A NEW POLICE INITIATIVE aimed at keeping cyclists safe is being launched in Hedon.
Cyclists caught flouting the law by riding without lights, on the pavements, or ignoring road signs and traffic lights will be offered a place on a Bike Wise seminar as an alternative to a fixed penalty notice or summons to court.
Sergeant Phil Hinch from the Holderness Neighbourhood Policing Team said:
“Whilst cycling without lights and failing to observe traffic signals may seem relatively harmless, the consequences of any road user engaging in such behaviour can be dire. Cyclists, in particular can be vulnerable road users, and by overlooking simple safety measures take the chance of increasing their risk of injury.”
Police officers will be looking at the behaviour of cyclists and will offer the Bike Wise seminars to those presenting a risk to road safety and breaking the law. This would be offered as an alternative to court proceedings or £30 fixed penalty notices.
The Bike Wise sessions will be given by local neighbourhood police officers and present appropriate cycle safety information to those selected to attend. The seminars will pro-actively promote road safety and crime prevention and encourage people to be seen and use lights at night.
The Seminars will take place in the Scouts Hut, Sheriffs Highway, Hedon and are in conjunction with Hedon Youth Initiative who have kindly donated a number of sets of lights to launch the project which will be given to each attendee.
I think children should be able to ride on the road, preferably wearing a helmet, from about 11/12 years of age. This does depend on the child having had training, either at school, or at least from a parent or other adult. There are lots of cycle paths now but I do think we need more. I find the worst offenders of riding on pavements are adults, who, quite frankly, should know better and are setting a bad example to youngsters. I also think car/lorry drivers etc. do not pay enough attention to cyclists on the roads. I am a regular cyclist who does not drive a car.
Reading the article about ‘bike wise’. What age should a child be expected to ride on the road rather than on the path.
Jo raises a very interesting point here!
The Age of Criminal Responsibility in the UK is 10. So it is assumed that legally only children under 10 can ride on the pavement? And obviously the police should show discretion to younger children cycling on the pavement for whom cycling on the road would not be a safe option.
The Department for Transport Think! Education website says that children should not cycle on roads until they have been trained. And Fixed Penalty Notices can only be issued to people over 16.
So perhaps this suggests that from 10 years old and upwards to 16, children should be offered cycling proficiency training from their school or local council and supported to ride on some roads – I would still argue that some roads are far too dangerous for cycling adults, never mind children!
It’s a tough call for parents who fear for their kids safety: When do you let them ride on the road – when do you advise be safe and use the pavement!
Of course we don’t want people being frightened and knocked over on the pavement. So responsible cycling, and policing with discretion, would seem to be the important things here.