“The rules apply to everyone”: Number of London cyclists fined for jumping red lights more than doubles in a year, as police warn about endangering pedestrians “for sake of saving a few minutes”

City of London Police have reported a significant increase in fines issued to cyclists for red light infractions, with 1,315 fixed penalty notices distributed between April 2025 and March 2026. This figure represents more than double the previous year's total, averaging approximately 25 fines per week. The police statement emphasized that "the rules apply to everyone" and highlighted concerns regarding the endangerment of pedestrians by cyclists "for the sake of saving a few minutes."

This surge in enforcement comes amidst ongoing debates about urban cycling infrastructure, road user behaviour, and the perceived impunity of some cyclists. While the police are clearly responding to public and political pressure to address perceived lawlessness, the focus on red light jumping often overshadows other, arguably more dangerous, road behaviours from all vehicle types. This campaign also aligns with a broader trend of increased scrutiny on active travel in major urban centres, where space and safety are constant points of contention.

Ultimately, the police are simply enforcing existing laws. Whether this targeted enforcement genuinely improves safety or merely shifts the blame for systemic urban planning failures remains, as ever, a matter of perspective.