'They can kill people': Judge hits out at cyclists who ride on pavements

Cyclists who ride on pavements are "potential killers", a senior judge has warned as he hit out at the number of people ignoring safety rules.

Judge Anthony Cross QC warned anyone riding their bikes on footpaths posed a "serious risk" to pedestrians and said they would have to face crown court and jail if they knocked someone down - and were caught.

He made the comments at Manchester Crown Court as he spared a photography student from going to prison. Jesus Medina knocked down 72-year-old Marlene Crossley on a footpath, as she emerged from a corner shop in Salford. 

The pensioner  suffered a fractured hip after being spun round by the force of the impact and despite surgery she has not recovered her full mobility and she struggles to sleep at night.

Medina, 24, from Fallowfield, Manchester, had been facing up two years jail after he admitted an offence under the obscure Victorian law of "causing harm by wanton and furious driving." 

But he was ordered to complete 40 hours unpaid work and pay Mrs Crossley £750 compensation after the court heard how he stayed at the scene of the accident to comfort the victim and gave his details to police. 

He also kept in touch with her family to check on her wellbeing and offered to do odd jobs for her husband whilst she was in hospital.

Passing sentence Judge Cross said: "It's quite obvious there's a real risk of serious injury caused by people cycling in pedestrian areas in this city.

"People simply don't realise when riding their bikes on footpaths they can kill people. It's obvious that there are real, dangers inherent in anybody riding their bicycle on a pavement the risks to members of the public should not be ignored.

"Here though there are a number of features which distinguish this case from others which are obvious to anybody who walked about this city."

The incident occurred on August 21 last year.

Earlier this month the Department of Transport said it was considering a report saying cyclists involved in fatal accidents should be brought into line with motorists and charged with a new offence of causing death by dangerous cycling. The inquiry was announced after 44-year-old mother-of-two Kim Briggs was knocked over and killed by bicycle courier Charlie Alliston.