§ Mr. DevaTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of serious incidents and injuries caused to pedestrians by people who ride their bicycles on the pavements; what plans he has to address this problem; and if he will make a statement. [20388]
§ Mr. MacleanPersonal injury road accident data are recorded by the Department of Transport. No estimates are available of the number of accidents between cyclists and pedestrians on pavements. The following table shows the total number of injury accidents on public roads reported to the police in 1994 which involved a pedal cyclist and one or more pedestrians. It is not possible to estimate the proportion of these accidents which occurred on the pavement.
Injury accidents involving one pedal cyclist and one or more pedestrians Number of accidents 333 Great Britain 1994 Killed Seriously injured Slightly injured Total casualties Casualties resulting: Pedestrian casualties 3 95 241 339 Pedal cyclists casualties 0 14 68 82 The manner in which enforcement of the offence of cycling on the pavement is carried out, including the allocation of resources for the purpose, is a matter for individual chief officers of police. The Home Office intends soon to seek views on whether cycling on the pavement should be made a fixed penalty offence.
By the use of publicity campaigns, such as "cycle safe", the Department of Transport will continue its efforts to remind cyclists that they should adopt a responsible attitude and comply with the law and with normal standards of common sense and courtesy to others.
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