In the week approaching Cambridgeshire police’s annual road safety campaign, a survey has revealed staggering results on the number of cyclists riding without lights in the city. For the week beginning Monday 26th, all cyclists riding without bike lights will be fined £30.

Andrew Bower and City Cllr Chris Howell of the Conservative Action Team conducted a survey on the number of cyclists using their lights on a recent Sunday and Monday night from 11pm on Mill Road bridge. From their sample of 89 cyclists, 50 per cent were found to have both their front and back lights on, however 43 per cent were using no lights at all.

According to Cambridgeshire County Council figures, 11 cyclists who were not using bike lights, whether at night or in conditions of poor visibility, were involved in accidents over the course of 2007 and 2008.

Cllr Howell told Varsity, “I try to stick up for the cyclists – but it is a lot easier if the anti-bike lobby don’t have such obvious open goals as seeing the law on bike lights being widely flouted.”

Although the data was collected in one location, Cllr Howell claims that his results reflect a broader disregard for bike lights by Cambridge cyclists.

Police have welcomed the Conservative Action Team’s study, claiming that combating dangerous cycling was currently a priority. However, Cllr Howell claims: “ The police need to tackle this problem year round, not in a once a year crackdown, and only after some good publicity.”

Cambridgeshire police will launch their week-long campaign on Monday 26. The operation will take enforcement action against those failing to use lights, and also educate cyclists and motorists on the importance of having a working set for their own and others’ safety.

Cambridge City Council is working in partnership with the Cambridge Constabulary to offer a free set of bike lights to every cyclist who receives a ticket during the week. Anti-social cyclists committing offences like riding on the pavement will also be fined £30, but will be offered a free lesson by the Bikeability scheme, a national cycle training project hosted in Cambridge by the Road Safety Team at the County Council, as part of the campaign.

Sergeant Gordon Morgenthaler of Cambridgeshire police said: “This is not a reward for doing something wrong, but a real step forward, offering some of the most vulnerable road users expert help to improve their cycling skills and reduce the risk of accidents.”

During the 2008 campaign, police issued over 200 tickets to cyclists, and around 170 sets of lights were fitted to bikes. Shortly after this, a independent study found that Cambridge cyclists topped national tables, with 80 per cent of the cyclists using lights.

Paul Griffin, Cambridge City Council’s Community Safety Strategy officer said: “Last year’s campaign was very well received and made a big contribution to raising awareness of safe cycling in Cambridge, even those receiving a fine appreciated the importance of the project, and were happy they were provided with lights! This year we will be running a similar innovative campaign which again will be focussed on keeping people safe.”