Are the police giving cyclists an easy ride?

DOMINIC LAWSON is quite correct that the police are failing to take action against cyclists riding through red lights and cycling, often recklessly, on pavements (Mail). He attributes this mainly to the resources they now divert into investigating alleged historical sex abuse cases of well-known (and deceased) figures. But the problem lies deeper. Riding a bicycle is now seen as a symbol of righteousness and Lycra a uniform that signals moral superiority. This gives the police an excuse for ignoring the problem (and for their indifference to pedestrian safety). By contrast, in Twickenham, for instance, a ‘lack of resources’ doesn’t prevent officers from standing around waiting to chastise motorists who inadvertently stray a few centimetres inside cycle boxes. Dr FRANK PALMER, Twickenham. IT LOOKS as though someone’s trying to stir up an anti-cycling war. I often use a bike, even though I own a car. It’s the right thing to do for my health and for the environment. I’m insured, never run a red light or a crossing with someone on it, and never ride on the pavement. I cycle with a club and nobody there does what we’re all accused of. Everyone is different: bad cyclists would behave badly doing any activity.

JOHN BURNS, Walsall, West Mids. SOME cyclists think they have a God-given right to ride anywhere with impunity. This isn’t helped by the obsession for creating cycle lanes to encourage people out of their cars and reduce pollution. In many cases it’s having the opposite effect, causing more congestion and antagonism on both sides. Name and address supplied.