It’s more than two years now since West Midlands Police put themselves at the forefront of trying to make Britain’s roads safer for cyclists through their award-winning close pass initiative, since adopted by forces across the UK.
But a tweet from their Road Harm Reduction Team yesterday emphasises that cyclists too have a responsibility for their own safety.
Jumping a red light at any time is of course illegal, though there is perhaps a difference in doing so at a pedestrian crossing where no-one is crossing the road and there are no motor vehicles around, and this example where a rider – unlit at night – takes a chance going through a busy junction.
“We'll do all we can to protect vulnerable road users but we need them sometimes to protect themselves,” the tweet read.
“Behaviour like this is inexcusable,” it continued, adding that the rider concerned had been prosecuted.
Simon has been news editor at road.cc since 2009, reporting on 10 editions and counting of pro cycling’s biggest races such as the Tour de France, stories on issues including infrastructure and campaigning, and interviewing some of the biggest names in cycling. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, his background has proved invaluable in reporting on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, and the bike industry. He splits his time between London and Cambridge, and loves taking his miniature schnauzer Elodie on adventures in the basket of her Elephant Bike.