Like it or not, cycling is an excellent way for the average Joes of the world to stay fit and healthy without interfering with there day to day lives.

It also avoids the use of the expensive and frustrating services of London transport. So, more and more young adults are starting to turn towards commuting by bicycle to work, college, university and even to the pub. Without blackening the name of the responsible cyclists, who remain clearly visible to motorists and follow the basic ethics of the road, some are giving the commuters a disastrous reputation and putting cheap and easy road riding in jeopardy.

The main argument is many cyclists go through red lights. Such riders will argue that if they check the roads are clear and it is safe to pass, there is nothing wrong with such an action.

However, if motorists went by this abide there would be anarchy on our roads.

Furthermore there are a very low number of people, especially in the south-east area of London, who wear the correct gear for cycling. It is essential that cyclists wear clearly visible jackets in the evening and wear helmets.

The majority of serious cycling accidents can be avoided by simply wearing a helmet, with the cyclist escaping with cuts and bruises at worst.

According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) 136 cyclists died in Britain in 2007 with three-quarters of them dying by head related accidents, which could have been avoided by the usage of helmets.

So one would wonder, what is to be done about the health and safety of cyclists on our roads?

Perhaps a fine for cyclists going through red lights, with the money going towards government schemes such as “Ride a Bike to Work”, or in building cycle paths in key areas of London.

Perhaps cyclists without lights on after dark should be removed from our roads as they are not only a danger to themselves, but to the honest motorist who hit a poorly visible rider.

Regardless, more and more accidents reported and unreported happen on our roads every day and it is only a matter a time before another rider falls victim of road deaths.

At the end of the day rules are rules, and all road users should follow them, after all no matter if you are a motorist, pedestrian or cyclist, they have been put into place for the safety of us all.

By Matt Bourke, age 19, from Catford