17th January 2014
ACPO sends Minister’s Endorsement of Responsible Pavement Cycling by Vulnerable Cyclists if Roads are Too Dangerous, to all Local Police Forces.
The cycling campaign group Stop Killing Cyclists today welcomed ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) sending the newly re-issued Ministerial Guidance on Pavement Cycling by the Minister for Cycling Robert Goodwill, to all local police forces, following yesterday’s request by Stop Killing Cyclists that they do so.
ACPO’s National Policing Lead for Cycling Assistant Chief Constable Mark Milsom said: “We welcome the re-issued guidance from the Minister for Cycling in respect of cycling on the pavement and have re-circulated this to all local forces. “1
The original Ministerial Guidance issued by Paul Boateng stated:
“The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of the traffic, and who show consideration to other pavement users.
“Chief police officers, who are responsible for enforcement, acknowledge that many cyclists, particularly children and young people, are afraid to cycle on the road, sensitivity and careful use of police discretion is required.”
Stop Killing Cyclists believe this is exactly the right approach to take.
Cyclists should be fined for riding on the pavement if they are dangerous or in any way disrespectful to those on foot. Similarly, police should penalise red-light jumpers if they are irresponsible and put other road users at risk.
Yesterday we wrote to the President of ACPO, Sir Hugh Orde to support the re-issued ministerial guidance in how they apply the law on pavement cycling.
A Stop Killing Cyclists spokesperson today said:
“We are delighted that ACPO have acted so speedily in circulating the newly re-issued guidance on pavement cycling to all local police forces.
Implemented properly this advice will save the lives of vulnerable road-users at dangerous junctions, until such time as safe cycling infrastructure is installed.”
The Metropolitan Police Operation Safeway as currently operated is, in our opinion, endangering lives as it forces responsible cyclists off empty pavements and back into the path of lethal HGVs and busy traffic.
Stop Killing Cyclists Spokesperson Donnachadh McCarthy added :
“Fining vulnerable cyclists for cycling responsibly on the pavement at extremely dangerous junctions like Vauxhall Cross, is a bedroom tax on two-wheels as there is no safe alternative for them to cycle on.”
Ends.
Attachments: Letter from Minister for Cycling to Stop Killing Cyclists
Letter from Stop Killing Cyclist to ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde
Notes to editors:
Note 1 : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10577958/Let-cyclists-go-on-pavements-if-roads-are-dangerous-minister-tells-police.html
Stop Killing Cyclists is the direct-action protest group set up after the recent spate of 6 cyclist killings in London.
They arranged the mass Die-In at TfL HQ where 1,500 cyclists lay down in the road in protest at lack of safety investment in London.
Operation Safeway penalised cyclists at a rate 35 times higher than their comparable mileage and numbers deserves when compared to motorised vehicles.
A recent action by the police found over 70% of trucks to be in a dangerous condition.
The Metropolitan Police should be targeting substantial resources to reducing the number of illegally dangerous trucks on our streets to below 1%, instead of penalising cyclists disproportionately.
The APCO media release is HERE.
