Hire car company warns customers of 'hazardous' cyclists

Welcome to the UK. Look out for cyclists while you're here, they're a pain in the...

Heathrow Car Rental cycling advice

Advice for UK visitors provided by the car rental firm

A Heathrow-based hire car company has taken its website offline, and issued an apology, after it labelled UK cyclists as a 'hazard'.

www.heathrow-car-rental.co.uk had given driving advice to its customers visiting the UK, saying cyclists were a 'hazard'.

The advice read: "In London, as in other places, cyclists can be a bit of a hazard, since - though they pay no road tax - they still have the same rights as any other vehicle."

It continues: "No law requires them to wear reflective clothing, have lights, or give any sort of signal. Furthermore, cyclists tend to ignore traffic lights and one-way streets, so please be careful you don't hit them. Cyclists become most indignant if you hit them, and legally, it is always the motorists fault."

The website currently has the following apology printed on it.

Heathrow hire car company apology

Earlier the news caused a flurry of posts on social media sites.

See more
See more

The hire firm's u-turn follows the announcement earlier this week that dangerous lorries are set to be banned from the capital's streets. HGVs without side guards and safety mirrors will be not be allowed in London’s streets from as early as next year.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Simon Richardson
Magazine editor

Editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, Simon has been working at the title since 2001. He fell in love with cycling 1989 when watching the Tour de France on Channel 4, started racing in 1995 and in 2000 he spent one season racing in Belgium. During his time at CW (and Cycle Sport magazine) he has written product reviews, fitness features, pro interviews, race coverage and news. He has covered the Tour de France more times than he can remember along with two Olympic Games and many other international and UK domestic races. He became the 130-year-old magazine's 13th editor in 2015.