Wayward cyclists watch out: Keir Starmer is coming for you. The government has announced a crackdown against bikers who kill pedestrians. The offence of ‘careless cycling’ is to be punished with a potential two years’ imprisonment if someone is injured, five if they are killed. With ‘dangerous cycling’, the punishment could be up to five years for injury, or imprisonment for life – yes, life – in the case of death. Much of Middle England, especially motorists exasperated by cyclists often behaving as if they own the road (not to mention the pavement), will cheer. But the case for this crackdown is not as strong as it looks.
For one thing, there is some slightly doubtful morality here. Careless and dangerous cycling are already crimes carrying fairly substantial fines (£1,000 and £2,500 respectively). There is also an antique Victorian law giving up to two years inside for ‘wanton and furious’ cycling, which is sometimes wheeled out for the more egregious cases.
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