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Dame Joan Collins Calls for Action Against "Law-Abiding" Cyclists in London

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Transport Correspondent Dame Joan Collins has expressed concern over the behavior of some cyclists in London, who she believes are "above the law". The 89-year-old actress was nearly knocked over by a cyclist while getting out of a cab in central London, and has called on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to take action before the city is "ruined" by reckless cycling behavior. The incident occurred on a closed road in Covent Garden, where the cyclist was seen weaving down the road with no lights on.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dame Joan Collins, a 89-year-old actress, was nearly knocked over by a cyclist while getting out of a cab in central London.
  • Collins called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to take action against cyclists who break the law, stating that they consider themselves "above the law".
  • According to Collins, the cyclist wore a mask and had no lights on, weaving down a closed road in Covent Garden.
  • The incident highlights concerns over the behavior of some cyclists in London, who are required to obey traffic signs and not ride in pedestrian-only areas.
  • Grant Shapps, the former transport secretary, promised to bring in tougher penalties for cyclists who collide with pedestrians, including a death by dangerous cycling law.
  • The Highways Act requires cyclists to have white lights installed on the front of their bicycles and red lights on the back.

Statistics:

  • London has seen a boom in cycling over the last couple of years, with the number of cyclists on the roads increasing.
  • There are hundreds of kilometers of new or upgraded cycle routes in London, with work completed to make some of the capital's most dangerous junctions safer.
  • Cyclists who break the law can face a fixed penalty notice of up to £500.
  • The proposed death by dangerous cycling law aims to close a legal loophole capping the sentence offenders could receive at two years.

Sources:

  • "Joan Collins calls for action against cyclists who consider themselves above the law" (Daily Mail, no date)
  • "Cycling regulations in the UK" (Gov.uk, [Highways Act](https://www.gov.uk/highways-act-1980))
  • "Grant Shapps announces plans to introduce tougher penalties for cyclists who collide with pedestrians" (BBC News, [16 January 2022](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-61657347))

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