Police handing out fewer fines for pavement cycling in North Yorkshire

A Freedom of Information request submitted to North Yorkshire Police by York Press has revealed that 104 people been caught riding on pedestrian-only spaces since January 2013. Sixty-five people were caught in 2013, but just six in the first four months of this year.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police, said: "Year-on-year figures show that there has been a reduction in offences of cycling on the pavement since 2013. However, despite this reduction the safety of the public is a priority and we will continue to target cyclists who don’t ride within the law.”

The subject of pavement cycling came to the fore earlier this year following an incident in Blackpool when a man collided with a toddler, dragging her along the pavement. The man responsible recently appeared at Blackpool Magistrates Court where he pleaded not guilty to riding a bicycle dangerously.

Transport minister Robert Goodwill has previously said that cyclists may ride on the footway, provided they do so considerately, and that police officers need to exercise discretion.

When police were given authority to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for pavement cycling in 1999, guidance was issued by Home Office minister, Paul Boateng, who said:

“The introduction of the fixed penalty is not aimed at responsible cyclists who sometimes feel obliged to use the pavement out of fear of traffic and who show consideration to other pavement users when doing so. 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.”

More restraint could perhaps have been exercised earlier this year when a Lincolnshire police officer reportedly threatened to confiscate a four-year-old girl’s bike because she was riding on the pavement. The girl was left in tears and her father had to carry both her and her bike to school.

The figures obtained by York Press also reveal that 62 cyclists were caught without lights on their bikes over the same period of time. The North Yorkshire Police spokesman added: "Recently we have run initiatives to educate the public about the dangers of cycling without lights, including a joint operation with City of York Council where we gave out free lights to people during the dark winter nights."