POLICE in Cambridge have launched an operation to tackle anti-social cycling on the streets of Cambridge.

'Operation Pedalo' is seeing officers and Specials educating and enforcing anti-social cycling and cycling offences to make Cambridge safer for all road users and clamp down on crime.

Officers and Specials will be patrolling hot spot areas in uniform and plain clothes to reduce cycle crime, check points for lighting and pavement offences. Officers will also be patrolling on cycles around the city to catch offenders in the act.

The aim of the operation is to reduce road deaths and casualties amongst cyclists, reduce cycle crime and anti-social cycling in the city.

Areas such as Market Street, Sidney Street, Downing Street, Regent Street, Drummer Street, St Andrew's Street, Arbury Road, Mill Road, Hills Road and Elizabeth Way bridge will be targeted during the operation, which starts today.

Officers will be patrolling at traffic light junctions looking out for those who commit red-light offences.

The Lights Instead of Tickets scheme will be in action during Operation Pedalo, the scheme which gives those caught riding without lights seven days to buy new lights to avoid paying the fine.

Chief Inspector Nick Church said: "This operation is about educating cyclists as well as enforcing the law.

"There is a lot of dangerous cycling within Cambridge and our aim is to tackle this problem and reduce the number of collisions.

"Cyclists stopped without lights will be given the option of participating in the LIT scheme, inconsiderate and dangerous cycling will not be tolerated.

"We want to make the streets of Cambridge a safe place for all road users and pedestrians."