Interesting stats on cycle red light jumpers

[HeadNun]

7 minutes ago, Earl Aelfheah said:

You quite often see people being stopped and issued FPN on some of the major commuter routes into London. Ex-Dulwichers point re. the ‘Idaho stop’ is spot on. We need more nuanced rules in relation to those on bicycles, better enforcement of road laws in general, and education putting the safety of others first.

Ah I had no idea - who stops them and how, is it police in cars? I haven't commuted into London for years, and never saw it when I did, so there must have been an increase, which is good. I'll look up the Idaho stop, I must have missed that post. 

 

11 minutes ago, SE22_2020er said:

@HeadNun - the Met Police used to periodically fine people cycling through the Greenwich foot tunnel and hand out FPNs with alacrity.

Similarly, there used to be monthly Police checks by the Old Vic and one would see quite a few FPNs being issued.

 

Unfortunately, what with cost pressures and the all encompassing crime wave that's spreading through Dulwich village since the LTN went in, I guess there just aren't the resources any more.

Our posts crossed. It's a shame this has decreased - as you say, the more people they fine, the more they can fund the resources to stop people. 

[exdulwicher]

8 minutes ago, HeadNun said:

Ah I had no idea - who stops them and how, is it police in cars? 

I've seen police on motorbikes stop cyclists a few times. Often a lot of moto police around the Buckingham Palace area, they're not averse to pulling over traffic (cycle and vehicle). 

[Earl Aelfheah]

An example:

https://www.cityoflondon.police.uk/news/city-of-london/news/2024/august/cycle-team-producing-great-results-a-year-on-from-launch/#:~:text=The seized e-bikes are,with 'hotspot' policing initiatives.

They’re usually targeting illegal e-bikes as well as red light hoppers. I’ve seen crews on Blackfriars road before.

[HeadNun]

I love this! Stupid question, but do they have sirens or some sort of warning sound? How do they actually catch up with people travelling at speed? 

[Dulwichway]

Bitter/jealous/angry cyclists are nightmare on our roads today that are meant for motor vehicles, they really need to be policed properly and reduced asap!!

[malumbu]

I was in Guildford today.  You don't get bikes running red lights in the centre.  That is because it is so bike unfriendly you hardly get any bikes.  Just loads of cars.

Not the solution I want in the capital and shows how far we have come in London.

No doubt there are cycle routes in central Guildford but sobering to see how car centric  it is.  As no doubt many smaller towns 

[Rockets]

I think the ITV article sums it up perfectly when they say so far in 2025 284 cyclists have been fined by the City of London Police for jumping red lights yet they counted 200 doing exactly that in one hour at one set of lights.

I very much suspect councils and police will start to enforce this more rigorously as clearly the message is not getting through - there is a gold mine of PCNs waiting to be issued! 😉

[malumbu]

I'd still rather be in a city which encourages cycling.  @Rockets do you still cycle?

[Rockets]

I do, very much so - it is why it vexes me so much that so few people seem to obey the rules and as someone who does stop being admonished for doing so shows how much of a problem this is. But this is not just a London problem - has anyone been to Amsterdam recently - good grief? I know people hold that up as the cycling nirvana but if the city centre is a peek into the cycling dream everyone better wake-up soon because it is a nightmare!

Edited August 9 by Rockets

[Rockets]

BBC News - City of London to examine tougher cycling fines

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvrrdpge39o

[teddyboy23]

ON CAMBERWELL NEW ROAD LAST THURSDAY JUCTION VASSELL RD.WELL FUNNY 3 CYCLISTS STOP AT RED LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.THEN NOTICE IN REAR VIEW MIRROR 4 MOTORBIKE COPPERS STOP BE HIND ME.THEN WHILE THE LIGHTS WERE STILL RED ON OF THE CYCLISTS TOOK OFF.NARROWLY MISSING ANOTHER CYCLIST COMING OUT OF VASSEL RD.THEN SUDDENLY ALL MOTOR BIKE COPS SIRENS OO LIGHTS FLASHING TAKE OFF SURROUND THE RED LIGHTJUMPER MAKING HIM PULL OVER WHERE ONE OF COPS IS POINTING AT THE CYCLISTS GIVING HIM SOME SOUND ADVICE.THE CYCLIST LOOKED SHOCKED AND SCARED .THE POLICE THEN TOOK OFF TOWARDS KENNINGTON. .😂

[ianr]

Maybe prompted by the new TfL poster campaign?

https://newsfromcrystalpalace.wordpress.com/2025/09/17/new-transport-for-london-poster-campaign-tells-cyclists-they-must-always-stop-at-red-traffic-lights/

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2025/september/tfl-launches-new-poster-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-highway-code-rules

ps No all UC please.  It's not so easy to read. 

