Cyclists killed or seriously injured a record number of pedestrians in Britain last year, according to newly released Department for Transport figures, with 234 people struck in total and 70 of those hit while using a designated crossing such as a zebra, pelican or traffic-light crossing. The figures show a sharp rise from 137 crossing-related casualties recorded in 2016, an increase of 71 per cent, and are putting pressure on Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to make pedestrian safety a policy priority.

Older pedestrians appear particularly at risk, with 61 people aged over 65 seriously injured in 2025, double the figure for 2021, while another 61 were hurt on footways or verges, suggesting cyclists riding on pavements. Campaigners have pointed to several contributing factors, including "floating bus stops" with cycle lanes running between the pavement and the stop, where cyclists often fail to give way to pedestrians, as well as silent e-bikes and illegally modified delivery bikes capable of far exceeding the legal 15.5mph limit. The government said it had introduced new offences and tougher penalties for dangerous cycling and pledged that offenders would face "the full force of the law".