themselves to blame if they get hit. Jumping lights is not the answer.

Cyclists who cycle on pavements run a risk of causing serious injury to pedestrians - and yet think it's ok as they don't want to risk their own safety on the road.

Cyclists can be such hypocrites sometimes. It's partly to do with a superiority complex that some cyclists have - placing themselves above the law and above other road users.

If we want to be taken seriously, we need to get our house in order - starting with the basics.

I always used to be against cycling on pavements. 100%

But, since finding out that it's legal in Scotland, and realising that this then opens thousands of miles of rights-of-way that would otherwise be excluded to MTB'ers, I can sort of see the argument for.

Don't get me wrong, certain pavement cycling is a straight-out no-no. No questions asked.

But, let's say it's 2am, you need to cross from one road to another, across a pedestrianised shopping precint. There's no one around at all. Should the act of cycling through it be criminalised?

My point is, there are grey areas where you can think it would be ok. But, we are looking at a total blanket ban.

The key word in the headline is 'rogue'. Single those cyclists out. The ones that present the clear risk. But, if the Police aren't given strict guidelines on which ones to target, they will target everyone, or more likely, no one.

And for the record, I don't cycle on pavements. I'm comfortable with my ability/skill level to cycle on pretty much any accessible road in the UK. And have done.

I never ever want to agree with a tory but people on bikes (notice i didn't call them cyclists) going through red lights as if it doesn't matter to them bug the crap out of me.

I can assure you that it is illegal to cycle on the pavement in Scotland, subject to what I believe to be the same esoteric rules as in England intended to allow very young children to use the pavement.

I cycle on footpaths as it is the only way to avoid death on the way to a bike lane, I used to cycle on footpaths by dual carriageways here in Bristol, but over 20 years all those paths have become dual bike/walk paths. I do think that sometimes the footpaths are the solution to traffic problems. That doesn't mean you can sprint round shouting at people to get out of the way, only that its possible to use them considerately

this whole "bikes on pavements" story is something creates by the Daily Mail and some politicians because the thing they really hate -bicycles- isn't something they can come out and denounce. Instead they pick on some behaviours of their perceived enemy, as what irritates them the most -we dont have to pay, we can get past them at traffic jams- are not illegal.

The cyclist jumping red lights is no more a dnger than the pedestrian who crosses when he can despite the pedestrian light being red

The cycle is a visible ssmall low eight vehicle and the rider unprotected - he needs to be seen and in front to be safe and it is far safer if the roda is clear to cross on a red light than fight for your life in the rush of traffic moving when the lights change green especialy to avoid left turning traffic or the fast mover turning righ in a rush coming in the opposite direction to beat the traffic.and never thinking bike

A motor vehicle weighs tons a cyclist - his own weight plus maybe up to 35lbs - nothing

As for riding on the pavement - that is naff and bad

Keith

@mcbazza

There has been a bit of confusion here... it is legal to cycle on footpaths but not footways. Footpaths are those away from roads; footways are pavements.

In England there is a similar distinction - it is illegal to cycle on both footpaths and footways, but you can only be given a fixed penalty notice for the latter.

"The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other pavement users." Paul Boateng, Minister of the Home Office, 1999.

"I should stress that the issue is about inconsiderate cycling on the pavements. The new provisions are not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other road users when doing so. Chief officers recognise that the fixed penalty needs to be used with a considerable degree of discretion and it cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 16." John Crozier of The Home Office, 2004.

Unlike Boris Johnson, the Home Office IS in charge of the Police.

badger... Cyclist can be hypocrites??? What's so special about cyclist that makes them hypocrites? If you ask me, most humans are selfish and hypocrite, not cyclists especially...

it is far safer if the roda is clear to cross on a red light than fight for your life in the rush of traffic moving when the lights change green especialy to avoid left turning traffic or the fast mover turning righ in a rush coming in the opposite direction to beat the traffic.and never thinking bike

But the roda isn't clear isn't there traffic coming from either the left of right? Well there always seems to be when I stop at traffic lights.

