§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many pedestrians were injured as a result of collisions between pedestrians and cyclists on footpaths and pavements in each of the past three years; [178773]
(2) what research his Department has undertaken into problems caused by cyclists using footpaths and pavements; [178774]
(3) what research his Department has undertaken into the concerns of older people about cyclists using footpaths and pavements; [178775]
(4) what guidance he has offered to police forces about (a) prevention of cyclists using footpaths and pavements and (b) steps to be taken against those cyclists who do use footpaths and pavements. [178777]
§ Mr. McNultyThe statistics on casualties in accidents between cyclist and pedestrian on a footway between 1999 and 2002 (the latest figures) are set out in the following table:
Casualties Severity 1999 2000 2001 2002 Killed 1 0 0 0 Serious 25 17 16 14 Slight 61 48 38 37 All 87 65 54 51 Cycling on the pavement is an offence under section 72 of the Highways Act 1835 as amended by section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1888. Enforcement is a matter for the police. Guidance on matters relating to police enforcement is a matter for the Home Secretary and for individual Chief Constables to issue.
935WThe police have powers to prosecute cyclists who cycle illegally on footpaths and footways. Cycling on the pavement can also be dealt with by Fixed Penalty Notice system (£30 fine). The police also have powers to prosecute cyclists riding carelessly or dangerously.
We have not undertaken specific research on the problems caused by cyclists using footpaths and pavements, or the related concerns of older people. The existence of such activity demonstrates a need to accommodate cyclists wishing to gain access to destinations currently served by pedestrian-only routes and we advise local authorities that they should first attempt to satisfy this demand by improving conditions for cyclists on the road network. Where this is impracticable, the solution is to formally change the status of footpaths or footways so that cyclists can legally use them. This decision is not taken lightly and such conversions often require physical changes to ensure the routes can operate safely. To this end, we have commissioned research which investigated the operation of routes formally intended for use by both cyclists and pedestrians. The purpose of this was to inform the preparation of updated advice to local authorities on this issue in the form of a revised Local Transport Note (LTN). We have also contributed to research conducted on behalf of the Countryside Agency which examined the level of interaction between these user groups on off-road routes. The latter showed that while the perception of conflict on these routes was significant, actual conflict was not. In producing the revised LTN, we are aiming to improve physical conditions on these routes and hence reduce the perceived level of conflict.