Reports suggest the Government could move to introduce registration numbers and insurance for cyclists – as well as penalties for riders who fail to observe speed limits.
According to the Daily Mail, there is a growing belief among ministers that riders should face the same speed restrictions and other road rules as motorists.
An area of particular concern is speeding on roads with a 20mph limit.
To achieve this, transport secretary Grant Shapps has suggested the Government will carry out a review looking at how cyclists who flout the law can be tracked down by police.
This includes considering mandatory number plates – or another form of identifiable markings – for enforcement purposes.
As part of a planned review, they will also consider insurance, enabling any pedestrians seriously injured by riders to secure compensation.
This follows on from news the Government is looking to create a new offence of death by dangerous cycling – announced earlier this month.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “Somewhere where cyclists are actually not breaking the law is when they speed, and that cannot be right, so I absolutely propose extending speed limit restrictions to cyclists.
“Particularly where you’ve got 20mph limits on increasing numbers of roads, cyclists can easily exceed those, so I want to make speed limits apply to cyclists.
“That obviously does then lead you into the question of: ‘Well, how are you going to recognise the cyclist? Do you need registration plates and insurance? And that sort of thing’.
“So I’m proposing there should be a review of insurance and how you actually track cyclists who do break the laws.”
There has been a well documented rise in cycling over the last few years, brought around by the Covid pandemic.
Mr Shapps added: “I don’t want to stop people from getting on their bike. It’s a fantastic way to travel, we’ve seen a big explosion of cycling during Covid and since, I think it has lots of health benefits.
“But I see no reason why cyclists should break the road laws, why they should speed, why they should bust red lights and be able to get away with it.”