Cyclists in the Square Mile have been convicted and fined hundreds of pounds for ignoring red traffic lights after a safety crackdown by City of London Police.
A Lime Bike rider is accused of putting other road users in peril when he sailed through a junction near to London Bridge, while a cyclist almost collided with two pedestrians on Bishopsgate, court papers reveal.
Police officers were stationed on key junctions in the City to watch for errant cyclists, and the force said in April that nearly 1000 fixed penalty fines had been issued.
Last month six cyclists who failed to pay their fines were prosecuted for flouting red traffic lights, ending up with a criminal conviction, a £220 fine to pay, plus £90 in costs and an £88 victim surcharge.
The news comes a week after shocking footage emerged of a woman being struck on a pedestrian crossing in north London by a Lime Bike rider.
Anette Collins, 56, was walking her two dogs when she was hit by the electric bike, leaving her bleeding and injured in the road.
The Met Police said efforts to track down the responsible rider for a possible prosecution had been thwarted as an anonymous email and fraudulent bank card were used for the hire.
The latest prosecutions were brought through the Single Justice Procedure at Westminster magistrates court, with court papers obtained by The Standard.
Anthony Hultin, 20, had hired a Lime Bike on March 13 when he was caught breaking the road rules on Bishopsgate at just before 9am.
PC Sibyl Beaumont said Hultin, of Strype Street, Spitalfields, was heading towards London Bridge and passed a “clearly red” traffic light.
“Hultin's actions placed himself, other road users, and pedestrians at risk”, she added.
Attal Nasiri, 32, of Balham High Road, was on a pedal bike when he also flouted a red traffic light on Bishopsgate at 8pm on January 24.
PC David Parker, who was on duty on a police bike, saw the infringement and flagged Nasiri down immediately.
“A cyclist caught my attention as they failed to stop at the red traffic light at the pedestrian crossing by the junction of Middlesex Street”, the officer told the court.
“The cyclist almost collided with two pedestrians who were crossing the road, causing them to have to step back.”
Police said Bradley Smith, 37, of Strait Road, Beckton, initially refused to give his name and address after he was caught out on Wormwood Street, near The Gherkin, on February 1.
He was prosecuted after eventually providing his personal details to the officer on the scene.
Thomas Dang, 36, of Camplin Street, Lewisham, was offered the chance to attend a road safety course as an alternative to a criminal prosecution after he ran a red light on Eastcheap on March 5.
But he was taken to court after failing to book on to a course or pay a fixed penalty fine.
All the guilty cyclists were given the same penalty, after they failed to respond to the Single Justice Procedure notice or put forward a plea.
City of London Police set up its dedicated Cycle Response Unit in July last year, to tackle illegal e-bike and e-scooter use as well as incidents of illegal cycling.
In August, the force said it had seized more than 300 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters, and given cycling advice to more than 11,000 people.
“We relaunched the cycle team following concerns from the community around road safety and anti-social behaviour and it has made a huge difference in the City, as one of our units people see on the streets”, said Chief Superintendent Bill Duffy.
“Despite being a small team, this dedicated group of officers has made huge strides in education, engagement and enforcement in the Square Mile.
“Cycle officers are able to quickly get through areas inaccessible to vehicles and since their relaunch last summer, this team has made a significant difference in reducing anti-social behaviour by road users in the City of London.”
Last year, Uber Eats rider Fatima Haridhoine was given a fine and penalty points after she ran a red light and went over a pedestrian’s foot.
The pedestrian suffered a broken foot and Haridhoine was prosecuted for riding a bicycle without due care and attention.