The cyclist who weighs "nothing" can do an awful lot of harm. I think it's less than two years since a pavement cyclist killed a pedestrian in a high profile case but let's look at a hypothetical red light incident, though it has a feasible enough outcome.

A cyclist goes through a red light to cross a junction. The driver of a car coming from the cyclist's right swerves to avoid him but collides head on with an oncoming car. All four occupants of that car die. The driver's wife and kids also die. He spends the next thirty years wondering why he killed his family just to save some idiot who jumped a red light.

I commute over 100 miles a week through NW and Central London

the massive increase in cyclists in the past 12-18 months which has been partly attributed to the Mayor / TFL's "Cycling" campaigns has created a bad and very dangerous situation !!!

there are ALOT of INEXPERIENCED CYCLISTS on the road, who have neither any cycle proficiency (Bike handling skills) or any respect for the highway code

I must add, there are also alot of experienced cyclists who have NO respect for the highway code because they have the misguided opinion that it does not apply to them

to quote a taxi driver who let rip on a stupid cyclist who jumped a red light and nearly went under the taxi's wheels at Euston "You are a c*nt, and if you keep riding like a c*nt, you are going to get f*cked by a car!!!"

I am FED UP with having near collisions with other cyclists who completely ignore the highway code and show no common sense when it comes to road safety

It really does not take any longer (perhaps a few minutes) to obey the highway code (stop at traffic lights, give way to pedestrians on crossings, signal to other traffic, understand "give way" rights at junctions) and finish your commute in one piece

I am absolutely sick of having near misses with idiot cyclists who jump the red lights and nearly crash into me when it is clear that the traffic lights have changed and it is my right of way

Every RED traffic light I stop at in London, probably 3/4 of the cyclists travelling in front, alongside or behind me will jump the lights - the same is true of pedestrian zebra crossings

the POLICE need to have a proper blitz, as they did in Berlin (Germany) recently with brakeless fixed wheel riders

start giving out fixed-penalties, arrest the most dangerous offenders, confiscate the bikes of repeat offenders, put those who are clueless into highway-code and cycle proficiency training

apply the same blitz to cyclist riding at night without lights, without brakes, etc.

its all well and good having more cyclist on the road, but WE ALL (motorists, LGV, public transport, cyclists and pedestrians) have to use the road safely which means obeying the highway code, giving way when unsure, and using common sense

a big public safety campaign (also targeting "zombie" pedestrians who wander into the road and cycle lanes without looking) and a big clamp down by the Police can only make cities like London a safer place for everyone!

Thank you old pedaller and esher shore, for a minute there I thought I was in the wrong for stopping at red lights whilst deploring the actions of those who run them.

First off, yes, it would help a lot to have better cycling facilities. But how are cyclists as a group going to be able to effectively lobby for better facilities and more considerate driving when so many cyclists ignore the basic rules of the road? If you don't believe it's a problem, try cycling around London at rush hour. It's unbelievable.

There is this arrogant, lazy assumption that things like red lights can just be ignored. Sometimes this is done under the guise of safety, but personally I've never once had an issue pulling away from lights with traffic. Mostly it is impatience and laziness, i.e. not wanting to have to brake and then get back up to speed again.

Riding without lights is unforgivable. You can pick up excellent sets for not much more than £10 online. What if you get killed by a car that just couldn't see you? Think of the effect on the driver. Or your family and friends.

Before we preach road safety and the evils of cars we need to get our own house in order.

I think the whole cycling on pavement thing will again disappear as more people cycle. I spent a few weeks in the summer in Germany. We were in heidelberg which is a lovely town. The cycle lanes moved from road to pavement to bike lane every few metres as the road was wide enough, etc. There were no problems and people were generally aware of each other. I think that in the same way the drivers are beginning to be more aware of cyclists as we get more of us on the roads, pedestrians will also become used to us. However we as cyclists need to become more socially responsible as well about how and where we use pavements, etc.

