Folk urged to bike right at night

St Andrews cyclists are being urged to make their presence known this winter.

Police Scotland has launched a new Bike Safe scheme urging students and members of the public to ensure they have appropriate lighting on their cycles in the dark.

The town’s roads have swelled with cyclists since students returned to university.

However, safety concerns over large numbers of people travelling on the roads without suitable lighting has prompted police to issue the reminder.

PC Robert Crawford of St Andrews police station said anybody taking their bike out and about needed to make sure they were suitably equipped.

“Local officers will be out on patrol in the coming weeks offering advice to cyclist in the town who do not have sufficient lighting on their bikes,” he said.

“It is paramount that students and local residents take on board the advice given so they can commute safely around the town.”

Failure to fit suitable lighting is a criminal offence.

Cyclists are required to display a white light to the front of their bike and a red light to the rear during the hours of darkness.

A steady-state light is obligatory. However, cyclists can also display a strobe-style light to the front and rear.

Alistair Macleod from the university said: “Our target is for 100% of bikes on campus to be fitted with working lights.”