Camden News Safer Neighbourhoods Team carry out proactive operation to tackle unsafe pedal cyclists
24 August 2012
On Thursday 16th August, between 07:00 - 19:00 hours, Swiss Cottage Safer Neighbourhoods Team carried out an operation to raise awareness of the importance of riding a pedal cycle safely.
The team hoped to talk to cyclists who they found to be cycling on the pavement, cycling through a red traffic signal or generally cycling irresponsibly. A cycle campaign group also attended the event to offer advice and helpful safety tips to cyclists.
Throughout the day officers stopped and spoke to over 70 cyclists about the rules cyclists must adhere to, they also issued two cyclists with Fixed Penalty Notices.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, cyclists could receive a Fixed Penalty Notice and face a £30 fine if they do any of the following:
- Contravening traffic signs
- Contravening a constable on traffic duty
- Contravening a warden on traffic duty
- Failing to stop for a police constable
- Contravening direction by traffic constable / traffic survey
- Lights - not conforming or not lit during hours of darkness
- Riding where prohibited
- Cycling on Footway
- Contravening automatic traffic signals
- Contravening direction of a constable or sign in a Royal Park
- Unauthorised passenger on pedal cycle
During the day the team also handed out crime prevention advice and advised cyclists of what to do if their pedal cycle was stolen
The Three Rs:
There are three simple steps that all cyclists should take so that if there bike is stolen they stand a good chance of being reunited with it:
Record – Keep a record for yourself of the frame number, make and any other marks that can identify your bike if it is stolen.
Register – There are a number of websites where cyclists can register the details of their bikes and any distinguishing features/ frame numbers etc. The MPS have recently selected BikeRegister as the preferred cycle online registration service.
Report – If your bike is stolen then please make sure that you report it to the police. Bike theft is a significantly under reported crime. Reporting the theft will enable us to check databases and contact the owner once the bike is recovered.
- Swiss Cottage SNT Cycle Operation
- Swiss Cottage SNT cycle operation