[malumbu]

Campaigns must be aimed at all road users encouraging sharing of the road.

US VS THEM IS NOT HELPFUL 

Used uc not to shout but make a point that UC is wrong in social media.  It's not me being the internet police just polite etiquette 

@Rockets why are you again promoting an anti cycling thread.  As a cyclist wouldn't it be better to share the joys?

[Spartacus]

19 minutes ago, malumbu said:

Campaigns must be aimed at all road users encouraging sharing of the road.

US VS THEM IS NOT HELPFUL 

Used uc not to shout but make a point that UC is wrong in social media.  It's not me being the internet police just polite etiquette 

@Rockets why are you again promoting an anti cycling thread.  As a cyclist wouldn't it be better to share the joys?

For years campaigns have been clearly aimed at cars, lorries and motorbikes. Remember the "think once,  think twice think bike" campaign or the more recent "think child advert" aimed solely at drivers to keep at 20mph? 

So yes, why not have specific campaigns and adverts to remind cyclists of the rules ? 

Or do you feel cyclists are being unfairly targeted by campaigns to make them and pedestrians safer ?

 

[Rockets]

1 hour ago, malumbu said:

@Rockets why are you again promoting an anti cycling thread.  As a cyclist wouldn't it be better to share the joys?

@malumbu you are clearly becoming Brendan Carr and we are Jimmy Kimmel…..I posted an article, left no comment but you interpret that as being an anti-cycling thread…..

You have set up enough threads on cycling to “share the joys” this one is about red light jumping cyclists…so if you have nothing constructive to add on topic then please don’t.

1 hour ago, ianr said:

Maybe prompted by the new TfL poster campaign?

This is long overdue….so glad to see they are doing this.

 

A new Transport for London poster campaign tells cyclists they must always stop for people at red lights.

TfL say the new campaign aims to raise awareness of the Highway Code, with a particular focus on highlighting five key rules “designed to protect people walking, cycling and motorcycling” after a recent survey conducted by TfL shows that there is low awareness and understanding of the rules, which were updated in 2022.

#

The five rules are:

• Cyclists must always stop at red lights
• You must stop for people on zebra crossings
• Always stop for people at zebra crossings on cycle tracks
• Always let people cross before you turn
• Always let cyclists pass before you turn

[Penguin68]

2 hours ago, malumbu said:

Why are you again promoting an anti cycling thread.  As a cyclist wouldn't it be better to share the joys?

I believe if he is 'promoting' anything it is a thread on cyclists who transgress. Unless you are of the opinion that transgressors within a group then represent the whole group, which if applied to people of a particular race would be seen as racist, then I cannot see what your problem is here. Unless you would argue that cyclists as individuals are unable to transgress. One might as well argue that those posting about out of control teenagers harassing people in parks should instead be concentrating on writing about the joys of being teenagers instead. 

[teddyboy23]

3 hours ago, ianr said:

Maybe prompted by the new TfL poster campaign?

https://newsfromcrystalpalace.wordpress.com/2025/09/17/new-transport-for-london-poster-campaign-tells-cyclists-they-must-always-stop-at-red-traffic-lights/

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2025/september/tfl-launches-new-poster-campaign-to-raise-awareness-of-highway-code-rules

ps No all UC please.  It's not so easy to read. 

What does uc mean

[ianr]

20 minutes ago, teddyboy23 said:

What does uc mean

Upper case.  Capitals.    It's also been used on the internet for yonks to represent shouting, though I didn't interpret it as such here.  In this case I couldn't even easily distinguish the full stops, which I think made it even more difficult for me, as a generally fast reader. Thanks for asking. :)

Edited 15 hours ago by ianr

[teddyboy23]

Thankyou ianr.no I wasn't shouting. the uppercase button was stuck. SORRY.😇