Police called out twice hours apart to escort cyclists off motorway

Police in Lancashire were called out twice earlier this week within the space of hours to escort cyclists off the same motorway.

The riders were spotted on the M65 12 hours apart, reports The Bolton News.

In the first incident, a man aged around 20, was spotted at about noon on Tuesday riding in the fast lane in the direction of Accrington, close to Junction 8.

Simon Morgan, who saw the cyclist, told the newspaper: "I was travelling the other way and I saw a young lad cycling in the fast lane near the central reservation.

"Alarm bells started ringing and when I got to the slip road I saw a police car travelling the other way at breakneck speed to get to the cyclist.

"It was very odd, it was a good thing it was quiet and there were not many cars going past.

"It was very dangerous and very, very bizarre.

"I was thinking he had possibly taken a wrong turn or didn't know the area well."

The second cyclist was seen at around 11.45pm and was said to be weaving in and out of the hard shoulder and the slow lane between Junctions 6 and 7.

Police thanked members of the public for alerting them to the presence of the riders and that both had been safely escorted off the motorway and “dealt with.”

A spokesman for the AA told The Bolton News: “This sounds like it was ignorance that caused these men to get onto the motorway.

“The advantages of bike training means you are told what roads you are legally and illegally allowed to ride on.

“Cyclists need to know what is dangerous and what is frankly stupid behaviour.

“Fortunately no-one was killed this time but I hope the pair have learned a valuable lesson.”

A spokesman for Lancashire Police commented: "It's not only illegal to cycle on a motorway but it's also highly dangerous.

“We would advise against it.

“This could have been extremely dangerous for both the cyclist and other motorists and thankfully no one was hurt."

Yesterday, we reported how 52-year-old Balin Hobbs was given a conditional discharge at Exeter Magistrates’ Court after police stopped him as he cycled on the hard shoulder of the M5 in April as he tried to head to London via Bristol.

> Cyclist rode for three days to attend court hearing for riding on motorway

Hobbs, who said that riding in a car is against his “spiritual beliefs,” spent three days riding his bike to the hearing and slept on the steps outside the court beforehand, and said he planned to cycle back home afterwards.

Wished a safe journey home by the chairman of the bench, who also urged him not to take the motorway, he replied: “I know the way now. I turn left out of the court and keep going.”