Cyclists branded ‘dangerous and selfish’ by councillor as bikes banned from city centre

The cabinet member for highways also called Deliveroo riders ‘idiots’

Friar Street in Worcester city centre, where bikes will be banned (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo)

(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

A county councillor has branded cyclists “dangerous and selfish” while supporting a plan to ban bikes from pedestrian areas.

Cyclists will be banned from Worcester city centre in a move that has been welcomed by Worcestershire Country Council cabinet member for highways Councillor Alan Amos, reports Worcester News.

The councillor said the ban is needed as “it is only a matter of time before somebody is going to get injured or even killed.”

Cllr Amos, who is described as “outspoken”, told Worcester News: “We need to stop the increasing number of dangerous and selfish cyclists – including Deliveroo idiots – speeding through streets full of pedestrians.

“If we don’t stop them, then it is only a matter of time before somebody is going to get injured or even killed, as happened in Hereford recently.”

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Cyclists will no longer be allowed to ride through the pedestrianised areas of Worcester city centre between 10.30am and 4.30pm.

Cllr Amos said cyclists and pedestrians do not safely mix and that people on foot should be free from fear of being injured by people on bikes.

He added that cyclists will have to get off and walk.

New signs will be put up in the city centre, warning cyclists not to ride through certain areas.

Action against anyone breaking the rules will be left up to the police, but city council enforcement officers will instruct riders to dismount and feed information to police.

Earlier this year, Cycling Weekly reported that cyclists were due to be banned from pedestrian areas of Prague to improve safety, while cars continue to use the streets.

The cycling ban would apply to a number of pedestrianised zones in the centre of the Czech capital between 10am and 5pm, while more than 1,000 cars which currently have permits to enter the pedestrianised zones will be able to continue to drive through the historic centre of the city.

In July the ban was overturned following a legal challenge from cycling activists.

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Alex Ballinger

Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.  Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.