Pavement cyclists facing £30 fines

Cyclists who ride on the pavement could be hit with £30 fines after a police officer told residents he was taking a zero tolerance approach to the act.

Constable Pete Franklin, of West Mercia Police, told residents at a public meeting last night that he normally adopted a "common sense" approach to people who were riding bikes on the pavements.

But he claimed that following complaints about the number of youngsters and older people doing it he has decided to punish anyone caught in the act.

Constable Franklin said: "To ensure the status quo in the next couple of weeks basically anyone who is caught cycling on the pavement is going to get a ticket. I try to police it in a common sense fashion but that clearly doesn't wash with people at the meeting so I will now police it carte blanche.

Conflict

"If people are riding on the path they are going to get a ticket,"

Mr Franklin said that the approach would be non-wavering and would affect both adults and younger people.

He said that in the past he would normally take action if he had seen a cyclist not give way to a pedestrian on the pavement but would sometimes refrain from issuing a ticket if there was no potential conflict.

And Sergeant Claire Greenaway, the officer in charge of policing in Shrewsbury town centre, today said problems with people cycling on the pavement had escalated. She said pedestrians were being harassed and their safety put at risk by cyclists on pavements.

"It has become a really serious issue and we will not tolerate this form of anti-social behaviour," she said. "We will be issuing non-endorsable penalty tickets to those found cycling on pavements. The fines are £30 and culprits have 28 days to pay or we progress to court."

Sergeant Greenaway said the police had received complaints about cyclists of all ages. She added: "The issue has become a Partners and Communities Together priority.

"We will be adopting a zero tolerance approach to those who flagrantly flout the regulations."

By Russell Roberts