“Like it or not, fair or unfair, this anti-social element taints all cyclists”

• CYCLISTS riding without lights at night; cyclist using the middle of the road when the dedicated cycle lanes are empty; cyclists careering along the pavements; all endangering themselves and others.

These cyclists need to mend their ways. Critically, though, if the cycling lobby exerted peer pressure to encourage all to behave properly, then everyone would gain.

At present a large number of reprobate cyclists seem to be tolerated by other cyclists. Like it or not, fair or unfair, this anti-social element taints all cyclists.

The cycling lobby should not shirk its collective responsibility by attempting to pass the buck to the police and the politicians as has been suggested in these pages.

That is an abdication of the good that it could do, but currently chooses not to do.

MICHAEL EDENBOROUGH
Cloudesley Road, N1