west end letters: rogue cyclists | I walker Dalgarno Gardens | Highway Code | breakneck speed | pedestrians

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 12 June 2009

In fear of rogue cyclists

• WHEN exactly is radical action,if there is such a thing, in this “law abiding “country of ours, going to be taken on this endemic bike riding on pavements and other breaches of the Highway Code?
Like countless others I encounter this nuisance on a daily basis and it is surely more than high time that action was taken.
This menace is a danger to all concerned who are pedestrians. Coupled with this problem is the endemic bike riding down one-way streets often by children and youths late at night or in holiday time, which is a danger to other users of the roads as well as pedestrians.
Is it not high time that legislation be introduced to combat these menaces, such as enforcing appropriate and compulsory tests for would-be cyclists?
Perhaps bikes ought also to be banned for anyone aged under 16 years.
Cyclists caught using pavements ought to be fined accordingly and/or have their bicycles bikes even confiscated.
Yet one must ask whether the resources are in place.
At the moment an army of enforcers would be required since this problem is so widespread and has persisted for so long that the perpetrators are often let off with a totally inadequate reprimand or fine, and often this is no deterrent since those responsible continue to disregard the bye-laws.
I am frequently appalled by those utterly irresponsible cyclists who show contempt for pedestrians and their safety often by cycling at breakneck speed down dark, tree-lined streets where police presence is rarely available .
There are many responsible cyclists.
To encourage more of them should we not introduce a licence scheme? This would help to weed out those who apparently consider a bike to be a “toy” to annoy others with.
I Walker
Dalgarno Gardens, W10

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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