Cyclists who break the law and ride anti-socially only do so because the Highway Code is set against them, a cyclists' organisation has claimed.
Cyclists who break the law and ride anti-socially only do so because the "rules of the road" are set against them, a cyclists' campaigner has said.
CTC says cyclists may flout some of the rules, such as turning left on a red light, as it helps them to stay safe.
CTC policy co-ordinator Chris Peck said it was important to ask why a minority of cyclists used pavements instead of the roads or went through red lights.
It has called for the code to be re-written to protect cyclists.
Mr Peck said CTC wanted to see road rules "rewritten" to help cyclists.
Motoring organisation the AA said the behaviour of some cyclists meant in effect there were "two tribes" at war on the roads.
The AA said the behaviour of some cyclists effectively meant there were "two tribes" at war on the roads.
One proposal is to introduce an advanced green stage at a junction which allows cyclists to get away before motorists.
We do see cyclists just not obeying the rules of the road, also we get motorists doing things that the shouldn't so maybe we need to clarify the rules for all Edmund King AA
They could be allowed turn left on a red light.
One mooted traffic law proposal is to introduce an advanced green stage at a junction which allows cyclists to get away before motorists.
Another proposal is to allow them to ignore instructions to stop at red on a pedestrian crossing, as they say being allowed to cross some red lights is safer.
Roger Geffen, CTC campaigns and policy manager, said: "We would like to see more one-way streets made two way for cyclists.
"This can be done, it works perfectly well at the moment in countries like Holland.
"Some people are just anti-social, and some drive cars and some ride bicycles."
Mr Geffen said residential areas should have 20mph speed limits and also called for cyclists to get more training to make them confident on the road.
"Cyclists are far more likely to be victims rather than perpetrators of irresponsible behaviour on the roads," he said.
Breaking rules
Breaking rules
Chris Peck, of CTC, said: "Most cyclists obey the rules of the road, there is only a minority that cycle anti-socially, like breaking red lights and cycle on pavements but we have to realise why they are doing this.
Mr Peck said: "Most cyclists obey the rules of the road, there is only a minority that cycle anti-socially, like breaking red lights and cycle on pavements but we have to realise why they are doing this.
Richard Hebditch of the Living Streets charity
Richard Hebditch of the Living Streets charity
"It's because the rules of the road are not set up for cyclists, the width of the roads, the layout of the roads, even cycle routes are not designed with the cyclists in mind, they are designed to keep cyclists off the road and mingle them with pedestrians."
"It's because the rules of the road are not set up for cyclists, the width of the roads, the layout of the roads, even cycle routes are not designed with the cyclists in mind, they are designed to keep cyclists off the road and mingle them with pedestrians."
Cycling is being promoted in English cities such as Bristol, with the government providing £140m of funding.
Cycling is being promoted in English cities such as Bristol, with the government providing £140m of funding.
The rules are set to be changed at a local level, in London councils will soon get new powers to protect and prosecute cyclists.
The rules are set to be changed at a local level, in London councils will soon get new powers to protect and prosecute cyclists.
Nick Lester, of London Councils, said: "We have got two powers, the first is to enable advance stop lines to be enforced to give cyclists the benefit at traffic signals.
Nick Lester, of lobby group and think tank London Councils, said: "We have got two powers, the first is to enable advance stop lines to be enforced to give cyclists the benefit at traffic signals.
We do see cyclists just not obeying the rules of the road, also we get motorists doing things that the shouldn't so maybe we need to clarify the rules for all Edmund King AA
"The second is better powers to control reckless footway cycling where cyclists can - and it's only a minority of cyclists - cause fear amongst pedestrians."
"The second is better powers to control reckless footway cycling where cyclists can - and it's only a minority of cyclists - cause fear amongst pedestrians."
Edmund King, of the AA, said at times it appeared there were two tribes at war on the roads.
Edmund King, of the AA, said at times it appeared there were two tribes at war on the roads.
He said: "We do see cyclists just not obeying the rules of the road jumping red lights, one way streets, also we get motorists doing things that they shouldn't so maybe we need to clarify the rules for all."
He said: "We do see cyclists just not obeying the rules of the road jumping red lights, one way streets, also we get motorists doing things that they shouldn't so maybe we need to clarify the rules for all."
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Do you cycle regularly? Do you think the Highway Code rules need to be changed? Have you even been in a situation where you have had to flout some of the rules? Send us your comments using the form below:
Do you cycle regularly? Do you think the Highway Code rules need to be changed? Have you even been in a situation where you have had to flout some of the rules? Send us your comments using the form below:
