NEWS recently that UK cyclist fatalities and injuries are at an all time high is very concerning.

If we are to increase cycle travel in the Echo region amongst all sections of the population from children to pensioners and professional people, we must first make the roads safer.

Both motorists and cyclists must be aware of good visibility and their responsibilities.

Certainly some cyclists are suicidal (and need prosecuting). I recently passed a man riding erratically at 10pm on a very dark night on the Christchurch Road in Bournemouth with no lights, no helmet, in a black overcoat flapping open, wearing “flip flop” sandals and on his mobile phone, and with a baby on the back, being followed by a little girl on her nursery type bicycle (no lights, helmet or reflective jacket). We have to get a grip on this serious situation. To deal with this problem I suggest we establish a “bright at night, bright at day” campaign.

The police should introduce a zero tolerance policy: all unlit cyclists on Dorset and Hampshire main roads will be stopped at night by the police and issued with a cyclists’ responsibilities leaflet and “bright at night, bright at day” pack.

This will consist of front and back clip-on working lights and reflective waistcoat (the estimated cost of each pack is £3.50).

When stopped they will have to buy them on the spot from the police and wear them immediately.

Packs should also be available at schools, colleges, libraries, police stations and the town halls.

All schools should introduce a cycling to school policy” and with the support of parents it will prevent pupils riding to school without helmets, reflective jackets, lights and stop the idiotic habit of wearing earphones whilst cycling.

As a cyclist I know it’s always my ears that tell me of a bus or heavy lorry approaching from behind.

In Bournemouth and Poole the number of cycling accidents will however increase for another largely unobserved reason.

The majority of work over the past year in replacing gas, electricity and telephone services has occurred within one to three feet of the curb.

The replaced road surface is never equal to the original smooth surface, thus cyclists now ride further out in the roads to escape the “rough ride” of the poorly repaired curb region.

We must all play our part as cyclists, motorists, parents, teachers, police and public in reducing cycling injuries and making Dorset and Hampshire a safe cycling region.

This will have benefits in many ways from fitness of population to a nicer cleaner and pleasanter environment.

I am both a motorist and a cyclist.

ROBERT WILSON, Ravine Road, Bournemouth