As cabinet member for safe and active communities I urge him to encourage action to be taken against cyclists who do not obey the Highway Code.

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For example they are regularly to be seen cycling along pavements, daily along the Tyne Street one. They do not signal, look behind when overtaking but do revert to operating as a pedestrian if it will help their progress.

Even when legitimately cycling on footpaths they travel at speeds that put pedestrians at risk, particularly youngsters, coming up from behind without warning.

They seem to think they have a right to do all these things 'because they are said to be environmentally friendly'. These days they are certainly not pedestrian friendly or as good for the environment as those on foot.

I make these comments as one who cycled ten to 20 miles daily for many years, to school and to work, so when I see the way cyclists conduct themselves today I marvel that so many survive.

My own experience as a driver is that in many cases, contrary to what might be thought, it is the evading action of drivers who save many cyclists. Support cyclists by all means, Coun Darke but not just by guiding them to the right places but by educating them, by prosecuting if necessary, and by doing this improve the safety of everyone.

DON GRUER
Tyne Street,
North Shields

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