Cyclists in Tayside have fallen foul of the law 80 times in the past five years.
Latest figures from Tayside Police show that of the 80 people charged with offences since 2006, 45 were accused of dangerous or careless cycling, while 17 were believed to be on their bikes while under the influence.
All but three of the 80 cyclists charged were male, according to the force’s response to a freedom of information request, and 43 were aged between 16 and 24, with 20 under the age of 16.
The perception that cyclists who flout the law are not punished severely enough prompted MP Andrea Leadsom to introduce a private member’s bill at Westminster in March.
The bill, which aims to create a new offence of causing death by dangerous cycling with appropriate penalties, is expected to have its second reading later this year.
It has been criticised by the CTC, the national cyclists’ organisation, which pointed out that during 2009 no pedestrians were killed in collisions with bicycles but 426 pedestrians were killed by motor vehicles.
“We would certainly agree that road traffic law needs strengthening,” said CTC campaigns and policy director Roger Geffen.
“But the overwhelming priority is to ensure that the authorities use the law to deal with the sources of danger on our roads, and that is overwhelmingly about tackling bad drivers.”