Cyclists are injuring more pedestrians than ever – as more than half admit to running red lights DAILY

By JADA BAS, TRAINEE REPORTER

Published: 19:58 EDT, 4 October 2025 | Updated: 19:58 EDT, 4 October 2025

Cyclists are ruling the streets as they hit an all time record for pedestrian injuries and half admit to brazenly running red lights every day.

For the year 2024 police recorded 603 accidents where a civilian was injured in a bike collision, Department for Transport road casualty figures show.

Meanwhile in 2023, 507 similar injuries were reported. 

Last year also made a record for the most casualties involving cyclists on pavements and at zebra crossings as 321 incidents were recorded – a nine per cent increase from the 292 in 2023.

Two pedestrians were even killed in 2024 in a cycling collision. 

Meanwhile 52 per cent of cyclists in London admitted to running red lights – with 16 per cent, or almost one in six, confessing they did so regularly, a study by e-bike provider Lime revealed.

Cyclists on the roads daily were the worst offenders, as 58 per cent of them said they wheel straight past red lights.

It is illegal to run a red light even as a cyclist, yet many continue to ignore the rules and put pedestrians at risk. 

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Ten times more cyclists than drivers have been fined for running red lights in one of London’s busiest districts.

Some 284 people have been fined so far this year for not stopping at traffic lights while riding bikes in the City of London, compared to just 25 drivers.

And one in six bike riders admits to frequently ignoring traffic light signals to stop.

Pressure on the government has been mounting to regulate road safety when it comes to cyclists and do more to protect pedestrians.

City Of London Police say they are carrying out a new crackdown on cyclists who flout regulations – with many more doing so compared to drivers in the area. 

They have said it wants to be able to introduce harsher punishments to cyclists who do not stop at red lights and has requested the government increase the penalty.

Fines for cyclists running red lights are set at £50, while drivers must pay £100 – with the money going to the Treasury – and receive three points on their licence. 

The study revealed 82 per cent of the capital’s cyclists, more than four in five, recognised that going through traffic lights was dangerous – yet 13 per cent of those committing the offence were unaware it is actually illegal.

Cyclists are ruling the streets as they injure pedestrians and half admit to brazenly running red lights every day

Some 71 per cent of London bikers say there should be tougher penalties for running red lights, according to the new poll of more than 1,000 cyclists across the city.

Lime is now launching its own new safety campaign, dubbed ‘Respect the Red’ – installing safety messages at high-traffic cycling hotspots and key junctions. 

City of London Corporation figures show cycling in the area has increased by 50 per cent in the past two years. 

And capital-wide statistics suggest there are now 1.33million daily cycle journeys across the whole of London. 

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Cyclists are injuring more pedestrians than ever – as more than half admit to running red lights DAILY