§ Baroness Castle of Blackburnasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people have been (a) charged with and (b) convicted of cycling on the pavement since it became illegal in 1935, and what was the range of penalties imposed.
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch): Information is not collected centrally on the number of people who have been charged.
The table below shows the number of persons prosecuted and convicted by type of sentence which was given for the offence of cycling on footpaths from 1980 to 1992. Data for earlier years cannot be separately identified from other pedal cycle offences. 1993 data will not be available until the autumn.
49WA
Number of defendants prosecuted for the offence of cycling on footpaths1 by result 1980–1992 England and Wales Type of sentence Year Total prosecutions Total convictions Absolute discharge Conditional discharge Fine Supervision order Otherwise dealt with 1991 333 276 9 12 251 — 4 1992 313 288 13 12 262 — 1 1 Summary offence under the Highway Act 1835 Section 72 and the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 Section 54(7) and Bylaws.