• THIS summer marked the first in British history that cyclists en masse took to the pavements, much as they had already done in university towns and cities.

Cyclists were to be seen blatantly riding around public parks, seafront walkways, piers, shopping malls, railway platforms and even children’s playgrounds – activities unthinkable only a few years ago.

Yet pavement cycling continues to be illegal under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835, although the lack of visible police officers to enforce this law means that our pavements, the pedestrian’s traditional right of way, have now become so-called cycleways.

Even more disturbing is the growing number of youngsters riding around and looking at their phones, seemingly oblivious of other pavement users.

This lack of awareness is quite scary, for you never know if the telephoning cyclist is heading straight for you because he or she has not seen you. Cycling remains outside of the culture of surveillance intended to keep us all safe.

The government appears disinterested in the idea of compulsory helmets, vests or sashes for cyclists that could bear number plates for easy identification. Some devoted riders even regard the concept as an invasion of the cyclist’s freedom to roam.

ANTONY PORTER
W9