AN MP has asked Government to set out its position on whether cyclists should have number plates – after being contacted by concerned residents who believe it may help to tackle problems caused by riders who break the rules.

Shipley MP Philip Davies said several groups of people in Bingley had raised the issue of anti-social behaviour recently and had suggested forcing cyclists to have a licence in the same way other vehicles do could be the answer.

Sir Philip has written to Transport Minister Mark Harper asking him what government is doing to protect all road users and pedestrians and if there are any plans to introduce such a measure.

When similar proposals have been put forward previously, opponents have pointed out that the vast majority of cyclists are law-abiding, stating that the plans are unworkable, would make cycling more expensive in a cost-of-living crisis, and discourage people from cycling in a climate crisis.

Sir Philip said: “People have been saying to me that there have been incidents of anti-social behaviour involving cyclists and there is no way of tracking those that cause problems or flout the laws of the road.

"They have suggested that if cyclists were forced to have a registration plate it would mean they were identifiable and could resolve the problem as those who chose to cycle in an irresponsible manner would know there will be consequences.”

Sir Philip said he will discuss government’s response with concerned residents once he receives the reply from the Department for Transport.

It is an issue that has been raised before, most recently a few months ago in the House of Lords where former chief of the Metropolitan Police Lord Hogan Howe said cyclists should have number plates.

He said cyclists, particularly those in London “seem to be entirely unaccountable.”

In the House of Lords debate, Lord Howe said: "Having a registration plate somewhere on the back would not be a bad idea to make sure that people are held to account and it is not totally without consequences if they choose to ignore things that are meant to keep us all safe.

"On occasion they have terribly injured people, and on some occasions killed them."

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, a Labour peer, replied: "It strikes me that there is a real issue of enforcement. It is a good principle that, if you are not certain about whether enforcement can take place, you should be very wary of passing legislation. That used to be Conservative thinking as well, did it not? Something is really rather odd here."

Following the House of Lords debate late last year, a DfT spokesperson said at that time: “Like all road users, people cycling have a duty to behave in a safe and responsible way. The Department has no plans to introduce registration plates for cyclists, as the cost and complexity of this would greatly outweigh the benefits.”