I dont get the cycling on the pavement thing at all - If its a busy city centre then clearly a cyclist has no business on a pavement. I live in Belfast where people take their car to go 100m down the road. There are no pedestrians at the time I go to work. I use a short section of pavement every morning and am not any risk to the non existant pedestrians.

Re jumping lights - I dont do it and can understand the annoyance it causes to Drivers.

Before Borris and any other politicians get on their high horses about cyclists - I would quite happily never mount a pavement again if the 30mph speed limit was enforced on urban roads. The trend to convert half of the pavement into a cycle lane (most of the cycle lanes in Belfast are of this type) also weakens the message that cyclists should not ride on pavements.

I am amazed that in virtually every photo of Borris cycling he is not wearing a helmet. a bad example regardless that it is not yet a legal requirement.

Regarding lights - what can you say to the idiots who would even think of riding at night without them . I would make reflective bright clothing compulsory.

I would also make it compulsory for car drivers to cycle on a main road as part of their Driving test and for cyclists (non drivers) to travel in a car on popular cycling routes.

I started commuting to work in my thirties having driven for 15 years - its a big advantage as a cyclist as you can anticipate some of the crazy driving.

Finally (bar a few well publicised and totally unjustifiable cases) cyclists do not kill other road users/pedestrians car drivers do.

If you run a red light, ride on the pavement or commit any other road offence while cycling don't come running here looking for my sympathy.

Because you won't get an ounce of it.

I'm fed up with being lumped into the same band of ass'ole 'cyclists' who think any of the above is acceptable.

Sadly the majority of people I see commiting offences on my way to work look like they've had no form of training....no helmets, no lights, no skills etc.

Casual and useless cyclists really get my goat.

A concern as a cyclist who believes he cycles quite fast, on the road, following the highway code rigidly, using the lanes as though I am a car, often flowing with traffic, obaying all signals, and not afraid to use major busy roads etc etc... that I may appear as 'fast / dangerous / irresponsible' to a police officer who doesn't know much about it

- the political direction can easily be miss-enterpreted on the ground, I expect we would hear about cyclists being punnished simply for doing 25mph even if they are riding safely.

Regarding pavement cycling - I avoid this almost all the time, but there are circumstances where I have done this - such as accompanying a friend on a run around where we live. So riding on the pavement can have a practical purpose.

There is a world of difference in pavement riding between an inconsiderate rider blasting along at 15mph+ brushing past pedestirans without slowing down, and a novice rolling at jogging speed to get to the shops when they otherwise might have driven, or someone who rides briskly when the path is clear but slows down near people, waits for a safe time to pass slowly before accelerating.

So I dont think people should be punnished simply for cycling on the pavement. It should be allowed with priority to pedestrians, its dangerous and inconsiderate cyclng / driving / whatever that the law shoudl focus on.

ExeterSimon, some of these casual and useless cyclists are probably also useless drivers. Wouldn't you rather they were out on their bikes than in their cars when you are out riding?

If I have to get onto the pavement it's only as a last resort - but I get off and push. I stop at red lights as I quite like not being dead. Dark nights and no lights- are you mental? And the number of eejits who wear a hi-viz vest then put a dark backpack over it - how thick are you? I live in Dublin - the city with a public bike scheme like Paris but possibly the crappiest bike lanes in the world. Go to Google Earth and follow the one up Ballyfermot Road in Dublin to see what I mean - especially the last 1/4 mile.

Fast and imtimidating way LOL!!! Don't you think that's the way of Bus driver's,taxi driver's,white van man cock and general cock mobiles!!!{AUDIS}. We cyclists hardly constitute a threat to the human race!! Do we!! Boris Beware!! Go chase your phnantom muggers,Mr Eton Toff!!

@GiantPete

You're right...I would. But that doesn't mean it's right to ignore the highway code.

As someone else said above...let's get our own house in order first. Then we can begin to preach....

he isn't wearing a helmet

What about Children - should they be allowed to cycle on pavements? Is my six year old breaking the law?