THE MARQUESS OF GRANBY (Leicestershire, Melton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the number of accidents caused to the public by reckless bicycle riders; whether he has seen a letter in the Times, of 3rd May, from a sufferer from injuries caused by being knocked down by a bicycle in Holborn; and whether the police in London have any powers with respect to the regulation of bicyclists in the streets; and, if so, whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the alleged conduct of the constable mentioned in the letter in question?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.Yes, Sir, my attention has been called to the considerable number of accidents caused by bicycles and to the letter in 276 the Times to which my noble Friend refers. By the 85th section of the Local Government Act the provisions of the Highways Acts are made applicable to bicycles, and the penalties imposed by the Metropolitan Police Act may be enforced against bicycle riders for furious riding. The Commissioner has issued a special notice on this subject, a copy of which I shall be glad to send to my noble Friend. In the particular case referred to in the question, I am informed by the Commissioner that the constable did not witness the occurrence; but on arriving on the scene of the accident he ascertained from the injured person that he had obtained the name and address of the bicycle rider, and, therefore, no further action was taken at the time. The name and address, however, upon inquiry being made, proved to be false.