With reference to police cycling sting in the Echo on Friday October 19.

Whilst I completely agree that every care should be taken when overtaking cyclists, action should be taken against the many riders I see flouting every law on a daily basis without any regard for their own or anybody’s safety.

They ride across pedestrian crossings, ignore traffic signals, ride whilst on the mobile phone, ride on pavements and last week I saw one riding in a cycle lane but in the opposite direction.

They also have no lights front or rear.

Besides all that, you can’t see them most of the time, as they are dressed in all dark gear including the obligatory black hoodie.

I wind down my nearside electric window as I scream “ get some bloody lights “ as I swerve to avoid a collision.

Recently I was walking to the local shops on a narrow pavement and spotted a cyclist on the pavement coming directly towards me.

It was like a scene from the O K Coral, I fixed my steely gaze into his eyes, determined not to give way, this pavements not big enough for us both and I’m not backing down mate.

As I waited for the impending clash and torrent of foul mouth abuse that was surely coming my way, to my amazement he dismounted, walked into the road around me, before remounting and continuing on the pavement.

I do have some sympathy with cyclists who have to ride almost in the gutter where quite often the tarmac is so badly worn it must be difficult to stay on the bike and children riding to school on busy roads need to be safe.

But there is no excuse for many who even ride in the city centre’s pedestrian precincts with impunity.

Going back to the police sting,

The article reported that around 20 cyclists were stopped and advised of the law and some cyclists without lights were given free get-you-home lights.

Why should they be allowed to flout the law and get free lights?

Brian Chambers

Woolston