The pressure will be kept on police in Dundee to introduce a campaign to educate motorists about cyclist safety.
Councillor Kevin Cordell recently wrote to the police divisional commander for Tayside, urging him to introduce Operation Close Pass in the area.
The initiative, which has been rolled out in other regions including Fife, involves plain clothes officers stopping drivers when they fail to give cyclists enough space, as well as using a special mat to educate them on how much room should be given.
Fife RP and local colleagues carried out Operation Close Pass in Dunfermline. 6 drivers spoken to advice given. 1 driver reported for no insurance offence #Opclosepass pic.twitter.com/U1kmdL6OkZ
— Fife Police (@FifePolice) March 19, 2018
Dundee Cycling Forum has also been lobbying the police to bring the initiative to the city since 2017.
However, the force has confirmed the idea will not be implemented for the time being.
Mr Cordell said: “Whilst I appreciate the many competing demands on funds for Police Scotland, I am disappointed that Operation Close Pass won’t be rolled out in Dundee at this time.
“However, I will continue to work with members of the cycling community and Police Scotland in hopes that a satisfactory outcome can be reached and we do see Operation Close Pass on our street in the future.”
Tayside’s police divisional commander Andrew Todd explained statistics about the causes of collisions involving cyclists did not justify resources being spent on the campaign, locally, at the moment.
He said: “We must balance the resources being dedicated to any such operation against the effect it will have on increasing road safety.
“Following ongoing review of the casualty causation factors for cyclists, it remains the case that the evidence does not demonstrate anything other than a diverse range of reasons for collisions involving cyclists, including riders at fault.
“Given that analysis of the evidence continues to support the assessment that Operation Close Pass is not a justified tactic, it remains my position that we will keep the matter under close consideration but will not allocate resource to this operation.
Fife officers have been to Edinburgh to learn about #OpClosePass and the work our capital cops are doing to keep all road users safe https://t.co/u11uwc358X
— Fife Police (@FifePolice) June 20, 2017
“This will allow me to keep our finite resources focused effectively on other areas of great risk.”
Donald Baddon, a member of Dundee Cycling Forum, said that he didn’t feel the city is currently cycle-friendly.
He added: “Basing the decision on collision figures isn’t the best way forward, because a lot of people are put off cycling in the city in the first place.
“It isn’t a good environment for cyclists at the moment and many people are deterred because they fear being passed too closely.
“This campaign, which we have been asking for since 2017, would make the roads safer for everyone.”
