A cyclist in Stafford who collided with a pedestrian yesterday as he cycled through the town centre, where riding bikes is banned, has been ordered to pay the victim £50 in compensation.
The bike rider, an 18-year-old man, will also write a letter of apology to the person he crashed into after the issue was dealt with through a restorative justice process.
The collision took place in the town centre’s pedestrian zone where people are forbidden from riding bikes, reports the Stoke Sentinel.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Following an incident in Stafford town centre today, an 18 year old male has been dealt with using restorative justice.
"The male was cycling recklessly through the town centre when he has collided with a pedestrian. He was given a community resolution for assault and cycling in the town centre pedestrian zone. This involved paying £50 compensation, and a letter of apology.
"This incident could have been a lot worse. If a child or an elderly person had been hit, the injury would have been more serious.
"This is exactly why cycling is not permitted in the town centre."
In a page on its website setting out how restorative justice works, Staffordshire Police says that the process “can involve face to face meetings between the victim and offender or contact between victim and offender through a third party.
“The process allows you, the victim, to ask questions about why the offender committed the crime and has been shown to help victims to address any ongoing fears they may have. The process allows you to tell the offender directly how the crime has impacted on you and to identify ways to prevent the crime from happening again.
“For offenders, [restorative justice] processes offer a unique opportunity to face up to what they have done, take responsibility and make up for the harm their offending has caused.”
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.