Bikes should have number plates to stop cyclists being a danger on London’s streets, former Met chief says.
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
The former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Lord Hogan-Howe, has said number plates should be introduced on the back of bikes to stop so many cyclists being a danger on London’s streets.
He presented the idea during a debate in the House of Lords on regulating pedicabs which is going to happen under a new bill.
He told the Lords: “If we learn any lessons about holding pedicab drivers and owners to account, could we consider whether we take those lessons and apply them to cyclists?
“I fear that my list of people who are dangerous is longer than just people who have electric scooters and electrically charged cycles.
“I fear that cyclists, particularly in London, seem to be entirely unaccountable.
“Even having a registration plate somewhere on the back would not be a bad idea to make sure that people are held to account, and it is not totally without consequences if they choose to ignore things that are meant to keep us all safe.
“On occasion they have terribly injured people, and on some occasions killed them.”
The Pedicabs (London) Bill will “correct a long-standing anomaly, where pedicabs are the only form of unregulated transport operating on the streets of London”, new transport minister Lord Davies of Gower explained.
The Bill aims to tackle problems caused by unregulated pedicabs such as extortionate fares, loud music at night, traffic congestion, blocking of pavements and cycle lanes, as well as safety concerns around unchecked vehicles and unvetted drivers.