A CITY councillor has condemned fellow cyclists from riding on pavements but has said there is an urgent need for more cycle lanes to help relieve the problem.

Cllr Louis Stephen was responding to Worcester pensioner Barry Dunmore’s calls for a crackdown on cyclists riding on pavements in Tuesday’s Worcester News.

It is illegal to ride a cycle on the pavement unless it is a delineated and designated cycle lane, while Rule 64 of the Highway Code also prohibits the act.

“People should never cycle on the pavements,” said Cllr Stephen, who represents Battenhall.

“The accident statistics show that cyclists on pavements are actually more likely to be involved in an accident as they have to get on and off the pavements at road junctions.

“I cycle in Worcester almost every day, sometimes more than once a day and I know how scary the busy roads are to cyclists.

“We urgently need more segregated cycle lanes – even in Worcester this would be possible it just needs the political will,” he said.

Worcester resident Kelvin Hard said the situation needs to be policed more effectively, pointing to the fact that no cyclists have been prosecuted for riding on the pavement in the Worcester in the last year.

“No wonder many cyclists appear to be genuinely unaware that riding on pavements is unlawful unless they are designated as shared use.”

Mr Dunmore’s comments sparked a fiery debate on social media, with many arguing that they cycle on pavements because they feel in danger on many of the city’s roads.

Arran McDonald said: “99 per cent of people that drive cars have no idea how to drive round bikes and actually break the law, as it is law to have certain distance when overtaking.”

Malcolm Boura said: “Cyclists are faced with choosing between breaking the law and being killed. The provision for cyclists in this country is generally appalling and thanks to government policy the maintenance of the roads is getting worse.”

A spokeswoman from West Mercia Police’s Safer Roads Partnership said: “All I can say is that riding a cycle on the pavement is an offence and cyclists run the risk of being prosecuted for this.”

The county council did not provide a comment.