§ Mr. KaufmanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the enforcement of the law in relation to pedal cyclists who ride(a) through red lights and (b) on pavements. [91562]
§ Kate HoeyEnforcement of the law in respect of cycling offences is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. The hazards caused by cyclists who ride through red lights and who cycle inconsiderately on the pavement are recognised by chief officers and appropriate action is taken where such offences are detected. In order to assist the police, we are introducing, from 1 August, a fixed penalty for the offence of cycling on the pavement. Chief officers recognise that the fixed penalty will need to be used with a considerable degree of discretion and it cannot be issued to anyone under the age of 16. But it will provide the police service with a direct and simple means of dealing with inconsiderate cycling.